18.b
Spiny plants
Many spiny plants belong to the family Asteraceae (=Compositae), particularly well represented in the South Sinai mountains and wadis. Knapweed (Centaurea spp) Bedouin name: merur, leHya, ghibaari are rare
Status: Many species
Typical knapweeds but with the flowerheads but not the rest of the plant armoured with spines of various lengths in the different species. The flowerheads are a beautiful pinky red with yellow pollen. After the flowers are finished and the seeds dispersed, the bleached opened-out bracts remain with their spines. (photo: Francis Gilbert 2005 Wadi Ahmar)
Spiny Globe Thistle (Echinops spinosus) Bedouin name: khosheer, asharah Status: Not at risk A thistle where the flowerhead is spherical and spiny, with bluish-white flowers; when the flowers have finished, the spiny head remains. The plant grows in rock crevices and precipitous slopes, and is one of the most characteristic plants of the rocky high mountains. (photo: Francis Gilbert 2005 Wadi Gebal)
Spiny Milkvetch (Astragalus spinosus) Bedouin name: jadas Status: Not at risk This is a small spiny dwarf shrub with ‘wool’ in between the spines; the flowers are almost hidden within the ‘wool’, and inflate to form the fruit. It is used in traditional medicine to treat kidney pain and asthma. (photo: Gordon Wilkinson St Katherine)
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