Sahara Desert Plants

Sahara desert plants are among the species known as xerophytes. Other species of plants fall into halophytes, grasses, shrubs and trees. Xerophytes are plants that are adapted to a limited supply of water. Halophytes are plants that can survive in salt-rich habitats like semi-deserts, salt marshes and sea coasts. The Sahara desert still house some areas that are lush and green. The Nile Valley is a famous example. You can still find plants, trees and other living creatures there. To the North of the Sahara desert, along the Mediterranean, abundant growth of olive trees are visible.

List of Sahara Desert Plants

African Welwitchsia
The African welwitchsia manages to survive the harsh conditions of the Sahara desert due to its extremely deep roots. These roots go deep into the earth and absorb as much water as possible. This helps the plant to cope with the hot and dry desert conditions. The African welwitchsia has been known to survive for over hundreds or even thousands of years.

African Peyote Cactus
The African peyote cactus is built with thick stems. The thickness of the stems helps the plant to hold back water for a considerable amount of time. The leaves of the cactus are reduced to spines. This helps in preventing water loss from the stomata from evaporation. In absence of any rain in the desert, these properties of the plant are the main reasons for its survival. This plant is also used for medicinal purposes. Mescaline, an alkaloid found in the plant, has been found to be effective for the treatment of diseases like schizophrenia and other psychoses.

Eragrostis
Among the Sahara desert plants, the eragrostis is a kind of grass that is prevalent in the region. This grass spreads rapidly, and is used by the inhabitants of the desert. Eragrostis is also popularly known as 'lovegrass'.

Common Fig
A deciduous tree that reaches a height of up to 6 m, is also included in the list of the plants that survive in the Sahara Desert. Although it is surprising to evident the growth of this moist, edible fruit-bearing tree in the desert, it is true that figs have been a staple of the people's diet.

Date Palm
Date palm is among the most important exports of Sahara desert plants. It also serves as an important source of food for the locals. Most alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks include the date palm as one of the ingredients. It is also used in the making of certain sweets and stockfeed native to the region. The leaves of this plant are also cooked as vegetables by the natives. Even the seeds of the plant are utilized for making flour or bread.

Doum Palm
This native plant of the Nile River Valley is also known as gingerbread palm, gingerbread tree, doum palm and Egyptian palm. It is used in tea or made into molasses, cakes and sweetmeats. This palm tree does not produce branches and its seeds can be found in many Egyptian tombs. It was a sacred tree for the ancient Egyptians.

Thyme
Apart from being a major food source for the animals of the Sahara desert, thyme herbs are commonly used in African and Middle East dishes and meals. Botanically known as Thymus vulgaris, this multipurpose herb has been used for treating indigestion, respiratory infections, and spasms. Thyme herbs are drought-resistant and grow easily in the dry soils of the desert.

Magaria
Magaria fruits are of a muted brown color and roughly resemble cherries. Flour extracted from dried magaria fruits are typically used by the people of the Sahara desert to make cakes. The branches of the trees are used for building fences around fields, for protection against animals.

Olive Trees
Very few people are aware of the fact that olive trees are also found in areas bordering the Nile river. It was in Africa where the olive trees were first cultivated and later their cultivation spread to other countries. Olive trees are an important plant in the Sahara desert's ecosystem. These trees also serve as a lucrative business for the natives.

These were among the many and common types of Sahara desert plants that serve as an essential part of life in the desert. These plants adapt to unreliable precipitation and excessive heat, and aridity of the desert. The plants are an important food resource for the people and the animals to survive with such sparse vegetation. Not only do these plants make up for the food supply, they are a vital part of the people's livelihood in the desert as well.