Dr Saif Al Hajri (centre) addressing the media at Friends of the Environment (FEC) as Mohammed Hashim and Dr Yusuf Al Qassim look on. Sayed Basheeruddin

DOHA: Zygophyllum qatarense, popularly known as Al Harm, has been announced as the flower of the year by the Friends of the Environment (FEC). Al Harm was chosen as the ‘flower 2009’ under FEC’s annual “A Flower Each Spring” programme.

Announcing the name of the flower, Dr Saif Al Hajri, Chairperson, FEC said here yesterday that Al Harm shrub is important in Qatar’s flora.

Seen widely across the shorelines and inlands of Qatar, the succulent shrub Al Harm possesses a high degree of tolerance to both drought and high temperature, and in its desert environment adapts to stress by seasonal changes in leaf morphology, anatomy and physiology.

At the onset of the dry season, the plant responds to water stress by leaf polymorphism.As the desert environment become drier and hotter, the plant will respond further to the existing double stress of drought and high temperature .

Al Harm (Zygophyllum qatarense), which possesses a high degree of tolerance to both drought and high temperature was declared the Flower of the Year by the Friends of the Environment yesterday. Sayed Basheeruddin

Dr Hajri said the natural shrub is very important for Qatar’s flora. It is the most widespread, succulent shrubby species in Qatar, adapted at various habitats and a wide range of soil types; sandy, sandy-rocky, and sandy-loam; and inhabits dry areas which receive sporadic scanty winter rain, as well as permanently moist soil. It stands soil salinity ranges from non-saline to very strongly saline. However, it evades mobile sands, highly saline salt flats (Sabkha), depressions of fine-textured soil (Rwada), agricultural land and stagnant waters.

Under the programme “A Flower Each Spring”, the FEC will launch a year-long campaign to highlight the importance of the flower. The campaign will be kick-started tomorrow. This year, the campaign will have its focus on Ras Laffan city and Al Khor.

During the campaign, discussions will be held on all features of Al Harm flower, including the soil texture, the geographical features of the places were the flowers are seen and their relation to the birds, animals and insects, will be held.

The year-long event will also be marked by seminars and workshops on environment protection, recycling and protection of fresh water. The campaign will witness massive participation of students, teachers and families, Dr Hajri said.

Dr Hajri said at least 300 students will join “A Flower Each Spring” weekly campaign this time. The FEC has also lined up a series of competitions for school students, youth, researchers, photographers, painters and artistes. The competition is open for both the nationals and residents.

Launched by H H Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned a decade ago, “A Flower Each Spring” is the annual programme designed to educate the young generation about Qatar’s flora. The programme has its focus on different native flower in each year. Prosopis Cineraria, Limonium, Alhagi Maurorum and Acacia enrenbergiana are some of the flowers which were chosen under the programme during the previous years. Dr Yusuf Al Qassim, Vice Chairperson, “Flower each Spring” programme and Mohammed Hashim were also present.