Anabasis aphylla

Anabasis aphylla is a small subshrub in the Amaranthaceae family. It lives for more than one year. Its native range runs from southeastern European Russia to western China. Records list Iran, Iraq, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. In China, it grows in Xinjiang and western Gansu. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Kew puts it in the temperate climate zone.

Plants reach about 1 foot [0.3 metres] in height. The account gives no width or full account of leaves. It grows in the Gobi Desert and gaps between dunes. It also grows on gravel fans that flowing water forms. Some sites lie on dry slopes. These sites help explain why it copes with dry conditions. PFAF lists garden beds as a place to grow it.

PFAF gives its bloom time as August to September. Each flower has both male and female organs. Seeds ripen in October, after the blooms end. The account gives no flower colour or fruit shape. PFAF says growers can raise new plants from seed. It gives no dates to sow or ways to treat seed. The evidence does not say how pollen reaches the flowers.

PFAF suggests a sunny site where soil drains well. It states that the plant cannot grow in shade. It lists sand, loam, and clay as soils it accepts. It can grow in soil with few nutrients. Its stated pH range is mildly acid to mildly alkaline. It accepts dry or moist soil and can withstand drought. This does not show how much water garden plants need. It is not clear if it can survive British winters. PFAF suggests mild, dry areas may give it the best chance. This is a view, not a proven rating for cold tolerance.

People use this plant to help hold sand dunes in place. Its yearly branch growth contains anabasine, an alkaloid used to kill insects. PFAF notes use as medicine but gives no more detail. It lists no known food uses and rates edibility at zero. PFAF says it knows of no hazards. That does not mean the plant is safe. The evidence gives no clear guide to toxicity for humans or pets. It names no specific pests or diseases. PFAF does not flag the species as a weed.