INTRODUCTION
Main Non-Wood Forest Products
The main non-wood forest products (NWFP) of Qatar are medicinal plants.
Other NWFP include fodder and wildlife.
PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS
Fodder
Forest trees, shrubs and vegetation contribute to food security of rural population by providing fodder for livestock in Qatar.
Along the sea coasts around Qatar, Avicennia marina, is eaten by camels and goats. In Southern Qatar, Salwa and Wadi El Ineig, Leptadenia pyrotechnica is grazed by camels. Arnebia hispidissima, Heliotropium ramosissimum, Capparis spinosa (especially for camels), Amaranthus viridis, Heliotropium bacciferum, Acacia tortilis (Common shrub in Qatar) are common fodder source in Qatar.
Medicines
Medicinal plants have traditionally been used in Qatar for many generations. Herbal medicine is a very common tradition in Qatar. The most important medicinal plants are listed in table 1.
Table 1. Most important medicinal plants in Qatar
Arabic Name |
Scientific Name |
Uses |
Distribution |
Abushal |
Cynomorium coccineum |
Entire plant is aphrodisiac, spermatopoietic, astringent. Herb is used as a remedy for back, kidney ailments, constipation, and sterility. |
Rare plant in the sheep farm, southern Qatar |
Adhatoda |
Justicia adhatoda |
Used as diuretic, in curing fevers. Also has antiseptic and insecticidal properties |
Rare in gardens |
Dhanon |
Cistanche phelypaea |
Plant is used as anaphrodisiac, used as a tonic in speratorrhoea impotence, against diarrhea |
Common in southern Qatar |
Ein Al Quitt |
Anagallis arvensis |
Used as an application for slow healing wounds, to ulcers, skin diseases. Treats rheumatism, chronic nephritis, and liver complaints. |
Common in north and northeastern Qatar. |
Askhabar |
Cymbopogon parkeri |
Plant possess antispasmodic properties |
Central and northern Qatar |
El Rawa, Tarf, Twaim |
Aerva javanica |
Used for stuffing pillows and animal saddles, also eaten by sheep |
Central Qatar at Karaana, Shahania |
Gargeer |
Eruca sativa |
Plant is considered an aphrodisiac. It is also cures, skin eruptions, inflammations, ulcers, and toothache. |
Commonly cultivated in gardens and rodat. |
Gassab,Boos |
Phragmites australis |
Shoot is an antidote, antiemetic, antipyretic, refrigerant, and is used for cholera. Also for cough, arthritis, earaches . |
Common in the south of Qatar at Salwa an in the wetter places at Doha |
Githgath |
Pulicaria crispa |
Used as a diuretic, also used in folk medicine. |
Very common in Qatar |
Ghbeisha |
Salvia aegyptica |
Plant is used in diarrhoea, gonorrhoea, haemorrhoids, eye diseases, Is also an antiseptic, antispasmodic. |
Common in Qatar |
Handhal |
Citrullus colocynthis |
Leaves are used in curing jaundice, asthma. Fruit is pungent and has antipyretic, antihelminthic properties. Cures, amenorrhea. |
Common in Qatar, particularly in the southern part, Dukhan. |
Hommad |
Rumex vesicarius |
Used against jaundice, hepatic conditions, constipation, bad digestion. |
Fairly common in cultivated fields and along roadsides. |
Kaff Maryam |
Anastatica hierochuntica |
Leaves used as a purgative, extracts are known to possess anti-inflammatory activity. |
Common in Qatar |
Labna |
Euphorbia sp. |
Plant is used against flu, dysentery, and diarrhea, to purify blood. Also used as a diabetes remedy, also in snakebite cures. |
Common in Qatar |
Mouker |
Herniaria hemistemon |
Used as a diuretic and purgative. |
Common, located in the north and south of Qatar |
Shok El Homar, Shaflah |
Capparis spinosa |
Fodder for animals especially camels. Buds used in cooking, also for treating arthritis. |
North east , Shafalahia, El Khor |
Nakhl |
Phoenix dactylifera |
Used as a diuretic and in treatment of bronchitis, abdominal complaints, fevers etc. |
Near seashores in the south of Qatar, cultivated all over Qatar |
Name1 |
Conyza dioscoridis |
The plant is used as a remedy for colic. |
Rare in Qatar, recorded in Doha |
Name2 |
Reseda muricata |
The plant possess anti microbial activity. |
Common in southern Qatar |
Shamar |
Foeniculum vulgare |
Used as a condiment, remedy for jaundice. Seeds exhibit anti inflammatory activity.Also used in curing liver ailments. |
Fairly common in gardens and avenues |
Thallaj |
Cornulaca monocantha |
Possess anti microbial activity. Extract caused moderate intestinal stimulation. |
Common in southern Qatar |
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture (2001)
REFERENCES
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture Home. 2001. Bioland/plants/animals. Internet: www.mmaa.gov.qa, viewed on 14 May 2001.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This report has been realized in support to the context of the FAO Forest Resource Assessment 2000. The content is mainly based on available information at FAO Headquarters in Rome and on information collected by Ms Sabra, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Additional information on NWFP in Qatar would be appreciated and duly acknowledged.