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Omanis call this small tree Simr, which has a flat crown and is a distinctive feature of the country’s terrain. If you see a place called Aqda, it means that there are a lot of Simr trees in this place. These trees are distributed in Barka and Suwaiq.
Acacia trees provide shade and have characteristics that represent resilience. From a distance, the trees could easily be mistaken for dry shrubs. Get closer and you’ll discover an entire ecosystem.
“The tree is full of life. It is an important part of Oman’s vegetation. In many ways, it provides support to other plants and animals, it is a shelter, especially during the hot summers, and most importantly it provides a beautiful view,” Younes Battash pointed out.
In August, new buds sprout and small yellow flowers bloom. Another notable feature of the tree is its thorns, which are also one of the tree’s protective mechanisms.
The simle tree is known for its drought tolerance, so rugged terrain with limited water resources can easily become an ideal environment for them to thrive, bringing hope to other creatures. The thorns on the tree cannot stop their growth.
Each acacia tree is full of life. If you look closely, you will find that there are many lives living in these trees.
An unforgettable sight in Jiddat al-Haris is the misty sunrise, with dew hanging from the acacia trees and the Arabian oryx and gazelles delighting in the sight, gently sipping the dew.
But in the mountains, the acacia trees are full of insects, so it’s very busy. Wasps are important pollinators. In August, when the flowers are in bloom, wasps play an important role in the pollination process.
If the wasp is a visitor, then there is a resident enjoying the comfort of the tree.
The inhabitants here are none other than Julodis, a species of beetle that represents summer in Oman. They are called Funzouz, and they are jewel-encrusted and motionless. They convey a story of biodiversity and ecological balance. Not far away, on the same tree, a dark-colored beetle is busy. All this happens when there is not a drop of water around.
The top of the mountain may look dry, but it is actually a land teeming with life. Among the small rocks, a seedling is emerging. This is the Blepharis. When the season is right, they will grow fully grown and produce small bright purple flowers.
The simle tree belongs to the genus Acacia and is known for its shade and has social significance. Simle honey is one of the most expensive honeys.
Rashid Jabri said: “Simur trees are strong and can survive the dry season. Their long roots help them find water and animals can eat its pods. Birds build their nests in the branches. Bees often nest in these trees. If the tree dries up, people take the wood for Shua’a or barbecue.”
Waleed al Jawhari associated a similar tree with honey.
“Simr honey is popular and fetches a high price. Simr trees grow slowly but steadily. They have gone through droughts but still survived,” Waleed said.
But there is a threat beyond humans.
“Camels are the only animals that can eat leaves because the thorns are not a problem for them. But they also tend to eat the bark, and after that the tree dies.”
Simr wood is expensive, but it is also one of the main threats.
“People used to collect dry wood, but to save costs, they found ways to encroach on healthy trees. In the past, Omani law protected fresh trees from being cut down. But when people started using techniques like wounding the trees, which eventually killed them, a stricter rule came into being, meaning that felling of dead or living trees was not allowed,” Walid said.
The Botanical Garden of Sultan Qaboos University states: “Acacia tortilis – Simr is one of the most common tree species in Oman, found in coastal areas, hills and plains. Small annual plants emerge after rainfall. These plants germinate quickly from buried seeds. The seeds can survive in the soil during long droughts, which can sometimes last for years. The life cycle of such species is short, so flowering and fruiting are completed in a short period of time.”
Therefore, Simr always waits for rain, but it can survive on its own until the next rain unless it receives external damage.
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