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GENERAL
Origin
:
sub-tropical,
tropical
Vigour
:
slow-growing,
normal growth
rate
Humidity
:
very arid, semi-
arid, semi-humid
Propagation :
sowing and
pricking out
Maintenance :
low
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
resistant
Dessication :
resistant
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
none
Salinity/ppm :
high (5000 ppm)
Hardiness
:
-6°C
SHAPE
Type
:
shrub
Height
:
2 m-4 m
Spread
:
2 m-3 m
Foliage
:
evergreen
FLOWER
Colour
:
yellow
Size
:
1.2 cm
Period
:
August -
September
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
capsule
Fruit size
:
0.2 cm
This tall, spineless shrub, known as ghadha in Arabic, is a native plant in Saudi Arabia with a ran-
ge covering saline deserts in the northern part of the Kingdom. An evergreen bush with slender
branches, it reaches a height of 2 metres and the insignificant, yellow flowers reduced to anthers
appear in summer. The plant is tap-rooted and prefers light sandy and loamy, well-drained soils;
it will also grow in nutritionally poor soil under very alkaline and saline conditions. It requires
full sun and can tolerate drought. Propagation is by seed; it is occasionally infested by insects.
H. persicum, together with Calligonum comosum, are two important indigenous shrubs in the
desert, supplying firewood and fodder for local populations. They are also extremely important
in sand dune fixation and environmental improvement, but their numbers have begun to dis-
appear with over-exploitation and destruction of their natural habitats. In addition, extremes
of climate, overgrazing by livestock and browsing retard the shrub’s growth rate. Furthermore,
natural regeneration is impeded, when the seeds of the plants become deeply buried in sand, im-
peding germination. H. persicum is a useful plant which should be planted more often, owing to
its usefulness in dune stabilisation, afforestation schemes and windbreaks. Slow-growing, it has
minimal irrigation and maintenance requirements.
159
Haloxylon persicum,
Chenopodiaceae
Saxaul,
ghadha