A Study on the Status of Wild Medicinal Plants and Their Potential for Sustainable Development in the Desert Environment
2025-06-11
A Study on the Status of Wild Medicinal Plants and Their Potential for Sustainable Development in the Desert Environment

 

In continuation of the previously published volumes and as part of the ongoing effort to complete the illustrated encyclopedia of wild medicinal plants growing in the Western Desert Province of Iraq, substantial efforts were undertaken during the academic year 2022–2023. Capitalizing on a notably clearer and more vibrant spring season compared to previous years, 55 additional medicinal plant species were identified and documented, enriching the content of the third volume and building upon the foundation established in the first two. This volume includes the scientific name of each plant species, which serves as the fundamental key to botanical identification worldwide, accompanied by concise notes on taxonomy, ecological characteristics, and economic relevance. These summaries enable both scholars and enthusiasts to delve deeper into each species’ properties by referencing the scientific name to access more detailed information, including phytochemical constituents, medicinal uses, safety guidelines, and toxicity considerations. The collection and accurate identification of specimens were carried out by the Anbar University Herbarium (AUH) at the Center for Desert Studies, which has assumed this task since its establishment in support of academic research for faculty and postgraduate students at the University of Anbar and other institutions. The volume is further enhanced with species-specific distribution maps indicating the areas in which each plant occurs within the Western Desert Province, along with selected field and herbarium images for accurate identification. While common or vernacular names are also mentioned, their reliability remains limited due to the fact that a single species may be known by several different names, and conversely, the same name may refer to more than two or even three distinct species.