Rhanterium epapposum Oliv.  

( Arabic Name: Arfaj )
.Distribution: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan.

.Saudi Arabia: Forming the major Rhanterium steppe communities in central and northern Saudi Arabia.

Habit: Rigidly, intricately branched, clumped shrublet up to c. 75 cm (or more) tall. Branches of new growth fleecy-white-tomentose.A plant uniquely adapted to hot desert conditions of the area of its distribution. The plants rarely occur singly; each bush of Rhanterium epapposum is usually a clump of a few individuals which had germinated from the .same fruiting-head, the latter being the units of dispersal in this plant. This plant is not tolerant of standing water.

.Leaves: summer-deciduous, sessile, narrow-linear to narrow-ovate, up to c. (30 - 40) x 2 - 3 mm, glabrous to sparsley pubescent, remote-dentate to entire.

Inflorescence: Heads solitary, terminal on numerous branches, yellow, up to c. 15 mm across.
.Involucral bracts coriaceous, glabrous, lanceolate, acute, imbricate, usually outer reflexed.

.Fruit: Achenes c. 2.5 mm long, glabrous, 4 - 5-ribbed, partially enclosed by individual chaffy bracts, epappose.