KISR Field Trip #2

A sedge with spring green just beginning. This native plant is called Thunda in Arabic. Its Latin name is Cyperus conglomeratus.
The fence showing the difference between land that is over-grazed and land that is protected. These native plants are called Arfaj in Arabic. Its Latin name is Rhanterium epapposum.
Kuwait's national flower starting to put on spring green and blooms. The flower is golden yellow. Arfaj in Arabic. Its Latin name is Rhanterium epapposum.
Close up.
Desert Blue Flag Iris just about ready to bloom. Unsul or Unsulan in Arabic. Its Latin name is Gynandriris sisyrinchium.
Close up.
Desert Blue Flag Iris coming up in one of the many low spots ( sabkhah is Arabic for wetland) that form ponds during rains.
The foundation of a stock watering trough that used to be on the edge of a low spot where a large pond developed when rains came. The stock would trample a large area around the trough.
Dhub doo washed up on the edge of a desert pond during the last rains.
Early blooms on this plant that used to be common throughout the Kuwait desert - before over-grazing. Qatad in Arabic. Its Latin name is Astragalus aucheri.
Close up of the flowers and spines.
Ants making their living.
Taking a close up photo of two iris emerging for this year's flowering.
Another wetland with Blue Flag Iris comeing up.
A solar experiment that was abandoned during the war.
The early spring grasses coming up in areas where there is no overgrazing.
The recent rains recorded these tracks of a larger animal standing and looking. Perhaps a desert fox.
Shore birds in a cage along with the other animals shown in the following images waiting to go to the new Science Museum.
One of the desert birds still found in the Kuwait Desert. Many are killed with shotguns on weekend hunts.
Young desert cats, purring as they go back and forth against their cage.
Still found in the desert
Small desert owl pair looking on.
A full grown desert cat that used to be found in Kuwait more than 50 years ago.
Hedgehog unwrapping next to a dhub.
Butterflies feast on the first green of spring
Good sized shrubs can develop without overgrazing.
What causes the barren spot?
The many ant hills.
Dung beetle scurries.
The edge of the fenced area is clearly marked with the barren land as far as the eye can see.
An artificial pond for study. During the night many animals visit the pond. The reeds are called Burdy in Arabic.Its Latin name is Typah angustifolia.
Ornimental test plantings for homes.
Shuka'h in Arabic. Its Latin name is Fagonia olivieri.
Close up.
Note the plants in the foreground and the barren land in the background, outside the fenced protected land.
A rare plant. Transplanted here to collect its seeds. Qardhy or Zinbanab in Arabic. Its Latin name is Ochradenus baccatus.
The flowers of the rare plant.
Ausaj or Oshaz or Sreem in Arabic. Its Latin name is Lycium oucheri.
Close up of flowers.