TETRACLINIS ARTICULATA: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, PROPERTIES, CULTIVATION - BIOLOGY - 2025

Tetraclinis articulata is a species of shrub-like perennial conifer that belongs to the Cupressaceae family. Known as araar, plow, African larch, Cartagena cypress, blackberry juniper, sandarac or articulated thuja, it is a species native to North Africa and southern Europe.

It is a small tree of low height, conical shape and dense crown, with articulated and compressed branches. The green whorled leaves have resinous glands, they are needle-like and sharp when young, flattened and triangular when they develop.

Tetraclinis articulata. Source: Nanosanchez / Public domain

It is a monoecious species, the male cones are elongated and composed of numerous opposing pollen scales, the female ones of a globose shape covered by four scales. The fruit is a heart-shaped pineapple with a woody texture, inside which there are 2 to 4 winged seeds.

It is considered an emblematic species of the Murcia region, the only one of the genus Tetraclinis, of scarce distribution, vulnerable and in danger of extinction. Scratching has survived since the late Miocene and is one of the most important contributions of the Iberian Peninsula to European biodiversity.

In North Africa, where its population is more abundant, the excellent quality wood is used for the elaboration of artisan carvings. The bark contains tannins that are used in tanning, it also emits a resin that has medicinal properties and is used to make varnishes and glues.

General characteristics

Appearance

Medium-sized tree, erect growth trunk, longitudinally striated bark of grayish-brown or gray-ashy tones that measures between 8-15 m high and 25-40 cm in diameter. The upward-growing erect branches are provided with articulated branches forming a dense crown of conical or irregular shape.

Leaves

The squamiform leaves are formed by small triangular scales 2-5 mm long, arranged in pendulous and articulated twigs. The young leaves are fine and sharp needles, the adults arranged in four whorls, one pair opposite and flattened, the other pair keeled and narrower.

Cones

The male yellowish-brown ovoid strobili are covered by numerous pollen scales measuring 3-4 mm. The female ones of 10-15 mm and blue-green tones, present four valves that are grouped in a single whorl that will become the fruit. Flowering occurs during the fall and winter.

Fruit

The woody-textured, heart-shaped female strobili are provided with 4 scales with a dorsal groove, they ripen the following summer into a dehiscent fruit 2 cm in diameter. Inside there are 2-4 seeds of 5-8 mm long by 1-2 mm wide, with double or triple wings that favor their dispersion.

Squamiform leaves of Tetraclinis articulata. Source: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae

- Division: Pinophyta

- Class: Pinopsida

- Order: Pinales

- Family: Cupressaceae

- Genus: Tetraclinis

- Species: Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters

Etymology

- Tetraclinis: in the name of the genus it comes from the Greek "τετρά" which means four and "χλινη" which means bed, which translates into "four beds" or "four places". In allusion to the four valves that make up the pineapple.

- articulata: the specific adjective derives from the Latin «articles-i» which means «article or article», with the adjectival suffix «-atus, -a, -um» which indicates «similar». Which is translated as "articulated or having articulations", related to the articulated aspect of the twigs.

Female cones of Tetraclinis articulata. Source: MurielBendel / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Habitat and distribution

Its natural habitat is located in semi-arid, dry and sunny environments with a subtropical climate, forming open forests in association with wild olive trees, kermes oak, mastic, palm hearts, Aleppo pines and junipers. In the wild it establishes a scattered arboreal plant formation, where bushes, grasslands and bulbous grasslands predominate.

It develops on various types of soils, preferably of calcareous origin, shallow, clay-loam, well developed and permeable. It grows on sunny slopes, hills, slopes, ravines, gorges, boulevards, rocks and rocky areas, from sea level to 1,200 meters above sea level.

Natural species of the western coast of the Mediterranean, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia in North Africa, Murcia in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, Malta and Cyprus. In Spain, wild populations are restricted to the eastern mountains of Cartagena in Murcia, particularly Calblanque, Escombreras, Fausilla, Monte de las Cenizas, Sabinar and Peña del Águila.

Fruits and seeds of Tetraclinis articulata. Source: Muséum de Toulouse / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Properties

Medicinal properties

The resins obtained from its leaves and twigs contain certain secondary metabolites that provide medicinal and therapeutic properties. Scratching is used in herbal medicine to relieve diarrhea, menstrual pain and hemorrhoids, topically it is used to heal papillomas.

Other apps

Its hard and resistant wood has been used since the times of the Greeks and Romans in cabinetmaking and carpentry in the manufacture of furniture and handmade carvings. The resin called "sandáraca", obtained from leaves, branches and bark was used to burn as incense in sacred rituals and to make varnishes, gums and perfumes.

At present it is used as a landscape resource to restore and repopulate xerophilous environments and easily ignited in warm times. It is a species that tolerates waterlogging, resists drought and occasional frosts, being cultivated in Mediterranean gardens and parks due to its size and particular characteristics.

Tetraclinis articulata in its natural environment. Source: Nanosanchez / Public domain

Culture

The propagation of araar is carried out by means of seeds that can be stored for a long time due to their high germination power. The seeds are obtained from pineapples that have matured after one year and are disseminated during the months of September and October.

The seeds are 5-8 mm long by 1-2 mm wide, have a small persistent membrane 4-5 mm wide. They do not require pre-germination treatment, but the extraction of the seed is carried out by air drying, sieving and density separation.

Sowing is done at the beginning of spring on germination beds or forest containers, using a fertile, humid and well-drained substrate. Germination begins 10-15 days after sowing, when they reach 10-15 cm in height they are ready to transplant.

Araar is a slow growing species that can be sown in the field at a planting frame of 4-6 m between seedlings. However, its root system is very weak, so it requires the utmost care during transplantation, since it tolerates the process poorly.

References

1. Bibiloni, J. (2012) Tetraclinis articulata, a treasure from Murcia, a relic of the late Miocene. Recovered at: jardin-mundani.blogspot.com
2. López Espinosa, JA (2018) Ciprés de Cartagena, Tuya Mediterránea, Sabina Mora, Araar. Tetraclinis articulata. Region of Murcia Digital. Recovered at: regmurcia.com
3. Puértolas S., J., Chirino M., E. and Prada S., MA (2012) Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Mast. Production and management of seeds and forest plants. Volumes I and II. Autonomous body National Parks. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
4. Sánchez de Lorenzo-Cáceres, JM (2014) Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Mast. Ornamental Trees. Recovered in: arbolesornamentales.es
5. Tetraclinis articulata (2018) Tree App. Recovered at: arbolapp.es
6. Tetraclinis. (2020, January 9). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
7. Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters (2010) Wild Seeds. Recovered in: semillassilvestres.com