Halostachys caspica

Halostachys caspica grows as a shrub to 1–3 m height and width. The erect stems are much branched, older twigs are mostly leafless. The young twigs are blue-green, fleshy, apparently jointed (articulated), with glabrous fine papillose surface. The opposite leaves are fleshy, glabrous, connate basally and surrounding the stem (thus forming the joints), with very short scale-like triangular blades. The inflorescences consist of numerous opposite lateral cylindrical spikes, 15-30 × 2–5 mm, on jointed peduncles. Groups of three bisexual flowers are sitting in the axils of rhombic-quadrate bracts. The opposite bracts are not connate to each other. The obovoid to obpyramidal perianth consists of three connate tepals, the apex with three incurved lobes. There is one stamen exserting the flower. The ovoid ovary bears two subulate papillate stigmas. The flowering and fruiting phase reaches from July to November. The fruit is enclosed by the fleshy, somewhat inflated, three-angled, shiny perianth. The fruit wall (pericarp) is membranous. The erect seed is oblong and red-brown, containing the half-annular embryo and copious perisperm (feeding tissue).

The distribution area of Halostachys caspica reaches from Southeast Europe, Caucasus (Russia, Armenia, eastern Turkey), Southwest Asia (northern Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan), Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Mongolia) to Xinjiang and western Gansu (China). The plants are halophytes and grow in salt marshes, salty and alkaline mudflats, salty ditches, in dry river beds, and along the shores of salt lakes.

Halostachys caspica grows under extreme ecological conditions, and is a good fodder plant for the sustainable development on salty soils. The best fodder quality is achieved during the flowering phase. Economically important phytochemicals are flavonoids with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.