Q8 National Flower

National Flowers are a symbol of the representing country. Some national flowers have cultural or religious roots that go back hundreds or even thousands of years.

Rhanterum epapposum, or locally called Arfaj, it became the national flower of Kuwait in 1983. In the past this plant not only served as fodder for the rhem gazelle(also known as the Slender-horned Gazelle or the Sand Gazelle, is a slender-horned gazelle, most adapted to desert life) and domestic animals, but also was a source of fuel. Prominent in the central and northeastern part of the desert, this small aromatic shrub displays silvery branches and small green leaves in autumn and during spring it has a profusion of golden yellow flowers. Now this flower is a great source of water for camels during the dry spells.

The selection of the national flower is not a random one, and the choice involves consideration of environmental aspects, historical roots and abundance, as well as economic value to the state. Despite the fierce competition between desert flora, it was the Arfaj that claimed the crown and became known as the national flower.

French botanist Renato Desfontaines, in his encyclopedia "Flora Atlantica," described the Arfaj as one of the best types of flora in the area, noting that while it was rare in many countries, it covered 30 percent of Kuwait's surface area around the year. He also notes that the plant is thorn-free and has a sweet fragrant.