Scientific Name: Phoenix dactylifera Sahraoui [Hassaniyya] Name: [ Nakhil]

Location: North of Lemseid , Morocco Photographed: June 2013

Brief Description: In many cases omitted from Saharan ethnobotanical studies (perhaps because of its domestication) the date palm tree is an important part of food production in the region. Found throughout the Sahara, the tree grows from 10 to 30 meters tall and produces the popular, very sweet fruit known as dates. It has other food uses for Saharan communities as well. In times of famine the center of the tree and the roots are consumed. In the Fezzan Region of Libya, the local communities eat the spine of the palm tree during Spring believing this maintains their health the rest of the year.