Herbarium – Biodiversity of UAE

Abstract

Plant biodiversity is a key component of a stable ecosystem that helps support life. The changing environmental conditions may have a huge effect on the plant ecosystem. Periodic studies of plant species and their adaptations may help conserve the biodiversity of UAE. Herbarium is a form of documentation of plant species living in a specific geographical area at a particular point in time. This study has attempted to document the flora of Dubai and its surroundings during the height of the pandemic in 2020 and obtain a record of its indigenous species surviving the harsh desert environment. The plants collected were recorded, classified and their statistics obtained. A total of 72 indigenous specious were documented and analyzed among which there were 7 species of trees, 28 species of shrubs, 27 species of herbs and 10 species of grasses. The indigenous species collected were studied individually in further detail and their utilization by the community was recorded. This herbarium is an exhaustive work featuring all possible indigenous species in UAE. It documents the ecology of UAE for future reference and to study and possibly prevent the damaging effects of global warming and rapid urbanization.