Tamarix aphylla (L.) H.Karst.

Trees or large shrubs. Young branches smooth. Leaves sessile, vaginate, ca. 2 mm, base amplexicaul, apex acute. Racemes 3-6 cm × 4-5 mm; when flowering in spring, racemes solitary; flowers blooming more commonly in summer, then racemes on new branches; flowers subsessile; bracts triangular or broadly triangular, exceeding pedicels, base slightly amplexicaul, apex acuminate. Pedicels much shorter than calyx. Calyx 5-fid, ca. 1.5 mm, margin entire, apex obtuse; outer 2 lobes slightly smaller, broadly ovate or broadly elliptic, abaxially slightly carinate; inner 3 larger, broadly elliptic or suborbicular. Petals 5, elliptic, oblong, or ovate-elliptic, 2-2.3 mm, deciduous, sometimes 1 or 2 persistent in fruit. Disk 5-lobed; lobes emarginate at apex or deeply divided into 10 lobules. Stamens 5; filaments inserted between disk lobes. Fl. Sep-Oct and rarely in spring. 2n = 24*.

It is a Mediterranean plant. It grows well in desert regions. It will tolerate salt spray and salty soils. It can grow in arid places. It grows in the Sahara. In Northeastern India it grows up to 900 m above sea level.

The sweet manna from the twigs is eaten with porridge or mixed with water to make a drink.

It can be grown from cuttings.