Table 1.

An Inventory of ethnobotanically valuable native plant species in desert climate of Arabian Gulf.

Botanical name	Arabic name	Family	Habit	Habitat	Distribution	Medicinal uses	Other uses
Abutilon pannosum G. Forst.) Schltdl.	Lowaq, ja'ja'an	Malvaceae	Shrub	Occasional on roads in Qatar	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Saudi Arabia and UAE	The plant is used in the treatment of dysentery and gonorrhoea.
Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites	Ikrish	Poaceae	Perennial herb	Frequent to abundant in saline habitats	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, India, W. Asia and Northern part of Africa	The plant is used for wound healing and pain killer.	The plant species is also useful for sand binder particularly in desert areas.
Aerva javanica (Burm. f.) Juss. ex Schult.	Tuwaim, Tirf, ra’	Amaranthaceae	Perrenial herb	Rocky substrates with shallow sand	Reported in Qatar and it has a native distribution in Arabia, Egypt, India, and Burma	In traditional medicine it is used externally to remove swelling, relieve inflammation and healing of wounds and ulcers. The flowers and roots are used to alleviate kidney problems and rheumatism and the seeds are believed to cure headaches. A gargle is made from the plant to treat toothache.	The plant species is deep rooted, and is used as soil binder in desert reclamation. It is also used for fuel and fodder.
Aizoon canariense L.	Jafnah, Hadaq	Aizoaceae	Perennial herb	Usually on harder substrates with shallow deposits of sand	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Africa	Whole plant used for curing jaundice and hepatitis.	The plant species used for fodder.
Alhagi graecorum Boiss.	Aaqool	Fabaceae	Shrub	Usually in saline or disturbed sandy soils, including farms and coastal areas	Local in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE	The whole plant is used for treating cataracts, jaundice, migraine, painful joints and as an aphrodisiac.	The plant species is used for fodder.
Anastatica hierochuntica L.	Kaf maryam, kaf al athra, Jumay’ Fatimah, Birkan, Qufay'ah	Brassicaceae	Annual herb	Abundant in shallow sandy deposits, including runnels and small depressions	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE, Sahara Desert, North Africa and regions of Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan, and Iran.	It is used as a charm and herbal aid in childbirth is widely reported. It is sold in markets of Qatar as well as other Arabian countries. The dried plant is soaked in water and when it has unfurled the water is drunk by the expectant mother.
Arnebia hispidissima (Lehm.) DC.	KaHil, MelleiH, Hasheshat al ’Arneb	Boraginaceae	Annual herb	Abundant on shallow sandy deposits in all habitat types except saline areas	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	The whole plant is used for fevers including malaria.	The thick dark-red roots used as cosmetic and dye.
Blepharis ciliaris (L.) B.L. Burtt	Shawk al-Dub, Naqi, Niqeyl	Acanthaceae	Perennial herb	Compact stony and gravelly soils	Local in qatar and also recorded in E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	The roots are ground to make a powder (kohl) and used to treat eye inflammation and cataracts. The seeds have healing and antiinflammatory properties.	The plant species used for fodder.
Boerhavia elegans Choisy	Hadimdam, shuayrqah alshams, hamra	Nyctaginaceae	Perennial herb	Moist and dry rocky areas	Rare in Qatar and also recorded in Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, India and Tropical East Africa	Used for the treatment of kidney disorders, urinary tract disorders and blood purification in baluch tribe.
Calligonum comosum L Her.	Abal, Arta	Polygonaceae	Shrub	Sand, high dunes	Rare in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	The fruits are edible and freshen the mouth with their tart taste’. Twigs to be pounded and added to milk as a flavouring or tonic. It is used in a balm for skin ailments.	The woody base was used for firewood.
Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton	Sodom's, ushar, ashkhar	Asclepiadaceae	Small tree	Farms, roadsides and gardens	Local in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, and UAE	Leaves and latex are used for treating wounds, pain, and scorpion stings and for strengthening muscles affected by paralysis.	Wood used in preparation of the best charcoal for the manufacture of black gunpowder.
Capparis cartilaginea Decne.	Shafallah	Capparaceae	Shrub	Stony and rocky areas and compact silty soils in depressions and road sides	Arabian Gulf including Qatar and Israel, Iraq, South Iran North and Tropical East Africa	It is used for bruises, childbirth, earache, headache, paralysis, snakebite and swelling.	It is highly useful in landscape gardening, afforestation and reforestation. They can stop soil erosion and preserve agricultural land.
Centaurea pseudosinaica Czerep.	Birkan, murrar	Asteraceae	Annual herb	Shallow sandy deposits	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	It is used to cure wounds and kidney disorders.
Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.	Handhal, Shary, Hadaj	Cucurbitaceae	Perennial herb	Sandy areas	Common in Qatar also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	The plant is well known to have strong laxative properties; other medicinal uses include treatment of dog, insect and snake bites; to relieve pain in joints and as a hair dye.	The ripe fruit were used to prepare gunpowder.
Cleome amblyocarpa Barratte & Murb.	Mnitna, oum jlaje	Capparaceae	Annual herb	Sandy saline depressions	Local Qatar and also recorded in E Saudi Arabia, UAE	The plant used to treat abdominal and rheumatic pains
Cleome brachycarpa Vahl ex DC.	Zaaf, mkhaysah	Capparaceae	Perennial herb	Sandy and saline	Rare in Qatar and also recorded in UAE	Used as a diuretic and astringent a powerful narcotic and stomach irritant.	The plant species used for fodder.
Convolvulus glomeratus Choisy	Ullayq	Convolvulaceae	Perennial herb	Recorded from cultivated in light or sandy soils	Rare in Qatar and also recorded in UAE	Taken as a purgative.	The plant is also used as fodder for goats and camels.
Convolvulus virgatus Boiss.	Adlam, hub al-risha	Convolvulaceae	Perrenial herb	It grows on dry sandy and gravelly soils	Recorded in Qatar and Pakistan (Baluchistan), S. Iran, Muscat, Oman	Boiled in water and taken internally as a tonic, aphrodisiac and expectorant. Dried leaves crushed with sugar taken as a treatment for jaundice.
Cornulaca monacantha Delile	Thallaj, Hadh	Chenopodiaceae	Shrub	Coastal areas and deeper saline sand	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	Leaves are used to treat jaundice.
Crotalaria persica (Burm. f.) Merr.	Nzah	Fabaceae	Shrub	Low sand dunes	Recorded in Qatar and native in UAE, Oman Ethiopia, Iran, Somalia, and Pakistan	Whole plant crushed and boiled in water and given in constipation.
Dodonaea viscosa Jacq.	Shahus, shatt, gashaar	Sapindaceae	Small tree	Mainly planted by roadsides	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Saudi Arabia, and UAE	The leaves are used for treating toothache.	As an ornamental and for screening; often clipped into hedges. It is also useful for control of soil erosion.
Fagonia indica Burm. f.	Dhuraymah, shwaikah, shka'e	Zygophyllaceae	Perennial herb	Harder substrates	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	Powdered leavs and roots boiled in water taken by mouth as a treatment for colic, or to soothe fever. Whole plant boiled in water used to wash in cases of venereal disease or mixed with thyme taken by mouth to treat kidney stones and sye problems.
Gisekia pharnacioides L.	Dedman	Molluginaceae	Annual herb	Sandy, disturbed soils often in orchards	Recorded in Arabian Gulf and widespread in Africa, Florida, Iran, and Pakistan.	Traditionally the plant is used on swellings. However it is also use to cause abortion.	It is often collected as fodder for cattle, goat and sheep.
Grewia erythraea Schweinf.	Sherhaan, ghada	Tiliaceae	Small tree	Hillsides	Recorded in Arabian Gulf and Iran, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Africa	The plant is used as tranquilizer to treat headaches.	It is important wild edible plant in the region. Its fruits are edible.
Haloxylon salicornicum (Moq.) Bunge ex Boiss.	Rimth	Chenopodiaceae	Shrub	Shallow to deep sands or silty soil	Local in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	The plant traditionally used to treat hypoglycaemia.	Good fodder for camels grazing when annuals and grasses are not available. A source of firewood.
Haplophyllum tuberculatum (Forssk.) Juss.	Musaykah, tafr at-tais/sinan at-tais	Rutaceae	Shrub	Sandy soils	Local in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and UAE	The plant is used to cure scorpion stings'. It is used to ‘strengthen back muscles after childbirth, chest pains, flatulence, stomach problems and as a sedative.
Heliotropium kotschyi (Bunge) Gürke	Turnsole, Heliotrope, Ramram, Dhanab al-Qqrab	Boraginaceae	Shrub	Sandy, often compacted soils, including coastal beach sand	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	Dried powdered leaves are used as a poultice for abscesses, boils, sprains and swellings. Also used for treating ulcers, mouth blisters and snake bites.
Indigofera oblongifolia Forssk.	Hasar	Fabaceae	Shrub	It is found in grassland, sandy and stoney soils, and near streams.	Rare in Qatar and also recorded in UAE	The roots are used for an analgesic and as an anti-inflammatory; leaves are used as a hair wash.
Lavandula subnuda Benth.	Harq, Somr, Lavander	Lamiaceae	Perennial herb	Rocky habitats	Recorded in Arabian Gulf and widespread in North Africa	The plant known in medicine from the earliest times used to treat chest and throat problems, and epilepsy.	It is also used for Insectiside.
Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forssk.) Decne.	Markh, Shajarat al Nar	Asclepiadaceae	Shrub	Sandy habitats	Local in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	An infusion made from the stems is taken as a diuretic.	Eaten by camels. The buds are edible and dried hair is used as kindling.
Leucas inflata Benth.	Jeidad, rihana, rahl, qotnya	Lamiaceae	Perennial herb	Stony desert wadis	Recorded in Arabian Gulf including Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea	Used in traditional medicine to cure many diseases such as cough, cold, diarrhoea and inflammatory skin disorder.
Limonium axillare (Forssk.) Kuntze	Qataf	Plumbaginaceae	Shrub	Saline habitat	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and UAE	The whole plant is used against diarrhoea and as an astringent.
Lycium shawii Roem. & Schult.	Awsaj	Solanaceae	Shrub	Sandy and silty depressions, runnels, wadis and on rocky slopes.	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	The plant medicinally used as a diuretic, laxative and tonic.	Grazed by animals and the berries are eaten by man; the leaves provide browsing for camels.
Monsonia nivea (Decne.) Webb	Qarnow, Dahmah	Geraniaceae	Annual herb	Gravel and stone plains	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE	Some local people boil it to cure fevers.
Nerium oleander L.	Haban	Apocynaceae	Small tree	Near running water	Recorded in Qatar, Oman and UAE	The bitter roots are used medicinally, including as a diuretic and emetic. The leaves are used for the treatment of bronchitis and coughs.	Widely planted in towns for shade and landscaping.
Paronychia arabica (L.) DC.	Arfaj, arfol al hamam, shadq al jamal	Caryophyllaceae	Annual herb	Shallow sandy soils	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	The entire plant is used as a stimulant and aphrodisiac.
Pulicaria undulata (L.) Kostel.	Jithjath, Shay el-jebel	Asteraceae	Perennial herb	Disturbed gravelly or silty soils	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	It is used in traditional medicine to cure diuretic.
Reseda aucheri Boiss.	Shawlah	Resedaceae	Perennial herb	Gravel plains	Rare in Qatar and also recorded in Kuwait, and UAE.	Leaves are used to remove the toxicity & sensitivity of snake bite, insect bite, and scorpions bite.
Rhanterium epapposum Oliv.	Arfaj	Asteraceae	Shrub	Usually on sandy or loamy deposits; often in rocky areas.	Local in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	Used in the treatment of digestive disorders and for its antimicrobial properties.	Widely documented as an important grazing plant. It is also used for fire wood.
Rhazya stricta Decne.	Harmal, Adfir	Apocynaceae	Shrub	Tropical regions, alluvial plains and sandy areas	Recorded in Arabian Gulf and India, Pakistan, Afghanistan	Important medicinal plant in desert areas of Arabian Peninsula. Dry plant more effective than fresh one, leaves bitter. The plant is a general tonic, digestive, anti inflammatory and anti-microbial, stimulant, anticancer, and pain killer.
Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC.	Baql	Fabaceae	Perennial herb	Sand and gravel	Rare in Qatar and also recorded in UAE	It used in the treatment of skin diseases.
Rumex dentatus L.	Khillah	Polygonaceae	Annual herb	Damp and sandy soils	Local in Qatar and also recorded in Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	It is used as a cooling agent against sunstroke and that the root is astringent and applied to skin disorders.
Rumex vesicarius L.	Hummayd	Polygonaceae	Annual Herb	Rocky terrain in shallow deposits of sand or silt	Local in Qatar and also recorded in Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	The leaves and seeds are used to treat scorpion stings.
Salsola imbricata Forssk.	Khareet	Chenopodiaceae	Shrub	Coastal saline areas	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE	The flowers are used as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory.
Salvia aegyptiaca L.	Na'aim/na'eem, Ra'al	Lamiaceae	Shrub	Shallow silty or sandy soils in rocky areas	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE	The plant is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, gonorrhoea, haemorrhoids and eye diseases.
Scrophularia deserti Delile	Zeita, ’Afeena, Zafairah	Scrophulariaceae	Perenial herb	Shallow sand or sandy runnels	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE	Treatment of gangrenous, disinfection of body wounds and hoof and eye infection.
Senna alexandrina Mill.	Makki, Helul	Fabaceae	Shrub	A garden weed	Local in Qatar and also recorded in UAE	Leaves are used for constipation and stomach cramps.
Senna italica Mill.	Ishriq, helul	Fabaceae	Shrub	Compacted soils on gravelly and rocky areas	Recorded in Arabian Gulf including Qatar, Bahrain, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	It is used as a ‘purgative and stimulant. The leaves and seeds are used to treat constipation and stomach cramps.	The plant species used for fodder.
Sesuvium verrucosum Raf.	Rohama, guwaifa	Aizoaceae	Shrub	Moist or dry flats, saline or alkaline habitats	Recorded in Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Americas	It is important in folk medicine. It is used for the treatment of ear disorders.
Suaeda vermiculata Forssk. ex J.F. Gmel.	Suweid	Chenopodiaceae	Shrub	Coastal saline habitats	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE	It is used to treat asthma and other respiratory disorders	The plant is suitable for saline irrigation and a promising landscape.
Tecomella undulata D.Don	Farfar, ferfer	Bignoniaceae	Small tree	Drier parts	Recorded in Arabian Gulf including Qatar and Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India	The bark obtained from the stem is used as a remedy for syphilis. It is also used in curing urinary disorders, enlargement of spleen, gonorrhoea, and leucoderma and liver diseases. Seeds are used against abscess. Traditionally its flower used for hepatitis.	It is mainly used as a source of timber and fodder. It is useful for soil-binding and acts as stabilizing shifting sand dunes. It is considered as the home of birds and provides shelter for wildlife.
Tephrosia apollinea (Delile) Link	Dhafra, omayye, nafal	Fabaceae	Shrub	Sandy desert areas	Recorded in Arabian Gulf including Qatar Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, Somali Socotra, and Ethiopia	The plant is known for its medicinal properties and has significant anti-bacterial properties; the leaves and the root have been used to treat bronchitis, cough, ear ache, wounds and bone fractures.
Teucrium polium L.	Ja'ad/yaad	Lamiaceae	Perennial herb	Stony runnels and silty soils	Local in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	Many reputed medicinal uses, e.g. for fevers and cholera, malaria and insect bites.
Trigonella hamosa L.	Nafal, qutifa, qirqas, darjal	Fabaceae	Annual herb	Frequent or abundant in farms and gardens	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE	It is used for Dizziness with fullness of the head (traditional medicines for brain).
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal	Babu, sumal far, hamal balbool, Morgan, simm frakh	Solanaceae	Shrub	Recorded from cultivated in garden, sunny edge; dappled shade	Introduced in Arabian Gulf including Qatar, Iraq, S. Iran, Syria, Turkey, Palestine, Pakistan and India	The berries and leaves are applied externally to tumours, tubercular glands, carbuncles, and ulcers. The roots are used to prepare the herbal remedy, which has been traditionally used to provide streangth and treat sexual disorders.
Zaleya pentandra (L.) C. Jeffrey	Lami	Aizoaceae	Perennial herb	A weed of waste ground	Rare in Qatar and also recorded in UAE.	It is used for stomach complaints, and snake bite.	The plant species used for fodder.
Zilla spinosa (L.) Prantl	Shaja, silla, shubrum	Brassicaceae	Shrub	Sandy and silty depressions	Local in Qatar and also recorded in Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE	A useful remedy in the treatment of ailments such as kidney stones.
Zygophyllum simplex L.	Harm/hureim, da'a	Zygophyllaceae	Annual herb	Stony habitats and often saline soils	Common in Qatar and also recorded in Bahrain, E Saudi Arabia, and UAE.	The leaves are used as an antibiotic and laxative; infusion of leaves or the seeds is applied to the eyes in ophthalmia.