A series of articles are posted on the camel’s icecream plant species

In this series of articles, different flora from different plants species are released on the website http://arkbiodiv.com

A major part of the work is composed of the data I managed myself but for some part, other friends and colleagues helped me in compiling this series.

The camels have a choosy nature

Camel love salty (with high salt contents), complex, and spiny species of plants. Such plants are also called icecream species, I tried to compile a series of information about such species of flora. Many friends from different parts of the world also helped me with this work. for camel and goats. While living in UAE, I compiled some images and information about the flora found here. Here, I share some special pictures of such species (icecream species) which I shot today during my morning walk.

1. Haloxylon salicornicum (Ramas)

Well known to camel herders all over the world and loved by the camels, Haloxylon has many species and is found in the driest parts of the world. In my homeland, this plant is known as Shorie (Pashtu). Besides animal food, it is also used for the tannery at the local level to prepare skins for water storage and processing yogurt. I have posted a video on my youtube channel as well. You can watch it by clicking on the link below.

Haloxylon salicornicum (Ramas), a unique plant of the desert landscape

Traditional practice is that the camel herders take their camels to graze on Haloxylon when they notice salt hunger among the camels. The Pashtun camel keepers called the phenomenon of salt deficiency ZALAM (salt hunger)

Heloxylon selicornicum is zerphyte as well as halophyte

Heloxylon selicornicum is zerphyte as well as halophyte. They also provide shelter and food to different small creatures.

Heloxylon selicornicum is zerphyte as well as halophyte. Found in desert, garden walls, and other places

Heloxylon selicornicum is Xerophyte as well as halophyte. They erect with the walls and get taller up to 3 meters

Heloxylon selicornicum is Xerophyte as well as Halophyte

2. Acacia Tortilis (Samr, Samur or Salam)

A. tortilis is equipped with many strong and sharp spines to keep it protected. The tree has very beautiful compound leaves (compound) having more than 170 leaflets. Highly resilient and adapted trees of drylands and the desert. The camel and goats both like it. Such strong and resilient plant products give camels strong feelings of survival. Below is the gallery, you can see the compound leaf, a full-grown tree, and a branch with clear details about the stalk, leaves, and spines.

In the following gallery, you can see other images with a very spiny acacia, an umbrella structure in the desert, a blossom acacia, and the pods of the tree. Also, I share a link about the Acacia tortilis with more images and details, please read the following articles.

The security system of the tree, thorns on alert

The resilience of the tree in the driest conditions

The beautiful pods of the reselient tree can be seen guarded by sharp spines

I took this picture in the city of the Alain during my morning walk on the weekend.

Acacia tortilis tree in United Arab Emirates — Acacia tortilis in UAE, in the background we can see camels

3. Prosopis cineraria (Ghaf)

One of the important trees of the desert ecosystem. This tree is highly respected and cared about in the UAE. The father of the nation ‘Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan’ had very special adoration and care for this tree. During the development process of the country, the roads were designed to save trees, especially Ghaf. You can further read about the Prosopis tree in the following.

Prosopis cineraria, an unsung hero of the Arabian peninsula — The crucial part of the desert ecosystems. This tree works as soil conservation and sand dunes fixation.

National tree of UAE

Prosopis cineraria are highly praised in UAE and are considered the national tree. I have found that many places, roads, and walls are diverted/tilted to save a tree. In the first picture, one can see the wall is curved to protect the tree. This tree is very strong and gets a very long life. Even the slightly attached broken branches survive for years.

Prosopis cineraria is the national tree of the UAE — The government and the people of the UAE prioritize native trees for conservation

Gallery of the P. cineraria

Camels taking refuge under the shade of Prosopis cineraria — Camels love to browse on Prosopis cineraria as well as take refuge under the shade of this tree.

Prosopis cineraria in Alain, UAE — The beautiful scene made by the Prosopis tree

The very strong and resilient tree of the desert, Prosopis cineraria (Ghaf)

Beautiful Emirates' Tree — P. cineraria act as a source of landmarks and help as GPS for livestock and wild animals

Newly germinated Prosopis cineraria in the desert of UAE

Beautiful view, Prosopis cineraria group and the sand dunes. — Beautiful view, Prosopis cineraria group, and the sand dunes.

A fascinating scene of Prosopis cineraria in the desert

Prosopis in the desert — Prosopis cineraria in the UAE desert

Prosopis cineraria, very tall and dense tree — Prosopis cineraria grow longer and longer and reach up to 25 meters

Prosopis cineraria seeds — The Prosopis cineraria tree produces long pods with black seeds. The seeds are very much liked by camels, goats, and insects

A tall tree of Ghaf P. cineraria in Alain — Prosopis cineraria grow taller, up to 25 m. In Alain, we can see very tall trees

Pruning of P. cineraria is a special event in UAE

P. cineraria is a very special food for camels. Once a year, the shoots are allowed to trim and offer to the camels. This trimming time is linked with the breeding season of the camels. The camel bulls like this plant very much and work aphrodisiac for them. This tree is widely found in Alain city and adjoining areas.

IMG_1230[1].JPG — The tree is protected during the road design and construction in Alain, UAE. No one is allowed to remove the tree in the name of development

These plants give special quality and taste to camel milk. It enriches camel milk with unique minerals which play a pivotal role in human physiology. The UAE vision is very appreciable, as the country is promoting sustainable management and conservation of plants and animal genetic resources. The policymakers of other countries must learn from them.

Personally, I have great feelings towards biodiversity, especially the plants and trees liked by the camels. Once I launched a move to save the brutal cutting of the Tamarix tree in the Lasbela region of Pakistan. Camel Peace Caravan for Conservation of Unique Tamarix Forest

Tamarix is one of the most important plants in the coastal and other marshy regions of the world. Tamarix is an important food for the camels and the herders believe that the camel browsing on Tamarix has very tasty and frothy milk. You can see the image of camel/milk in the Tamarix forest in the coastal region of Sindh Pakistan in the link. Sindhi camel and coastal line plants

Plants that are Liked such as Icecream by the Camels – Part 1

A series of articles are posted on the camel’s icecream plant species