Vol. 8(5), pp. 93-104, May 2016 DOI: 10.5897/IJBC2014.0741 Article Number: DBAFD4658490 International Journal of Biodiversity ISSN 2141-243X Copyright © 2016 and Conservation Author(s) retain the copyright of this article http://www.academicjournals.org/IJBC Full Length Research Paper Plant diversity of Al- Balqa Governorate, Jordan Sawsan A. Oran Department of Biological Sciences, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. Received 3 July, 2014; Accepted 25 February, 2016 Listing and describing plant diversity in terms of the status of flowering vascular plants in Al-Balqa Governorate (North West Amman/Jordan) has been evaluated. Collections of plant specimens have been made during the field trips that have been conducted, in order to study and evaluate the composition and the diversity of the flowering wild plants in Al-Balqa Governorate. A total number of 527 species belonging to 296 genera and 61 families have been recorded. A number of 91 medicinal plants are recorded; some examples are known as medicinal plants like: Arum palaestinum, Achillea santolina, Carduus australis, and others. Poisonous plants such as Retama raetam, Solanum luteum, Ferula communis etc. were also recorded. A number of 30 recorded species are considered as endemic such as Daucus carota and Apium nodiflorum, and some others are known as edible plant species like: Salvia hierosolymitana, Gundelia tournefortii, Eruca sativa etc. a number of 25 species are endangered such as: Gundelia tournefortii, Sinapis alba, Sternbergia clusiana and Cistus creticus. Some reported species are rare like: Lactuca serriola, Varthemia iphionoides, Echium judaeum, Lupinus varius, Iris atrophosca and others. Deciduous Oak (Quercus ithaburensis) forest is occurring in the study area mixed with remnants of wild olive (Olea europaea), and with shrubs such as Crataegus azarolus, and a wild almond tree (Amygdalus communis), also with herbaceous bushes such as Dactylis glomeratus, Urginea maritima, Colchicum hierosolymitanum, Sarcopoterium spinosum, Euphorbia hierosolymitana, Salvia indica, Alcea setosa, and Tulipa stylosa. However the study area is considered as one of the richest geographical area in Jordan in terms of its plant diversity, but unfortunately the area is negatively affected by different factors that are contributing in the habitat loss and degradation. Key words: Plant diversity, Flora, Al-Balqa, Jordan. INTRODUCTION The main purpose of this study is to survey plant diversity Al- Balqa governorate falls within the Mediterranean and to identify the flowering plants in Al- Balqa area, and phytogeographical region in Jordan and it is considered to report the potential of the plant species recorded in as subhumid Mediterranean bioclimatic region (Al-Eisawi, terms of its economic, medicinal, poisonous, edible, and 1996). This region is characterized by having the best ornamental values, as well as the ecological status in rainfall and the best vegetation. The area is characterized terms of endemic, rare, threatened and endangered taxa. by its natural Pinus halepensis forests especially in Zai *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]. Author(s) agree that this article remain permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License 94 Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv. and Dibeen in Salt area; the deciduous Oak forests of flora of Jordan, that IUCN standards cannot fit to. Quercus ithaburensis and Pistacia atlantica in As- Baihi near Salt area (Al- Eisawi, 1996). Plant biodiversity in Jordan is exposed to several threats leading to sharp MATERIALS AND METHODS decline in most of the Jordanian flora and the extinction 1. In this botanical survey extensive field trips have been conducted of several species. Many species have become at risk, or to the study area of Al- Balqa Governorate (Salt, Mahes, Fuhais were classified as threatened or endangered or even and Wadi Shuaib). extinct on the regional and global levels. This situation 2. Identification of plant specimens was made by plant taxonomist has resulted from various natural and man-made and by using Flora palaestina Volume 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Zohary, 1966; Feinbrun- Dothan, 1986), and revised online by IPNI website. activities, as well as from general lack of knowledge and 3. Photographs have been made for some selected herbs, shrubs awareness (Oran, 2014; Oran and Abu Zahra, 2014). The and trees or some plant species that are dominating the target area rich Jordan diversity of species can be classified into (Figure 2). different classes of vegetation, such as herbs, shrubs and 4. A list of all recorded plant species is provided. The names of the trees. plant species in the provided list are arranged alphabetically This study is assessing the flowering wild plants of AL- according to their families, genera, and species (Table 1). Medicinal plants are also listed as well as edible, poisonous, endangered Balqa Governorate diversified and focusing on the endemic and rare are also identified. diversity of wild plants in an attempt to protect and conserve the plant resources in the study area. AL-Balqa area is a name given to area covering some places in the RESULTS AND DISCUSSION north, North West of the country (Map 1). Salt, AL- Fuhais, Mahes, and Ghour. A total number of 527 species belongs to 296 genera and There are some studies that were published which 61 families has been recorded, out of which a number of deals with the situation of the wild flowering plants in 100 medicinal plants was identified, some examples are Jordan Al- Eisawi (1982, 2013) (Oran, 2014; Oran and Al- Arum palaestinum, poisonous plants are listed in Table 1, Eisawi, 2015; Oran, 2015). Other studies related to A number of 30 recorded species are considered as medicinal plants in Jordan (Oran et al., 1998, Oran, endemic such as Daucus carota, and a number of 25 2014). A previous study conducted by Al- Mohaisen et al. recorded species are endangered, all the recorded (2005), on plant diversity of Al- Fuhais area. A number of species are shown in Table 1, and photographs of some 238 species was recorded. A recent study by Al- plant species are shown in Figure 2. Some plant species Rawashdeh et al. (2013) listed a number of 296 are known for their ornamental potential (Table 1). medicinal plants in Wadi shuaib are that explained the effect of climate change on the surrounding vegetation. The edible plants in Jordan were identified by Takruri and CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Al- Eisawi et al. (1989). The poisonous plants were reported by Abu Irmaileh (1989). An ethnobotanical The results showed a high floral diversity of the study survey for the northern high mountains in Jordan area in terms of the number of plant species recorded. including the Salt area is published on 2015. This diversity of plant species is a reflection of the This study has been surveying and identifying mainly prevailed supportive ecological conditions, with high the wild flowering plants in Al- Balqa areas, list of studied mountains (900 to 1700 m), adequate rainfall of 400 to plants is included in Table 1. The medicinal plants used 600 mm/year, the best fertile soil type in the country. in folk medicine by locals are shown in Table1; Map of Plant biodiversity faces the danger of degradation and the study area is also presented (Figure 1). Some loss of many plant species as a result of both man-made selected photographs for some plant species are shown and natural factors. Changes in biodiversity can directly in Figure 2A to L. reduce sources of food, fuel, structural materials and The numbers of vouchers specimens for those medicinal or genetic resources. These changes are collected and identified for the different areas of Al- Balqa occurring at rapid rate as a consequence of human study area are also shown in Table 1. The voucher activities, such as land-use, over- grazing probably specimens are deposited at the herbarium of Department climate change, increase of the populations, over of Biological of Sciences/ University of Jordan/ Amman exploitation of plant and animal species, and pollution of (AMM). The plant specimens are identified and checked soil, water and air. Collective efforts are important to out based on using the available flora of Flora palaestina, preserve and protect the wild species in Al- Balqa study Volume 1, 2, 3, and 4 (Zohary, 1966; Feinbrun- Dothan, area for its highly diversified plant species that are 1986), and also revised online using International Plant suffering the danger of degradations and eventual Names Index (IPNI) website, plant taxonomist and myself extinction. Jordan is also known for its high richness in as plant taxonomist. The determination for some plants Birds such as: ldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) common that are identified as endemic, rare, endangered are resident, Black bird (Turdus merula) very common evaluated based on the experience of the author of the resident in the geographical study area and Chucker Oran 95 Table 1. The list of the plant species in the study area (Al- Balqa Governerate). Family Scientific name M P End Ed O R Plant No. Acanthaceae Acanthus syriacus Boiss. + 12 Amaranthaceae Amaranthus retroflexus L. 112 Narcissus tazetta L. + + 91 Amaryllidaceae Sternbergia clusiana Ker Gawler + + 104 Anacardiaceae Pistacia atlantica Desf. + + 68 P. palaestina Boiss. + + 16 Apocynaceae Nerium oleander L. + + 92 Araceae Arum hygrohpilum Boiss. + + 115 A. palaestinum Boiss. + + 119 Biarum angus Tatum (Hooker. Fil.) N.E.Br. + + 19.95 Eminium spiculatum (Blume) Kuntze + 15.58 Aristolochiaceae Aristolochia parvifolia Sm 168 Asclepiadaceae Calotropis procera (Aiton) Aiton fil + 124 Asteraceae Aaronsohnia factorovskyi Warb. Et Eig + 151 Achillea fragrantissima (Forskal) Schultz Bip. + 166 A. santolina L. + 271 Anthemis cotula L. + + 155 A. cornucopiae Boiss. + 20 A. hussknechtii Boiss.et Reuter + 10 A. palaestina Reuter + 6.143 Calendula arvensis L. + + 49 C. palaestina Boiss. + 246 Cardus australis Pomel. + 105 C. getulus Pomel. 77 Carlina hispanica Lam.