As-Siha' Shrub

As-Siha' Shrub (Blepharis ciliaris), or as-Saha, is a thorny annual or potentially perennial plant. It belongs to the Acanthaceae family and is widespread across the regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly on coarse rocky slopes at elevations up to 1,800 m.

In various local environments, as-Siha' shrub is known by several names, including: ''al-Isha'," "al-Shawkah," "al-Naqi'," "Shawk al-Dabt," 'Shawk al-Bal," ''al-Shukhayra," and "al-Zaghaf." A closely related and widely distributed thorny shrub to the as-Siha' shrub is known as "al-Shakhth."

As-Siha' shrub typically grows to a height of ten to twenty cm. It features reddish-brown stems ending in clusters of thorns that emerge from four angles, each with a broad base tapering to a very sharp point. These thorns are grouped and upright, resembling lizard tails, with a greenish-white color. Contact with them can cause intense pain. The plant has elongated, deep green leaves with few, non-harmful thorns along the edges, usually appearing near the base of the stem.

As-Siha' shrub serves as fodder for camels and is also grazed by sheep, which fatten on it and produce abundant milk. Its flowers emerge in clusters of four from the axils of the thorns, featuring a single corolla with three lobes. They are bright blue with slight whiteness at the base, eventually turning completely white over time, and then pale yellow as they wither. Historically, people used the plant to treat digestive ailments.