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.

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 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 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.

Honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) is a species of thorny shrub related to legumes. It grows throughout the southwestern United States and Mexico and has become invasive in Africa and Australia. In some locations honey mesquite can grow to the height of a large tree; one famous example at Smoke Tree Ranch in California measures 12 m tall.

Rubber tree (Ficus elastica) is a large tree with wide, oval, glossy leaves. Its milky white latex was used for making rubber before Pará rubber tree came into use, hence the name. Rubber tree is an ornamental species, often grown as a houseplant in cooler climates.

Common lilac is a shrub native to the Balkan Peninsula that blooms with a fragrant blossom. It grows on rocky terrain and has a suckering habit. The blossoms are used to flavor honey, sugars, food, and other delights and farmed for its fragrant flowers in the spring.

Balsam spurge is a squat, dense shrub with unusually thick branches that make it simple to identify in its native Canary Islands and West Africa. The island of Lanzarote uses balsam spurge's image as its plant symbol on maps and documents. This plant is resistant to termites, is highly wind-resistant, and can grow in exposed coastal locations.

The sycamore fig (Ficus sycomorus) has had impacts on many cultures and religions. The Egyptian "tree of life," sycamore fig was prominent in ancient Egyptian agriculture, with its wood used to build coffins and its fruits buried with the pharaohs. It is also mentioned numerous times in the Bible as a sign of prosperity and sustenance.

Small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata) is a deciduous tree that is cultivated all over the world as an ornamental plant in parks and avenues. Honeybees like to visit the flowers; monofloral honey made from this species is considered to be very nutritious. British ship outfitters used small-leaved lime wood for onboard furniture; French shipwrights thought the weak wood was used for shipbuilding and introduced the epithet, "limey," for British people.

Aroma (Dichrostachys cinerea) is a legume species as known as sicklebush, Bell mimosa, Chinese lantern tree and Kalahari Christmas tree. Aroma is native to Africa, the Indian subcontinent and North Australia. This species is a serious invasive species problem in Cuba.

Northern california black walnut (*Juglans hindsii*) is also called the northern california black walnut. The wood of this species is known as “Claro Walnut” and is used to manufacture fine furniture such as bookcases, tables, and cabinets.

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.

Wild custard apple is a common fruit in African markets, sought for its pineapple-like smell, sweet taste and use for flavoring ice cream and other treats. It is also frequently grazed by livestock, and its bark is sometimes used to make insecticides.

The seagrape is native to tropical coastal areas in America and the Caribbean. It has many uses, including dune erosion control and ornamental plantings. The sap has been used for dyes and the wood is occasionally used for furniture. On some beaches, the seagrape is planted to help block the light from nearby buildings so that sea turtles won't be distracted by it and go off course.

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.

Cannonball tree (Couroupita guianensis) is a tropical tree known for its large, unique, fragrant blossoms and cannonball-shaped fruit. As the fruits ripen, they may fall onto unsuspecting people below.

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).

Lemon is a cultivated small evergreen tree known for its yellow, juicy, sour fruits full of citric acid. Its origins are unknown, but it was probably first created in India, China, or Burma as a hybrid of sour orange (Citrus × aurantium) and citron (Citrus medica). It is commercial fruit cultivated in warm regions around the world.