Bituminaria bituminosa

Bituminaria bituminosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Tribe:	Psoraleeae
Genus:	Bituminaria
Species:	B. bituminosa
Binomial name
Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C.H.Stirt.
Subspecies
Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata (Canary Islands): Albo Tedera Bituminaria bituminosa var. crassiuscula (Canary Islands): Teide Tedera Bituminaria bituminosa var. bituminosa (Canary Islands): Tedera and (Mediterranean basin): Arabian pea; Pitch trefoil; Engraisse mouton Bituminaria bituminosa var. hulensis (Hula Valley, Israel): שרעול שעיר
Synonyms
Psoralea bituminosa L. Aspalthium bituminosum (L.) Kuntze Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) Stirton

Bituminaria bituminosa, the Arabian pea or pitch trefoil, is a perennial Mediterranean herb species in the genus Bituminaria.

The pterocarpans bitucarpin A and B can be isolated from the aerial parts of B. bituminosa.

It has several potential uses: (i) forage crop, (ii) Phytostabilization of heavy metal contaminated or degraded soils, (iii) Synthesis of furanocoumarins (psoralen, angelicin, xanthotoxin and bergapten), compounds of broad pharmaceutical interest.

It is easily recognizable by the characteristic smell of bitumen from its leaves. This strong tar-like characteristic aroma appears to be the result of a combination of several substances such as phenolics, sulphurated compounds, sesquiterpenes and probably short-chain hydrocarbon. Total polyphenols content was < 2% and the condensed tannins was <0.8% in a dry weight basis.

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See also

• List of native plants of Palestine (A-B)
• Orto Botanico di Montemarcello near Ameglia, Province of La Spezia, Liguria, Italy

External links

• Bituminaria bituminosa on www.fao.org