Quick facts
| Arabic name | السرح |
|---|---|
| English name | Sarh |
| Scientific name | Maerua crassifolia |
| Family | Caper family (Capparaceae) |
| Plant type | Evergreen tree or shrub |
| Height | Usually 3 to 8 m |
| Water use | Low |
Planting and harvest calendar
Best time to plant
October to February
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
Thick tangled branches, small thick leaves, and small fragrant green-white flowers.
Where it grows
Found in valleys and plains of Riyadh, Madinah, Makkah, Al-Qassim and Najran.
Soil
Gravel and sandy soil.
Water and irrigation
Very drought tolerant.
Climate and light
Hot with full sun.
Propagation
From seeds.
Benefits and uses
- Green grazing in dry seasons
- Shade in valleys
Drawbacks
- Grows slowly
- Its numbers dropped from grazing and cutting
Important notes
Cutting trees and collecting firewood are not allowed by law in Saudi Arabia.
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources:
- Plants of the World Online (POWO) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Maerua crassifolia
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Maerua crassifolia
- Wikipedia: Maerua crassifolia
- 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)