Nabkha

[4][6] In Jal Az-Zor National Park in Kuwait, they occur around Nitraria retusa, Zygophyllum qatarense, Haloxylon salicornicum, and Panicum turgidum.

[2] Halophytes such as Tamarix aucheriana, Halocnemum strobilaceum and Salicornia europaea have nabkhas in saline soils, while Cyperus conglomeratus, Rhanterium epapposum, Astragalus spinosus, Lycium shawii, and Citrulus colocynthis are seen in non-saline zones.

[7] On the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt they are recorded on Artemisia monosperma, Moltkiopsis ciliata, Calligonum polygonoides, Stipagrostis scoparia, and Retama raetam.

[8] In central Asia and surrounding areas they occur on Calotropis, Ziziphus, Salvadora, and Heliotropium species.

[1] The largest known were 10 meters tall[10] and a kilometer long; these large dunes have been called mega-nabkhas.

These dunes are composed of quartz, gypsum, and feldspar sands mixed with bits of volcanic rock and calcite grains.

[3] The type of plant influences the shape of the nabkha; for example, treasure flower (Gazania rigens) forms tall, conical or elongated dunes, while beach daisy (Arctotheca populifolia) forms shorter, semi-circular dunes.

[13][14] Some sources describe nabkhas as ephemeral features of the landscape, but other research shows that they may last longer than previously thought.

[1] In northern China, nabkhas were present on grasslands before they were converted to agriculture, but this conversion accelerated their development and they are a common feature of abandoned farm fields in the region.

They are home to a variety of animals, including many invertebrates such as nematodes and the sand flea Talochestria capensis.