干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Monotheca bixifolia is a wild fruiting plant that grows in the semi-arid, high-altitude regions of the Arabian Peninsula. Plants were monitored for morphological and phenological changes from Jun. 2005 to Aug. 2006 in three locations of the Hajar Mountains in northern Oman. Growth habit, shoot and root description, as well as vegetative and reproductive growth cycles were determined. Two types of M. buxifolia were identified based on fruit color. M. buxifolia is of economic value for local mountain inhabitants, particularly in areas with rough terrain where conventional horticultural or agronomic cropping is limited.