Quick facts
| Arabic name | العاقول |
|---|---|
| English name | Camelthorn (Aqool) |
| Scientific name | Alhagi graecorum (Alhagi maurorum) |
| Family | Pea family (Fabaceae) |
| Plant type | Thorny perennial shrub |
| Height | 50 cm to 1 m |
| Water use | Low |
Planting and harvest calendar
Best time to plant
It grows by itself and is not planted
Harvest
Not harvested
Times are general for the Saudi climate and may shift a few weeks by region: cooler in the highlands and the north, warmer on the coasts and in the south.
Description
A green shrub with many thorns, small oval leaves, small pink-red flowers and pinched pods.
Where it grows
Grows on damp salty land, farm edges and valleys.
Soil
Handles salt and heavy soil.
Water and irrigation
Relies on deep roots that reach groundwater.
Climate and light
Handles extreme heat.
Propagation
By creeping roots and seed.
Benefits and uses
- Grazing for camels
- Holds soil
- Flowers feed bees
- Handles salt and heat
Drawbacks
- A weed in farms
- Harmful thorns
- Hard to remove because of deep roots
Important notes
Do not plant it in farms or gardens. It spreads by roots and is hard to remove.
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources:
- Plants of the World Online (POWO) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Alhagi graecorum
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Alhagi graecorum
- Wikipedia: Alhagi maurorum
- Chaudhary, S. A. (1999-2001). Flora of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Riyadh.
- National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC)
- Photo source: Wikimedia Commons (free license)