Dec 11

Dec 11 "Five Plants to Look for in Amman" by Laura Hanna

While walking on the streets of Amman, you can find a variety of seasonal plants with unique characteristics. From floral, white, fragrant flowers in the early spring to bright yellow fruits in the summer, these plants can present entirely different throughout the season. Here are five plants that can be easily identified in the summer.

Olive Trees:

Olives are some of the most popular plants in Jordan. When looking at the cuisine of Jordan, it’s easy to tell why. Almost all food is cooked with a form of olives, the most obvious being olive oil.

To identify an olive tree, look for thin, smooth, and shiny leaves. The most obvious landmark would be the round olives that can sometimes be seen in clusters at the end of branches.

Loquat Trees:

Loquats (also known as askidenias) are a lesser-known fruit in most of the world. The fruit has the texture of a peach and the flavor of an orange-peach crossover.

To identify a loquat tree, look for the unique ornamental leaf shape. The leaves should have a fan shape with equal grooves in each leaf. Loquats are small, orange clusters when ripe.

Lemon Trees:

You may smell a lemon tree before seeing it. During the full flower bloom, a wonderful floral scent can be found near lemon trees. Lemon fruits start a dark green and transition to a bright yellow over time.

To identify a lemon tree, look for 2-to-3-inch leaves with a light green color. Other than leaves or bark, small white flowers or fruits can indicate a lemon tree. A citrusy scent can be used to confirm the identification.

Cacti:

Many people are familiar with cacti, but less know about the delicious fruits that can be found on them. Take care when dealing with cacti! Cacti needles can do serious damage when dealt with without gloves.

Cacti have green bodies with large thorns. Fruits can be found on the perimeters of most sections. Fruits look much smaller and rounder than the main body.