Zygocarpum dhofarense (Hillc. & J.B.Gillett) Thulin & Lavin

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In Omani studies: Miller & Morris (1988) wrote that: "This tree, which grows on the steeper slopes of the monsoon mountains and occasionally in the vicinity of waterholes in the drier areas beyond the main monsoon zone, was a very important fodder plant for all livestock. It is probably more appreciated than any other fodder by camels and goats, which might in part explain the present comparative rarity of this plant. Of all the plants coming into leaf during and just after the rainy season, this tree was considered to provide the most nutritious fodder. Livestock browing the foliage of this tree become characteristically sleek and plump, and their milk-yield much improved. The sweetest milk in all species of livestock was believed to result from browsing this plant. The leaves also provided a sweet and nutritious mouthful for their herders. They were used medicinally too, chewed or crushed to a ... paste and rubbed into the scalp to kill head lice. However, this was never considered to be as effective as other treatments, such as an application of the urine of a camel which had newly given birth to its first calf. The pretty veined yellow and orange flowers were also sucked for their nectar [J: msisi, from the root mss, 'to suck] by children and adults who were usually hungry for anything sweet at a time when their access to other sources of sugar was limited. The tree produces long, slim, supple branches formerly much used in the construction of the summer-camp shelters [J: asker] used by herders before the introduction of tents. These were made by bending one long branch over another in a semi-circular hoop shape and wedging the extremities firmly into the ground. This framework was then covered with lengths of material, providing shade from the sun, a measure of privacy and adequate shelter during the summer months when wind and rain were rare. The supple branches were also popular for making the feeding troughs [J: mikeleyl] for the calf and kid huts, put up to prevent the livestock from trampling and spoiling their feed. The calves and kids were kept in their byres for long stretches of time, and the fodder gathered for them by their owners was poked through a special hole in the byres to fall into these semicircular raised troughs. The straighter branches also provided the shafts for spears, used as weapons formerly, but in more recent times mainly for spearing fish. The handles of the measuring ladles called J: megref (made from a hollowed mature coconut with the top cut off) used in the markets to weigh out grain and pulses and so on, were often made from this tree. The branches were in demand too for making the tulchans used at milking time. To make these a piece of the dead calf's skin was stretched over a curved frame and given to the bereaved mother to sniff to encourage her to let down her milk. Baby's cradles also needed wood that was strong but supple, and the curved wooden parts of these structures was often made from Ormocarpum wood. The woven frames for the circular shields [J: gub] used in earlier times were sometimes made of this wood, as were the curved low doors and entrance tunnels of the traditional round housed and cattle byres. The gazelle traps made of half-buried pointed stakes were oftenmade from the smaller twigs of the tree, and the bird traps too [DA; kuddeh, sabkeh, J: ensebet, siekt] were often constructed from the slim stems. The wood was also made into a variety of staffs and staves: the ubiquitous stick which every man carried from a very early age [J: xotrok], the club with a thickly knobbed end often used as a weapon [J: tekso], and the various fodder hooks and staves used to knock and hook foliage and fruit down to within reach of herders or livestock. As firewood the wood of this tree was excellent, producing little smoke and a steady bright flame". (Ref. Plants of Dhofar). In addition, Ghazanfar (2007) mentioned that: "Browsed by all livestock". (Ref. Flora of Oman; vol.2).

*POWO (2023). ""Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org *https://en.wikipedia.org *Ghazanfar, S. (2007). Flora of the Sultanate of Oman, vol.2: Crassulaceae – Apiaceae. Meise, National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Scripta Botanica Begica, Vol. 36). ISBN 9789072619747 ISSN 0779-2387. *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. *Gledhill, D. (2008). The Names of Plants. Fourth Edition. Cambridge University Press, UK. ISBN 978-0-521-86645-3 ISSN 978-0-521-68553-5. *Patzelt, A. (2015). Oman Plant Red Data Book. Published by Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman. Oman Botanic Garden Publication No. 1. ISBN 978-99969-50-10-0.