by Elizabeth Shaheen
Think desert and one automatically thinks of prickly cactus-like plants, each equipped with a personal reservoir of water and nutrients. Bahrain’s precious wildlings are a far cry from cactus. Shimmering cylinders, sparkling globes, lucent threads and dainty flowers characterise our natural desert flora, which holds a remarkable ability to survive the austere environment.

Many of Bahrain’s desert secrets are revealed after seasonal rains and this is an opportune time to take a lazy – but sharp-eyed – walk through the central depression to the foot of its highest point, Jebel Dukhan.

I say to the foot, for it is usually impossible to stroll up the Jebel without being turned back by security guards.

It is also forbidden to take photographs from this timeless ridge.

Although recent rains have stirred many of Bahrain’s indigenous flora from sleep, there are a number of perennial plants that prevail, even bloom, despite summer’s intense dazzling heat, hot desiccating winds, prolonged dry periods and poor soils. Nature has provided such plants, the ability to adapt to such oppressive conditions and that accounts for their weird and wonderful forms.

Mesophytes are plants that have not needed to adapt, for they are found essentially in the north of the island, where the land is farmed with artesian well water and are perceived as weeds.

We have long suffered in our garden and palm grove the tenacious grass Phragmites australis known locally as ‘gassab’ or ‘gasba’.

It has superb plumes but, miserable, deep-running roots that send up new sprouts, like up-turned nails, wherever it chooses.

The sparse drought resisters, xerophytes, occur around the peripheral of the irrigated regions.

These ingenious plants evolved to cope with the harsh conditions by producing tiny leaves and dropping their leaves and branches when they anticipate the onslaught of the summer heat.

While grasses roll their leaves, Cassia’s fold theirs and Acacias produce spines from modified leaves.

Such plants may be hairy, bristly or spiny above ground to reflect heat and hamper transpiration.

The robust, halophytes, have adapted to endure salt laden soils, which are evermore exacerbated by deficient rain and rapid transpiration somewhat detrimental to the majority of plants in most regions.

However, the clever halophytes through salt secreting glands are able to expel surplus salt in their leaves and stems. Limonium axillare, Tamarix and Atriplex leucolada are examples of these.

A red colouration is an indication of a high salt content. Various halophytes comprise succulent components in which they accumulate salts. Zygophyllum qatarense known locally as ‘harm’, is a representative of these.

Generally, helophytes, such Arthrocnemum macrostachyum commonly called ‘shinan’, occur by the seashore where they are bathed by the high tides.

The sophisticated drought resisters, ephemeral therophytes, are the annuals, which spring to life afters the rains, seed in profusion and die as soon as the ground surface dries.

The wonderful yellow carpets of Senecio glaucus evident along Bahrain’s highways illustrate these.

They are abundant this year due to the heavy rains, but for the previous few years, when rain was scarce, they have been rare.

This also illustrates their incredible ability in that their seeds can lay dormant until sufficient moisture triggers germination.

The Jebel ridge bears an amazing number of wildflowers. The rocks, by trapping soil and moisture, act as plant-cradles and impart shade for Herniaria hemistemon and its numerous companions.

When moist, the stony arena of the central depression, with minimal organic matter, varies in the type of habitat it provides for our indigenous plants.

The environment for the humps of Zygophyllum qatarense, Stipagrostis plumose and the sun-yellow flower spikes of Ochradenus baccatus is a stony-gravely sand and this is where you will espy the parasitic plant Cistanche tubulosa, known as dhanoon, desert tulip or desert hyacinth, nearby its host Zygophyllum qatarense.

This astounding plant pierces the medium after the rains, erupting from its bulbous root from which a long fine root locks on to its host for the photosynthesis on which it is dependant, as it requires no chlorophyll.

The rim rock in the south-west and south-east central depression provides a barrier for wind-driven sand forming a bed south of the Jebel for numerous plants.

The phenomenal Tree of Life (Prosopis juliflora) is the most important feature found in the south-east central depression.

You will also see Calligonum polygonoides known as ‘abal’ with its rustic-red, lantern-like fruits, which succeed dainty white, fragrant flowers.

After the rains, the ‘desert thumb’ (Cynomorium coccineum) erupts through the sand in January-February.

The obliging Zygophyllum qatarense, again, acts as host for this parasitic plant, which can be found throughout the central depression but its preferred habitat is by the south-west rim rock in the soft, wind-driven sand.

This bizarre plant is pollinated by flies, which are drawn to its fetid whiff.

The habitat in the low-lying central depression is referred to as ‘sabkha’, and sustains little vegetation other than Zygophyllum qatarense and some puny Tamarix arabica known locally as ‘ethl’ or ‘asla’.

The ambience of quiet solitude offered by Bahrain’s desert and its extraordinary wildlings is nature’s gift that is fast disappearing.

It is of paramount importance that we respect and preserve our most precious heritage, the environment.

May all your garden weeds be ‘wildflowers’.

Further Reading: The Wild Flowering Plants of Bahrain – An Illustrated Guide, by MD and CD Cornes.

This wonderful guide is available from Jasra Heritage Centre, Bahrain Museum and some of Bahrain’s bookshops.
Elizabeth Shaheen – GDN – 18 Feb, ’07