{{Short description|Species of plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = Cornulaca aucheri on a beach in Qatar.jpg |image_caption = ''Cornulaca aucheri'' on a beach in Qatar |genus = Cornulaca |species = aucheri |authority = Moq.<ref name="POWO">{{cite web |title=Cornulaca aucheri Moq. |work=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:165476-1 |accessdate=17 June 2025}}</ref> }}
'''''Cornulaca aucheri''''' is a native spiny undershrub of the family Amaranthaceae, naturally found in arid and semi-arid environments, especially across the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa.<ref name="POWO"/>
==Description== This species is a low spiny undershrub with a thick, non‑succulent stem and rigid, deflexed leaves. Its stems branch from the base, attaining heights of 15–30 cm in Qatar.<ref name="eNature">{{cite web |title=Hadh |work=Qatar e-Nature |url=https://www.enature.qa/en/specie/hadh/ |accessdate=17 June 2025}}</ref> The plant’s foliage bears small, sharp leaves, and its flowers appear in clusters of 2–3 in upper axils. The fruiting perianth segments often taper into spines.<ref name="UAE">{{cite web |title=Cornulaca aucheri |work=UAE Flora |url=https://uaeflora.ae/plant/441 |accessdate=17 June 2025}}</ref>
==Habitat== The species thrives in sandy soils, particularly along coastal dunes and sabkha margins. It occupies semi-stabilized sands and sandy flats.<ref name="Abdel">{{cite book|last1=Abdel Bary|first1=Ekhlas M.M.|url=https://www.qu.edu.qa/en-us/research/esc/documents/books/the-flora-of-qatar-the-dicotyledons.pdf|title=The Flora of Qatar (The Dicotyledons)|volume=1|publisher=Qatar University|date=November 2012|location=Doha|page=101}}</ref><ref name="eNature"/>
==Distribution== ''Cornulaca aucheri'' ranges from North Africa to Pakistan, including the Arabian Peninsula.<ref name="POWO"/>
==Ecological and local significance== The plant is traditionally used as fodder for camels, despite its spines.<ref name="Abdel"/><ref>{{cite book|chapter=The Ecological Role of ''Cornulaca aucheri'' (Amaranthaceae) in the Stabilization of Degraded Sandy Soils in Kuwait: The Case Study of Liyah Area|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329248570|first1=Modi |last1=Ahmed|first2=Noor |last2=Al-Dousari|first3=Ali |last3=Al-Dousari|title=Exploring the Nexus of Geoecology, Geography, Geoarcheology and Geotourism: Advances and Applications for Sustainable Development in Environmental Sciences and Agroforestry Research|series=IEREK Interdisciplinary Series for Sustainable Development|pages=47–49|publisher=Springer|year=2019|doi=10.1007/978-3-030-01683-8_10|isbn=978-3-030-01682-1 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15590138}}
Category:Amaranthaceae Category:Flora of the Arabian Peninsula Category:Flora of Qatar Category:Flora of Kuwait Category:Flora of North Africa