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The Red Sea Hyphaene of Saudi Arabia
Reprinted
with permission from the January
1996 issue of Principes, Vol 40, No 1
Journal of the International Palm Society
©
1996 The International Palm Society, all rights reserved
MICHAEL
OTIER
 United Arab Emirates
University, University General Requirements Unit (English) P.O. Box 17172,
Al-Ain-United Arab Emirates
Hot,
baking deserts, nomadic bedouin with camel caravans and sporadic oases
dotted with date palms are typical stereotypes that characterize our awareness
of Saudi Arabia. These desert scenes from the past still occasionally
permeate contemporary Saudi Arabia.
Fortunately for the
palm enthusiast, exotic palm trees occupy certain geographical pockets of
Saudi Arabia with greater frequency than the apparently ubiquitous date
palm. Recently, I travelled to the Red Sea town of Shuqayq and documented
Hyphaene there (Fig. 1). Even among this unusual genus of multi-trunked
palms, the variety that is found along the Red Sea and in neighboring "wadis,"
i.e., valleys, is a particularly alluring species (Fig. 2).
The excursion to the
Red Sea is as much an adventure as documenting the Hyphaene. The point of
embarkation to the Red Sea was Khamis Mushayt, once reputed as a trading
terminal along the Frankincense Road. The distance from Khamis Mushayt to
Shuqayq is only 90 miles. The diversity of landscape and vegetation en route,
however, is astonishing. Khamis Mushayt is located at 7,000 feet and Shuqayq
is at sea level. In contrast to coastal Saudi Arabia, Khamis Mushayt resembles
the American Southwest. Weathered granite buttes and plateaus abound in
the area with nearby mountain peaks soaring to 9,500 feet.
A dramatic change in
scenery occurs not far outside Khamis. After a brief placid drive through
the countryside, the road suddenly dives serpentine-fashion from the precipice
of an escarpment. The journey continues to be a breathtaking experience
until the road reaches sea level. Along the way, sheer canyon walls give
way to wide valleys. Road and bridge construction crews wage an ongoing
attempt to repair the damage caused by rogue flash floods. Towards the bottom
of the escarpment, meadows appear. Occasional banana plantations offer passersby
unexpected tropical viewing pleasures in this climatic anomaly. The geographical
and climatic variety provide enough diversity to sustain one for the remaining
barren drive to Shuqayq.
The typically hum-drum
drive from Shuqayq to the remote beach area is now punctuated by sand drifts
that present themselves as respectable road barriers. This is the season
for the "Kama-seen" winds which originate in eastern Africa. These
formidable winds wreak havoc from the western Saudi coast to Yemen. It is
common to see brown skies and then have a downpour of mud-rain which results
from airborne dust mixing with humid coastal air. The early morning hours,
however, provide excellent opportunities to view the Hyphaene.
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