This annual herb can grow up to 0.3 m in height, producing pale yellow flowers on long stalks between February and April (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Norton et al. 2009). The fruit is distinctive in appearance, curved in a claw and star shape with hooked hairs. This facilitates dispersal by clinging to hair and fur of other species (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Koelpinia linearis is considered to be a halophyte i.e. salt-tolerant plant (Böer and Saenger 2006) and is typically found growing within silt environments among rocky hillsides, in addition to sand and gravel plains (Jongbloed et al. 2003).

This is an annual herb species which produces yellow flowers from January to March (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Norton et al. 2009). It grows to heights of up to 30 cm and typically occurs in silt substrate between rocks in montane areas (Jongbloed et al. 2003). This species can be found in sandy and gravelly habitats, wadis, plantations and fallow fields (MEW 2010, Feulner 2011). It is sometimes considered as a weed of disturbed areas and silty depressions within its habitat (Norton et al. 2009). It is highly rain-dependent.

This mangrove species typically along the coast of the UAE in estuaries, sheltered bays and creeks (Norton et al. 2009, Beech 2009). It is characteristic of the tidal zone, muddy inlets estuaries and shallow lagoons (Patzelt 2015). Avicennia marina is currently the only species of mangrove to grow naturally within the Arabian Gulf (Böer and Saenger 2006, Zander and Bruckner 2005). It is highly tolerant towards high temperatures in addition to salinity (Beech 2009) and has been described as a 'notoriously tolerant' species (Feulner 2000). However, this species shows increased growth in lower salinity levels (Llewellyn-Smith 2011). Individual trees have been recorded to grow up to 8 m in height, but typically grow to around 4-5 m (Aspinall et al. 1995, Perry 2008). The mangrove flowers between May and June and begins to bear its almond shaped, pale green fruit from September (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Saenger et al. 2002). Holes in the trees of this species provide a home for kingfishers, Limonium axillare (Aspinall et al. 1995). They are also associated with the macrophytic green algae genus Enteromorpha (Ghazanfar and Fisher 1998). It also provides habitats for fish and crustaceans, in addition to breeding habitats for other species of bird (Perry 2008).

This perennial herb is a seagrass species (Norton et al. 2009, Phillips et al. 2002). It can grow at depths between 2-8 m (H.S. Das pers. comm. 2019).

This plant is a species of seagrass (Phillips et al. 2002). It can grow at depths of up to 14 m (H.S. Das pers. comm. 2019).

This is an annual or short-lived perennial species, up to 0.35 m (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is usually found in moist banks of ponds and wadis (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Brackish marshes and edges of mangrove swamps are typical habitats for this species (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2018).

This perennial fern species is known to grow in open sand habitats and coastal areas (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Rothfels et al. 2012). At higher altitudes, it can grow within silt rather than sand (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It has two or three elliptic leaves growing from the stem in addition to other stem like leaves (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The plant generally appears after periods of rain (Jongbloed et al. 2003).

This species is mainly coastal. It favours mangrove habitats, but is also found along rocky and sandy coasts, coral reefs, harbours, breakwaters and jetties (Richardson 1990, Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It is occasionally found at inland wetlands, including water-filled rubbish dumps, sewage treatment plants and gravel pits (Richardson 1990). The species forages mainly in stands of Black Mangroves Avicennia marina. In Arabia, it has only been observed to feed on fish, but elsewhere it also takes crabs, shrimps and other invertebrates (Jennings 2010). The breeding period lasts over spring and summer; the species may be double-brooded. Nests are loose structures of sticks and algae, which are hidden in bushes or rock crevices. The clutch size is not known; evidence from the Red Sea suggest that clutches contain four eggs (Jennings 2010).

This species is especially common on desert plains, but is generally found in a wide variety of flat habitats, including sandy and gravel desert, semi-desert and coastal dunes (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). Even though it is a shy species, it is frequently found in proximity to humans, e.g. in the outskirts of towns, in farmland and along the beach (Jennings 2010). The species is able to tolerate the hot and arid conditions of the sandy desert, and shows a variety of behavioural adaptations to combat the extreme heat, like standing in the shade, hiding in the holes of Spiny-tailed Lizards Uromastyx microlepis, or lying on shaded, damp ground (Jennings 2010). It feeds on invertebrates, which it obtains by digging in soft soil, chasing and aerial pursuits, or by searching in rock crevices. Occasionally, it takes small invertebrates like lizards (Jennings 2010). The species is territorial throughout the year. The breeding season lasts from February to July or even October, depending on the amount of rainfall (de Juana and Suárez 2019). The courtship display of the males include frequent calls with rising and falling notes, which consist of trilled whistles and clicks (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019). Males also perform distraction displays when the nest or chicks are threatened (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019). The nest consists of a cup dug into the ground, often in open conditions and exposed to the sun. Nests observed in the Dubai desert were located in bushes of Zygophyllum hamiense and made of soft twigs and lined with fine grass and feathers (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019). Clutches contain two eggs; both sexes take turns in incubating and rearing the young (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019)

This species inhabits sparsely wooded areas and broken country, like woodland, areas of scattered trees, riparian forests, thorn scrubs and thickets, cuttings, parks and gardens (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere it feeds mainly on small arthropods, especially insects and their larvae and eggs, but also takes various berries, fruits and seeds (Aymí and Gargallo 2015). The species is migratory; it breeds in south-western Eurasia and winters from north-east Africa to Arabia and southern Iran (Snow and Perrins 1998).