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Plants of Egypt

EG · 26.82°, 30.80°

We catalogue 60 plants documented in Egypt — 19 native and 41 introduced. Of these, 60 are edible and 23 have medicinal uses.

I

Native species

9

Species naturally occurring in Egypt — best adapted to local climate and soil.

Alhagi mannifera
Alhagi mannifera
Alhagi mannifera
Fabaceaeedible
Anthriscus cerefolium
Anthriscus cerefolium
Anthriscus cerefolium
edible
Asphodel
Asphodel
Asphodelus albus
edible
Black Mustard
Black Mustard
Brassica nigra
ediblemedicinal
Bugle
Bugle
Ajuga reptans
ediblemedicinal
Charlock
Charlock
Sinapis arvensis
edible
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
ediblemedicinal
Dog's Cabbage
Dog's Cabbage
Theligonum cynocrambe
edible
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
II

Edible for food + foraging

50

Plants with edible parts documented in Egypt. Always identify positively before harvest.

Amaranthus campestris
Amaranthus campestris
Amaranthus campestris
edible
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthaceaeediblemedicinal
Amaranthus polygamus
Amaranthus polygamus
Amaranthus polygamus
edible
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
edible
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthaceaeedible
Azarole
Azarole
Crataegus azarolus
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Barnyard Millet
Barnyard Millet
Echinochloa crus-galli
Poaceaeedible
Bird's Foot Trefoil
Bird's Foot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
edible
Bulbous Buttercup
Bulbous Buttercup
Ranunculus bulbosus
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Citrumelo
Citrumelo
Citroncirus
edible
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Crowfoot
Crowfoot
Coronopus squamatus
ediblemedicinal
Darnel
Darnel
Lolium temulentum
Poaceaeedible
Eel Grass
Eel Grass
Vallisneria spiralis
Alismataceaeedible
Elegant sweetclover
Elegant sweetclover
Melilotus elegans
ediblemedicinal
European tea-tree
European tea-tree
Lycium europaeum
Solonaceaeediblemedicinal
Fig
Fig
Ficus carica
Moraceaeedible
French Psyllium
French Psyllium
Plantago arenaria
ediblemedicinal
Glasswort
Glasswort
Arthrocnemum fruticosum
edible
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Panicum maximum
edible
Gum Arabic Tree
Vachellia nilotica
Fabaceaeedible
Herb of Grace
Herb of Grace
Bacopa monnieri
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Solanaceaeediblemedicinal
Marram Grass
Marram Grass
Ammophila arenaria
edible
Nuttall's Saltbush
Nuttall's Saltbush
Atriplex nuttallii
edible
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial Ryegrass
Lolium perenne
edible
Radish
Radish
Raphanus sativus
ediblemedicinal
Ripgut Brome
Ripgut Brome
Bromus rigidus
Poaceaeedible
River Club-Rush
River Club-Rush
Scirpus validus
edible
Rock Samphire
Rock Samphire
Crithmum maritimum
Apiaceaeedible
Salix aegyptiaca
Salix aegyptiaca
Salix aegyptiaca
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Saw Grass
Saw Grass
Cladium mariscus
Cyperaceaeedible
Shittim Wood
Vachellia seyal
Fabaceaeedible
Sunberry
Sunberry
Physalis minima
Solanaceaeedible
Toothed Bur-Clover
Toothed Bur-Clover
Medicago polymorpha
ediblemedicinal
Water Milfoil
Water Milfoil
Myriophyllum spicatum
Haloragaceaeedible
White Melilot
White Melilot
Melilotus albus
ediblemedicinal
Wild Oats
Wild Oats
Avena fatua
Poaceaeedible
Yellow Bristle Grass
Yellow Bristle Grass
Setaria pumila
Poaceaeedible
Alhagi mannifera
Alhagi mannifera
Alhagi mannifera
Fabaceaeedible
Anthriscus cerefolium
Anthriscus cerefolium
Anthriscus cerefolium
edible
Asphodel
Asphodel
Asphodelus albus
edible
Black Mustard
Black Mustard
Brassica nigra
ediblemedicinal
Bugle
Bugle
Ajuga reptans
ediblemedicinal
Charlock
Charlock
Sinapis arvensis
edible
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
ediblemedicinal
Dog's Cabbage
Dog's Cabbage
Theligonum cynocrambe
edible
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

20

Species with documented medicinal applications. See individual plant profiles for evidence + safety.

Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthaceaeediblemedicinal
Azarole
Azarole
Crataegus azarolus
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Bulbous Buttercup
Bulbous Buttercup
Ranunculus bulbosus
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Crowfoot
Crowfoot
Coronopus squamatus
ediblemedicinal
Elegant sweetclover
Elegant sweetclover
Melilotus elegans
ediblemedicinal
European tea-tree
European tea-tree
Lycium europaeum
Solonaceaeediblemedicinal
French Psyllium
French Psyllium
Plantago arenaria
ediblemedicinal
Herb of Grace
Herb of Grace
Bacopa monnieri
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Solanaceaeediblemedicinal
Radish
Radish
Raphanus sativus
ediblemedicinal
Salix aegyptiaca
Salix aegyptiaca
Salix aegyptiaca
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Toothed Bur-Clover
Toothed Bur-Clover
Medicago polymorpha
ediblemedicinal
White Melilot
White Melilot
Melilotus albus
ediblemedicinal
Black Mustard
Black Mustard
Brassica nigra
ediblemedicinal
Bugle
Bugle
Ajuga reptans
ediblemedicinal
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
ediblemedicinal
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
IV

Introduced naturalized + cultivated

41

Non-native species established in Egypt. Some are valuable; some are invasive. Check each plant's notes.

Amaranthus campestris
Amaranthus campestris
Amaranthus campestris
edible
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthaceaeediblemedicinal
Amaranthus polygamus
Amaranthus polygamus
Amaranthus polygamus
edible
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
edible
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthaceaeedible
Azarole
Azarole
Crataegus azarolus
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Barnyard Millet
Barnyard Millet
Echinochloa crus-galli
Poaceaeedible
Bird's Foot Trefoil
Bird's Foot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
edible
Bulbous Buttercup
Bulbous Buttercup
Ranunculus bulbosus
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Citrumelo
Citrumelo
Citroncirus
edible
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Crowfoot
Crowfoot
Coronopus squamatus
ediblemedicinal
Darnel
Darnel
Lolium temulentum
Poaceaeedible
Eel Grass
Eel Grass
Vallisneria spiralis
Alismataceaeedible
Elegant sweetclover
Elegant sweetclover
Melilotus elegans
ediblemedicinal
European tea-tree
European tea-tree
Lycium europaeum
Solonaceaeediblemedicinal
Fig
Fig
Ficus carica
Moraceaeedible
French Psyllium
French Psyllium
Plantago arenaria
ediblemedicinal
Glasswort
Glasswort
Arthrocnemum fruticosum
edible
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Panicum maximum
edible
Gum Arabic Tree
Vachellia nilotica
Fabaceaeedible
Herb of Grace
Herb of Grace
Bacopa monnieri
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Solanaceaeediblemedicinal
Marram Grass
Marram Grass
Ammophila arenaria
edible
Nuttall's Saltbush
Nuttall's Saltbush
Atriplex nuttallii
edible
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial Ryegrass
Lolium perenne
edible
Radish
Radish
Raphanus sativus
ediblemedicinal
Ripgut Brome
Ripgut Brome
Bromus rigidus
Poaceaeedible
River Club-Rush
River Club-Rush
Scirpus validus
edible
Rock Samphire
Rock Samphire
Crithmum maritimum
Apiaceaeedible
Salix aegyptiaca
Salix aegyptiaca
Salix aegyptiaca
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salix decipiens
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Saw Grass
Saw Grass
Cladium mariscus
Cyperaceaeedible
Shittim Wood
Vachellia seyal
Fabaceaeedible
Sunberry
Sunberry
Physalis minima
Solanaceaeedible
Toothed Bur-Clover
Toothed Bur-Clover
Medicago polymorpha
ediblemedicinal
Water Milfoil
Water Milfoil
Myriophyllum spicatum
Haloragaceaeedible
White Melilot
White Melilot
Melilotus albus
ediblemedicinal
Wild Oats
Wild Oats
Avena fatua
Poaceaeedible
Yellow Bristle Grass
Yellow Bristle Grass
Setaria pumila
Poaceaeedible
V

Frequently asked

How many plants are documented in Egypt?

60 speciess — 19 native and 41 introduced. Of these, 60 are edible and 23 have medicinal uses.

What edible plants grow wild in Egypt?

Common edible species include Amaranthus campestris, Amaranthus graecizans, Amaranthus polygamus, Amaranthus polystachyus, Amaranthus tenuifolius. See the Edible section above for the full list.

What medicinal plants grow in Egypt?

23 medicinal plants catalogued for Egypt, including Amaranthus graecizans, Azarole, Bulbous Buttercup, Chinese Artichoke, Common Vetch.

How is "native" vs "introduced" determined?

Status comes from TDWG botanical regions via Trefle. Native = naturally occurring there; introduced = brought in by humans, sometimes invasive. Both can be useful, but native species are typically the best fit for local conditions.

VI

Other africa

Angola
AO
Burkina Faso
BF
Burundi
BI
Benin
BJ
Botswana
BW
DR Congo
CD
Central African Rep.
CF
Republic of the Congo
CG
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