Argania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Argania |
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| Near Tafraout, Morocco | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Sapotaceae |
| Tribe: | Sideroxyleae |
| Genus: | Sideroxylon |
| Species: |
S. spinosum
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| Binomial name | |
| Sideroxylon spinosum L. (1753)
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| Native range of A. spinosa | |
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| Synonyms | |
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The argan tree (scientific name: Sideroxylon spinosum, also known as Argania spinosa) is a special flowering plant. It is a tree that grows naturally in the dry, rocky areas of the Sous valley in Morocco. You can also find it in parts of Algeria, Mauritania, and Western Sahara. Argan trees can grow quite tall, up to 8 to 10 meters, and they can live for about 200 years! These trees have thorns, twisted trunks, and wide branches that spread out, sometimes even touching the ground.
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What's in a Name?
The scientific name Argania comes from the word "argan." This is what the tree is called in the Shilha language, spoken by many people where the tree grows. The Shilha language has many words to describe the argan fruit, how ripe it is, and how it's collected and processed. The famous oil from this tree is called argan oil.
Meet the Argan Tree: Description and Life Cycle
The argan tree has small, oval-shaped leaves, about 2 to 4 centimeters long. Its flowers are tiny, with five pale yellow-green petals, and they bloom in April. The fruit is about 2 to 4 centimeters long and 1.5 to 3 centimeters wide. It has a thick, bitter outer peel. Inside, there's a sweet-smelling but not very tasty pulp. This pulp surrounds a very hard nut. Inside the nut, you'll find one (sometimes two or three) small seeds that are rich in oil. It takes over a year for the fruit to fully ripen, usually ready in June or July of the next year.
Where Argan Trees Grow and Why They're Important
Argan trees once grew across much of North Africa. Today, they are mostly found in southwestern Morocco. These trees are amazing because they can survive in very harsh conditions. They can handle extreme heat (over 50°C), long dry periods, and poor soil. Even though their numbers are decreasing, argan trees are still the second most common tree in Moroccan forests. There are over twenty million trees in the region!
Argan trees play a super important role in their environment. Their roots grow deep to find water, which helps hold the soil together and stops it from washing away. Thanks to the argan tree, many parts of the region have been protected from the Sahara desert spreading further. This shows how vital they are for the area's natural balance.
Sadly, the forests where argan trees grow, called arganeraie forests, have shrunk by about half in the last 100 years. This is due to people cutting trees for charcoal, animals eating too much, farming, and towns growing bigger. More livestock, like goats, means more eating of the argan trees. Goats even climb high into the branches to eat the fruit and leaves! This can harm the trees and prevent new ones from growing. Overgrazing also causes soil erosion and makes the forest drier and hotter, which is bad for the trees in the long run.
There's good news for saving these trees! The demand for argan oil around the world has grown a lot. This makes the oil a valuable product. This new wealth helps local communities. However, sometimes people use this money to buy more goats, which can then eat more of the argan trees. You might see pictures of goats climbing argan trees, especially in tourist areas. It's often said that these scenes are sometimes set up for visitors, as goats don't usually climb trees that often without human help.
Argan trees are also grown in the Arabah and Negev regions of Israel.
How People Use the Argan Tree
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For hundreds of years, the argan tree has been very important to the Berber people who live in these areas. It's a "multi-purpose" tree, meaning almost every part of it can be used! The fruit can be eaten, valuable oil comes from its nuts, and the wood can be used for fuel. This tree provides food and income for about three million people, especially those in rural areas. In some parts of Morocco, argan trees are as important as olive trees. They provide food for animals, oil, wood, and fuel.
The Argan Fruit: A Natural Treat
Argan fruit falls from the trees in July when it turns black and dry. During this time, people make sure goats don't enter the argan woodlands. Rules and village traditions control who can collect the fruit. After goats eat the fruit, they spit out the hard nuts. This actually helps spread the seeds, allowing new argan trees to grow!
Argan Oil: Liquid Gold
Argan oil is made by several women's co-operatives in southwestern Morocco. Making the oil is hard work! First, the soft pulp is removed from the fruit (this pulp is used to feed animals). Then, the very hard nut is cracked by hand, usually between two stones. The seeds inside are taken out and gently roasted. This roasting gives the oil its special, nutty taste.
Traditionally, the roasted seeds are ground into a paste with a little water using a stone mill. Then, the paste is squeezed by hand to get the oil out. The leftover paste still has some oil and is fed to animals. Oil made this way can be stored for three to six months. The kernels (seeds) themselves can be kept for 20 years if unopened, so oil can be made when needed.
Today, dry-pressing is also used, especially for oil sold commercially. This method is faster, and the oil can last for 12 to 18 months.
Argan oil is very healthy! It contains 80% unsaturated fatty acids, which are good fats. It's also more resistant to going bad than olive oil. People use argan oil for dipping bread, on couscous, and in salads. A special dip called amlou is made with argan oil, almonds, and peanuts, sometimes with honey or sugar. The unroasted oil is also used in traditional skin treatments and has become very popular with cosmetics companies in Europe.
Argan oil is sold as a luxury item in Morocco. Its sales have grown a lot since it became popular in the cosmetics industry in the US and Europe in the early 2000s. It's known for being quite expensive compared to other oils.
Argan oil contains important fatty acids like:
- 46% Oleic acid
- 32% Linoleic acid
- 12% Palmitic acid
- 6% Stearic acid
Argan for Animals: Food and Shelter
Argan trees are a main source of food for sheep, goats, camels, and cattle. Animals love to eat the fruit and leaves. The leftover paste from oil extraction can also be dried in the sun and fed to these animals. Bees sometimes build their nests in argan trees, making them places where wild honey can be collected.
Global Recognition for the Argan Tree
The argan tree and its products are recognized worldwide for their special qualities and cultural importance.
Special Protection for Argane Oil
Because of the unique qualities of the region where argan trees grow, the Moroccan government asked the European Union to protect "Argane" (the French name for argan). In October 2011, they applied for Argane to become a Protected Geographical Indication. This means that only argan oil produced in this specific region of Morocco, following traditional methods, can be called "Argane" oil. It helps ensure quality and protects local producers.
Argan's Place in World Heritage
| Argan, practices and know-how concerning the argan tree | |
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UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
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Making argan paste
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| Country | Morocco |
| Reference | 00 |
| Region | Arab States |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2014 (14th session) |
| List | Representative |
In 2014, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added "Argan, practices and know-how concerning the argan tree" to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This was done at Morocco's request to help protect and preserve the traditions, knowledge, practices, and crafts related to the argan tree. It shows how important these cultural practices are to the world.
A Special Day for Argania
On March 3, 2021, the United Nations General Assembly decided to make May 10th the International Day of Argania. This day is celebrated every year. One of the main reasons for this was to highlight how important the Argania tree is for sustainable development in the areas where it grows. Morocco proposed this resolution, and 113 other countries supported it before it was officially adopted.
See also
In Spanish: Argania spinosa para niños
