Aerva javanica - Javanese R - Tarf - Reel

The Javanese amaranth (Aerva javanica) is a perennial shrub belonging to the Amaranthaceae family, widespread in Saudi Arabia. It grows in plains, mountain slopes, and dry, rocky areas, and may be found at altitudes of up to about 1600 meters. It is characterized by its upright, branching stems, dense white or yellow covering, and distinctive woolly flower spikes.



General Description



It grows as a perennial shrub that is upright and branches out from the base, and its height in Saudi Arabia is usually about 50–80 cm, while in some environments it may reach about 1.5 meters. The stems are densely covered with white or yellow hairs that give the plant a distinctive wild or woolly appearance.



Papers



Its leaves are alternate, ranging in shape from linear to oval or nearly round, and are covered with dense white or yellow hairs. The leaves are sessile or short-stalked. The leaf margins may be flat or curled inwards, and their size and shape vary depending on the environment in which the plant grows.



flowers



It features small flowers clustered in dense or scattered cylindrical spikes, ranging in color from white to creamy or pale pink, with the spikes having a soft, woolly appearance. The plant has separate male and female spikes, with the male spikes typically being thinner than the female ones.



Fruits and seeds



It produces small, round, compressed fruits containing seeds, which are the plant's means of sexual reproduction. Benzoin can be propagated by seed, and it is best to collect and sow them during periods of mild weather.



Endurance and suitability



The Javanese plant is distinguished by its ability to thrive in arid and harsh environments, and is primarily associated with deserts and dry shrubberies. It grows in plains, on mountain slopes, and in rocky areas, and can grow at varying altitudes, making it a wild plant well-adapted to the Kingdom's challenging environmental conditions.



Uses



The woolly stalks of the Javanese plant have traditional value; the cotton fibers they contain were historically used to stuff pillows and mattresses. However, from a pastoral perspective, Saudi sources indicate that its value is limited, and it can be utilized for cultivating wild plants and preserving local vegetation.



natural spread



Aerva javanica is naturally distributed across a wide range extending from Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and South Asia, reaching as far as Myanmar. Its natural distribution includes Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, Oman, Yemen, India, Iran, Iraq, and other countries. It grows primarily in desert environments and dry shrubland.



Preservation status



Kew data indicates that Aerva javanica is not currently threatened according to available extinction risk projections, with a confidence level described as high. Based on the currently available data, there is no need to classify it as endangered.