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Argan Argania spinosa Shrubby tree grown for its almond-sized fruits inside of which, large seeds having a highly esteemed oil are found. The oil is used much like olive oil, and has a similar fat content to olive oil. |
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Uses |
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Seeds are pressed to obtain argan oil, an expensive and highly usefull cooking oil--popular in Morocco, and used much like olive oil. When cooking with the oil, it is said to impart a subtle nutty flavor to foods. |
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Plant Cultivation |
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Shrubby, thorny tree growing to 30ft, but often remaining much smaller. Hardy to the 20's, the argan tree is also highly tolerant of drought, high heat, and poor soil conditions. Grow in full sun. In its natural range, goats and foraging animals eat the fruits, depositing the hard-shelled seeds in their waste. Seeds are then collected, and later pressed to obtain the valuable argan oil (which is sold for up to 10 times the price of olive oil). |
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Origin and Distribution |
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Native to southwestern Morocco. |
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Related Species |
