i r ’
¡'I' :
■•'ii;
:i'T
I I;
In the Desert however, where plants at first seem wanting and are only to be found by diligent
search, there are at least two kinds of shrubs: a \ o v f h u s h y A c a c i a , and a t a m a r i s k ; alike inconspicuous,
and very rarely met with. The other Desert plants are also inconspicuous and occur singly
at long intervals.
On now including both Desert and river-flat, the flora of Egypt is mainly characterized by its
meagerness, and by negative traits. The soil everywhere powdery is found to be devoid of cryptoga-
mous plants, of Lichens, Mosses, and Ferns (the exceptions confined to artificial localities, as the
top of pyramids and walls of cisterns, with a single Fern Adiantum capillus-veneris growing within
reach of the sea air of the Mediterranean).
Of other tribes of plants abounding in Syria and on the nearest Greek islands, the following dis-^
appe.ar: Saxifragacem, Droseracem, Primulacem, Violacea, Valerianacem, Gentianacea: (with the
exception of EtyHiraa spkata on the seashore), Orchidacem, the genus Carex (with the exception
of C. divisa on the seashore), Hypericacea:, Globulariacem (with the exception of G. alypnm along
the Mediterranean within reach of the sea air), Onagracem, Crassulacem, Dipsacaceae (with the
exception of Scabiosa arenaria on the seashore). Rosacele (with the exception of Poterinm sanpii-
sorba within reach of the sea air of the Mediterranean), and heaths with all Ericaceae especially
marking the striking change in climate and soil.
Though a careful observer throughout my stay in Egypt I did not make extended notes, nor
seek to distinguish in all instances the imported plants. I did not anticipate ever being engaged in a
work like the present, and have here to offer only a compiled account of the Indigenous vegetable
growth, to be revised and amended by future observers.
Beginning with the Desert, unchanged in aspect throughout the whole period of human history,
no plants brought by the hand of man having found foothold, the Desert plants may be enumerated
as follows : —
M en isp c rm um lemba; n o t fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . ; and in
U p p e r E g y p t , D e l.
B m i ia s spinosa^ L . ; n o t fa r from C a iro , F o r sk .
A n a s ta t ic a H ie rochn n tica , L . ; not far from C a iro , F o r sk .
E x te n d in g to B a rb a ry , P er s .
R ico tia Aegyptzaca, L . ; in S y r ia n o t fa r from S a leh y eh ,
S a v ig n . and D e l.
L i in a r ia parvijiora^ D e l. ; a roun d the py ram id s a t S akh a ra ,
D e l.
Sisymhrizim h isp id um , V a h l ; n o t fa r frorfi Ca iro, F o r s k .
an d D e l.
CJuira n th zis lividz ts \ not fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . and
D e l.
F a r s e t ia scabra, C h e iran th cS o f D e s f . ; n o t fa r from C a iro ,
F o r s k . ; an d o b serv ed by m y s e lf a roun d th e py ram id s o f
G iz e h . E x te n d in g into A r a b ia an d B a rb a ry , g row in g also
nea r Smyrn a , P e r s . and S ib th .
H e sp e r is acris^ F o r s k . ; n o t fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . ; D e s er
t o f “ Q ou b beh ” an d a t “ M a ta r y e h ,” D e l.
_______ p ygjniea, D e l . ; n o t far from A le x an d r ia , a lso on
th e b oun d a ry between E g y p t and S y r ia , O liv ., S a v ig n ., and
D e l.
B r a s s ic a tcr eiifolia , D e s f . ; a roun d th e py ram id s a t S a k h a ra ,
D e l. E x te n d in g to B a rb a ry , D e s f . an d P er s .
B A i c a r ia cras s tfolia, B ra s sica o f F o r s k . ; n o t fa r from C a iro ,
F o r s k . ; an d “ nea r th e py ram id s o f S a k h a r a ,” D e l.
Ca p p a r is Aeg yp tiaca , L a m . ; nea r M in y eh in U p p e r E g y p t ,
D e l.
Cleome A ra b ica , C leom e o f L . ; “ around th e p y ram id s ,” D e l.
E x te n d in g into A rab ia and B a rb a ry , S h aw , D e s f ., and
P e r s .
R o r id id a droseri/olia, F o r s k . ; n o t far from S u e z , F o r s k . ;
ravines between th e N ile an d th e R e d S e a , D e l.
S o d a d a decidzta, F o r s k . ; th ro u gh o u t Y em en , F o r s k . ; an d
in U p p e r E g y p t , D e l.
R e seda cancscens^ L . ; n o t fa r from Caii'o, F o r s k . and D e l. ;
“ Sa lm an tica , ” P e r s .
------------- szibzdata, D e l . ; C a iro to A le x an d r ia , D e l.
------------- - p r zu n o sa ; n o t far from A le x a n d r ia , also in S y r ia ,
D e l.
Ochradeyius ba cca iu s, D e l . ; n o t fa r f rom S u e z , also in U p p
e r E g y p t , D e l.
H e lia n th em um Lippii^ C is tu s o f L . ; n o t fa r from A l e x andria,
F o r s k . an d D e l.
--------------stipz ila iiim , C is tu s o f F o r s k . ; n o t fa r from Ca iro,
F o r s k . and D e l.
--------------g h itin o s jim , C is tu s o f L . ; n o t fa r from A le x a n dria,
D e l. E x te n d in g to th e N o r th e rn shores o f th e M ed iterranean,
C a v . and Pe r s . ; b u t n o t y e t fou n d in G reece.
--------------- roseum, C is tu s o f J acq . ; n o t fa r from A le x an d r ia ,
D e l.
F r a n k e n ia revoluta^ F o r s k . ; n o t far from A le x an d r ia , F o r sk .
an d D e l.
A l s in e su c cu len ta , Ille ceb rum a ls in ifo lium o f L . ; b etween
C a iro an d S u e z , D e l. E x te n d in g to S p a in , Pers .
GypsopJida ca pd la r is , R o k e je k a o f F o r s k . ; n o t fai- from
C a iro , F o r s k . ; an d nea r S u e z , D e l.
P a ro n y ch ia A ra b ica , Ille ceb rum o f L . ; n o t fa r from C a iro ,
F o r s k . and D e l.
Polycarpcsa f r a g il i s , D e l . ; n o t fa r from C a iro , D e l.
E r o d h im h ir tum , Geranium o f F o r s k . ; npt far f p m C a iro ,
F o r s k . ; an d A le x an d r ia , D e l.
--------------tr ia zign la r e , G eran ium o f F o r s k . ; n o t fa r from
C a iro , F o r s k .
--------------g la u coph y lh im , G eran ium o f L . ; n o t fa r from
Ca iro , D e l . ; M em p h is , Pe r s .
--------------malopoides, G eran ium o f D e s f . ; n o t fa r from Ca iro,
D e l. E x te n d in g to S ic ily and Ba rb a ry, C a v . and Pers .
R z ita tub e rcid ata, F o r s k . ; n o t fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . ; also
m N u b ia , D e l.
P eg a n z tv i h a rm a la , L . ; n o t fa r from Ca iro, F o r s k . ; and
A le x an d r ia , D e l. E x te n d in g to C re te , G re ece, S p a in , and
Sib e ria , S ib th . an d P e r s .
N it r a r ia r etu sa, P eg an um o f F o r s k . ; n o t fa r from Ca iro,
F o r sk . ; A le x an d r ia and D am ie t ta , D e l. ; D e s f . and Pe r s .
F a g o n ia Crética, L . ; n o t fa r from C a iro , D e l. E x te n d in g
to Y em en , C re te , and B a rb a ry , F o r s k ., D e s f . and P er s .
--------------A ra b ica , L . ; n o t far from C a iro , D e l . ; and a t M o r
in A rab ia , F o r s k .
- g lu t in o s a , D e l .; n o t fa r from C a iro , D e l.
--------------mollis , D e l . ; not far from S u e z , D e l.
- la tifo lia , D e l. ; n o t far from C a iro , D e l.
T r ih zd n sp e n ta n d r u s , F o r s k . ; n o t fa r from Ca iro, F o r s k , ;
an d in U p p e r E g y p t , D e l.
r
Z yg op hy llum s im p le x , L . ; not fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . and
D e l. ; at M o r an d G horab in A rab ia , F o r sk .
_________coccinenm, L . ; n o t far from C a iro , F o r s k . E x ten
d in g to B a rb a ry and S ib e r ia , Sh aw and Pers.
_______ _ album, L . ; not fa r from A le x an d r ia , F o r s k . an d
D e l . ; an d at G h o rab in A rab ia , F o r s k . E x te n d in g to C y p
ru s, Bai'bary, an d th e C an a ry Islan d s, S ib th ., D e s f . an d
Pe r s .
- decumbens, D e l. ; n o t fa r from S u e z , D e l.
R h t i s oxyacanthoides, D e s f .; U p p e r E g y p t , D e l.
G en is ta monosperma, S p a r tium au ct. ; n o t fa r from Cairo,
D e l . ; an d S u e z , F o r s k . E x te n d in g to M o ro cco an d S p a in ,
Pers.
s p a r t ium T heb aicum, D e l. ; U p p e r E g y p t an d m N u b ia,
D e l. ^ ,
O n o jiis serrata, F o r s k . ; n o t fa r from A le x a n d r a , F o r s k .
and D e l.
________v a g in a lis , V aW . ; n o t fa r from A le .xan dn a , F o r s k .
an d D e l.
A lh a g i M a u r o r um , H ed y s arum o f L . ; C a iro to A le x a n dria,
F o r s k . an d D el.
H e d y sa rum P to lem a icum , D e l. ; b e tw e en C a iro an d S u e z ,
D e l.
In d ig o fe ra p a u c ifo lia , D e l. ; U p p e r E g y p t , D e l.
A s t r a g a lu s tr im e s ir is , L . ; n o t far from C a iro , F o r s k .
________ h isp id u h c s , D e c . ; n o t fa r from A le x an d r ia , D e l.
E x te n d in g to P e r s ia , M x .
_______ tomentosus, L am . ; n o t far from R o se tta , F o r s k .
________longifloru s , D e l. ; n o t fa r from S u e z , D e l.
_______ tn v iid u s , C o lu te a o f F o r s k . ; n o t fa r from Ca iro,
F o r s k . an d D e l. E x te n d in g to S y r ia an d S p a in , R u ssel
an d Pers .
- - trig07zus, D e c . ; n o t fa r from Alexandria^ D e l.
P so ra lea p lica ta , D e l. ; T lie b e s , D e l.
L o tu s dichotomus , D e l. ; not fa r from C a iro , D e l.
Ca s s ia acu tifo lia , D e l. ; P h i l x , D e l. _
________ s en n a , L . ; n o t fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . ; an d m
U p p e r E g iq it , D e l.
A ca c ia albida , D e l. ; ab o v e Philse, D e l.
seyal, M imo sa o f F o r s k . ; A rab ia , F o r s k . ; b etw een
th e N ile and th e R e d sea, also near T h e b e s an d S y en e ,
D e l.
g in nm ife ra , M im o sa o f F o r s k . ; A rab ia , F o is k . ;
U p p e r E g y p t , D e l.
________ heterocarpa, D e l . ; U p p e r E g y p t n o t fa r from
“ Q o c e y r ,” D e l.
N e u r a d a proczimbens, L . ; not fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . ;
and Ale.vand ria, D e l. E x te n d in g to A r a b ia an d B a rb a iy ,
Pe r s .
T am a r ix G a llica , L . ; n o t fa r from C a iro , D e l. E x t e n d in
g to th e C a sp ian sea, R u s s ia , G re ec e, I ta ly , F r an c e , an d
Sp a in , S ib th . an d P er s .
--------------A f r ic a n a , D e s f . ; U p p e r E g y p t , D e l. E x te n d .n g
to G re e c e and B a rb a ry , B o r y & C h a b ., an d P e r s .
. p a s s e r im id e s , D e l . ; in th e F a y o um , Join, and
D el.
B iip le u r um p n l i f e r u m , D e b ; n o t fa r from A le x an d r ia ,
D e l.
B u b o n tor tuosiim, D e s f . ; not fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . E x tending
to Ba rb a ry, P e r s .
Son chn s d iv a r ica h ts , De.sf. ; C a iro to A le x an d r ia , D e l.
P r e n a n th e s spinosa, F o r s k . ; towa rds S u e z , F o r s k . ¡ a n d
C a iro , D e l. E x te n d in g to B a rb a ry an d S p a in , Pe r s .
Senecio s q u a lid u s , L . ; towards C a iro in th e D e se r t, F o r s k . ;
A le x an d r ia , D e l.
Chrysocoma spinosa , S t e h c lin a o f V a h l ; n o t fa r from Cairo,
F o r s k . and D e l.
S a n io lin a fr a g r a n iis s im a , F o r s k . ; n o t fa r from C a iro ,
F o r s k . ; and S u e z , D e l.
A r tem is ia J u d a ic a , L . ; (alre ad y men tion ed). F r e q u en t to ward
s S u e z , D e l. ; e x ten d in g into A rab ia , P a le s tin e , and
N ura idia, i ’ers.
monosperma, D e l. ; n o t fa r from C a iro an d S u e z ,
C u cum is colocynihis, I .. ; n o t far from C a iro , F o r s k . ; U p p e r
E g y p t and N u b ia , D e l. E x te n d in g to M o r in Y em en ,
F orsk.
--------------p roph ctarnm .
M escm b ry a iith cm um n od iflon n n , L . ; n o t fa r from C a iro ,
F o r s k . ; an d A le x an d r ia , D e l. E x te n d in g to th e maritime
sands o f G re ece an d I ta ly , S ib th . an d P e r s . ; an d to S p a in ,
the C an a ry Island s, an d Mad eira , A . Dec .
_______ Copticum, L . ; n o t far from C a iro , D e l.
Gymnocarpos d e ca n d rum , F o r s k . ; E a s t o f C a iro in the
D ese r t, F o r s k . an d D e l.
A izo o n C an a r ien sc , L . ; n o t far from C a iro , F o r s k . E x ten
d in g to C an a ry Islan d s, P e r s .
R e a um u r ia ve rm icida ta , L . ; n o t far from C a iro , F o r s k . ;
and A le x an d r ia , D e l. E x te n d in g to S y r ia , S ic ily , an d
Ba rb a ry, Pers .
D e l.
- in c td ta , D e l. ; towa rds S u e z , D e l.
- Valeyitina, L a m . ; C a iro , _____ _t_o_ A__le_x_a_n__d_r i a , D, e l. E x ten
d in g to S p a in , Pers.
G n a p h a liu v i caidijlortcm, D e s f. ; n o t fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . ;
an d R o se tta , D e l. E x te n d in g to T u n is , Pe r s .
P id ic a r ia u n d zd a ta , In u la o f L . ; towa rds S u e z , D e l.
F ra n c o e u r ia cr ispa, A s t e r o f F o r sk . ; n o t fa r from C a iro ,
F o r s k . ; b o rd e r o f D e se r t near th e P y ram id s , D e l. E x t e n d in
g in su n n y s itu ation s to Sen eg a l an d th e G an g e s , D e c .
Co iid a cinerea, D e l. ; a roun d th e p y ram id s a t G iz e h and
S a k h a ra , D e l.
B u p th a lm um gra veolen s , F o r s k . ; not fa r from C a iro , F o r s k .
and D e l.
Centazirea cru p in oid e s , D e s f . ; not fa r from A le x an d r ia ,
D e l. E x te n d in g to B a rb a ry in th e D ese rt, Pe r s .
--------------L ip p ii, L . ; n o t far from C a iro , F o r s k . ; an d R o se
tta , D e l. E x te n d in g to B a rb a ry , P er s .
- Aeg yp tiaca , L . ; not fa r from C a iro , D e l.
Cale tidzda Aegyptzaca, D e s f . ; n o t fa r from C a iro , D e l.
E ch in op s spbioszis, L . ; n o t fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . ; and
A le x an d r ia , D e l. E x te n d in g to C yp ru s , th e G re e k islands,
and B a rb a ry , S ib th . an d Pe r s .
P la z ita g o cy lin d r ica , F o r s k . ; n o t fa r from C a iro . F o r sk .
and D e l.
--------------arg ciitca, D e s f . ; not far from C a iro , F o r s k . E x ten
d in g to B a rb a ry an d F ran c e , Pe r s .
Sta tice ^pruinosa, L . ; not fa r from A le x a n d r ia , F o r s k . ;
an d a lon g th e shore o f th e R e d sea, D e l. E x te n d in g to
P a le s tin e , D e l.
L in a r ia A eg yp tia ca , A n tin 'h in um o f L . ; n o t fa r from C a iro ,
F o r s k . ; and S u e z , D e l. E x te n d in g to th e G re e k is lan ds,
Sib th .
________hcdava, F o r sk . ; not fa r from C a iro , F o r s k .
S c r op h u la r ia -D e s e r t i, D e l. ; tow a rd s S u e z , D e l.
A ca z ith o d ium sp ica tum, D e l . ; “ A g e r o u d ” o r H a h iro th ,
on th e rou te to S u e z , D e l.
S a lv ia A eg yp tia ca , L . ; n o t far from C a iro , D e l. E x te n d in
g to th e C an a ry Island s, Pers .
L a v e n d zd a s t r id a , D e l. ; n o t fa r from S u e z , D e l.
Heliotropizzm crispzim, D e sf- ; n o t fa r from C a iro , F o r s k .
an d D e l.
________ Ih iea ium , V a h l ; not fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . ; and
aroun d the P y ram id s , D è i
L ith o sp c rm um arn ebia : n o t fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . and
D e l.
________ ca llosum, V a h l ; n o t fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . and
D e l.
A n c h u s a sp im ca rp o s , F o r s k . ; n o t fa r from C a iro , F o r s k , ;
n ea r S a leh y eh , in th e D e se r t, D e l.
_________ h isp id a , Foi-sk. ; n o t fa r f rom C a iro , For.sk. ;
an d A le x an d r ia , D e l.
Borago A f r ic a n a , L . ; n o t fa r from C a iro , F o r s k . an d D e l.
Convolvzdiis F o r s k a li i ; S in a i, F o r s k . ; b etween Cmro and
S a leh y eh , in the D e s e r t, D e l.
fI V M l