The term “manna plant” refers to various plant species that naturally produce a sugary exudate, historically valued for its medicinal and nutritional attributes. Exploring these botanical sources reveals a fascinating intersection of plant biology, traditional harvesting practices, and cultural significance. Understanding manna plants uncovers their diverse origins and how this sweet material has been collected and utilized across centuries.
Understanding “Manna Plant” Terminology
The phrase “manna plant” broadly encompasses several plants that yield a sweet, solidified sap, known as “manna.” This natural exudate forms when sap seeps from the plant and hardens upon exposure to air. Primary examples include the Manna Ash, scientifically known as Fraxinus ornus, and the Camelthorn, or Alhagi maurorum. These plants, though distinct in their growth habits and native regions, are both recognized for their ability to produce this unique sugary substance.
This solidified sap contains mannitol, a sugar alcohol that contributes to its sweet taste and various properties. The term “manna” itself has ancient roots, applied to saccharine exudates from diverse plants such as certain oaks, tamarisks, and even some lichens. This broader definition clarifies that “manna plant” is a descriptive term for any plant producing such a sweet, hardened secretion, rather than a specific genus or species.
The Manna Ash Tree
The Manna Ash, Fraxinus ornus, is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree native to Southern Europe and Southwestern Asia, spanning from Spain and Italy eastward through the Balkans to Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. It typically grows to a height of 15 to 25 meters (49 to 82 feet) with a trunk diameter of up to 1 meter. The tree features a rounded or irregular crown and smooth, dark gray bark. Its leaves are opposite and pinnate, generally 20 to 30 centimeters long, composed of 5 to 9 broad, ovoid leaflets that are finely serrated.
In late spring, typically May, the Manna Ash produces abundant, fragrant, creamy-white flowers clustered in dense panicles 10 to 20 centimeters long, which appear after the new leaves emerge. These showy inflorescences attract various pollinating insects. The tree thrives in full sun and prefers moist, deep, fertile soils, though it exhibits adaptability to a range of soil pH levels and can tolerate drier, calcareous conditions once established. Historically, Fraxinus ornus has been cultivated for manna production primarily in Sicily, where specific methods are employed to induce the sap flow.
Camelthorn and Other Manna Sources
Camelthorn, Alhagi maurorum, represents another significant source of botanical manna, characterized as a small, perennial thorny shrub. This intricately branched plant typically reaches a height of up to 1 meter (3 feet), though its extensive root system can penetrate deeply, sometimes exceeding 2 meters. Its greenish stems are covered with sharp, axillary spines. Native to arid regions of Eurasia and the Middle East, Camelthorn is well-adapted to dry, saline, and rocky soils, often found along riverbanks and irrigation ditches.
The manna from Camelthorn forms as a resinous exudate on its stems. This plant is known for its resilience, tolerating drought, high temperatures, frost, and sandstorms. Beyond Fraxinus ornus and Alhagi maurorum, other plants also produce manna-like substances. Examples include species of Tamarisk (Tamarix gallica), which can exude a honeylike substance, sometimes as a result of insect activity. Certain lichens, such as Lecanora esculenta, are also referred to as “manna lichen” and can form edible masses dispersed by wind.
Harvesting and Uses of Manna
The collection of manna from plants like the Manna Ash involves specific techniques designed to encourage sap exudation. For Fraxinus ornus, manna is typically harvested by making vertical series of oblique incisions in the bark, usually in the summer months from July to September. A whitish, glutinous liquid then exudes from these cuts, which hardens upon exposure to dry, warm weather. The quality of the manna is often better from the upper stems, and the tree trunk must be at least 8 centimeters in diameter before harvesting can begin. Trees are harvested for several consecutive years, typically around nine, after which they are cut down, allowing new shoots to grow for future production.
Once solidified, manna presents as crystalline, sweet, and somewhat brittle flakes or fragments. Its primary component is mannitol, a sugar alcohol. Manna has a long history of traditional and medicinal uses. It is widely recognized as a gentle laxative, particularly suitable for children and pregnant women due to its mild action. It also functions as an osmotic diuretic. Beyond its medicinal properties, manna has culinary applications, serving as a natural sweetener in sugar-free preparations and as an anti-caking agent. In some cultures, it has been used in desserts or mixed with other ingredients to create sweet treats.
Manna Plant Versus Biblical Manna
The “manna” produced by plants, such as the Manna Ash and Camelthorn, is a natural botanical product, fundamentally distinct from the miraculous “manna from heaven” described in biblical texts. Botanical manna is a sweet, solidified sap or exudate collected from specific trees and shrubs, representing a naturally occurring phenomenon. This plant-derived substance has a definable chemical composition, primarily consisting of mannitol, and is harvested through established agricultural practices or collected as a natural secretion.
In contrast, the biblical manna, as detailed in the Book of Exodus, is depicted as a supernatural provision, appearing miraculously on the ground each morning during the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness. Descriptions of biblical manna include its appearance as a “fine, flake-like thing” like frost, resembling coriander seed, and melting in the sun. While some scholars have proposed natural explanations for the biblical account, such as honeydew secreted by insects on tamarisk trees or certain lichens, the scriptural narrative emphasizes its divine origin and miraculous nature. The key distinction lies in the botanical manna being a predictable, natural product of plant exudation, while biblical manna is presented as a singular, supernatural event, defying conventional scientific explanation.