A desert hairless annual, widespread along the whole Saharo-Arabian region. Leaves entire, clasping. Flowers violet, spring blooming. In the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens we found that there is no self pollination in Schouwia purpurea, fruiting occurs only after cross pollination between different plants. The fruit is rounded, flat, with a distinct style at the edge. The whole plant dries, breaks and tumbles, thus dispersing its seeds.