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  • COMMON NAME: kapok bush, Desert cotton
  • ARABIC: آرا
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Aerva javanica (Burm. F.) Spring.
  • SYNONYMS: A. persica (Burm. F.) Merrill
  • FAMILY: AMARANTHACEAE
  • KIND: Native
  • EMIRATE: Abu-Dhabi , Dubai , Sharjah , Fujairah
  • CATEGORIES: Medicinal (M) Fodder (F) Other Uses (O)
  • GROWTH FORMS: Shrubs
  • HABITATS: Sandy
  • TYPES: Perennial
  • REMARKS: Wadi Wurayah National Park (WWNP).
Flora of the United Arab Emirates V1 & 2, Fawzi M.Karim, Nael M.Fawzi; reviewed by Fatima Al-Ansary. Al-Ain: United Arab Emirates University, 2007. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:59030-1 Karim FM and Dakheel AG. Salt-tolerant plants of the United Arab Emirates. 2006. International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, Dubai, UAE. Gary R. Feulner. 2014. The Flora of Wadi Wurayah National Park Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. V.V. Byalt, V.M. Korshunov, M.V. Korshunov. Cadaster of the Flora of Fujairah Emirate (United Arab Emirates). Al Fujairah 2021. M.V.D jongbloed, G.R. Fuelner, B. Boer, A.R. Western. the comprehensive guide to the wild flowers of the United Arab Emirates. Environmental research and wildlife Development agency, Abu Dhabi, 2003.
Moderately to highly salt-tolerant, can be grazed. The woolly flower and seed heads were gathered for use as stuffing for camel saddles and cushions. Flower heads also used to pack suppurating wounds after cleaning. Whole plant used as a diuretic and said to be an antidote for arsenic poisoning. Flowers mixed with water were made into a paste to apply to wounds to stop bleeding.

An erect grey or white tomentose dwarf-shrub up to 100 cm high. Stems branched, Stiff, woody at base. Leaves obovate to oblong or oblanceolate 1-6 cm long and 0.5-2 cm wide, tapering at base into a short petiole. Inflorescences dense, long, naked, terminal and axillary spike-like, 1-7 cm long. Bracts as long as flowers, membranous 0.2-0.4 cm long. Flowers white, small, sessile, perianth 5-segments 0.3-0.4 cm long, oval or oblong, membranous, woolly with a thin green centre; female flowers larger than males. Stamens 5, anthers 2-called, staminodes 5. Utricle oblong, small, black. 

Flowering from January to May.
Alluvial plains, sandy and gravelly soil.
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