Scientific Name: Maerua crassifolia Sahraoui [Hassaniyya] Name: [ Atil]

Location: East of Layoune , Morocco Photographed: May 2013

Brief Description: A small tree; the male tree growing from 2 to 5 meters in height and the female from 1 to 2 meters; it is common in the central and southern Sahara and parts of the Western Sahara up to Morocco. Animals appreciate the leaves, flowers and pods of this plant as it is rich in minerals and proteins. Local communities in Niger use the leaves in the preparation of sauces and the branches are used as toothbrushes in the Western Sahara and Mauritania.