Morphological and anatomical studies were carried out on four (two wild and two cultivated) species belonging to sub family Malvoideae (Malvaceae s.l) and collected from different regions in Egypt to assess the diagnostic value of these characters in taxa delimitation .The results obtained using UPGMA clustring method from analysis of 71 macro-& micro morphological characters resulting in a dendogram which indicated a close taxonomic relationship between Hibiscus esculentus and Hibiscus sabdariffa more than Malva parviflora with similarity index (76% and 75% respectively). Dissimilarity was recorded in Sida spinosa from the other three species ,it distinguished by high genetic diversity based on variation in morphological and anatomical features .The studied species were analyzed for assessment of taxonomic interrelationship among them.

The present study included the whole plant morphology and leaf blade anatomy of four dicot species belonging to four families; Apocynaceae, Geraniaceae, Plantagonaceae and Polygonaceae collected from east Egypt desert during three seasons in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Morphologically, the results obtained show annual habit in three species but Cynanchum acutum found as perennial herb, all species have hairy surface. Stem ranged from erect in Plantago ovate and Rumex vesicarius to climbing in Cynanchum acutum and prostrate in Erodium ciconium. Anatomically, the results showed the presence of compact uniseriate epidermis, thick cuticle in all species. Trichomes varied from simple and glandular hairs in Erodium ciconium, glandular in Plantago ovate and Rumex vesicarius and absent in Cynanchum acutum. Multilayers of palisade tissue were found in all species except Cynanchum acutum. Calcium oxalate crystals were found as druses in all taxa except Plantago ovate. From the above results, morphologically as well as anatomically all studied species were found to be adapted to arid envinorment.

The present work aimed to study the floristic diversity and vegetation analysis of weeds associated with Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. in three Nile Delta governorates. Ninety nine stands (10m X 10m) were surveyed in autumn and spring (2015)(2016). Seventy one species belonging to 61 genera and 27 families were recorded associated with Prickly Pear. Poaceae, Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae and Brassicaceae, were the most dominant families. Annuals recorded the highest number of species (45 species) while perennials were represented by 26 species. Therophytes were the dominant life form represented by 43 species while monoregional represented the dominant floristic category (22 species). The application of TWINSPAN on the cover estimates of 71 associated species recorded in the 99 sampled stands of Prickly Pear, led to the recognition of 8 vegetation groups: The names of these groups are: A: Boerhavia Coccinea, B: Cynodon dactylon, C: Cyperus rotundus, D: Psidium guajava, E: Amaranthus lividus, F: Malva parviflora, G: Phragmites australi and H: Imperata cylindrical. M. parviflora group had the highest value of species richness (21.6 species/stand) and relative evenness (0.63), while the highest species turnover (8.2) was recorded in Boerhavia coccenea VG A and the highest relative concentration of dominance (2.43) was recorded in Amaranthus lividus VG E. Some of the recorded species are invasive and negatively impact Prickly Pear cover, these species need control. Some other species provides many ecological and human services, these species need management and conservation.

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