Desert Plants of Egypt’s Wadi El Gemal National Park

by Tamer Mahmoud

The vegetation in Wadi El Gemal National Park in Egypt’s Eastern Desert is more diverse than might first be expected, but even more surprising is the relationship that the desert dwellers continue to have with the plant life in their habitat, despite the increasing modernization of their world. As a ranger in the park, Tamer Mahmoud quickly realized the importance of surveying, identifying, and documenting the indigenous plants, and recording the information he compiled from interviews with the local community about how they use the plants for food, healing, animal fodder, and fuel. The result is this detailed and colorful guide, which includes photographs of each plant, the scientific name and local name in Arabic and English, and information on location, distribution, uses, and ecology. A glossary, bibliography, visitors’ information section and distribution maps make this a comprehensive reference work that will interest visitors, scientists, anyone interested in the flora of arid areas, and even anthropologists.

Genres: Nature

180 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2010

Reviews

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-have for nature lovers in Egypt! I am so happy to have found it on the shelves this summer.

The introduction provides an excellent overview of the national park - the geomorphology, climate, water resources, ecological features, and more, including information about the local indigenous people, the Ababda, and how they use the plants and land.

For each of the plants in the directory, Mr. Mahmoud, a park ranger and botanist, has provided the Latin name, common English name, common local name (in Arabic and transliterated), a description of the plant, a discussion of its importance and uses, and the ecology and distribution. There is also two or three photos of each plant plus a map showing their location in the park. A wealth of information!!

And although these plants are all found in Wadi el Gemal, they are also found in other desert areas of Egypt - the Sinai peninsula and Wadi Digla, for example - so Desert Plants will be a useful tool for plant-lovers around the country!

[Meri Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photos