Quick facts
| Arabic name | الهرم |
|---|---|
| English name | Harm (Qatar Bean Caper) |
| Scientific name | Tetraena qatarensis (Zygophyllum qatarense) |
| Family | Caltrop family (Zygophyllaceae) |
| Plant type | Succulent shrub |
| Height | Usually 30 to 60 cm |
| Water use | Low |
Planting and harvest calendar
Best time to plant
October to December
Harvest
Not harvested
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Planting timeHarvest or flowering
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
Dense branches, small fleshy round leaves in pairs, and small cream-white flowers.
Where it grows
In salt flats and salty sandy plains of the Eastern Province.
Soil
Salty and sandy soil.
Water and irrigation
Needs no watering.
Climate and light
Hot with full sun.
Propagation
From seeds.
Benefits and uses
- Covers and holds salty land
- Handles salt that most plants cannot
Drawbacks
- Salty and bitter, so animals eat little of it
- Not very decorative
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources:
- Plants of the World Online (POWO) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Tetraena qatarensis
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Tetraena qatarensis
- Wikipedia: Zygophyllum qatarense
- 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)