Very little trees may be found except at the outer margin (typically Acacia ehrenbergiana and Prosopis cineraria).
Common trees are Acacia tortilis and Acacia ehrenbergiana associated with ghaf (Prosopis cineraria); the trees are important shade plants for the Arabian oryx.
The Northwestern thorn scrub forests are thought to be tropical dry forests that have been degraded through intensive agriculture and grazing into stunted and open thorn scrub, dominated by trees such as Acacia senegal and Acacia leucophloea, as well as Prosopis cineraria, Capparis zeylandica, and species of Salvadora, Gymnosporia, Grewia, and Gardenia.
By one account: "There was no vegetation left on the ground. There was no drop of water. All the animals died for want of fodder. People survived on grasses and the bark of "Khejri" trees. Even that also became scarce. There was nothing like governance. The ruling Samants were least bothered for the poor people....".
Prosopis | Prosopis juliflora | Prosopis cineraria | Cineraria | Algarrobo (Prosopis Palida) | Prosopis pallida | Prosopis nigra | Prosopis alba | Prosopis africana | Centaurea cineraria |