Teucrium oliverianum

Common name: Al-Ahaina Scientific name: Teucrium oliverianum Also called: Al-Aheel - Al-Ahaina - Al-Qasba - Al-Ahhelan - Al-Ahhel. Original habitat of the Al-Ahaina (Al-Ahaina) plant: • Arabian Peninsula. Description of the Al-Ahaina (Al-Ahaina) plant: • Al-Ahaina or Al-Ahaina is a perennial herbaceous plant in the form of a short shrub that does not exceed 80 cm in height, belonging to the Lamiaceae family. It has upright, branched stems that are light green in color. The leaves are attached to the branches, initially tripartite in early growth and pentapartite when fully grown, with the central leaflet divided into three leaflets. The surface color is light green, and the underside is dark green. It is evergreen with complete margins and opposite along the stem. Description of the Al-Ahaina flower: • The flowers are beautiful, with a purple hue leaning towards blue. They have four sharp-edged petals from above, with a fifth larger, semi-curved petal in the middle of the upper petals. The stamens are long and located at the center of the petals, extending along the length of the stem parallel to the leaves. The floral stalk grows from the base alongside the leaves. It blooms from late winter to the end of spring. Uses and benefits of the Al-Ahaina (Al-Ahaina) plant: • Grown for ornamental purposes due to its beautiful flowers. • A good forage for sheep and camels. • Grown to cover the soil. • Contains a high percentage of aromatic oils. Suitable climate for the Al-Ahaina (Al-Ahaina) plant: • Grows in hot weather. • Loves direct sunlight. • Tolerates drought. • Tolerates high temperatures. Suitable soil for the Al-Ahaina (Al-Ahaina) plant: • Well adapted to desert conditions and suitable for sandy soils. • Clay soils. • Rocky soils. • The plant does not have specific irrigation requirements, but watering improves growth and flowering. • Sensitive to soil salinity. Propagation method of the Al-Ahaina (Al-Ahaina) plant: • Propagated by direct seed planting. Best time to plant the Al-Ahaina (Al-Ahaina): • Spring is the appropriate season for planting seeds. Propagation method by seeds: • Seeds are planted directly in the ground at a depth not exceeding 1.5 cm. • Seeds should be fertilized. • Seeds are watered sufficiently until they grow properly. • They should be exposed to sunlight to germinate. • It takes approximately two to four weeks for the Al-Ahaina to sprout. Fertilization method for the Al-Ahaina (Al-Ahaina): • It needs fertile soil in general, but can be fertilized with organic fertilizer during germination and transplantation.