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GENERAL
Origin
:
sub-tropical
Humidity
:
extremely arid,
very arid, semi-
arid
Propagation :
direct sowing,
sowing and
pricking out
Maintenance :
low
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
resistant
Dessication :
resistant
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
none
Salinity/ppm :
moderate (3000
ppm)
Hardiness
:
-6°C
SHAPE
Type
:
perennial
Height
:
0.5 m-0.75 m
Spread
:
0.5 m-0.8 m
Foliage
:
evergreen
FLOWER
Colour
:
pastel pink, olive-
green
Size
:
1 cm
Period
:
March - May
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
silique
Fruit size
:
7 cm
A perennial herb, known as yurak or audthan al himar, growing to a height of 75 cm in isolated
bushes on silty and gravelly ground, this native plant is widespread in the desert around Ar-
riyadh. Erect, tough, green branches with broad leaves up to 10 cm long wrap round the stem.
Pinkish-blue flowers are borne in the spring and the fruit is an erect, cylindrical silique 7 cm
long. The whole plant has an attractive purplish cast to its appearance. Fast-growing, it has lateral,
deep roots and is very hardy and drought-tolerant with a moderate salt tolerance. Propagation
is easy from seeds. M. sinaica has good potential for landscape design use as a groundcover and
colourful accent in desert schemes. Apart from occasional tidying up and some water in summer
to improve its appearance, it requires very little maintenance.
203
Moricandia sinaica,
Brassicaceae
Moricandia,
yurak, audthan al himar, ithn al himar