Native to northern Africa, temperate and tropical Asia, eastern and southern Europe.
Africa: Algeria; Egypt; Libya; Morocco; Tunisia; Mauritania
Asia-Temperate: Kuwait; Saudi Arabia Caucasus: Armenia; Azerbaijan; Georgia; Russian Federation - Dagestan; Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia - Ciscaucasia; China - Xinjiang; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan; Mongolia; Afghanistan; Cyprus; Egypt - Sinai; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Jordan; Lebanon; Syria; Turkey; Pakistan
Europe: Moldova; Russian Federation-European part - European part; Ukraine; Bulgaria; Greece; Italy; Romania; Serbia; Spain
Peganum harmala is a perennial plant in the Zygophyllaceae family with a low-growing, bushy habit reaching 2-3 ft. in height. Leaves are succulent, dark green, smooth, fleshy, alternate, irregularly divided, and from 0.8-2 in.long. The white, five-petal flowers have green sepals and yellow stamens. They are present from late spring to early fall in the axils of the leaves. Seeds are found in a 2-celled or 4-celled green capsule that dries and bursts open at maturity. The plant also spreads by lateral roots.
Available horticulturally. Used for medicinal purposes and for tanning and dyeing (GRIN).