Dracaena cinnabari on the island of Socotra
Haggeher or Hajhir are mountains that rise 1,500 meters above sea level, on the largest island in the archipelago of the same name, Socotra, which lies approximately 320 kilometers off the coast of mainland Asia in Yemen.
Clouds and mists provide the main source of moisture for Socotra's highest biological diversity point. Rain is minimal on the island, and the lowlands around the perimeter are hot and dry.
The climate of Socotra is influenced by the monsoon of the Indian Ocean. A 2010 study examined the relationship between monsoon winds, cloud formation, and moisture available at Socotra. The use of about 150 satellite images covering a 40-year period-as well as the meteorological, climate, local knowledge, and cloud collection in researchers' networks identified monthly cloud configurations. Satellite images show predominant clouds on the eastern third of the island in January. The cloud cover in February is less consistent, but generally has scattered clouds concentrated along the south coast. From October to February, a fresh wind from the north brings the rains, sometimes covering the northern part of the Hajhir Mountains. During this time of year, clouds can cover the region, producing fog, drizzle, and rainfall. As a consequence, the mountains are home to more than 100 of the native species of Socotra, and more than 50 species are confined only to this mountainous region.
A species that apparently grows in the Hajhir Mountains is the Dragon Blood Tree (Dracaena cinnabari). Considered the symbol of the island, it looks a bit like an umbrella ruined by the wind, but the tree uses its branches upwards to collect moisture from the mist.
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