This study attempts to carry out a critical revision for the genus Ephedra in Egypt based on morphological characters for leaf, stem and flower. DNA sequencing data used for the first time for DNA barcoding of the family Ephedraceae in Egypt. One chloroplast marker -intergenic spacer trn-H/psb-A and another nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) were sequenced to authenticate the identification and to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of the Egyptian Ephedra species. The results revealed that, the name of Ephedra ciliata Fischer & C. A. Mey. was illegitimate and became a synonym to Ephedra foliata Boiss., which reported here as accepted name. The current work recommends using the DNA barcode as a tool for species identification of Ephedra species as well as other gymnosperms in Egypt.

Trichomes, epidermal cell features, and seed coat sculpturing of 12 Lotus taxa from Egypt were studied using scanning electron microscopy. In addition, statistical analysis for the taxa under investigation was carried out. The results revealed that trichomes have high taxonomic significances between studied taxa. Anticlinal and periclinal cell walls and epidermal cell shape for the stem, leaf, and calyx for each taxon were examined. Seed coat sculpturing exhibited 4 main different surface patterns categories: rugose, reticulate, sulcate, and verrucate. These features can serve as good diagnostic characters at the species level of the genus Lotus.

Trichomes, epidermal cell features, and seed coat sculpturing of 12 Lotus taxa from Egypt were studied using scanning electron microscopy. In addition, statistical analysis for the taxa under investigation was carried out. The results revealed that trichomes have high taxonomic significances between studied taxa. Anticlinal and periclinal cell walls and epidermal cell shape for the stem, leaf, and calyx for each taxon were examined. Seed coat sculpturing exhibited 4 main different surface patterns categories: rugose, reticulate, sulcate, and verrucate. These features can serve as good diagnostic characters at the species level of the genus Lotus.

A taxonomic account of Paspalum in Egypt is provided. Paspalum vaginatum is newly recorded for the Flora of Egypt
in addition to the three previously known species: P. dilatatum, P. distichum and P. racemosum. Paspalum vaginatum can
be distinguished from other Paspalum species by the absence of lower glumes, smooth upper glumes and lack of ciliate
fringes on its spikelets. The taxonomic synopsis includes information on nomenclature, distribution, a key to the species
of Paspalum in Egypt and a list of selected specimens examined. In addition, a line drawing and photographs of the newly
recorded species are presented.

NULLA palynological and multivariate study of six species of Tamarix L. distributed in
Egypt was carried out. Pollen morphology was examined by Light Microscope (LM) and
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The systematic study of these species was
conducted by means of numerical analysis using UPGMA clustering and PCO analysis
based on 33 morphological characters, including life form, vegetative parts, fruits, floral
characters, seeds and pollen grains. Pollen grains were found to be monads, radially
symmetrical, isopolar, small-sized and homocolpate. Tamarix nilotica can be easily
separated from other taxa by its subprolate pollen shape. Two major clades were
identified by multivariate analysis of morphological characters; one of them included
three species, namely T. amplexicaulis, T. passerinoides and T. macrocarpa. Our results
indicate that there is a wide range of morphological similarity among the species of
section Polyadenia. The other clade included T. aphylla, T. tetragyna and T. nilotica from
section Tamarix and section Oligadenia.

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