The Department of Ecology at the College of Science, University of Basra, organized a seminar on the impact of environmental factors and pollution on the distribution and spread of the *Rhanterium epapposum* plant community in the southern desert of Basra Governorate. The seminar, presented by student Zahraa Ali Jaafar, aimed to highlight the *Rhanterium epapposum* plant and its importance as a medicinal and grazing plant, as well as its significant environmental value.
The study addressed the plant's abundance and density, and the accumulation of pollutants in its tissues. This highlights the potential for protecting this plant from cutting and grazing, and for expanding its cultivation in polluted areas and oil fields, given its tolerance to high pollution levels.
The study recommended conducting a comprehensive study of plant biodiversity and avoiding the establishment of landfills in areas with vegetation cover, especially for rare and important plant communities in the southern desert.
