Zygophyllum simplex L.

Glabrous bright green annual or biennial, rarely a perennial herb or subshrub; branches prostrate, up to 40 cm. long; internodes 2-4 cm. long.. Leaves simple; blade sessile, cylindrical to obovate, fleshy, obtuse, up to 15 mm. long and 4 mm. across; stipules membranous, filiform 1-1.5 mm. long.. Flowers minute, 5 mm. in diameter, solitary at each node.. Sepals 5, obovate, 2-3 × 1-2 mm.; petals 5, yellow, spathulate, 3 × 1.5 mm.. Stamens 10 in 2 whorls; filaments 2.5 mm. long; basal scale bifid to bipartite, 1 mm. long.. Ovary globose, 1 mm. in diameter, distinctly lobed, glabrous; style cylindrical, 1.25 mm. long; stigma simple.. Capsule pear-shaped, glabrous, 2 × 2 mm., deeply 5-lobed, septicidal; stalk 2 mm. long; style persistent.. Fig. 2.

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot arid places with a marked dry season. It can grow in salty soils. It can be grown to reduce soil salinity. In Bahrain it grows in sandy, gravelly or stony soils. It grows between sea level and 1,370 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.