Quick facts
| Arabic name | الرمرام |
|---|---|
| English name | Ramram (Desert Heliotrope) |
| Scientific name | Heliotropium bacciferum |
| Family | Borage family (Boraginaceae) |
| Plant type | Small perennial shrub |
| Height | 20 to 40 cm |
| 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 branching shrub covered with rough grey hairs, small narrow leaves and small white flowers in curled clusters.
Where it grows
Grows in valleys and sandy or gravel plains.
Soil
Sandy or gravelly soil.
Water and irrigation
Lives on rain.
Climate and light
Handles heat and drought.
Propagation
By seed.
Benefits and uses
- Holds soil in valleys
- Flowers feed bees
- Handles drought
- Part of the natural plant cover
Drawbacks
- Contains alkaloids toxic to livestock
- Rough leaves
- Not suited to gardens
Important notes
Livestock usually avoid it because it contains substances that can harm the liver.
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources:
- Plants of the World Online (POWO) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Heliotropium bacciferum
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Heliotropium bacciferum
- 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)
- ASPCA - Toxic and non-toxic plants list
- Photo source: Wikimedia Commons (free license)