Before, I wrote as ‘Please help me in the identification of this climber shrub’ but I knew the answer. Thanks to my friend Saharan Shephard who replied to my query and provided the name with some details.
The shrub has weak stems (mostly many) and climbs on other trees. I found it in Alain Abu Dhabi. It is in the flowering stage now. It has small simple leaves, thorny stalks, and red cherries (though I found one). According to Wikipedia, it is found throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
Here the Lycium flora is climbed on an Acacia tortillas tree. I found only one fruit, yellow berry. Inside the fruit is a few small seed-like tomatoes.Beautiful flowers with olive-like leavesThe stalks are blackish in color
Some more details about the flora Lycium shawii
Lycium shawii is highly adapted to desert ecosystems. The thin-leaved, rigid bush grows up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) high, with a lot of branches and alternating spines that vary in size, and grow along the branches and on their tips. The leaves narrow towards their base. It produces small whitish-pink or purple flowers from Sep to Apr. The fruit is small red pea-sized (seedy berries), edible, and used as herbal medicine as well. The flora like to be the neighbor of Acacia tortillas and Prosopis cineraria to climb and thrive better.
Lycium shawii climbed on an Acacia tortillas treeThe shrub has a weaker stem, can’t erect by itselfThe thorny stalk of the Lycium shawii
Is it native or exotic?
Yes; It is native to the desert ecosystem of the Arabian Peninsula and some parts of Africa.
Haloxyllon and Leptadenia as a live wall in Hili Alain United Arab Emirates.
Appeal and Out of the box thinking
I strongly appeal to all the people and municipalities of the world, especially the Arabian Peninsula to adapt the best solution and conserve nature by using native flora/shrubs for hedging, fencing, wall beautifications, herbariums, botanical gardens, lawns, and other vegetation projects because of many reasons. The idea is equally good for all the regions of the world but here my main focus is on the desert flora and Arabian Peninsula.
The native biodiversity of the Arabian Peninsula
In the following gallery, different plants and insects of the region are provided. The list is very long but here few important are provided.
The very important shrub of the aridlands, Tetraena is a hope of life in the desert ecosystems. The shrub is not only a source of food for the large animals but also for the flies, bees, beetles and other creatures in the drylands. A flowering beautiful Helitropium bacciferumCrocodile in the desert – Making shapes of the wetlife Desert is a heaven on the earth and the trees are the treasureAdapted desert flora, Tetraena qatarensis, commonly known as Harm or HadiddiTribulus herbA wild brassicaceae shoot in Jable HafeethA thorney shrub in Jable HafeethCyperus graas of Jable HafeethWild flower in Jable HafeethA beautiful flowering shrub of Jable HafeethShrub in in Jable HafeethAuthor with Prosopis cineraria in the desert of Alain Abu DhabiCalitropis plant – highly resistant and flowering all around the year. A very attractive bush for the sunbirdFlowers of Leptadenia, a very attractive flowering shrub in the desert. The people also make gum of its’ pods. Highly adapted flora of the desert, Zygophyllum qatarenseWild bee on the flower of Depterigium plantLadybug eating epids on the flower of the TribulusA dark red ladybug on the Tribulus plantA desert flowering bush The bolossom of Acacia Tortilis Leptadenia can grow taller up to 4 meter and can be used for making life fencing.Haloxyllon salicornicum, a very unique plant and the best food for the camelsFamily Brassicaceae, two types of Eremorium aegyptiacum in Alain. A huge and widely spread Zygophyllum in Alain UAE. The botanical name is Tetraena qatarensisThe native flora provides habitat to the wildlife, a rodent’s home in the roots of the Haloxyllon salicornicum. A shrub of Haloxyllon salicornicum in Hili AlainGallary showing different flora of the United Arab Emirates. Such flora diversity can be used to achieve all the goals of municipalities beautification, personal lawns, research, and nature conservations.
The reasons behind the idea
No need for watering as the native flora are highly drought tolerant and can survive years without rains.
The native flora can be plant in any type of soil as they are highly salt tolerant in nature
Mostly, the native flora do not need an fertilizer, pesticides, or mineral suppliments
They do not need intensive care, saving a thousands of hours of labor time
A strong support to the flora and fauna biodiversity of the region
The native flora are ecofriendly, perform far better than exotic plants and better survive in climatic extremes
Also, native flora provides habitat to the mini-wildlife of the region, like honeybees, whisps, beetles, reptiles, birds, and many others
The additional but very important role can be fodder production for the camels and other livestock. The stalk trimmed for beautification can be a very good camel feed. The municipility like Abu Dhabi can produce thousands of tons of fodder for camels annualy and can save a huge volume of import expences
The municipality can save up to million of liter water annually which can be use for other environmental support projects
The native flora can be use for the herbal medication as the traditional knowledge using the herbs is still very strong in different region
Such projects will be a great support for nature conservation
We can form miniature herbariums, living walls, live-fencing, and botanical garden in the cities with the native flora
It is really a great theme to use the native flora (highly tolerant to the drought conditions and saline soil textures) for different vegetation projects like herbarium, botanical garden, living walls, living fencing, landscaping, lawns, and other plantation projects. The native plants can fulfill all the purposes with a very low input system.
Live wall, such wall can be formed by the native flora very easilyAuthor with a background of beauty wall in Alain. Such walls need a lot of water, almost everyday. If the same wall is made by Zygophyllum, can save thousands of liter of water and produce hundreds tons of food for the camels annuallybeauty wallsSuch large walls can be easily made with the Leptadenia shrub. Such wooden fences can be made by Acacia tortillas.Author with a Zygophyllum shrub in Alain, the shrub has climbed the wirefence Haloxyllon and Leptadenia as a live wall in Hili Alain United Arab Emirates.Author with the Haloxyllon shrub live wall in Alain.Haloxyllon live wall in AlainSome pictures of the native flora with the live wall and natural fencing are provided in the gallary.
Alain Municipality has taken great initiatives alread
In many places of the Alain city, you will notice a lot of native flora have been used for the city beautification, like Leptadenia, and other plants (many from the Jable Hafeeth origin), which is really a very environment-friendly act. I would especially suggest flora like Haloxyllon salicornicum and Zygophyllum qatarense for making fences and walls as they can climb on support and get strengthen their stems with time.
Calligunum comosumwhite Sauxal Acacia tortillas in Blossom Beautiful Shrubs for lawns that do not need any inputs
I love the desert ecosystem, a calm place with wide horizons and well-adapted bio-players sustaining life in challenging conditions. I always walk in the desert as an explorer and learn from nature on regular basis. My interest is mainly focused on the native flora and the inhabitants relying on such flora. As I walk, I document the deserts’ facts and share them with you people to read, learn and understand the hidden but interesting facts of life in the desert.
A well-grown happy shrub of Zygophyllum qatarense in the desert of Alain Abu Dhabi, UAEThe very important shrub of the arid lands, Tetraena is a hope of life in the desert ecosystems. Adapted desert flora, Tetraena qatarensis, commonly known as Harm or HadiddiIn some deserted areas, Zygophyllum qatarense is the only flora for food of the all types of animals
In this article, I’m sharing some macro photography about the tiny wildlife serving and living in the Tetraena qatarensis. In the pictures, you will see beautiful flowers, flies, robber flies, and other tiny creatures. You will be able to see the close view of the complete flowers, stigma, pistil, and the maturing fruits of the shrub. With each image, there is some brief information that can help you understand the purpose of the picture.
The flower of Tetraena qatarensis synonym Zygophyllum qatarense is going to mature and will germinate again in the next seasonThe shrub is not only a source of food for the large animals but also for the flies, bees, beetles and other creatures in the drylands. A common fly is sucking the nectar of the flower of Tetraena qatarensis, Zygophyllum is food for all. The beautiful flower of the Tetraena qatarensis with the bulbs like leaves and a budWhat is the beauty of the flower of Tetraena qatarensis? Though I used the iPhone camera, we can shoot a better picture with a professional camera. A petal is sheding down of the flower – spring of Zygophyllum qatarenseA fully mature flower of the Tetraena qatarensis, the petals are gone and the male parts are well visible. A desert’s beetle eating the fallen flowers of the Tetraena qatarensisA shrub of Zygophyllum qatarense (Tetraena qatarensis) with beautiful white flowersThe leaflets, buds, and flower – A close view of the Tetraena qatarensis synonym Zygophyllum qatarenseA mature flower and a maturing flower bud – spring of Zygophyllum qatarenseThe macro Photogallery of the Tetraena qatarensis shrub in the desert of Alain, Abu Dhabi
I’m an extensive livestock expert by training (rangelands/desert ecology and forages with main focus on camels, especially dairying) and desert explorer by passion (ethnoecology, ethnobotany, traditional herbal knowledge, biodiversity, and climate change). I’m working in the beautiful country of the United Arab Emirates, which is enriched with the diversity of beauty, from the Oasis to the desert and skyscrapers to the beautiful beaches. I love this beautiful country as I have many opportunities to learn and explore the desert.
Calitropis Shrub in the desert in Alain , Abudhabi
I love to know the desert ecology and the ethnoecology of the region, search and identify the flora (food for livestock and other traditional purposes), document the available flora as fact sheets, collaborate with the research institutes to further investigate scientific facts as a hobby and passion. In my free time, I go to the desert, mostly walk barefoot and understand the facts about the penology, ecosystems, and their potential for livestock systems in a climate change context. I also collect the garbage/trash (mostly plastic bottles/cans) from the desert and through in the waste bins allocated by the municipality. https://twitter.com/DrRaziqKakar/status/1452343013724807178?s=20
Collected a bag of trash in a small place from the desert
Collected a bag of trash in a small place from the desert
Desert is a heaven on the earth and the trees are the treasure
Desert exploration is my passion
Desert is my love and cleaning is my hobby
Sometimes, I really need help in taxonomic classification and nomenclature of the flora and fauna
Sometimes, I really get tired and stressed when unable to solve my academic question, the question from my academy – the desert. I have been coming through such a situation from time to time. I found this flora many times and knew that it is a great source of salts for the camel and the camels really love it. In Arabic it is called RIMRAM, the traditional practitioners recommend it feeding the camels before work or race. Here are the pictures in the gallery, please help me in identifying and supporting my research work as it is for the wellbeing of desert, livestock, and humanity. Though I have found some information from google I still need help to sort it out.
رمرام Rimram in Arabic. Here are the pictures
Here I found – My conception after review references from the internet
Botanical name: Heliotropium bacciferum, English: Helitrope, Turnsole, Arabic name: Ramram, الرمرام, Pashtu name: پتنګانو مور Mother of butterflies as it is flowing round the year.
It is always fun walking and exploring the treasures and beauties of the desert. I love to walk and explore in the desert. Desert is the ocean of the sand but there is no Shark and no Stingrays. You can find beautiful and unique flora, fauna, sand dunes, songs of the air blowing, and sometimes a desert storm. Desert is a paradise but you have to choose a good time/weather to roam in the paradise. We have 3 months to go in the desert and inhale long breaths in the open and wide horizons of the desert.
Panoramic view of the desert in Abudhabi
Walking in humps and necks of the camels
In the desert, nature roams, nothing is managed or organized by human beings. The blow of the air, both the intensity and the direction decides the shapes of the dunes and the sands. You will feel like walking among the humps and necks of the camels as some dunes really look like the humps and the others like the neck of the camels. Nature has designed the camel in tune with the desert’s landscape. The colors and shapes of the sand dunes are much similar to the camels and vise versa. https://youtu.be/JaK5AEIy81c
The resemblance of the camels with the desert landscape
The nature’s engineering with the DNA to survive in aridity
Nature is wise and perfect, had learned to cope with climatic conditions under challenging conditions. The leaf, small fibrous hair, special barks, unique roots, and strong stress physiology make the desert flora and fauna fittest. Calitropis is one of the eccentric flora of the desert – surviving the arid conditions with smiles and flowers. The healthier and fresh shine of the leaves and flowers attract the attention of the desert’s travelers, especially when the visitor is an explorer.
Many people know Calitropis a cause of poison, unedible and useless but to me, it is an asset of biodiversity, a treasure of healing molecules, and food for some animals like goats, deers, desert rodents, and some beetles and other insects. The flowers are a rich source of nectar both for the sunbirds and the bees along with other insects.
The bunches of flowers- an attraction in the desert
Zygophyllum qatarense – A guarantee for sustainable greenery in the desert and food for the animals
Zygo is not only resilient, surviving aridity and salts but also responded very positively to the microflora in the livestock’s saliva, especially camels. The flora browzed by the camels is more healthy and shiny than those who grew tall and safe from the grazing. The Zygo is very much in a symbiotic relationship with the animals/livestock, attracting livestock (defecating and urinating around the flora) for soil fertility and igniting responsive physiology to keep itself healthy and stronger. I have found a unique fact always that the camels defecate and urinate around this flora, maybe eating Zygo stimulates camels’ GIT.
Camels are hunting the desert icecream, – Zygophyllum qatarense
In the picture below you can clearly differentiate the difference between the browsed and protected parts of the Zygophyllum qatarense.
Comparison of the browsed and protected Zygophyllum qatarense
The camel and the Zygophyllum have learned to live in a symbiotic relationship in the desert
Zygophyllum qatarense provides not only food for livestock and wild animals but also provides life support to birds and insects. It is a source of water, food, and minerals, especially salts. As discussed in the above paragraph, there is a strong and positive symbiotic relationship between the camels and Zygos.
Zygophyllum Browsed heavily by camels but very healthy and shinySome thought-provoking images of the desert flora
Crocodile in the desert – Ecoshaping the sand dunes
Citrullus or Gourd melon always makes a fence against the flowing/moving sands and the dunes. It is really amazing, exploring the worth of the desert melon.
Crocodile in the desert – Designed as a sleeping beast
Desert biodiversity, ranging from flora to fauna, and the detritivores and micro-organisms are unique and important, playing pivotal roles as biotic players of the desert ecosystems. I have been exploring the role of Zygophyllum qatarense in the desert for many years and share interesting facts from time to time.
Citrullus play a physical role as well, fixing the sand dunes in the desert
Sometimes, it makes very amazing structures with a blend of flora and sand. Later other types of flora grow there and the rodents and other wildlife make their home in the Citrullus to get protection from hyper-aridity and the desert storm. Though I have no references and no proof I’m quite sure that the rodents and rats feel protected from the eagles’ eyes in the Citrullus neighborhood. The Eagles can’t prey on the rodents in the Citrullus wine (as rodents make a home there and eat the seeds of flora) also dump the seeds in their burrows and help some of them to germinate again, avery unique symbiotic relationship.
Desert flora is playing a multidimensional role in challenging environmental conditions
SUSTAINABLE FARMING FOR FOOD AND HEALTH 