The formation of annual growth rings is an imperative requirement for studying the dendroecological potential of plant species. Little is known about the distinctness of growth rings in the wood of desert plants in Africa, particularly in southern Mediterranean regions. To fill this knowledge gap, we collected and anatomically analyzed about 300 perennial desert plants from different areas in Egypt. Out of the 300 studied plant species, 94 species were identified as growth-ring forming plants. They belong to 78 genera and 33 families. Trees, shrubs/subshrubs, and perennial or short-lived herbs are represented by 7, 55, and 32 species, respectively. Trees and shrubs represent 7.4% and 58.5% of the total, respectively. The distinctness of growth rings in these species was indicated either by the type of wood porosity, fibers, marginal parenchyma layers or by a mixture of these characteristics. Ring porosity, fiber layer, and parenchyma were the main indicators for growth-ring distinctness in 77.7%, 60.6%, and 33.0% of growth-ring forming plants, respectively. We conclude that some of the desert plants form distinct growth rings depending on site conditions, while precipitation is the main driver for its formation. Further studies on the annual rhythm of xylem formation are required to confirm the annual nature of growth rings and potential dendroecological use of these plants.

年轮的形成是研究植物树种生态潜力的必要条件。关于非洲，特别是在地中海南部地区的沙漠植物的木材中年轮的独特性知之甚少。为了填补这一知识空白，我们收集并解剖分析了埃及不同地区的约300种多年生荒漠植物。在研究的300种植物中，有94种被确定为可形成年轮的植物。他们属于78属和33个家庭。树木，灌木/半灌木以及多年生或短命草本分别代表7种，55种和32种。树木和灌木分别占总数的7.4％和58.5％。这些物种中年轮的明显性通过木材的孔隙类型，纤维，边缘薄壁组织层或由这些特征混合而成。环孔隙率，纤维层和薄壁组织是形成环的植物的主要指标，分别占成环植物的77.7％，60.6％和33.0％。我们得出的结论是，某些荒漠植物根据地点条件形成不同的生长环，而降水是其形成的主要驱动力。需要进一步研究木质部形成的年度节律，以确认年轮的性质和这些植物的潜在树状生态学用途。我们得出的结论是，某些荒漠植物根据地点条件形成不同的生长环，而降水是其形成的主要驱动力。需要进一步研究木质部形成的年度节律，以确认年轮的性质和这些植物的潜在树状生态学用途。我们得出的结论是，某些荒漠植物根据地点条件形成不同的生长环，而降水是其形成的主要驱动力。需要进一步研究木质部形成的年度节律，以确认年轮的性质和这些植物的潜在树状生态学用途。