The desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca) is an important shrub in Africa because it provides edible fruit that grows in many conditions, from arid to flooded climates and in very poor soils. The plant is also used as wood for furniture, tools, and fuel. This tree is truly multipurpose since its sticky gum is also an effective glue.

Found throughout Africa and into the Arabian Peninsula, umbrella thorn acacia (Vachellia tortilis) thrives in desert conditions, and its pods and leaves provide much needed food for desert animals. It is named for its umbrella shape and the thorns that grow in pairs along its branches. Many birds next in the umbrella thorn acacia, using the thorns and high branches for protection.

Egyptian grass is native to Africa and can function to anchor loose soil or sand. Because it always shows up on barren land and grows quickly, it is considered an invasive species in the United States and some other regions.

Boscia senegalensis, commonly known as hanza, is a member of the family Capparaceae. The plant originated from West Africa. Still a traditional food plant in Africa, this little-known fruit has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare. Boscia senegalensis is a perennial woody plant species of the genus Boscia in the caper family, Capparaceae. This plant is classified as a dicot. Native to the Sahel region in Africa, this evergreen shrub can grow anywhere from 2 to 4 m (6 ft 7 in to 13 ft 1 in) in height under favourable conditions. The leaves of the plant are small and leathery, reaching 12 cm × 4 cm (4.7 in × 1.6 in). B. senegalensis produces fruits, clustered in small bunches, in the form of yellow spherical berries, up to 1.5 cm (0.59 in) in diameter. These fruits contain 1–4 seeds, which are a greenish hue when mature. Boscia senegalensis is recognized as a potential solution to hunger and a buffer against famine in the Sahel region due to the variety of useful products it yields. It produces products for consumption, household needs, and medicinal and agricultural uses. Common names include: aizen (Mauritania and Western Sahara), mukheit (Arabic), hanza (Hausa), bere (Bambara), ngigili (Fulani), mandiarha (Berber), anza (Zarma) and 'taedent (Tamasheq). The fruits are also known as dilo (Hausa), bokkhelli (Arabic), gigile (Fulani) and kanduwi (Tamasheq).

Alyce clover is characterized by its small, oval to oblong leaves that hug the stem closely, earning its descriptor 'ovalifolius'. Flourishing in sunny, open grasslands, its vining habit allows it to spread across the ground, supported by delicate yet robust stems. The plant boasts charming purplish-pink pea-like flowers that emerge in a cylindrical cluster, contributing to its subtle adornment of its native landscapes.

Cucumis melo includes a variety of melons, including honeydew, cantaloupe, and muskmelon. These melons are an excellent source of vitamins A and C and are commonly eaten fresh or dried. It is occasionally turned into oil or liqueur.

Chinese hibiscus is a small flowering tree. Its fragrant flowers are well known the world over, leading to many cultivated variants. Chinese hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia and is featured on Malaysian coins. Although the Latin name, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, means “the rose of China,” it is not related to true roses.

Puncture Vine_ (Tribulus terrestris)_ is a poisonous plant. The fruit consists of burs with sharp spines, which can puncture the skin of human beings and animals. They can also rupture a bicycle tire (hence the name) and penetrate shoe soles. The leaves contain compounds known as saponins, which are toxic to livestock.

Wavy heliotrope is a resilient shrub distinguished by its small, clustered purple or white flowers that spiral around the stem, resembling a helix – a design that maximizes sun exposure. Its thick, hairy leaves are adapted to retain moisture, enabling survival in its arid native habitats. This hardy plant's extensive branching gives it a rugged, sprawling appearance.

A warm-season grass, the sixweeks three-awn is an important forage plant for animals in many dry areas of the world. It's considered a pioneer species that happens to be the first plant to colonize disturbed or bare ground, making it potentially invasive. This grass is used for weaving and thatching in India, while in Africa it's often used as a stuffing for camel saddles.

Indigofera sessiliflora (Indigofera sessiliflora) is widely found in both subtropical and tropical regions worldwide, with over 700 species in the genus. These flowering herbs or shrubs can be either perennial or annual. The name Indigofera means "bearing indigo," so it's no surprise that a purple dye can be extracted from some species of indigofera sessiliflora.

The yam plant can be found in the tropics of Africa, Asia, and Australia. It lives in relatively dry coastal regions and will readily bloom all year long. The genus was named for Dutch botanist Herman Boerhaave.

The plant grows commonly in Yemen, where it is called Meru. In the 18th century the plant's Arabic name Meru was used as the source for the genus name Maerua. The 18th-century taxonomist was Peter Forskal, who visited Yemen in the 1760s.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an annual grain legume that is an important crop in many regions. The plant has been used as forage for animals and for cow feed. It can be short and bushy or grow as a long vine up to 2 m tall. The edible seeds and seed pods are very small and kidney-shaped.

Baobab (Adansonia digitata) is indigenous to Africa, Australia, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. It thrives in areas that are dry and hot. It lives longer than virtually all other living things, and there are specimens alive today that are 3,000 years old or more. It has a large, water-filled trunk that is 28 m or more in circumference.

The indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana) makes a delightful addition to subtropical gardens. Don't expect to find a non-cultivated variety! Over 400 cultivars of this specimen have developed over its staggering 4,000 years of domestication by humans. In Burma, the fruit is processed into a dark dye used in coloring delicate silks.

Apple of Sodom, or Calotropis procera, is an extremely poisonous plant. The fruit of this plant ripens and bursts, causing the seeds to scatter. In Jamaica, the fibers inside of the fruit are collected and used to stuff pillows.

Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) is an evergreen, slow-growing perennial shrub native to tropical Africa. Also, it is a classic houseplant, grown in Europe since the 1800s. Its glossy green foliage that resembles corn leaves grow on top of a thick cane, which is why the plant is sometimes called “false palm tree.”

Capparis decidua, known in Hindi as karira or kerda, is a useful plant in its marginal habitat. Its spicy fruits are used for preparing vegetables, curry and fine pickles and can attract helpful insectivores; the plant also is used in folk medicine and herbalism. It can be used in landscape gardening, afforestation and reforestation in semidesert and desert areas; it provides assistance against soil erosion.

The milky white flowers of the red spikethorn (Gymnosporia senegalensis) grow at intervals along its red branches. Despite its unpleasant spines, it is an important food source for African animals, with monkeys, rhinos, birds and even larval butterflies depending on its fruit, bark and leaves.