Quick facts
| Arabic name | العوسج |
|---|---|
| English name | Awsaj (Desert Thorn) |
| Scientific name | Lycium shawii |
| Family | Nightshade family (Solanaceae) |
| Plant type | Thorny shrub |
| Height | Usually 1 to 3 m |
| 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
Tangled thorny branches, small fleshy leaves, small tube flowers from white to light purple, and small red berries.
Where it grows
Found in valleys and plains of Riyadh, Al-Qassim, Hail, the Northern Borders, Madinah, Al-Jouf, Tabuk, the Eastern Province and Najran.
Soil
Handles many soils, including salty soil.
Water and irrigation
Very drought tolerant.
Climate and light
Handles heat and cold.
Propagation
From seeds and cuttings.
Benefits and uses
- Shelter and food for birds
- Food for camels and goats
- A natural fence
Drawbacks
- Many sharp thorns
- May drop leaves in hard drought
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources:
- Plants of the World Online (POWO) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Lycium shawii
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Lycium shawii
- Wikipedia: Lycium shawii
- 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)