TREES OF THE WORLD: THE ARAAR TREE

The Araar Tree
(Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters)

It is called by various other names, including: Sandarac Gum Tree; Barbary Arbor-Vitae; Alerce; Mediterranean Alerce; Citron-Wood Tree; and African Juniper.

Maltese name: Known as Gharghar or Sigra tal-Gharghar.The origin of this name is Semitic, derived from the Arabic word 'ar'ar.

In Europe, this tree is confined to the island of Malta and the region of Murcia in Spain (in a small locality near Cartagena) but is widespread in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria & Tunisia, and reported from Libya).

On Malta where it is the national tree, it is found in the wild only on the main island and not on Gozo, Comino and the minor islets. It is very rare, with only some 100 trees still surviving in the wild, most in Northern Malta. Here the habitat is 'Mediterranean maquis', a type of community characterised by small evergreen trees like carob and olive. Also an evergreen, the araar tree has a reddish-brown scented trunk, bears distinctive cones and reaches a maximum height of about 15m, or 5m if it grows in rock fissures or on rocky slopes.

The resin of the tree, called sandarac has various industrial uses and is sometimes used instead of Canada Balsam in the preparation of microscope glasses It is also used as "toothpaste". Its wood/timber, called citron wood, is highly prized for fine woodwork such as cabinet-making and was extensively used by Romans as building material.

It was declared the Maltese National Tree from 16th January, 1992, and has been legally protected in the Maltese Islands since 1993.

Adapted from information compiled by Mr. D. Stevens, Environment Officer, Environment Protection Department of the Maltese government. Full text and references here.