Taily Weed Plant

Taily Weed (Al-Qardi or Al-Alandra)(Ochradenus baccatus, Resedaceae) is a fast-growing plant from the Resedaceae family. It grows naturally in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula.

Taily Weed can grow up to three m tall. Its stem is light green, and its leaves are small and not clearly visible. It produces berry-like fruits on a clustered stalk, which are white in color and have a diameter of approximately three m.

The plant blooms in spring, with its flowers growing in indeterminate racemes that reach about four cm in length. The flowers are yellow and solitary, with a length of approximately four m.

Taily Weed reproduces either through direct sowing or by planting and then transplanting, requiring minimal care. Pruning enhances both vegetative and floral growth. It is a desert plant, resistant to drought and urban environments. Its resilience is supported by its deep taproot and small leaves. The plant thrives best in silty and rocky soils and has a high tolerance for salinity.

Taily Weed can grow in areas where other plants cannot, due to its adaptive nature. As a native plant, it is used for stabilizing the edges of valleys and slopes, in open areas, and in environmental development projects. Given its properties as a natural windbreak, it is recommended for use in rehabilitation projects. It can also be used as a hedge, ground cover, and for protecting other plants. Additionally, it is suitable for camel grazing and has shown satisfactory results in rehabilitation efforts, such as in Wadi Hanifah.

Historically, Taily Weed held significance as a medicinal plant and was used in various traditional treatments.