THE VASCULAR PLANTS OF ABU DHABI EMIRATE

Gary Brown & Sabitha Sakkir

Terrestrial Environment Research Centre

Environmental Research & Wildlife Development Agency

August 2004
 THE VASCULAR PLANTS OF ABU DHABI EMIRATE

Gary Brown & Sabitha Sakkir

ISSUE SHEET

Prepared and Dr Gary Brown

submitted by: Sabitha Sakkir 30.08.2004

Checked and John Newby

approved by:

Issue Status: Final

Purpose of Issue: Internal report, may be distributed externally

Team Members: Brown, Gary // Sakkir, Sabitha

Authorised by: Assistant Secretary General for Science and Research

Ref.: 03-31-0005 (Habitat Restoration Project)

REVISION SHEET

Revision no. Date Affected Date Change By

Pages Made

version 1.2 15.09.2004 4, 5, 6, 19 15.09.2004 G.Brown

Authors’ addresses:
Dr Gary Brown & Sabitha Sakkir, ERWDA, TERC, PO Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE
gbrown@erwda.gov.ae; ssakkir@erwda.gov.ae
 THE VASCULAR PLANTS OF ABU DHABI EMIRATE

Contents

1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

2. Environmental Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

2.1. Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

2.2. Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

2.3. Landforms and major habitat types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

3. Vegetation and flora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

3.1. Vegetation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

3.2. Flora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

3.3. Biogeography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

4. Threats to the vegetation and flora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Appendix 1: Checklist of the vascular flora of Abu Dhabi Emirate . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

The Vascular Plants of Abu
Dhabi Emirate
1. Introduction
Covering an area of ca. 70 000 km2, Abu
Dhabi is the largest of the seven Emirates
that make up the United Arab Emirates
(Figure 1). Scientific work on the flora of
the region commenced only fairly recently,
with one of the first comprehensive publi-
cations dealing with the vascular plants of
the country being produced by Western
(1989).
The main objective of this report is to pro-
vide a provisional checklist of the vascular
plant species for Abu Dhabi Emirate. This
checklist will serve as a basis for further
studies and activities, including ultimately
the drawing up of a Red Data List, i.e. a list
of species that are either threatened or
potentially threatened. At present, there is
sparse information on the threat status of
plants in the Emirate, and in the country as
a whole.
In addition to providing a checklist of
species, an attempt has been made to
associate plant species with major habitat
types. Although not complete, this informa-
tion will serve several purposes, including
to indicate the ecological requirements of
plants, contribute to the development of

Figure 1. Map of Abu Dhabi Emirate showing important towns and locations. AA = Al Ain, AD =
Abu Dhabi island, AH= Al Hayer, JD = Jebel Dhanna, JH = Jebel Hafit, Mi = Mirfa, Mz =Medinat
Zayed, RG = Ra’s Ghanadha, Ru = Ruwais, Si = Sila’a, Sw = Sweihan, Zi = Zirku.

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species management and recovery plans,
provide direction to habitat restoration
efforts and to generally enhance science-
based conservation research. In short, this
will place the Emirate in a better position to
meets its commitments in respect of the
Convention on Biological Diversity, specifi-
cally the Global Strategy for Plant
Conservation.
Apart from our own field studies, this
checklist of species is based on work car-
ried out by Western (1989), Jongbloed et
al. (2000) and Jongbloed et al. (2003).
Specimens of many species are stored in
the ERWDA Herbarium.
Due to the general paucity of available
data, it is clear that information will need to
be updated on a regular basis. We there-
fore welcome any information and con-
structive comments that can contribute to
this process.
2. Environmental setting
2.1. Climate
The climate of most of the region is hot and
dry throughout most of the year, and
according to the UNEP classification of dry-
lands, can be regarded as hyperarid
(Middleton & Thomas, 1997). Along a nar-
row coastal strip, climatic conditions are
slightly less extreme, especially towards
the north-east. Arid to semi-arid conditions
occur in the Hajar Mountains in the far east
of the country, but outside of Abu Dhabi
Emirate. Temperatures are generally very
high during the summer (May to October),
with daytime values regularly exceeding 45
°C. At night they rarely drop below 30 °C.
Winters are cooler, but even at night, tem-
peratures below 5 °C are uncommon.
Mean annual temperatures are in the
region of 27 °C (Böer, 1997).
Rainfall varies considerably throughout the
Emirate, but the long-term annual mean is
about 90 mm for most of the area, includ-
ing Abu Dhabi island (see Böer, 1999).
Slightly higher precipitation amounts are
received towards the mountains in the
east, with a mean of about 100 mm in Al
Ain. The lowest rainfall (mean 46 mm)
occurs in the west of the Emirate. In Bu
Hasa (SW of Medinat Zayed), it was so low
that it was not even properly recordable
over a 12 year period. Even on the coast,
mean precipitation for Jebel Dhanna was
merely 46 mm over a 16-year period.
Furthermore, seasonal variation in rainfall
amounts is a pronounced feature. For
instance, over a 23-year observation peri-
od (1970-1992) in Al Ain, total annual rain-
fall ranged from 1 to 303 mm, (Böer, 1997).
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Rainfall occurs mainly in the winter
months, but is possible at any time of the
year.
2.2. Soils
Due to the harsh climatic conditions, natu-
ral soils consist mostly of the little-altered
parent material. Sand sheets and sand
dunes cover large expanses of the
Emirate. Coastal sands are rich in calcium
carbonate, as they are derived from marine
organisms. Calcium-poor ‘red sands’ on
the other hand predominate in the interior.
Towards the mountains, gravels and more
rocky substrate become more apparent.
Gravelly substrate also occurs in many
north-western regions. Aeolionite expo-
sures are scattered throughout the
Emirate, especially in coastal areas.
Sabkha is a characteristic feature of many
coastal areas, often covering large areas.
Inland sabkha is also found on many inter-
dunal plains, especially in the Al Khatam
and Liwa areas (Brown, 2004). Biological
activity in the soils is very low, as they con-
tain virtually no organic material. As a con-
sequence, they are highly deficient in nitro-
gen, and are generally regarded as poor in
terms of nutrient status. Natural soil salini-
ty away from the coast is largely dependent
on the proximity of the water table to the
surface, and the extent to which flooding
takes place after heavy rainfall. In some
areas, soil salinity has increased in recent
years due to unsuitable irrigation practices,
ultimately leading to the abandonment of
agriculture.
2.3. Landforms and major habitat
types
A large proportion of Abu Dhabi Emirate is
covered by sand sheets and sand dunes,
with extensive gravelly plains found in the
north-west and north-east. Jebel Hafit,
located to the south of Al Ain, is the only
mountain to occur in the Emirate.
Using satellite imagery to analyse the
broad geomorphology of the Emirate, Böer
& Gliddon (1997) distinguished six major
geomorphological regions (Figure 2).
These are:
I. Al Khatam area
II. Umm Al Zamul-Sweihan area
III. Liwa
IV. Western & Central Desert
V. Al Ain region
VI. The Gulf (coastal) region
In general, these units are potentially of
great practical use for identifying and inter-
preting the distribution patterns of plant
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Figure 2. The six major geomorphological regions of Abu Dhabi Emirate recognised by Böer &
Gliddon (1997).
species in the Emirate. For this reason,
they are retained, and should any refine-
ment be necessary, this can be carried out
when sufficient data have been collected.
Four major landform classes (sand sheets,
gravel plains, saline flats and mountains)
were used to develop a simplified landform
classification system for Abu Dhabi Emirate
and adjacent areas (Böer & Gliddon,
1997). These major classes were further
divided into a number of subclasses.
However, this categorisation has proved
unsatisfactory for a number of reasons, not
least because certain landform types are
missing, and also because of the terminol-
ogy, which is not always consistent with
standard usage. More appropriate to the
needs of conservation work is a list of
major habitat types, which combine land-
form, broad vegetation types and dominant
soil characteristics. We are presently com-
piling such a list for the Emirate.
Due to the current lack of data of sufficient
quality to assign many plant species to the
detailed categories used in the list of major
habitat types, a modified, more general
version has been adopted for this report
(see Appendix 1), differentiating eight main
categories, as well as a ninth to provide
information on the distribution status of
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plants on offshore islands, where data are
particularly scanty (see Appendix 1). The
nine categories are:
1. Coastal habitats
2. Sabkha
3. Sand sheets, dunes and mega dunes
4. Alluvial and interdunal plains
coastal cliffs, coastal plains, sand sheets
and low dunes. All are influenced to a cer-
tain degree by elevated salinity levels in
the substrate, with the exception of coastal
sand sheets and low dunes, where salinity
is not always a determining environmental
factor. Coastal white sands, a highly dis-
tinct habitat type (Figure 3), are also

5. Mountains, rocky terrain and wadis included here.

6. Inland water habitats

7. Oases, farmland, plantations
8. Urban habitats
9. Offshore islands
Coastal habitat types encompass a wide
variety of different habitats, including mud-
flats, lagoons, sandy and rocky beaches,
Sabkha is developed in both coastal areas
and inland on interdunal plains. In this
highly saline environment, plant species,
almost invariably halophytes, tend to be
limited to the margins of it, or on thin layers
of sand that accumulate locally on the sur-
face (Figure 4, see also Brown, 2004).

Figure 3. Coastal white sands are species-rich habitats of outstanding conservation

value. The tall grass in the foreground is Halopyrum mucronatum (see also Figure 10),
known only from several locations in Abu Dhabi Emirate, here near Ra’s Ghanadha.

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Figure 4. Coastal sabkha is often devoid of vegetation (background), but where there is a
thin veneer of sand on the surface, halophytes, in this case Halopeplis perfoliata
(Chenopodiaceae), can form extensive stands.

Figure 5. Dunes cover a substantial percentage of Abu Dhabi Emirate. One of the most
common species found in such habitats is the sedge Cyperus conglomeratus.

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Figure 6. Dipterygium glaucum
(Capparaceae) is a widespread dwarf shrub
found on sand sheets and dunes.
Sand sheets, dunes (Figure 5) and mega-
dunes occupy by far the largest land area
of the Emirate, and are usually colonised
by dwarf shrubs (Figure 6, see also Figure
16), graminoids, or even trees (see Figure
Figure 7. Haloxylon salicornicum (Chenopodiaceae) is a characteristic dwarf shrub of
interdunal plains and low sand dunes, especially in the northern half of the Emirate.
15), the latter particularly in some eastern
regions.
As a broad and convenient generalisation,
it is possible to differentiate between allu-
vial and interdunal plains. Alluvial plains
are developed over large expanses in the
east of the Emirate towards the Hajar
Mountains, and have a coarse gravelly to
rocky substrate. They are also found in
some western parts, especially towards the
coast, where the substrate tends to be
somewhat finer. Interdunal plains are
developed between the numerous dune
fields in many parts of the Emirate. In the
context of this report, this category refers to
non-saline (at best slightly saline) plains,
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as sabkha, which is also developed on
some interdunal plains (especially in the
Liwa, Al Khatam areas), is treated sepa-
rately under ‘Sabkha’.
The category ”Mountains, rocky terrain and
wadis” covers the rocky mountain slopes of
Jebel Hafit, but also Tertiary ‘jebels’ (rocky
exposures characteristic of some coastal
and inland areas), escarpments, large
areas of aeolionite, etc. Wadis are general-
ly associated with Jebel Hafit (Figure 8),
although some large wadi beds extend into
the plains, especially in the vicinity of Al
Ain.
Some oases are natural landscape fea-
tures, others are distinctly anthropogenic,
but due to their floristic similarities, they are
treated as one category together with plan-
tations and agricultural land.
Urban habitats refers specifically to anthro-
pogenic types commonly associated with
larger towns and cities, such as parks,
roadside verges, etc.
As already mentioned, offshore islands,
which encompass most of the habitat types
listed above, are treated in a separate cat-
egory.

Figure 8. Acacia tortilis (Mimosaceae) is the physiognomically dominant species of allu-

vial plains and rocky slopes in the eastern part of the Emirate, such as here in Wadi
Tarabat (Jebel Hafit).

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 Figure 9. Euphorbia larica (Euphorbiaceae) is restricted to alluvial plains and rocky slopes
in the eastern part of the Emirate, and is common on Jebel Hafit.
3. Vegetation and flora
3.1. Vegetation
The vegetation of the UAE, as with the
Arabian Peninsula in general, has received
relatively little attention. Initial or partial
attempts to classify the vegetation of the
Emirate have been carried out by Western
(1989), Roshier et al. (1996) and Böer &
Gliddon (1997). Useful as they are, they
remain incomplete, and a more rigorous
approach is required taking the whole
country and – if possible – adjacent regions
into consideration. The lack of knowledge
on the vegetation can possibly be attrib-
uted to a number of reasons, including
general problems associated with regions
with sparse vegetation cover, the paucity of
suitable indicator species for classification,
the lack of experts, problems in the past
with accessibility to many parts of the
desert and also the climate. For instance,
the vegetation may appear dead in dry
years, when it is in fact dormant, but
species in a state or dormancy can be
extremely difficult to identify without experi-
ence. Also, annual species and short-lived
perennials can remain as seed in the
ground for decades, germinating and pro-
ducing visible plants only under favourable
rainfall conditions. These species are even
more difficult to record.
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In general, vegetation cover is sparse due
to the harsh environmental conditions.
Cover values for most inland vegetation
types are less than 5 %, usually ranging
from 1 to 2 %.

3.2. Flora

On the basis of present information,

obtained from a variety of sources as well
as our own fieldwork, the UAE is home to
around 800 species of higher plants which
are either native or have become natu-
ralised. Of these, roughly 400 species are
known for Abu Dhabi Emirate, and they
represent 255 genera and 62 families.
Apart from ferns and the genus Ephedra,
all native plants are angiosperms. In terms
of species number, the best represented
families are the Poaceae (69), Fabaceae
(34), Asteraceae (28) and
Chenopodiaceae (27). Some families with
fewer species, such as the Cyperaceae
(e.g. Cyperus conglomeratus),
Mimosaceae (e.g. Acacia tortilis, Prosopis
cineraria), Verbenaceae (e.g. Avicennia
marina) and Zygophyllaceae (e.g.
Zygophyllum qatarense) are of particular
ecological significance due the dominance
of individual representatives in the vegeta-
tion.
Figure 10. The Poaceae (true grasses) are
the most species-rich family in the Emirate,
but some species, such as Halopyrum
mucronatum (see also Figure 3), are very
rare and local.
Taxonomic confusion surrounds a number
of groups in the Emirate and region as a
whole. Examples of more common critical
groups in Abu Dhabi Emirate include the
genera Tamarix, Tribulus and Zygophyllum.
Only detailed research by specialists will
help shed light on the true status of these
taxa. Some footnotes are given in the
species list (Appendix 1) where there are
marked contrasts to prevailing opinions.
Most perennial species in the flora of Abu
Dhabi are xerophytes, i.e. plants that can

- 13 -
 Figure 11. Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Asclepiadaceae) is a good example of a perennial
shrub which soon loses its leaves to reduce transpirational water-loss. Photosynthesis is
carried out by the whip-like branches.

Figure 13. Cistanche tubulosa

(Orobanchaceae) is a common parasite in
the northern part of the Emirate. Its host
plants include various chenopods and
Zygophyllum qatarense.

Figure 12. Cynomorium coccineum

(Cynomoriaceae) is a widespread parasite,
particularly in coastal areas.

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grow in very dry conditions and are able to
withstand long periods of drought. Typical
adaptations include the ability to store large
amounts of water in their stems and leaves
(succulents), waxy, reflective leaves,
reduction of leaf size to avoid water loss
through transpiration (see Figure 11) and
deep-rooting systems. Halophytes (plants
that are adapted morphologically and/or
physiologically to grow in salt-rich soils and
salt-laden air) and psammophytes (plants
adapted to grow in loose, often nutrient-
poor sand) are also important elements of
the flora. Desert annuals, i.e. plants that
complete their life-cycle rapidly during peri-
ods when conditions are favourable for
growth and reproduction, surviving extend-
ed periods of drought as seed, are typical
stress-evaders, and constitute a significant
part of the flora of the Emirate. In contrast,
hygrophytes (plant that are adapted mor-
phologically and / or physiologically to
growing in water or very wet environments)
are barely represented.
There are only several parasitic plant
species in the Emirate, and two of these
are shown in Figures 12 and 13.
The relationship between the occurrence of
certain dominant perennial desert plants
and soil parameters, such as salinity, grain
size and surface hardness, has been
investigated by Böer & Sargeant (1998).
Some of these species are undoubtedly
useful indicators of specific soil conditions,
but more in-depth studies are required.
3.3. Biogeography
A first phytogeographical division of the
Middle East was produced by Zohary
(1973), which more recently has been
slightly modified (Léonard, 1989). In accor-
dance with the latter author, Abu Dhabi
Emirate lies within the Saharo-Sindian
regional zone. This phytochorion can be
further divided into two subzones, which,
however, are not sharply delimited. The
Nubo-Sindian local centre of endemism is
restricted to a narrow coastal belt in the
Emirate, whereas inland areas fall within
the Arabian regional subzone. The Nubo-
Sindian phytochorion corresponds to the
Sudanian region of Zohary (1973), where-
as the Arabian regional subzone covers
largely the same area as Zohary's Saharo-
Arabian region.
Typical genera of the Arabian regional sub-
zone include, amongst others, Medicago,
Ononis, Spergularia and Silene. These are
largely derived from a Mediterranean
stock, with Astragalus, Calligonum and var-
ious chenopods as Irano-Turanian deriva-
tives.
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 Characteristic of the Nubo-Sindian local
centre of endemism, which is well devel-
oped in the east of the Emirate, extending
some way inland, is a xero-tropical vegeta-
tion in which trees play an important role. In
Abu Dhabi Emirate and eastern Arabia in
general, Acacia tortilis is a prominent ele-
ment restricted to this region. Other char-
acteristic taxa include Calotropis procera,
Capparis spp., Cleome spp., Cymbopogon
spp., Halopeplis perfoliata, Indigofera spp.,
Lasiurus scindicus (Figure 14), Launaea
spp., Leptadenia pyrotechnica (see Figure
11), Panicum turgidum, Pennisetum divi-
sum, Periploca aphylla, Salvadora persica

Figure 14. Lasiurus scindicus (Poaceae) and Tephrosia spp.

occurs mainly in coastal areas, occasionally
further inland such as near Jebel Hafit.

Figure 15. Prosopis cineraria (‘ghaf’) is a good example of an Omano-Makranian ele-

ment, and is restricted to the eastern part of the UAE. In Abu Dhabi, it occurs mainly on
low sand dunes , especially in the Sweihan - Al Hayer - Al Ain - Al Khatam area.

- 16 -
 Figure 16. Haloxylon persicum (Chenopodiaceae) is of considerable biogeographical
interest, as the species is restricted to a narrow coastal belt immediately to the south and
south-west of Abu Dhabi island. The stands here, covering an area of ca. 2000 km2, are
of outstanding conservation value (see Aspinall & Hellyer, 2003; Brown & Böer, 2004).

Furthermore, many taxa in the Emirate
show floristic links to the Makran in south-
ern Iran and also to Pakistan. These are
referred to as ‘Omano-Makranian’ ele-
ments (Kürschner, 1986). The natural
western distribution limits of a number of
these species are the Hajar Mountains,
including Jebel Hafit. Good examples
include Gaillonia aucheri, Physorrhynchus
chamaerapistrum, Pseudogaillonia
hymenostephana and Tephrosia apollinea.
Others, for example, Prosopis cineraria
('ghaf' - Figure 15), have managed to
extend their natural range slightly further
westwards, not quite reaching Abu Dhabi
Island. Cornulaca aucheri, Salsola drum-
mondii and Sphaerocoma aucheri occur as
far west as the Saudi Arabian border, or
even beyond.
Within the Emirate, even away the moun-
tains, there are subtle differences in the cli-
matic conditions which have a marked
effect on the distribution of plant species.
The flora of coastal white dunes is a good
example, which becomes increasingly
poorer in species from Dubai to Abu Dhabi
island. This is probably due to a slight
decrease in rainfall and possibly marginal-
ly higher winter temperatures towards the
south-west.

- 17 -
4. Threats to the vegetation and
flora
The majority of the population of Abu Dhabi
lives in the larger towns and cities.
Extensive tracts of the natural desert envi-
ronment are therefore virtually uninhabited.
However, this does not mean that there
have been no anthropogenic impacts in
these areas. Böer (1999) has highlighted
those factors that are the prime cause of
habitat loss and degradation in the
Emirate.
Overgrazing by ever-expanding livestock
numbers has had a serious effect on the
natural vegetation, as underlined by Böer &
Norton (1996), with palatable species such
as perennial grasses and dwarf shrubs
being particularly badly hit. In combination
with the recent cycle of dry years, some of
these species are likely to become severe-
ly reduced in their population size for
years. A good example of a former domi-
nant species in the north-eastern part of
the Emirate that has all but disappeared
from its primary habitat due to overgrazing
is Rhanterium epapposum, a species of
sand sheets (see Western, 1989). The
decline of this and other species has not
been without repercussions, as they often
fulfil important ecological roles. In the case
of Rhanterium, the plants stabilise sand
sheets and therefore prevent certain
aspects of desertification, in particular soil
erosion. Furthermore, other species, espe-
cially insects, that are associated with, or
even dependent on the plants are also like-
ly to have suffered declines in their popula-
tions. Conversely, there has been an
increase in non-palatable species such as
Zygophyllum qatarense and Rhazya stric-
ta. Communities dominated by these
perennials tend to be less diverse.
The recent trend towards forestry and agri-
cultural development has also had nega-
tive impacts, both directly and indirectly, on
the natural environment in some areas.
Apart from the direct effects of habitat loss
and fragmentation, groundwater abstrac-
tion and the ensuing lowering of the
groundwater table have had serious conse-
quences for the natural vegetation locally,
leading, for instance, to the death of ghaf
(Prosopis cineraria) trees.
Coastal areas have suffered enormously in
recent years, mostly from massive devel-
opment. Urgent action is required to pro-
tect some of the larger remaining areas
with intact vegetation from ultimate
destruction.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank ERWDA manage-
ment for support of this work. Dr. Richard
Perry (ERWDA) kindly commented on a
draft version of this manuscript. We are
also grateful to Dr. Abdul Nasser Al Gifri
(Zayed Complex for Herbal Research and
Traditional Medicine (ZCHRTM)) for infor-
mation on a number of species and access
to the ZCHRTM Herbarium. We are also
grateful to Rashid Al Mansouri for expert
desert driving.
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Wildflowers of the UAE. - ERWDA, Abu
Dhabi. 576 pp.
Kürschner, H. (1986): Omanisch-makranis-
che Disjunktionen: Ein Beitrag zur
pflanzengeographischen Stellung und
zu den florengenetischen Beziehungen
Omans. - Botanische Jahrbücher für
Systematik 106: 541-562.
Mandaville, J.P. (1990): Flora of Eastern
Saudi Arabia. - Kegan Paul
International. 482 pp.
Middleton, N. & Thomas, D. (1997): World
Atlas of Desertification. - UNEP/Arnold.
182 pp.
Raunkiaer, C. (1934): The Life Forms of
Plants and Statistical Plant Geography. -
Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Roshier, D.A., Böer, B.B. & Osborne, P.E.
(1996): Vegetation of Abu Dhabi and a
preliminary classification of its plant
- 19 -
 associations. - In: Osborne, P.E. (ed.):
Desert Ecology of Abu Dhabi. Pisces
Publications. pp. 50-65.

Western, A.R. (1989): The Flora of the

United Arab Emirates – An Introduction.
- United Arab Emirates University. 188
pp.

Zohary, M. (1973): Geobotanical

Foundations of the Middle East. -
Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart. 739
pp.

- 20 -
 Appendix 1. Checklist of the vascular flora of Abu Dhabi Emirate. The list contains all native and naturalised species currently known to occur in Abu
Dhabi Emirate. Abbreviations of life-forms (in accordance with Raunkiaer, 1934) and habitats are given at the end.

Species Life-form Habitat

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Acanthaceae
1 Blepharis ciliaris (L.) B.L. Burtt Ch x
2 Peristrophe paniculata (Forssk.) Brummit Th x

Adiantaceae
3 Chelianthes sp. He x

Aizoaceae
4 Aizoon canariense L. Th x x x
5 Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum L. Th x
6 Sesuvium portulacastrum L. Ch x
7 Sesuvium sesuvioides (Fenzl) Verde Ch x
8 Sesuvium verrucosum Raf. Ch x
9 Zaleya pentandra (L.) C. Jeffrey Th / Ch x x

Amaranthaceae
10 Achyranthes aspera L. Ch x
11 Aerva javanica (Burm. f.) Juss. ex Schul. Ch x x
12 Amaranthus albus L. Th x
13 Amaranthus graecizans L. Th x
14 Amaranthus hybridus L. Th x x
15 Amaranthus spinosus L. Th x
16 Amaranthus viridis L. Th x
17 Digera muricata (L.) Mast. Th x

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 Species Life-form Habitat

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Apiaceae
18 Ammi majus L. Th x x
19 Ducrosia anethifolia (DC.) Boiss. Ch x x x

Apocynaceae
20 Nerium oleander L. Ph x x
21 Rhazya stricta Decne. Ch x x

Arecaceae
22 Nanorrhops ritchieana (Griffith) Aitch. Ch x
23 Phoenix dactylifera L. Ph x x

Aristolochiaceae
24 Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. Ch / Th x x

Asclepiadaceae
25 Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton Ph x x
26 Caralluma arabica N.E. Br. Ch x
27 Glossonema varians (Stocks) J.D. Hook. Th / He x
28 Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forssk.) Decne. Ph x x x
29 Pentatropis nivalis (J.F. Gmel.) Li x
30 Pergularia tomentosa L. Li x x x
31 Periploca aphylla Decne. Ch x

Asphodelaceae
32 Asphodelus tenuifolius (Cav.) Baker Ge x x

Asteraceae
33 Anvillea garcinii (Burm. f.) DC. Ch x x

- 22 -
34 Asteriscus hierochunticus (Michon) Wik. Th x
 Species Life-form Habitat

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35 Atractylis carduus (Forssk.) C. Chr. Th x x x

36 Carthamus oxycanthus M. Bieb. Th x
37 Carthamus tinctorius L. Th x
38 Centaurea pseudosinaica Czerep. Th x x
39 Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronq. Th x
40 Echinops sp. (a) He x
41 Filago desortorum Pomel Th x
42 Flaveria trinervia (Spreng.) Mohr Th x x
43 Gymnarrhena micrantha Desf. Th x
44 Helichrysum glumaceum DC. Ch x
45 Helichrysum makranicum (Rech. f.
& Esfand.) Rech. f. He x
46 Ifloga spicata (Forssk.) Willd. Th x
47 Iphiona aucheri (Boiss.) A. Anders Ch x x
48 Iphiona horrida Boiss. Ch x
49 Iphiona scabra Decne. Ch x
50 Koelpinia linearis Pall. Th x x x
51 Launaea capitata (Spreng.) Dandy Th x
52 Launaea mucronata (Forssk.) Muschl. Ch x
53 Launaea nudicaulis (L.) Hook. f. Ch x
54 Launaea procumbens (Roxb.) Ram. & Raj. Ch x x
55 Launaea spinosa (Forssk.) Sch. Bip. Ch x
56 Phagnalon viridifolium Decne. Ch x
57 Pluchea dioscoridis (L.) DC. Ch x
58 Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum (L.) H. & B. Ch x
59 Pulicaria edmondsonii Gamal-Eldin Ch x
60 Pulicaria glutinosa Jaub. & Spach Ch x x
61 Pulicaria undulata (L.) C.A. Meyer Ch x
62 Reichardia tingitana (L.) Roth Ch x
63 Rhanterium epapposum Oliv. Ch x x x
64 Scorzonera tortuosissima Boiss. Ch x

- 23 -
65 Senecio flavus (Decne.) Sch. Bip. Th x
 Species Life-form Habitat

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66 Senecio glaucus L. ssp. coronopifolius (Maire) Al. Th x

67 Sonchus oleraceus L. Th x
68 Urospermum picroides (L.) F.W. Schmidt Th x
69 Vernonia arabica F.G. Davies Ch x

Avicenniaceae
70 Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. Ph x

Boraginaceae
71 Arnebia hispidissima (Lehm.) DC. Th x x
72 Echiochilon jugatum I.M. Johnst. Ch x
73 Echiochilon persicum (Burm. f.) I.M. Johnst. Ch x
74 Echiochilon thesigeri I.M. Johnst. Ch x
75 Heliotropium bacciferum Forssk. Ch x x x x
76 Heliotropium calcareum Stocks. Ch x x x
77 Heliotropium curassavicum L. Ch x
78 Heliotropium digynum (Forssk.) Ch x
79 Heliotropium lasiocarpum Fisch. & Mey. Th x
80 Moltkiopsis ciliata (Forssk.) I.M. Johnst. Ch x x
81 Trichosdesma enetotrichum R.R. Mill Th x

Brassicaceae
82 Anastatica hierochuntica L. Th x x x
83 Brassica tournefortii Gouan Th x
84 Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. Th x
85 Cardaria draba (L.) Desv. Th x
86 Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm. Th x x
87 Diplotaxis harra (Forssk.) Boiss. Th x
88 Eremobium aegyptiacum (Spreng.) Boiss. Th x

- 24 -
89 Eruca sativa Mill. Th x
 Species Life-form Habitat

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90 Farsetia aegyptia Turra Ch x

91 Farsetia linearis Decne. ex Boiss. Ch x x x
92 Farsetia longisiliqua Decne. Ch x
93 Farsetia stylosa R. Br. Th / Ch x x
94 Malcomia africana (L.) R. Br. Ch x
95 Morettia parviflora Boiss. Th x x
96 Physorrhynchus chamaerapistrum Boiss. Ch x x
97 Rorippa palustris (L.) Besser Th x
98 Savignya parviflora (Delile) Webb Th x x x
99 Sisymbrium erysimoides Desf. Th x x

Caesalpiniaceae
100 Senna italica Mill. Ch x x x

Capparaceae
101 Capparis cartilaginea Decne. Ch x x
102 Capparis spinosa L. Ch x x
103 Cleome amblyocarpa Barr. & Murb. Th / Ch x x
104 Cleome austroarabica D.F.C.
& Lam. ssp. muscatensis D.F.C. & Lam. Ch x
105 Cleome brachycarpa Vahl ex DC. Ch x x
106 Cleome noeana Boiss. Th / Ch x
107 Cleome rupicola Vicary Ch x x
108 Dipterygium glaucum Decne. Ch x x

Caryophyllaceae
109 Cometes surattensis L. Th x
110 Dianthus cyri Fisch. & C.A. Mey. Th x
111 Gymnocarpos decandrus Forssk. Ch x x

- 25 -
112 Gypsophila bellidifolia Boiss. Th x x
 Species Life-form Habitat

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113 Herniaria hemistemon J. Gay Th x x x

114 Paronychia arabica (L.) DC. Th x x
115 Polycarpaea repens (Forssk.) Asch. & Sch. Ch x x x
116 Polycarpaea spicata Wight ex Arn. Th x x
117 Sclerocephalus arabicus Boiss. Th x x x
118 Silene arenosa C. Koch Th x
119 Silene villosa Forssk. Th x
120 Spergula fallax (Lowe) E.H.L. Krause Th x x x
121 Spergularia diandra (Guss.) Boiss. Th x
122 Spergularia marina (L.) Bessler Th x x
123 Sphaerocoma aucheri Boiss. Ch x x x
124 Stellaria media (L.) Vill. Th x

Chenopodiaceae
125 Agriophyllum minus Fisch. & C.A. Mey. Th x x
126 Anabasis setifera Moq. Ch x x x
127 Arthrocnemum macrostachyum (Moric.) K. Koch Ch x
128 Atriplex leucoclada Boiss. Ch x
129 Bassia muricata (L.) Asch. Th / Ch x
130 Beta vulgaris L. Th x
131 Bienertia cycloptera Bunge ex Boiss. Th x x
132 Chenopodium album L. Th x
133 Chenopodium murale L. Th x x x
134 Cornulaca arabica Botsch. (b) Ch x
135 Cornulaca aucheri Moq. Th / Ch x
136 Cornulaca monacantha Delile Ch x x x
137 Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.) M. Bieb. Ch x
138 Halopeplis perfoliata (Forssk.) Bun ex As. Ch x x
139 Halothamnus bottae Jaub. & Spach Ch x x

- 26 -
140 Haloxylon persicum Bunge Ph x
 Species Life-form Habitat

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141 Haloxylon salicornicum (Mo.) Bun. ex Boiss. Ch x x x

142 Salicornia europaea L. Th x
143 Salsola arabica Botsch. (c) Ch x
144 Salsola cyclophylla Baker Ch x
145 Salsola drummondii Ulbr. Ch x x x
146 Salsola imbricata Forssk. Th / Ch x x x x x
147 Salsola rubescens Franch. Ch x x x x
148 Salsola schweinfurthii Solms-Laub. Ch x
149 Salsola tetrandra Forssk. Ch x
150 Seidlitzia rosmarinus Ehrenb. ex Bunge Ch x x x
151 Suaeda aegyptiaca (Hassel.) Zoh. Th / Ch x x x
152 Suaeda vermiculata Forssk. ex J.F. Gmel. Ch x x x

Cistaceae
153 Helianthemum kahiricum Delile Ch x
154 Helianthemum lippii (L.) Dum. Cours. Ch x x x x x

Convolvulaceae
155 Convolvulus acanthocladus Boiss. Ch x
156 Convolvulus arvensis L. Ch x x
157 Convolvulus cephalopodus Boiss. Ch x x
158 Convolvulus glomeratus Choisy Ch x
159 Convolvulus pilosellifolius Desr. Ch x x
160 Convolvulus prostratus Forssk. Ch x x
161 Convolvulus virgatus Boiss. Ch x x x
162 Cressa cretica L. Ch x x x
163 Cuscuta planiflora Ten. Li (P) x x x
164 Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. Th x

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 Species Life-form Habitat

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Cucurbitaceae
165 Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. Th / He x
166 Cucumis prophetarum L. Th x x

Cynomoriaceae
167 Cynomorium coccineum L. Ch (P) x x x

Cyperaceae
168 Bolboschoenus maritima (L.) Palla Ge x x
169 Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl Ge x
170 Cyperus arenarius Retz. Ge x x
171 Cyperus conglomeratus Rottb. Ge x
172 Cyperus laevigatus L. Ge x
173 Cyperus rotundus L. Ge x x x
174 Fimbrystilis sp. (d) He x

Ephedraceae
175 Ephedra foliata Boiss. ex C.A. Mey. Li x x

Euphorbiaceae
176 Chrozophora oblongifolia (Delile) Spreng. Ch x x
177 Euphorbia granulata Forssk. Th x x x
178 Euphorbia helioscopia L. Th x
179 Euphorbia heterophylla L. Th x
180 Euphorbia hirta L. Th x
181 Euphorbia indica Lam. Th x
182 Euphorbia larica Boiss. Ch x x
183 Euphorbia peplus L. Th x
184 Euphorbia prostrata Ait. Th x
185 Euphorbia serpens Kunth Th x

- 28 -
186 Phyllanthus rotundifolius Willd. Th x
 Species Life-form Habitat

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187 Ricinus communis L. Ph x x

Fabaceae
188 Alhagi graecorum Boiss. Ph x x
189 Argyrolobium roseum (Cam.) Jaub. & Spach. Th x x
190 Astragalus annularis Forssk. Th x x
191 Astragalus eremophilus Boiss. Th x
192 Astragalus hauarensis Boiss. Th x
193 Astragalus schimperi Boiss. Th x
194 Crotalaria aegyptiaca Benth. Ch x x x
195 Crotalaria persica (Burm. f.) Merrill Ch x
196 Hippocrepis areolata Desv. Th x x
197 Hippocrepis constricta Kunze Th x x x
198 Indigofera arabica Burm. f. Ch x x x
199 Indigofera argentea L. Ch x
200 Indigofera articulata Gouan Ch x
201 Indigofera caerulea Roxb. Ch x
202 Indigofera colutea (Burm. f.) Merrill Ch x
203 Indigofera intricata Boiss. Ch x
204 Indigofera oblongifolia Borssk. Ch x x
205 Lotononis platycarpa (Viv.) Pic.-Serm. Th x x x
206 Lotus garcinii DC. Ch x
207 Lotus halophilus Boiss. & Spruner Th x x
208 Lotus sp. (e) Ch x
209 Medicago laciniata (L.) Mill. Th x
210 Medicago polymorpha L. Th x
211 Melilotus alba Medik. Th x
212 Melilotus indica (L.) All. Th x
213 Ononis serrata Forssk. Th x

- 29 -
214 Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC. Ch x
 Species Life-form Habitat

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215 Rhynchosia schimperi Hochst. & Boiss. Ch x

216 Taverniera glabra Boiss. Ch x x
217 Taverniera lappacea (Forssk.) DC. Ch x
218 Taverniera spartea (Burm. f.) DC. Ch x
219 Tephrosia apollinea (Delile) DC. Ch x x x
220 Tephrosia nubica (Boiss.) Baker Ch x x
221 Tephrosia uniflora Pers. Ch x
222 Trigonella hamosa L. Th x x

Frankeniaceae
223 Frankenia pulverulenta L. Th x x x

Geraniaceae
224 Erodium laciniatum (Cav.) Willd. Th x x
225 Erodium malacoides (L.) L'Hér. Th x
226 Geranium mascatense Boiss. Th x x
227 Monsonia heliotropioides (Cav.) Boiss. Ch x
228 Monsonia nivea (Decne.) Webb Ch x x

Hydrocharitaceae
229 Halophila stipulacea (Forssk.) Aschers Ch x

Juncaceae
230 Juncus rigidus Desf. Ge x x

Lamiaceae
231 Lavandula subnuda Benth. Ch x
232 Leucas inflata Benth. Th x

- 30 -
233 Salvia aegyptiaca L. Th / Ch x
 Species Life-form Habitat

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234 Salvia macilenta Boiss. Ch x x

235 Salvia spinosa L. He x
236 Teucrium stocksianum Boiss. Ch x

Liliaceae
237 Dipcadi biflorum Ghaz. Ge x x
238 Dipcadi erythraeum Webb & Berth. Ge x x

Lythraceae
239 Lawsonia inermis L. Ph x x

Malphigiaceae
240 Acridocarpus orientalis A. Juss. Ph x

Malvaceae
241 Abutilon pannosum (Forst. f.) Schlecht. Ch x
242 Althaea ludwigii L. Th x
243 Hibiscus micranthus L. Ch x
244 Malva parviflora L. Th x x x x

Menispermeaceae
245 Cocculus pendulus (J.R. & G. Forst.) Diels Li x

Mimosaceae
246 Acacia ehrenbergiana Hayne Ph x x
247 Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Delile Ph x x
248 Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne Ph x x x
249 Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce Ph x x x

- 31 -
250 Prosopis farcta (Banks & Sol.) Mac. Ch x x
 Species Life-form Habitat

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251 Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. Ph x x x

Molluginaceae
252 Limeum arabicum Friedr. Ch x
253 Limeum obovatum Vicary Th x x x

Moraceae
254 Ficus johannis Boiss. ssp. johannis Ph x

Moringaceae
255 Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori Ph x

Neuradaceae
256 Neurada procumbens L. Th x x x

Nyctaginaceae
257 Boerhavia elegans Choisy Ph x

Orobanchaceae
258 Cistanche tubulosa (Schenk) Wight Ge (P) x x
259 Orobanche sp. Ge (P) x

Oxalidaceae
260 Oxalis corniculata L. Th x x

Plantaginaceae
261 Plantago amplexicaulis Cav. Th x
262 Plantago boissieri Hausskn. & Bornm. Th x x
263 Plantago ciliata Desf. Th x x x

- 32 -
264 Plantago ovata Forssk. Th x
 Species Life-form Habitat

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Plumbaginaceae
265 Dyerophytum indicum (Gib. ex Wig.) Kun. Ch x
266 Limonium axillare (Forssk.) Kuntze Ch x x
267 Limonium carnosum (Boiss.) O. Kuntze Ch x x

Poaceae
268 Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. He x x x
269 Aeluropus littoralis (Gouan) Parl. He x
270 Aristida abnormis Chiov. Th x
271 Aristida adscensionis L. Th x x
272 Arundo donax L. Ch x x x
273 Avena fatua L. Th x
274 Avena sterilis Gill & Magne Th x
275 Brachiaria ramosa (L.) Stapf Th x
276 Brachiaria reptans (L.) Gard. & C.E. Hub. Th x x
277 Cenchrus ciliaris L. He x x x x
278 Cenchrus echinatus L. Th x
279 Cenchrus pennisetiformis Hochst. & Steud. Th x x
280 Cenchrus setigerus Vahl. He x x x
281 Centropodia forsskaolii (Vahl) Cope Th / He x
282 Centropodia fragilis (Guin. & Sauv.) Cope He x
283 Chloris barbata Swartz Th x x
284 Chloris gayana Kunth. He / Ge x
285 Chloris virgata Swartz Th x
286 Coelachyrum brevifolium (Benth.) Bor Th x
287 Coelachyrum piercii (Benth.) Bor He x
288 Cymbopogon commutatus (Steud.) Stapf He x
289 Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng. He x

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 Species Life-form Habitat

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290 Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Ge x x x

291 Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) P. Beauv. Th x x x
292 Dactyloctenium scindicum Boiss. Ge x
293 Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf. He x
294 Dichanthium foveolatum (Delile) Roberty He x x x
295 Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. Th x x
296 Echinochloa colona (L.) Link Th x x
297 Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. Th x x
298 Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau Th x x x
299 Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Vign. Th x x
300 Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br. Th x x
301 Eragrostis papposa R. & J. Steud. Th x
302 Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P. Beauv. He x
303 Eragrostis tenella (L.) P. Beauv. Th x x
304 Halopyrum mucronatum (L.) Stapf Th x
305 Hordeum glaucum Steud. Th x
306 Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf He x x
307 Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. He x x
308 Lasiurus scindicus Henrard He x x
309 Latipes senegalensis Kunth He x
310 Lolium rigidum Gaudin Th x
311 Ochtochloa compressa (Forssk.) Hilub He x
312 Panicum antidotale Retz. He x
313 Panicum turgidum Forssk. He x x x
314 Paspalum vaginatum Sw. Ch x
315 Pennisetum divisum (J.F. Gmel.) Henrard He x x x
316 Pennisetum setaceun (Forssk.) Chiov. He x
317 Phalaris minor Retz. Th x
318 Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. He / Ge x x

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319 Poa annua L. Th x
 Species Life-form Habitat

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320 Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. Th x x x

321 Rostraria cristata (L.) Tzvelev Th x
322 Saccharum griffithii Munro ex Benth. Ch x
323 Saccharum ravennae (L.) Murr. Ch x
324 Schismus barbatus (L.) Thell. Th x x
325 Setaria verticillata (L.) P. Beauv. Th x
326 Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv. Th x
327 Sphenopus divaricatus (Gouan) Reichb. Th x
328 Sporobolus ioclados (Nees ex Trin.) Nees Ge x x
329 Sporobolus spicatus (Vahl) Kunth Ge x x x x
330 Stipa capensis Thunb. Th x x x
331 Stipagrostis ciliata (Desf.) de Winter He x x x
332 Stipagrostis obtusa (Delile) Nees (f) He x
333 Stipagrostis paradisea (Edgew.) de Winter He x
334 Stipagrostis plumosa (L.) Mun. ex T. And. He x x x
335 Stipagrostis sokotrana (Vierh.) de Winter He x
336 Stipagrostis sp. (g) He x
337 Tetrapogon villosus Desf. He x
338 Tragus racemosus (L.) All. Th x
339 Tricholaena teneriffae (L. f.) Parl. He x
340 Triraphis pumilio R. Br. Th x x

Polygalaceae
341 Polygala erioptera DC. Th x
342 Polygala irregularis Boiss. Th / Ch x

Polygonaceae
343 Calligonum comosum L'Her. Ph x x
344 Calligonum crinitum Boiss. ssp. arabicus (Sos.) Sos. Ph x

- 35 -
345 Emex spinosa (L.) Campd. Th x x x
 Species Life-form Habitat

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346 Rumex dentatus L. Th / Ch x x

347 Rumex pictus Forssk. Th x
348 Rumex vesicarius L. Th x

Portulacaceae
349 Portulaca olereaca L. Th x x
350 Portulaca quadrifida L. Th x

Ranunculaceae
351 Ranunculus muricatus L. Th x

Resedaceae
352 Ochradenus arabicus Chd., Hill. & Mill. Ch x x
353 Ochradenus aucheri Boiss. Th / Ch x
354 Ochradenus baccatus Del. He x
355 Oligomeris linifolia (Vahl) J.F. Macbr. Th x x x
356 Reseda arabica Boiss. Th x
357 Reseda aucheri Boiss. Th x x x

Rhamnaceae
358 Ziziphus nummularia (Bur. f.) Wig. & Arn. Ch x
359 Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Willd. Ph x x

Rhizophoraceae
360 Rhizophora mucronata Lamk. Ph x

Rubiaceae
361 Gaillonia aucheri (Guill.) Jaub. & Spach Ph x x
362 Galium setaceum Lam. Th x

- 36 -
363 Kohautia caespitosa Schinzl. Th / Ch x x x
 Species Life-form Habitat

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364 Pseudogaillonia hymenostephana Lin. Ch x

Rutaceae
365 Haplophyllum tuberculatum (For.) A. Juss. Ch x x

Salvadoraceae
366 Salvadora persica L. Ph x x x

Sapindaceae
367 Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. Ph x

Scrophulariaceae
368 Anticharis arabica Endl. Th x
369 Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell Ch x x
370 Lindenbergia arabica (Moore) Hartl Ch x
371 Lindenbergia indica O. Kuntze Ch x
372 Schweinfurthia papilionacea (Bur. f.) Boiss. Th x x
373 Scrophularia deserti Delile Ch x x

Solanaceae
374 Lycium shawii Roem. & Schult. Ph x x x
375 Nicotiana plumbaginifolia Viv. Th x
376 Physalis minima L. Th x
377 Solanum nigrum L. Th x

Tamaricaceae
378 Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. Ph x
379 Tamarix aucheriana (Decne.) Baum (h) Ph x

- 37 -
380 Tamarix mannifera (Ehrenb.) Bunge (h) Ph
 Species Life-form Habitat

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381 Tamarix nilotica (Ehrenb.) Bunge Ph x

382 Tamarix ramossissima Ledeb. (h) Ph x

Tiliaceae
383 Corchorus depressus (L.) Stocks. Ch x x x
384 Corchorus trilocularis L. Th x
385 Grewia erythraea Schweinf. Ph x

Typhaceae
386 Typha domingensis Pers. He x x

Urticaceae
387 Forsskaolea tenacissima L. Th x x x x

Verbenaceae
388 Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene Ch x x
389 Vitex agnus-castus L. Ph x x

Zygophyllaceae
390 Fagonia bruguieri DC. Ch x x x
391 Fagonia indica Burm. f. Ch x x x
392 Fagonia ovalifolia Hadidi Th x x
393 Seetzenia lanata (Willd.) Bullock Ch / He x x x
394 Tribulus arabicus Hosni s.l. (incl. T. omanense) Ch x x
395 Tribulus macropterus Boiss. Th x x
396 Tribulus pentandrus Forssk. Ch x x
397 Tribulus terrestris L. Th / Ch x x x x
398 Zygophyllum migahidii Hadidi (i) Ch x
399 Zygophyllum qatarense Hadidi (j) Ch x x x x x

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400 Zygophyllum simplex L. Ch x x x x x x
 Notes

(a) Echinops sp. is listed for Jebel Hafit by Stuart & Stuart (1998).
(b) Cornulaca arabica is probably a separate species from C. monacantha
(c) A species which appears to be Salsola arabica was found by G. Brown on coastal sands west of Jebel Dhanna.
(d) This common species in lawns (for instance in Abu Dhabi city) is possibly F. ferruginea (L.) Vahl.
(e) An unidentifiable, possibly undescribed species of Lotus was found on Zirku in early 2004 by G. Brown, possibly the same species as Lotus sp. in Jongbloed (2003).
(f) Stipagrostis obtusa is possibly S. foexiana (M. & W.) de Winter.
(g) This species is possibly S. multinervia Scholz.
(h) Tamarix species determined according to Mandaville (1990).
(i) Zygophyllum migahidii is a distinct species which occurs in Jebel Hafit and offshore islands (e.g. Arzanah).
(j) According to Deil (2000), Zygophyllum mandavillei Hadidi occurs only in southern Arabia. The widespread species occurring on interdunal plains in Abu Dhabi is best treated as Z.
qatarense (see Brown, 2004).

The status of the following species in Abu Dhabi Emirate is unclear:

Erodium glaucophyllum (L.) L'Hér.

Erodium neuradifolium Delile
Stipagrostis hirtigluma (Steud. ex Trin. & Rupr.) de Winter
Tribulus mollis Del.: A specimen closely fitting the description of this species was found in Dhafra. However, it is possible that it is an unknown variant of another Tribulus species.

Habitats Life-Forms (in accordance with Raunkiaer, 1934)

Coa Coastal saline habitats Ph Phanerophyte (woody perennial, perennating buds > 50 cm above the soil surface)
Sab Sabkha Ch Chamaephyte (perennial, perennating buds distinctly above the soil surface, but < 50 cm )
Dun Inland sand sheets, dunes and mega-dunes He Hemicryptophyte (perennial, perennating buds on the soil surface)
Pla Alluvial and interdunal plains Ge Geophyte (perennial, with subterranean storage tissues)
Roc Mountains, rocky terrain and wadis Th Therophyte (annual plants which survive the unfavourable season as seed)
Wat Inland water habitats Li Liana (vine-like plant which requires another plant species for support)
Oas Oases, farmland and plantations (P) Parasite
Urb Urban habitats
Off Offshore islands

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