Pluchea arabica (Boiss.) Qaiser & Lack

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Arabian Camphorweed

In Omani studies: Miller & Morris (1988) wrote that: "Pluchea arabica grows plentifully in drier areas wherever the water table lies close to the surface, and is indeed a reliable indicator of the proximity of water. In earlier times, a profusion of these plants in a wadi bed sugested a suitable site for digging a water-scrape. During the monsoon season in particular, camel herders would take their animals to areas where this plant grew in abundance. It is often to be found growing in association with shrubs of Salvadora persica and Tamarix species. Camels or goats browsing on any or al of these plants develop severe diarrhoea which initially weaknes them and causes them to appear in poor condition, but they later recover their appetite and faten up and become sleek and healthy. They become extremely thirsty while feeding on such plants, so their hereders generally took them to browse ... in areas with a reliable water-source in the vicinity, such as around the lagoons [J: xor] that are to be found along the Dhofar coast. From these the livetock received both water and salt, and it has been suggested that various factors might be at work here in axplaining the success of this herd mangement procedure: it is possible that the benefits resulting from the intake of salt and minerals, combined with the possibly vermifuge action of these various plants might together be responsible for producing the marked improvement in condition of camels taken to feed in such areas. Leaves and stems of P. arabica were also cut and mixed with the dry-season sardine fodder to tempt livestock to take such initially rather unpalatable fodder. Medicinally, the whole plant was pounded, put in water and boiled, then allowed to cool. The strained liquid was used to treat painful swellings and boils, both to relieve the pain and to bring a boil to a head. Juice expressed from the leaves was also put into a sore and suppurating ear, with or without juice from an onion. This was a painful treatment, but was said to be efficacious. Swellings and contusions in livestock were also treated with a compress made from crushed leaves and stems, and this was said to be particularly successful where the swelling lay close to a bone, such as on the hock. The whole plant has a pleasant smell, and sprigs were often plucked and rubbed between the hands and then over the body as a deodorant". (Ref. Plant of Dhofar). In addition, Ghazanfar (2015) mentioned that: "Traditionally the plant has been used medicinally to treat painful swellings and boils; young twigs have also been rubbed over the body as a deodorant". (Ref. Flora of Oman, vol. 3)

*Ghazanfar, S. (2015). Flora of the Sultanate of Oman, vol.3: Loganiaceae – Asteraceae. Meise, National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Scripta Botanica Begica, Vol. 25). ISBN 9789082352511 ISSN 0779-2387. *https://en.wikipedia.org *https://en.hortipedia.com *Miller, A., Morris, M. (1988). Plants of Dhofar, the Southern Region of Oman: Traditional, Economic, and Medicinal Uses. Published by Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman; ISBN 10: 0715708082 ISSN 13: 9780715708088. *Pickering, H. Patzelt, A. (2008). Field Guide to the Wild Plants of Oman. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. ISBN 9781842461778. *POWO (2023). ""Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org