Alhagi

/ælˈhɑːdʒi/ noun

Definition

A shrubby plant of the genus Alhagi, native to arid regions, producing a gummy resin used in traditional medicine and as an adhesive.

Etymology

From Arabic 'al-hajji', the plant name reflecting the Middle Eastern origin of both the plant and its name. The genus was formally named by botanists using the Arabic popular name.

Kelly Says

Alhagi plants produce a mysterious substance called 'manna'—medieval Europeans thought it fell from heaven, but it's actually a gummy secretion the plant makes, showing how the same natural substance gets wildly different explanations depending on what you know about plant biology.

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