Video: New plant species found in UAE

Video: New plant species found in UAE

A new plant species called Harmal (Peganum harmala) has been spotted in Abu Dhabi for the first time, the emirate's environment authority announced.Following the recent discovery, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and chairman of the Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi (EAD), issued a directive to conserve and propagate the plant. It is now included in the local propagation programmes run by the EAD's plant nursery in Al Dhafra's Baynunah area.

Belonging to the hierarchical Peganum family, the plant is completely different from the Rhazya stricta species, which was usually seen in eastern Al Ain and many other emirates. Peganum harmala is characterised as a perennial herbaceous plant that is heavily branched, with