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.

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.

The doum palm is a dioecious palm and grows up to 17 m high. The trunk, which can have a girth of up to 90 cm, branches dichotomously and has tufts of large leaves at the ends of the branches. The bark is fairly smooth, dark grey and bears the scars of fallen leaves.

Tamarind is a monotypic perennial tree grown for its timber and edible fruits. Tamarind trees yield brown seed fruits with a sweet, acidic pulp used in various varieties of cuisines around the world. The pulp is also used as a metal polish.

The apple-ring acacia (Faidherbia albida) is a thorny tree from Africa and the Middle East. A versatile species, it can grow in dry floodplains, swamps, riverbanks, and across savannahs. The ring-shaped seed pods are favorites of livestock and wildlife alike. The apple-ring acacia's wood is used as firewood and to make canoes, and soap can be made from the ashes.

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.

The toothbrush tree, as its name suggests, is often used as a natural substitute for a toothbrush; its fibrous branches make it quite effective at the task. Additionally, there are now modern toothpastes made using extracts from the toothbrush tree. It is most commonly found in Africa and the Middle East.

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.”

The ponytail palm is a popular houseplant with a bulbous stem and a cascade of leaves that resemble a ponytail. The ponytail palm isn’t actually a palm tree, but a succulent member of the agave family. These plants are easy to grow and forgiving. They thrive in bright indirect light and drier soil.

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).

Olive (Olea europaea) is an evergreen tree or shrub with great agricultural importance, especially in the Mediterranean. Its fruits are edible and widely used for making oil. Olive has acquired quite a few symbolic meanings during its long history of cultivation. The most popular symbol would probably be the olive branch, which represents peace and glory.

Big-tooth aspen (Populus grandidentata) is a deciduous tree that will grow from 18 to 24 m tall. It has a beautiful orange-green bark when young, which turns brown and furrowed with age. The oval-shaped leaves feature toothed-edges and change from green to yellow in fall. This is a dioecious species with separate male and female plants. Male flowers are tan colored, drooping catkins. Female flowers are smaller and develop seeds. Clonal trees can emerge from roots, making it easy to reforest after a fire. A variety of wildlife feed on the tree's leaves, bark, twigs and flower buds.

Norfolk island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) is a conifer tree native to Norfolk Island, a small island in the Pacific Islands. Now, it is a popular houseplant all around the world. However, norfolk island pine is in danger of dying out in the wild.