While researching this book on the plains below Jebel Rawdah, after January rains, the writer spotted a group of young nationals in two Land Rovers. They would get into their vehicles and drive a couple of kilometres, jump out, examine a bush and extract something which they ate.

It turned out that they were after a parasitic plant known as daghabis, shaped very much like asparagus spears. The edible portion is the thin tip on top, which has a sweet taste. It grows in the middle of the bush and is protected and shaded in this environment. The boys mentioned daghabis grows only after the rains and is very tasty and nutritious. They had learned about it from their grandfathers and other elders in their families. The bush it grows on is called kharman.