Al-Bisbas Plant

Al-Bisbas (Commonly known as Rat's Ear) (Commelina forskaolii Kunth) is a herbaceous species that grows in certain environments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is classified as an annual herb belonging to the Commelinaceae family. The plant reaches a height of forty cm and has lobed leaves, umbellate inflorescences, and white flowers.

Al-Bisbas plant is distinguished by its pleasant aroma and leaves that taste similar to carrots. A single stem is called a Bisbasah. The plant's leaves can grow up to five cm long and one cm wide and have short stalks. Its flowers are small and intensely blue, and its fruit is small and contains one to three smooth seeds.

Al-Bisbas plant reaches full maturity in mid-spring. People eat it for its delicious, mildly spicy taste, which leaves a pleasant scent in the mouth after eating.

Al-Bisbas grows abundantly in the southern region and southern Hejaz in Saudi Arabia. It thrives in interior plains, shallow sandy areas, rocky lands, and spots where water collects in small valleys, grasslands, and hillside slopes.

Al-Bisbas plant has a wide range of uses, especially for human consumption. The entire plant is utilized, offering benefits as an astringent and digestive tonic. It is used to treat diarrhea and for various medicinal purposes. All parts of al-Bisbas plant are usable and are notable for their fragrant aroma. Al-Bisbas leaves are often added to tea to enhance its flavor. Sometimes referred to as Um Dirs, al-Bisbas is also used for small, fiery, hot red chili peppers in Jazan Province.

Due to its versatility, al-Bisbas plant has been mentioned in the oral folkloric culture, including poetry and proverbs. For instance, people say, "Yekhlet al-Huwwa ma al-Bisbas" (He mixes al-Huwwa with al-Bisbas) to describe someone combining two incompatible things. They also use the phrase "Fareg bein al-Hawwa wil-Bisbas" (There's a difference between al-Huwwa and al-Bisbass). Al-Huwwa (Sonchus) plant, a desert herb consumed by people in early spring, is rough with a hint of bitterness, and the proverb is used to emphasize differences between types.