Rare desert plant highlights AlUla's ecology
Thriving in sandy and clay environments, this fungus holds cultural significance for its unique appearance and the flavor it adds to traditional dishes, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The desert shaggy mane indicates AlUla's ecological balance and rich plant diversity. It reflects the connection between local communities and their environment, highlighting the importance of sustainable resource use.
The Royal Commission for AlUla is committed to preserving this natural heritage by documenting local resources, promoting environmental sustainability and ensuring the survival of rare plant species.
As part of AlUla's botanical ecosystem, the desert shaggy mane is valued for its ecological, nutritional and cultural importance, representing the region's longstanding relationship between humans and nature.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Mysterious pink glow lights up northwest Saudi skies
JEDDAH: Residents in Saudi Arabia's northwest have been puzzled by the appearance of what some described as a 'bright pink circular spot' in the evening sky — with the phenomenon occurring twice in recent weeks. The latest incident on July 1 left locals searching for an explanation for the 'rare and unfamiliar scene,' Saudi Press Agency reported. Majed Abu Zahrah, head of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, told SPA that a similar occurrence was recorded on May 13. 'According to the captured images, the spot was clearly illuminated against the dark blue sky … with no accompanying sound or noticeable changes in shape before it began to gradually fade after a few minutes,' he said. While no official scientific confirmation has yet been issued, Abu Zahrah offered one possible explanation, saying: 'This phenomenon could result from vapors of barium, strontium, and ionized oxygen released at high altitudes to study the upper layers of the atmosphere (the ionosphere).' For science and astronomy enthusiasts around the Kingdom, he further speculated: 'In such experiments, the released vapors glow due to the reflection of residual sunlight after sunset at altitudes exceeding 100 km, forming luminous spots in pink, blue, or green, whose shapes are altered by upper atmospheric winds.' Abu Zahrah said that the spot also may have resulted from debris in the upper atmosphere, such as remnants of a rocket burn or satellite fragments, along with clouds of gases such as helium or hydrogen.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Rare desert plant highlights AlUla's ecology
RIYADH: The desert shaggy mane, Podaxis pistillaris, appears after rainfall in AlUla governorate, rapidly growing in a mushroom-like form. Thriving in sandy and clay environments, this fungus holds cultural significance for its unique appearance and the flavor it adds to traditional dishes, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The desert shaggy mane indicates AlUla's ecological balance and rich plant diversity. It reflects the connection between local communities and their environment, highlighting the importance of sustainable resource use. The Royal Commission for AlUla is committed to preserving this natural heritage by documenting local resources, promoting environmental sustainability and ensuring the survival of rare plant species. As part of AlUla's botanical ecosystem, the desert shaggy mane is valued for its ecological, nutritional and cultural importance, representing the region's longstanding relationship between humans and nature.
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Culture Ministry, China-Arab Cultural and Tourism Cooperation Research Center Sign Executive Program
The Saudi Ministry of Culture and the China-Arab Cultural and Tourism Cooperation Research Center signed on Sunday an executive program, further strengthening collaboration between the Kingdom and China in the cultural field. The executive program, taking place in parallel with the 2025 Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year, reinforces joint efforts in cultural areas. The executive program was signed by Deputy Minister for Research and Cultural Heritage Affairs Dr. Maha Abdullah Alsenan and Vice President of Beijing International Studies University and member of the Joint Committee of the China-Arab Research Center for Cultural and Tourism Cooperation Cheng Wei at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture in Diriyah. Under the executive program, the two sides will jointly carry out research projects to boost the quality of cultural research submitted and collaborate to identify and compile cultural content related to each country held in national archives. In addition, the Ministry of Culture will collaborate with the China to hold joint conferences and support mutual visits and exchanges between cultural researchers from both countries to discuss common cultural issues. The program includes support for research exchange operations, facilitating visits by Saudi researchers to Chinese universities and research centers, as well as by Chinese researchers to Saudi universities and research centers. It provides both sides with specialists in cultural fields, offers support in the research fellowship program, and provides consultative support. This executive program comes within the context of the Ministry of Culture's commitment to promoting international cultural exchange as one of the objectives of the National Culture Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030 and as an extension of the activities of the 2025 Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year, which aims to consolidate the close relations between Saudi Arabia and China in various development fields.
