Rimth

Conservation status:

Native

Description:

Family: Amaranthaceae
Growth form: Shrub. Flowering. Sep–Oct. Status: Native. Local. Also recorded: Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: Abundant in parts of SW Qatar in sandy areas between Abu Sara Abdul Majidrah and Al Karaanah. Also found at Al Khor, and locally elsewhere. An area has recently been developed at the Al Sheehaniyah racecourse in C Qatar. Uses: Good fodder for camels. Other animals graze on it when nothing else is around’ (El Amin). Mandaville notes that it is important camel grazing when annuals and grasses are not available but remarks: ‘excessive saltbush grazing is recognised to be physiologically damaging’. A source of firewood. A relatively small number of medicinal uses are documented; stems are used to treat hypoglycaemia. (Ghazanfar)