About Ochradenus baccatus Delile
Ochradenus baccatus is a shrub that is usually dioecious, or occasionally monoecious. It typically grows 50 to 200 centimeters tall. It has slender, photosynthetic green stems that do not have true leaves. Its small yellow flowers are sexually dimorphic. Female flowers produce white, sweet-tasting berries that contain black seeds. The black seeds become exposed when the fruit splits open at maturity. This species mainly flowers from March to April. It grows in sandy and gravelly soils, and is most commonly found in wadis, depressions, and areas that experience disturbance. It occurs frequently in ruderal zones, including roadside verges and areas near urban developments. Ochradenus baccatus is native to North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and parts of the Middle East. It has been recorded in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, eastern Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. In Qatar, where it is called qurdi, it is well established in the country's central and northern regions.
