Quick facts
| Arabic name | القطف (الرغل) |
|---|---|
| English name | Saltbush (Qataf) |
| Scientific name | Atriplex halimus |
| Family | Amaranth family (Amaranthaceae) |
| Plant type | Evergreen salt-tolerant shrub |
| Height | 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
A dense shrub with silvery grey oval leaves covered with salty scales, small plain flowers and winged fruits.
Where it grows
Grows in salty land, meadows and plains, and is planted in rangeland projects.
Soil
Handles high salt and poor soil.
Water and irrigation
Handles drought and needs little water. It can be watered with salty water.
Climate and light
Handles heat, cold and frost.
Propagation
By seed or cuttings.
Benefits and uses
- Protein-rich feed for camels and sheep
- Restores salty land
- A water-saving silver hedge
- Fights desertification and soil erosion
Drawbacks
- Leaves are salty so it is not enough alone as feed
- Spreads by seed
- Can attract scale insects
Important notes
Give it to livestock with other feed and enough fresh water.
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources:
- Plants of the World Online (POWO) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Atriplex halimus
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Atriplex halimus
- Wikipedia: Atriplex halimus
- 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)