Arta Tree

The Arta or Abal Tree (scientific name: Calligonum comosum) is a perennial pastoral desert plant. It is one of the key components of the vegetation cover in the desert of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it helps provide plant cover in sand dune areas to achieve environmental balance.

The Arta tree is characterized by its evergreen branches, which are stiff and drooping. It has long taproots that reach water and help stabilize the surrounding sand dunes. The stems grow clustered around the sand. The Arta tree can withstand harsh climatic conditions and grows to a height of about three m.

The Arta tree is important for camel grazing and has medicinal uses. It reproduces by seeds or cuttings. Its upright growth helps improve sites, and as the plant matures, it spreads and becomes irregular. The Arta tree is used as a fence in wide areas and as a barrier to combat desertification.

The Arta tree is well-suited for sand dune areas in the central, northern, and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia. It grows in flatlands and valleys and is planted around farms to block winds. It is one of the fast-growing shrubs on sand dunes and gravelly or rocky soils, as it does not require much water and tolerates extreme heat. The mention of the Arta tree in Arab culture is often linked with gazelles and the Arabian oryx, as it grows near them and drinks from its juicy roots, using it for warmth in winter.

The Arta tree produces white, yellowish, and red flowers in the spring, which are edible and have a pleasant fragrance. Its branches are cylindrical, with small leaves, and the fruit is oval, yellow or red, and covered with hairs. The tree is resistant to high salinity.

The Arta tree is a branching desert tree with dark green stems. It grows on sand dunes, and its wood is used as firewood. The Arta tree has many uses, including tanning leather, as its scent remains in water or milk. It is also used as a dye and has medicinal uses. The syrup extracted from the Arta tree is served on tables with ghee and bread or with olive oil. It can also be used as a sweetener in food as a sugar substitute and is used in southern traditional dishes like Areeka.

The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture has classified the Arta tree among the most important native plants suitable for greening gardens, streets, courtyards, squares, and city entrances. The list includes five plant groups: trees, shrubs and medium-height plants, climbers (which grow on walls, trees, or rocks), aromatic plants, and finally, bulbs and tubers. The Arta tree is classified within the group of shrubs and medium-height plants.

The Kingdom is making efforts to protect and cultivate the Arta tree. Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Royal Reserve has successfully propagated the tree after undertaking measures to combat overgrazing and illegal logging. In 2022, King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority, in partnership with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, planted one million wild trees in Rawdat al-Khafs, located south of the reserve, including Arta trees. Additionally, the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification planted another million wild trees in Qassim National Park, including Arta trees.

As part of the National Scout Project for Environmental Cleanliness and Protection, the Scout Pioneers Association Office in al-Zulfi Governorate organized the Arta Festival, which was carried out in several phases. Scouts planted Arta trees and scattered pastoral seeds with the participation of the Education Administration in al-Zulfi Governorate. The first phase of the Arta Festival began in al-Zulfi in 2017 at al-Sa’idaniyah Park in Nufud ath-Thuwayrat, where scout pioneers planted hundreds of Arta tree seedlings.