Harvesting seeds - white saltbush (Atriplex Leucoclada Boiss)

Common name: Qataf - White Rugh Scientific name: Atriplex Leucoclada Boiss Other names: White Rugh - Syrian Rugh - Shiny Rugh - Turkmen Rugh A small shrub from the Rugh genus belonging to the Chenopodiaceae family of the Caryophyllales order, with a grayish stem and dense, evergreen branches exceeding one meter in height. Its leaves are semi-oval, reaching 3 cm in length. It is considered a rare plant with medicinal uses and environmental benefits. • Qataf Flower - White Rugh: Its flowers are dense, clustered in spikes, blooming during the spring season. • Qataf Fruit and Seeds - White Rugh: Its fruits are small capsules about 0.5 cm in size, containing brown seeds inside. • Qataf Germination Season - White Rugh: It is cultivated in January and February. • Suitable Climate and Soil for White Rugh: White Rugh is a salt-tolerant plant that withstands harsh climates, adapting to high temperatures and strong winds. It is cultivated in loamy and clay soils. • How to Cultivate White Rugh: It propagates through seeds. A scientific study titled "A Study of the Possibility to Raise Seeds Germination of Atriplex Leucoclada Boiss" was conducted, experimenting on 2000 propagation units divided into five equal groups: control (no treatment), soaking for half an hour in boiling water, soaking for a full hour in boiling water, soaking in concentrated sulfuric acid for 8 minutes, and mechanical treatment by pounding with a mortar to extract seeds. Results showed that all studied treatments increased the germination rate of the white Rugh units to varying degrees. The mechanical pounding method was the most effective in accelerating germination and increasing the rate, raising it from 7% in the control to 69%. • Benefits and Uses: It has many health benefits, helps remove soil salinity, and contributes to stabilizing it. It can be used as a fence or plant barriers, but requires care and pruning to maintain a suitable shape. • Original Habitat of White Rugh: Its native regions are the coastal areas of the Mediterranean Basin and temperate Europe. It is also found in some areas within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.