Eremobium aegyptiacum (Leisla)
Brassicaceae (Mustard) is found in almost all the desert/drylands, i.e. Sahara, ME, Arabia, Persia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. We have some very fresh information about the Eremobium aegyptiacum, a large family with an interesting and beautiful flowering of 4 petals.
Wild Ancestor of many leafy and pod vegetables
This plant is the wild ancestor of many of our vegetables as; Broccoli, cauliflower, Canola, Radish, cabbage, rapeseed, mustard, and many more.
Ecological role and feed of primary consumers
It plays a very important role in the rangelands/desert ecology providing food to a range of wild and domesticated animals like bees, insects, bugs, rabbits, sheep, goats, deers, etc. It is the food of choice for the sheep helping in the body compensation after the dry winter period. It is an attractive flowery herbage in the desert and provides nectars to the desert bees. It erupts after a shower in the month of February and March, completing the life cycle in a short season, and burst its pods spreading seeds before the harsh summer. You can see a microniche of the beautiful flora, flourishing in the desert landscape of Alain.
The camel also loves this flora, mainly because of its high protein content and spicy taste.
A spicy salad
I eat it when exploring and walking the desert. It is a very delicious, healthy, and spicy salad in the desert. Its pods resemble the horn of cattle and we call it Shakari (horn) in Pashtu.
Can be a beautiful flora for the lawns and parks
I have been promoting native flora not only for the greening of the desert ecosystem and livestock food but as a beautification agent for the lawns and parks. It will not only provide a panoramic view of the lawns and parks but also a very sustainable and healthy ecosystem; providing habitat to the local and native wildlife. A shower of rain in a year is enough to sustain the beauty and lifecycle of the highly adapted desert flora. This way a municipality can save millions of liters of water annually and the other expenses (pesticides, fertilizers, and other costs) as well. This idea will give a boost to the nature conservation movement and will help in sustainable lawns and parks. https://arkbiodiv.com/2022/01/23/native-shrubs-are-the-best-for-the-municipal-and-homes-beautifications/amp/
This plant can grow taller by up to 14 inches and spread on the ground by up to 23 inches without any additional support.
For further understanding of the Eremobium aegyptiacum
This gallery of pictures of the flora will help you in further understand the plant.
You can watch a beautiful video of the flora made in the desert, in the Masaken area near Alain UAE.
Wonderful pictures and I like the idea of eating the “salad” while walking there.
Joanna
Thanks for your liking and appreciation. Yes, food from nature is always perfect but we must know if it is not poisonous.