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Plants of Libya

LY · 26.34°, 17.23°

We catalogue 75 plants documented in Libya — 33 native and 42 introduced. Of these, 75 are edible and 26 have medicinal uses.

I

Native species

25

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

Charlock
Charlock
Sinapis arvensis
edible
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
ediblemedicinal
Crataegus heterophylla
Crataegus heterophylla
Crataegus heterophylla
ediblemedicinal
Dog's Cabbage
Dog's Cabbage
Theligonum cynocrambe
edible
English Elm
English Elm
Ulmus procera
Ulmaceaeediblemedicinal
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
Headed Savory
Headed Savory
Thymus capitatus
ediblemedicinal
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle
Lonicera periclymenum
Caprifoliaceaeedible
Italian Honeysuckle
Italian Honeysuckle
Lonicera caprifolium
edible
Jersey Cudweed
Jersey Cudweed
Gnaphalium luteoalbum
edible
Limonium thouinii
Limonium thouinii
Limonium thouinii
edible
Liquorice
Liquorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra
ediblemedicinal
Military Orchis
Military Orchis
Orchis militaris
Orchidaceaeedible
Mountain Rye
Mountain Rye
Secale strictum
Poaceaeedible
Pea
Pea
Pisum sativum
edible
Pygmy smartweed
Pygmy smartweed
Polygonum minus
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Rumex tingitanus
Rumex tingitanus
Rumex tingitanus
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Sanzashi
Sanzashi
Crataegus cuneata
ediblemedicinal
Scorpiurus vermiculatus
Scorpiurus vermiculatus
Scorpiurus vermiculatus
edible
Scorzonera
Scorzonera
Scorzonera hispanica
edible
Scorzonera undulata
Scorzonera undulata
Scorzonera undulata
edible
Slenderstem Peavine
Slenderstem Peavine
Lathyrus palustris
edible
Spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
ediblemedicinal
Swamp Sedge
Swamp Sedge
Carex acutiformis
edible
Woodcock Orchid
Woodcock Orchid
Ophrys scolopax
Orchidaceaeedible
II

Edible for food + foraging

25

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

Charlock
Charlock
Sinapis arvensis
edible
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
ediblemedicinal
Crataegus heterophylla
Crataegus heterophylla
Crataegus heterophylla
ediblemedicinal
Dog's Cabbage
Dog's Cabbage
Theligonum cynocrambe
edible
English Elm
English Elm
Ulmus procera
Ulmaceaeediblemedicinal
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
Headed Savory
Headed Savory
Thymus capitatus
ediblemedicinal
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle
Lonicera periclymenum
Caprifoliaceaeedible
Italian Honeysuckle
Italian Honeysuckle
Lonicera caprifolium
edible
Jersey Cudweed
Jersey Cudweed
Gnaphalium luteoalbum
edible
Limonium thouinii
Limonium thouinii
Limonium thouinii
edible
Liquorice
Liquorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra
ediblemedicinal
Military Orchis
Military Orchis
Orchis militaris
Orchidaceaeedible
Mountain Rye
Mountain Rye
Secale strictum
Poaceaeedible
Pea
Pea
Pisum sativum
edible
Pygmy smartweed
Pygmy smartweed
Polygonum minus
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Rumex tingitanus
Rumex tingitanus
Rumex tingitanus
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Sanzashi
Sanzashi
Crataegus cuneata
ediblemedicinal
Scorpiurus vermiculatus
Scorpiurus vermiculatus
Scorpiurus vermiculatus
edible
Scorzonera
Scorzonera
Scorzonera hispanica
edible
Scorzonera undulata
Scorzonera undulata
Scorzonera undulata
edible
Slenderstem Peavine
Slenderstem Peavine
Lathyrus palustris
edible
Spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
ediblemedicinal
Swamp Sedge
Swamp Sedge
Carex acutiformis
edible
Woodcock Orchid
Woodcock Orchid
Ophrys scolopax
Orchidaceaeedible
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

10

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

Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
ediblemedicinal
Crataegus heterophylla
Crataegus heterophylla
Crataegus heterophylla
ediblemedicinal
English Elm
English Elm
Ulmus procera
Ulmaceaeediblemedicinal
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
Headed Savory
Headed Savory
Thymus capitatus
ediblemedicinal
Liquorice
Liquorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra
ediblemedicinal
Pygmy smartweed
Pygmy smartweed
Polygonum minus
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Rumex tingitanus
Rumex tingitanus
Rumex tingitanus
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Sanzashi
Sanzashi
Crataegus cuneata
ediblemedicinal
Spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
ediblemedicinal
V

Frequently asked

How many plants are documented in Libya?

75 speciess — 33 native and 42 introduced. Of these, 75 are edible and 26 have medicinal uses.

What edible plants grow wild in Libya?

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

What medicinal plants grow in Libya?

26 medicinal plants catalogued for Libya, including Amaranthus graecizans, Azarole, Chinese Artichoke, Common Vetch, Crowfoot.

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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