1
Tree that is well adapted to high temperatures and arid conditions
Scientific Name: Prosopis cineraria
Common Name: Ghaf
Dimensions: Up to 7 m in height
Medium: model
Registration Number: RPN.2018.0092.1
2
The ghaf tree is characterized by its small size and single woody stem that branches out, featuring thorns on its twigs. The bark is coarse and gray, while the leaves are green and bipinnate, typically composed of seven to 14 leaflets. The tree maintains its green appearance throughout most of the year, even during the intense heat of mid-summer. The tree produces small creamy-yellow flowers and long, slender green seed pods that turn brown as they ripen. These pods contain dark brown oval seeds, ranging from a few to up to 25 seeds per pod.
Habitat and Biology
Ghaf trees are highly adapted to hot and arid environments, thriving in temperatures up to 48°C and surviving with minimal rainfall, even as low as 10 mm per year. They can grow in seemingly dry desert areas, often indicating the presence of underground water sources. These trees stand out by flowering during September and October.
ECO System Qatar
Rawda, which means garden, are pockets of green in the desert. They form in depressions in the desert surface. Fine soils blown by the wind are gradually deposited and compacted in the depressions, allowing plants to grow in it. These soils hold water far better than the rocky or sandy surroundings. Rawda are known as sweet soil areas, as they are so fertile. Many different plants and animals thrive in these hospitable conditions. People use them for farming and date plantations.
PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH
Abdel Bary, Ekhlas M. M. (2012). The Flora of Qatar. 2 volumes (700 pages, 199 pages) : color illustrations, maps ; 28 cm. Doha: Qatar University Environmental Studies Center. OCLC: 875112803. MMS ID: 991000252609706691. English. Volume 1: The Dicotyledons -- Volume 2: The Monocotyledons
UNESCO Office in Doha. (n.d.). An Illustrated Checklist of the Flora of Qatar. Authors: John Norton, Sara Abdul Majid, Debbie Allan, Mohammed Al Safran, Benno Böer, & Renee Richer. [Unpublished manuscript]. Richer, R., Knees, S., Norton, J., & Sergeev, A. (2022). Hidden Beauty: An Exploration of Qatar’s Native and Naturalised Flora. Hardcover. April 30, 2022.
This item is not available.
locate in museum map
Gallery 2