The local ‘Al Sumr’ tree has mulitple uses. Its shade protects the sun's rays, and its wood used for fire wood, and from the nectar of its flowers we taste the finest natural honey.
Its status in the past was more than just a tree that summarises stories from the memory of our ancestors. The tree provides humans with food and construction tools for making homes and feeding animals.
‘Al Sumr’ (Acacia tortilis) is the tree of the dry and semi-arid regions. Called 'acacia' it is described as the 'thorny umbrella' tree. It is abundant in shade, dense with leaves and thorns, its rise is horizontal, and has many branches, some of which are single, double, or three-stemmed. It is a source of livelihood for humans. Among domestic animals, the most important types of which are ‘Al Aqratah’ Earrings” and ‘Al Arbad’. The male of the Samar tree is called ‘Al Shabhanah’ which is few and rare.
‘Al Sumr’ grows on sand dunes, rocky surfaces, and in the bottom of muddy valleys. It avoids areas flooded with seasonal flood waters. It can live in harsh climatic conditions when the annual rainfall decreases to 40 millimetres. It tolerates rainfall at a rate that may reach 1,200 millimetres.
It tolerates drought and for an entire year, its veins extend 50 feet into the sandy soil.
Its lifespan exceeds 200 years. The characteristics of the three varieties of this tree can be identified by its green leaves and the long branches of its branches. The height of this tree is about 20 feet. The colour of its wood (outer bark) tends to yellow, and has long thorns. This tree secretes a brown sticky resin during the summer.
The length of the tree depends on the amount of water it receives. The average height is limited to between 1 and 5 metres. It has a prominent role in the ecosystem with the green spaces and provides simple water needs. Samar trees are common in the gravel plains and in some sandy areas near valleys thanks to torrents, and high mountains.
The flowering season is a favourite time for honey collectors. The bees graze on its flowers and produce a reddish-black honey with a pleasant smell. It is locally called ‘Al Baram’ honey, meaning brown honey. It is considered one of the most expensive types of natural honey because of the nutritional value it contains, because it is extracted from the brown buds.
This type of honey is distinguished by its reddish-black colour and strong odor. Doctors recommend it for treatment of many diseases. It is also used for children to support their immunity.
“‘Al Sumr’ leaves and fruits are good food for camels and sheep during grazing. In ancient times, people used its branches to build roofs. Its firewood is also a good, low-smoking fuel, but unfortunately it is a tree threatened with extinction due to natural factors such as torrential floods and strong winds”, a specialist in Oman’s biodiversity told Observer.
“Interaction by members of society remains an important matter in preserving it, by avoiding logging and using available alternatives with modern means of cooking and heating to ensure the achievement of environmental sustainability, which the government seeks to restore to its previous era and to preserve the rarest plant species from extinction”, he adds.
Text, photos by Yahya Al Salmani
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