6 Valuable and Useful Plants in the Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert is one of the most extreme places on earth. Survival in the Sahara can be difficult and complicated resulting in the residents (both humans and animals alike) to be very resourceful. Due to its hard to get to location and to limited means of natural resources, ways to make the most out of the vegetation that is available has been a mandatory requirement. Throughout thousands of years of discovery, not only have people's diets consisted of the growth in the Sahara, but there their livelihood as well. Though there are thousands of different types of plants shrubs, trees, grasses and other plants, the amount of natural growth there is much smaller compared to most level of usable vegetation produced by an environment such as a rainforest.

Here are just a few of those that are of use to Sahara people.

1. Eragrostis- A durable and strong grass that can spread quickly. Also known a "love grass" this grass gets caught on animals fur or human clothing and is transported and deposited throughout the Sahara.

2. Date Palm- Serving as one of the Sahara's most important exports, it also is a wonderful food source for the people. The plant is used for making an ingredient which is put in alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

3. Acacia-This remarkable tree flowers leaflets and leafstalks which have adapted to the harsh life in the immense sunlight of the Sahara. The Acacia produces seeds which are used around the world for stir fries, soup, omelets, curries, and many more kinds of food. However, its most popular purpose could easily be its use as an ingredient for well known drinks. One being Barq's Root Beer.

4. African Peyote Cactus- This cactus serves as a key piece of many spiritual rituals held by the Saharan native tribes. The cactus has buttons which are dried and eaten or smoked. This causes strongly realistic hallucinations. Mescaline, an alkaloid found in the African Peyote Cactus, is being tested as a treatment for schizophrenia.

5. Tamarisks- These shrubs and trees go up to 18m while thriving in saline soil. Often used for firewood as well as carpentry, they serve an addition purpose as windbreakers and they also are used simply for shade providing.

6. Fig Trees- Originally from the western parts of Asian, the Fig Tree is utilized all around the Mediterranean mainly for the well loved fig fruit. Since they grow best in a dry, warm climate, introducing them in and around the Sahara has worked out very well.