PLANTS & HABITATS OF SAUDI ARABIA
(BOT 641)
M. AjmalAli Every Human being is a Taxonomist Animal group No. of species Amphibians 6,199 Birds 9,956 Fish 30,000 Mammals 5,416 Tundra Reptiles 8,240 Subtotal 59,811 Grassland Forest Insects 950,000 Molluscs 81,000 Q: Why we keep the stuffs of our home Crustaceans 40,000 at the fixed place or arrange into some Corals 2,175 kinds of system? Desert Others 130,200 Rain forest Total 1,203,375 Plants No. of species Mosses 15,000 Ferns and allies 13,025 Gymnosperms 980 Dicotyledons 199,350 Monocotyledons 59,300 Green Algae 3,715 Red Algae 5,956 Lichens 10,000 Mushrooms 16,000 Brown Algae 2,849 Subtotal 28,849 Total 1,589,361
• We have millions of different kind of plants, animals and microorganism. We need to scientifically identify, name and classify all the living organism.
• Taxonomy / Systematics is the branch of science deals with classification of organism. 2 • Q. What is Plant Taxonomy / Plant systematics We study plants because:
Plants convert Carbon dioxide gas into Every things we eat comes Plants produce oxygen. We breathe sugars through the process of directly or indirectly from oxygen. We cannot live without photosynthesis. plants. oxygen.
Many chemicals produced by the Study of plants science helps to Study of plants science helps plants used as learn more about the natural Plants provide fibres for paper or fabric. to conserve endangered medicine. world plants.
We have millions of different kind of plants, animals and microorganism. We need to scientifically identify, name and Plants can be a source of biofuels. classify all the living organism Sugars, starches and cellulose can be fermented into ethanol. Ethanol is 3 used as fuel. Taxonomic Hierarchy, Objectives, Scope, Principles and data sources in Plant Taxonomy Carrolus Linnaeus first adopted the hierarchic system of taxonomy classification in 1753. The succession groups are as follow: Species: Organisms sharing a set of biological traits and reproducing only their exact kind. The lowest major group, representing plants and animals referred to as Species. Division Species is the fundamental unit in taxonomy Genus: Genus are the closely related species Family : Family is the closely related genera Order : Order is the closely related families Class : Class are the closely related order Division / Phylum: Division or Phylum is the related classes Kingdom: Kingdom is the related Division / Phylum
Objective / Goals / Aims of Plant Taxonomy To provide an inventory of plant taxa for local, regional or continental needs. To establish suitable method for identification, nomenclature and description of plant taxa. Classification of organism into classes, Order, Families, Genera, and species To provide significantly valuable information concerning wild and medicinal species, endangered species, unique plants, genetic and ecological diversity
Scope of Plant Taxonomy Taxonomy is one of the oldest sciences. It provides thorough knowledge of living species and their various forms. All the branches of biology are dependent on taxonomy for proper identification the species. It has been proceeded further incorporating data from phytochemistry, cyto-genetics supported by proper computation.
Basic components (Principles) of Plant Taxonomy / Plant Systematics 1) Plant collection, Preservation and Documentation 2) Plant Structure (Taxonomic Terminology, Taxonomic description of external and internal morphology ) 3) Taxonomic Identification 4) Scientific Nomenclature / Botanical nomenclate : Nomenclature deals with the application of a correct name to a plant or a taxonomic group. Scientific names are necessary because the same common name is used for different plants in different areas of the world. 5) Taxonomic Classification (History and Systems of Plant Classification, alpha and beta taxonomy) 6) Taxonomic evidences / Source of data (Morphology, Anatomy, Embryology, palynology, Micromorphology, Chemistry, DNA etc.) in plant taxonomy
Sources of Plant Taxonomic evidences (From Morphology to Molecules)
4 Chemistry 44 Morphology Anatomy Pollen Chromosomes DNA / Molecular taxonomy Herbarium: Plant collecting, Preservation and Documentation
• A HERBARIUM is a collection of dried plants systematically named and arranged for ready reference and study.
• To make a herbarium specimen, the plant is collected, and notes are made about it. The plant is then pressed until dry between blotters that absorb moisture and mounted onto a herbarium sheet with a suitable label, and stored in steel cabinet arranged into some system of classification.
• Herbarium techniques involve : (i) Collection, (ii) Drying, (iii) Poisoning, (iv) Mounting, (v) Stitching, (vi) Labelling, and (vii) Deposition.
5 The FLORA is the main Resources of Taxonomic Information Description of plant need taxonomic terminology
Phoenix dactylifera Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1188. 1753. Stems solitary or clustered and then with few shoots, to 30 m tall, to 50 cm in diam., rough with persistent, diamond-shaped leaf bases. Leaves 3-5 m; sheath and petiole to 1 m; rachis 1-2 m; acanthophylls many per side of rachis; pinnae to 200 per side of rachis, linear, irregularly arranged and spreading in different planes; middle pinnae to 40 × 2 cm. Male inflorescences erect, to 1 m, with many rachillae, these ca. 30 cm; female inflorescences erect, becoming pendulous, to 2 m, with to 150 rachillae, these to 40 cm. Fruits variable in shape, usually oblong, to 7 × 3 cm, brown or black; endosperm homogeneous.
Flora: Flora is defined as the plant life occurring in a particular region or time or habitat. Fauna is the corresponding term for animal life. Importance of studying wild life: Flora and fauna and other forms of life such as fungi and other microorganisms are collectively referred to biota. Man depend completely on wild plants before know cultivated species Depending on the scope and the area covered , floras are Wild plants are the main source of organic matter on the earth categorized into: Wild plants are necessary for biological balance for all ecosystems Wild life are the main source of gene bank for all species Local flora: covers a limited geographic area ex. flora of Al Wild life are mark and indicator for ecological changes and climate Regional flora: it includes a larger geographical area ex. Flora Used to compare between different regions have same conditions of Saudi Arabia Continental flora: it covers the entire continent ex. Flora of 6 Europe Species Concept
Species is the basic unit of classification
Plants in the same species consistently produce plants of the same types
The name of the plants must should be written in italics. For example Phoenix dactylifera
SCIENTIFIC NOMENCLATURE / BOTANICAL NOMENCLATE : Nomenclature deals with the application of a correct name to a plant or a taxonomic group. We have millions of species distributed in different geographical regions of the world. The Scientific names (Botanical name and Zoological name)of the living organism (Plants and Animals) are necessary because the same common name is used for different plants / Animals in different areas of the world. • Swedish Botanist Carolus Linnaeus introduced Binomial Nomenclature. • The Binomial nomenclature uses two Latin words to indicate the genus and the species. The first word is the genus and the second word is the species. Example- the botanical name of Dates is Phoenix dactylifera
International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) The current activity of botanical nomenclature is governed by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) published by the International Association of Plant Taxonomy (IAPT). The Code is divided into 3 divisions: I. Principles, II. Rules and recommendations, III. Provisions for the governance of the Code
Principles of ICBN 1. Botanical Nomenclature is independent of Zoological Nomenclature. The Code applies equally to the names of taxonomic groups treated as plants whether or not these groups were originally so treated. 2. The application of names of taxonomic groups is determined by means of nomenclatural types / TYPIFICATION. 3. Nomenclature of a taxonomic group is based upon Priority Of Publication. 4. Each taxonomic group with a particular circumscription, position and rank can bear Only One Correct Name, the earliest that is in accordance with the rules. 5. Scientific names of taxonomic groups are treated as LATIN, regardless of derivation. 7 6. The rules of nomenclature are Retroactive, unless expressly limited. Names of Taxa Generic Name: The Generic name is usually a noun and singular, which is spelled or written with a capital letter.
Specific Epithet: The specific epithet is often an adjective and it is written with a small initial letter.
In the hand written manner, both the generic names and specific epithet should be underlined, while if printed it should be in italics.
Synonyms: A name rejected due to misuse or difference in taxonomic judgement.
Basionym: The basionym is the first name ever given to a taxon. Further studies and revisions may reject the basionym as the most correct one, but it still is useful as a nomenclatural reference for that species.
8 Author Citation, Effective Publication and Principle of Priority
Author Citation . For a name to be complete, it should be accompanied by the name of the author or authors who first published the name validly. The names of the authors are commonly abbreviated, Example L. for Carolus Linnaeus . Aizoon canariense L. . Tribulus macropterus var. arabicus (Hosni) Al-Hemaid & J. Thomas
Basic structure of a taxonomic Research papers / Recent publication of a new species in taxonomic journal
9 Effective publication in the journal, available to Botanist
Date of valid publication Abstract / Summary / (principles of priority): If Synopsis. the same species will be published by some one Previously it was else after this date then required to write in the publication will be Latin. not valid. (/Principles of Priority).
Botanical name in Latin
Rank indicated Specimens examined
Type Specimen indicated
TYPIFICATION: Type Taxonomic Specimen is the one representative of the taxon. Description Holotype: A specimen designated by the author in the original publication (nomenclatural type). Other types are: Isotype, 10 Lectotype, Neotype, Line drawing
Taxonomic Key for Identification
11 GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY OF THE ARABIAN PENINSULA . Saudi Arabia is a quadrilateral land mass, occupying a major part of the Arabian Peninsula. It covers an area of about 2,250,000 sq. km. . Climate- Arid (In summer the Peninsula the temperatures can reach into the 50s °C) . Rain-Few places in Saudi Arabia receive more than 200 mm of rain a year and in the interior several years may pass without any rainfall at all. Altitude of the plains in the Central Region is about 500-800 m and the relative height of the mountains and escarpments (Jabal Shammar, Jabal Tuwayq) varies from 300-600 m.
The Eastern Region is broadly divided into 1) an open plain adjacent to the Dahna sands, 2) the Northern plains which is bordering with Kuwait, 3) the coastal lowlands and 4) the Rub' al-Khali, the largest, continuous sand body in the world.
Landscape is composed of a variety of habitats such as mountains, Valleys (Wadis), sandy and rocky deserts, meadows (Raudhahs), salt pans
Geographical sense, Saudi Arabia can be divided into two distinct zones: 1- The rain fed highlands of the western and southwestern regions (Sarawat Mountains) 2- The vast arid and extra arid lands of the interior (Najd).
The Central Region in general, is characterized by patchy desert.
The mountains of southwestern region form a continuous chain of escarpments, extending from Taif to Yemen border. The peaks reach elevations of over 2000 m in the vicinity of Taif and extreme south and over 3000 m in the Abha area. Mountains on the western side, especially the Asir Mountains are characterized by cool climate, high precipitation and high humidity. The mountains of Jizan Region, especially the Fayfa Mountains reach a height of about 2000 m. Tihama lies between the Red Sea and the Escarpments. It is narrow in the northwestern side and wider in the southwestern side. Approximately 30% of the land of Saudi Arabia is covered by three major sand bodies. The Great Nafud, situated in the northern part of the country is a 60,000 sq km wide. The Rub al-Khali or the Empty Quarter, with its extreme climate, occupies in 500,000 sq km area and is located in the southern 12 and southeastern part of the country Main physiographic regions of the Arabian Peninsula The COASTAL LOWLANDS . The Red Sea coastal lowlands – Tihamah . The Gulf Coast plain
The Red Sea coastal lowlands – Tihamah
Young and old lavas on Harrat HARRAAT Khaybar north- east of Madinah)
SAND SEAS – ERGS . Al Jafurah Tuwaiq – Al . An Nafud – Ad Dahna Aramah . Ar Rub’ al Khali Escarpments
MOUNTAINS • Red Sea Escarpment mountains • Tuwaiq – Al Aramah Escarpments • Hijaz-Asir Highlands Red Sea Escarpment mountains Red Sea Escarpment west of Abha PLATEAUS AND PLAINS • Hisma Plateau • Tabuk Plain • Nadj Uplands • As Summan • Al Widyan Plain Nadj Uplands (Crystalline13 Nadj uplands 100 km west of Unayzah) Geographical map of Arabian Peninsula
Time frame (in Ma = Era million years ago)
Cenozoic 66
Mesozoic 251.902 to 66
Paleozoic 541 to 251.902
Neoproterozoic 1,000 to 541
Mesoproterozoic 1,600 to 1,000
Paleoproterozoic 2,500 to 1,600
Neoarchean 2,800 to 2,500
Mesoarchean 3,200 to 2,800
Paleoarchean 3,600 to 3,200
Eoarchean 4,000 to 3,600
14 There are three climatic zones in the kingdom (1) Desert (almost everywhere) (2) Steppe along the western highlands, forming a strip less than 100 miles (160 km) wide in the north but becoming almost 300 miles (480 km) wide at the latitude of Mecca. (3) A small area of humid and mild temperature conditions, with long summers, in the highlands just north of Yemen.
In March and April, some precipitation, falls in Mecca and Asir. Winters, from December to February, are cool, and frost and snow occur in the southern highlands. Average temperatures for the coolest months, December through February are 74 °F (23 °C) at Jeddah, 58 °F (14 °C) at Riyadh, and 63 °F (17 °C) at Al-Dammām. In March and April, some precipitation, falls in Mecca and Asir. Winters, from December to February, are cool, and frost and snow occur in the southern highlands. Average temperatures for the coolest months, December through February are 74 °F (23 °C) at Jeddah, 58 °F (14 °C) at Riyadh, and 63 °F (17 °C) at Al-Dammām. Summers, from June to August remain hot, with daytime temperatures in the shade exceeding 100 °F (38 °C) in almost all parts of the country. Temperatures in the desert frequently rise as high as 130 °F (55 °C) in the summer. Humidity is low, except along the coasts The level of precipitation is also low throughout the country, amounting to about 2.5 inches (65 mm) at Jeddah, a little more than 3 inches (75 mm) at Riyadh, and 3 inches at Al-Dammām. In the highlands of Asir, precipitation more than 19 inches (480 mm) in a year, falling mostly between May and October when the summer monsoon winds prevail. In the Rubʿ al-Khali, a decade may pass with no precipitation at all. 15 History of Botanical Studies in Saudi Arabia . Kitab al Nabat by A.H. Dinawari (895 A.D.): A comprehensive knowledge of the agriculture and medicinal practices of the Bedouins.
. Discussion about Arabian plants is available in the manuscript Istakhri (915-919 A.D.), Idrisi (11153 A.D.), A.Al-Fida (1331 A.D.).
. Peher Forsskal (1736-1763): Stay in the southern parts of the Arabian Peninsula, and collected a significant number of plants from Yemen and Jizan Region. Some of these plants were described as new in the posthumous publication "Flora Aegyptiaca-Arabica" by Niebuhr (1775). . Ehrenberg (1825) visited some of the Red Sea Islands, and Studied mainly microorganisms.
. There were some further visitors too in the Arabian Peninsula region but their collection are not available in any Herbarium), like Ehrenberg (1820-26), Aucher-Eloy (1830), Kotschy and Schimper (1836), Anderson (1859), Pelley (1865), Balfour (1880), Schweinfurth (1888), Deflers (1893).
. J.R. Wellsted (1833) traveled along the southern coast of Arabia and collected some plants.
. E. Combes and M.O. Tamisier in the middle of the 19th century accompanied an Egyptian expedition team to the mountains of Asir. Their records were published in the "Voyage en Abssinie et 1` Arabie" in 1851. History of Botanical Studies in Saudi Arabia Contd…. . Musil (1909) and Philby (1917) were studied plants of arbian peninsula region during early 19th century.
. E. Blatter (1919-1936) compiled most of the major and minor collections of the previous visitors and published a detailed checklist of the wild plants of Arabia (Flora Arabica).
. The collections of DeMarco (DeMarco & Dinelli, 1974), as part of the work of Italconsult Company for the survey of Agriculture Development, and Mandaville (Saudi Aramco during 1960's) were also remarkable. These collections were deposited in the British Herbaria. . A.M. Migahid, A.El-Sheikh, U. Bairele, P. Kong, H.M. Hassan, H.A. Abulfatih were also collected plant from different region of Saudi Arabia . The collections are deposited in the Herbarium (KSU) of Botany & Microbiology, King Saud University. The flora of Saudi Arabia appeared in 1974, 1978 and 1988-1990.
. S. Collenette (1972-1999) : Collections are deposited in the Royal Botanic Gardens (E), Edinburgh and RBG, Kew (K), a set of which is also deposited at the National Herbarium (RIY) of the Ministry of Agriculture.
. The floristic wealth of Saudi Arabia was enumerated approximately 15 years ago in the three volumes of ‘Flora of Saudi Arabia’ (by S. Chaudhary). Plant Biodiversity of Saudi Arabia
The flora of Saudi Arabia is somewhat a complex one, Major Families of Saudi flora having affinities with the floras of East Africa, North 300 269 246 Africa, the Mediterranean countries and the Irano- 250 217 Turanian countries. 200 150 Plants are xerophytes (require little water) and are 87 100 74 72 71 67 mostly small herbs and shrubs that are useful as forage. 64 62 50 Few small areas of grass and trees in southern Asir. 0 The regions along the northwestern and southwestern regions, however, are densely vegetated and contain the highest number of species. Approximately 70% of the country's floristic elements are reported from these areas. Percentage of Herbs, shrubs and Trees Total number of species recorded: about 2300 species Gymnosperms: 9 species (Juniperus phoenicea) Pteridophytes : 27 species (Example: Marsilea aegyptiaca) 4% Total number of families: 131 25% Families represented by single species : 33 418 species belonging to 27 families are monocots 71% Saudi Arabia contains 97 (4.25%) trees, 564 (24.73%) shrubs and about 1620 (71.02%) herbs. 67 species are endangered (Huernia saudi-Arabica)
56 are endemic to the region (Example: Aloe Trees (97) shrubs (564) Herbs (1620) sheilae Lavr.). Gramineae with 261 species is the largest monocot family in Saudi Arabia, followed by Cyperaceae with 40 species. Among the genera, Cyperus is the largest with 21 species. 18 Types of habitats and their vegetation in Saudi Arabia 1. Marine Habitat Saudi Arabia has 2500 kilometers of coastlines along the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.
Marine life is concerned with the plants, animals and other organisms that live in the ocean and seas. Given that in biology; many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land. A mangrove is a shrub or small tree that grows in coastal region. A halophyte is a plant that grows in waters of high salinity, coming into contact with saline water through its roots, such as in saline semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs and seashores. 7 genus of the plants have been reported from red sea. Avicenia marina and Rhizophora mucronata found in gulf water only.
Avicenia marina Types of habitats and their vegetation in Saudi Arabia
2. Terrestrial habitats Islands Terrestrial habitats are ones that are found on land, like forests, grasslands, deserts, shorelines, and Wet land wetlands
(A) Islands (B) Wet land (C) Vally (Wadies) (D) Mountains Vally (Wadies) (E) Forest mountain regions (F) Al Harat (G) Sandy Deserts
Al Harat
Forest mountain Sandy plains Deserts Types of habitats and their vegetation in Saudi Arabia (A) Islands . Teran and Snafer islands in Akaba gulf . Farasan islands in red sea. . Farasan archipelago, lies in the southern part of Red Sea (160 20` -170 20` N, 410 24`-420 26` E), is about 40 km. away from the Jizan coast and attains a width of approximately 120 km. in SE to NW direction. . The flora comprises about 200 species of flowering plants in 49 families.
Share (%) of chorological units within the flora of Farasan Islands. (Sah.-Arab.=Saharo-Arabian; Som.-Masai=Somali-Masai; Pant.= Prantropical; Trop.Afr.=Tropical African; Cosm.=Cosmopolitan; Paleot.=Paleotropical; Trop.- Am.=Tropical American; Medit.= Mediterranean; Subtrop.- Temp.=Subtropical-Temperate; Temp.=Temperate) Types of habitats and their vegetation in Saudi Arabia (B) Wet land
Natural freshwater wetlands are the key biological sites in arid landscapes.
It includes ponds, streams and springs, as well as artificial wetlands such as reservoirs.
They attract and support a diverse assemblage of plants and animals. Example Phragmites sp. and Typha sp Types of habitats and their vegetation in Saudi Arabia
(C) Vally (Wadies) An elongate depression of the earth's surface usually between ranges of hills or mountains. An area drained by a river and its tributaries. Types of habitats and their vegetation in Saudi Arabia (D) Mountains
. More then 55 mountain which are above then 2000 meter in height.
. The mountains of southwestern region form a continuous chain of escarpments, extending from Taif to Yemen border. . The peaks reach elevations of over 2000 m in the vicinity of Taif and extreme south and over 3000 m in the Abha area. . On the western side of the highlands, the mountains fall in a series of dramatic escarpments and finally merge with the Tihama coastal plain while the eastern sides slop more or less gradually towards the interior parts of the country. . Mountains on the northwestern sides are generally discontinuous, less rugged and much drier. The east facing slopes decent gradually and end in a high plateau. Argemone mexicana Mimusops laurifolia . The mountains on the western side, especially the Asir Mountains are characterized by cool climate, high precipitation and high humidity.
. affinity with the plants of East African countries
. 537 species of vascular plants have been recorded from the Fayfa area Junierpous procera Rumex nervosus Types of habitats and their vegetation in Saudi Arabia
(F) Al Harat
. Lava fields (called harrah in Arabic) are widespread in the western part of Saudi Arabia. . There are about fifteen lava fields, ranging in size from small to huge . Poorly vegetated
Haloxylon persicum Amygdalus arabica Zilla spinosa
Plantago albicans Astragalus spinosus Artemisia monosperma Types of habitats and their vegetation in Saudi Arabia (G) Sandy desert
. 30% of the land in Saudi Arabia is covered by sandy-deserts.
. More then 125 species in Great Nafud, Dahna, Rub Al-Khali, Jafurah
. Rub-al-Khali or the 'Empty Quarter' is believed to be the largest continuous sand body in the world and supports the life of at least a few endemic plants such as Calligonum crinitum spp. arabicum, Tribulus macropterus var. arabicus (Tribulus arabicus), Cornulaca arabica, etc. Ifloga spicata
Haloxylon persicum Calligonum crinitum Allium sindjarense Zygophyllum mandaville Plant Communities and Plant Associations- Saudi Arabia Vegetation of Saudi Arabia is generally divided into five broad categories.
1. Vegetation of the coastal plains and Sabkhas . Coastal zones and sabkha vegetation and very open drought-deciduous thorn woodlands of the coastal plains and lower foothills. . Mangrove stands, represented by Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata, . Major populations recorded from Tihama
2. Deserts and scarcely vegetated areas . Xeromorphic dwarf-shrublands of rock and gravel deserts (Dominant species: Acacia tortilis, Haloxylon salicornicum, Astragalus spinosus) . Deep sands (Dominant species: Calligonum comosum, Haloxylon persicum, Calligonum crinitum) . Scarcely vegetated sand dunes and sand covered gavel plains (Dominant species: Acacia spp. and Calligonum comosum)
3. Dwarf shrublands Xeromorphic dwarf shrublands (Dominant species: Calligonum comosum, Haloxylon salicornicum, Rhanterium epapposum, Acacia gerrardii, Acacia ehrenbergiana, Ziziphus nummularia, Lycium shawii)
4. Woodlands and xeromorphic shrublands of high altitude areas . Drought deciduous thorn woodlands and shrublands of Hijaz Mountains Coastal and sabkha vegetation and open drought deciduous . Semi evergreen woodlands . Evergreen Needle-leaved Woodlands (Vegetation of highest part of the northern thorn woodlands (1 and 13). and southern Hijaz Mountains) . Mixed formations of drought deciduous shrublands, xeromorphic succulent Deserts and sparsely vegetated areas (8, 9 & 11) shrublands and open xeromorphic grasslands and very open xeromorphic semi- Dwarf shrublands and related communities (10 & 12), desert shrublands Montane woodlands and xeromorphic shrublands (2, 3, 4, (Dominanat species: Acacia-Commiphora , Delonix elata, Euphorbia cuneata, Olea 5, 6 & 7), Wadi Communities (14) europaea, Juniperus phoenicea, Lavandula dentata, Euphorbia spp.,) Wadi Communities. Main wadis in Saudi Arabia are Wadi Rimah, Wadi Fatima, Wadi Hanifa, Wadi Dawasir, Wadi As Sabha, Wadi Nissah and Wadi Al-Batin a. Dominant species of the Central region: Acacia, Rhazya stricta, Lycium shawii, Pennisetum divisum, Ochradenus baccatus, etc. b. Dominant species of Tihama region: Acacia, Ziziphus spina-christi, Salvadora persica, Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Tamarix nilotica, Hyphaene thebaica, 27 Plant Diversity Hot-Spots of Saudi Arabia
The most important topographic and floristic diversity of Saudi Arabia can be seen in the mountainous North and South Hijaz regions.
Mountains in the Fayfa region, close to Yemen borders, and other isolated mountains like Jabal Abu- Hassan also harbor a diverse flora, which is more or less similar to that of East African vegetation.
Vegetation in the semi-arid mountains of Jabal Shamanseel (1600 m), Jabal Radhwa (2000 m), Jabal Sha'ar (2350 m) are dominated by Juniperus phoenicea, Delonix elata, Ferula ovina, Pistacia khinjuk, Launaea acanthodes, Commiphora spp.
Jabal Lawz (2800 m), the highest mountain in the northern Hijaz also possesses varied vegetation with a strong Mediterrannean influence. Therea re some rare species in theis area are: Prunus korshinskyi, such as Androssace maxima, Plantago maris-mourtii, Tanacetum santolinoides, Scandix pecten-veneris etc.
Jabal Dabbagh (2400 m), a granite mountain in the Endemic plants (Sheila Collenette, 1999) north west of Saudi Arabia, is remarkable amongst Endemic species are defined as species only found in one the mountains of northern and southern Hijaz range specific geographical area. in terms of endemism. Five endemic taxa occur in Isolated geographical areas, such as island, Lakes or mountain ranges, often have many endemic species. this mountain including Delphinium sheilae, Nepeta Saudi Arabia hosts nearly 200 regional endemics, only about 28 sheilae and the only monotypic, endemic 2.5% of the total flora is strictly endemic to Saudi Arabia. genus Dolichorynchus arabicus. Saudi Arabia's biodiversity is under threat from multiple stresses. Climate PLANT BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION change is one of the several pressures. Saudi Arabia, being located in the arid part of the world is expected to Biodiversity is the biological diversity which includes the variety of the experience faster warming due to climate change than countries located in whole species present on earth. It includes different animals, plants, the tropical or temperate regions. micro-organisms) Biodiversity conservation: Plant diversity is disappearing at an unprecedented rate as a direct impact of Factors responsible for extinction: the way humankind uses the world's natural resources. • Habitat loss and Habitat fragmentation • Overexploitation Our flora is fundamentally important to human life as a source of food, Oman Botanic garden, • Introduced species shelter and medicine amongst many other things. Oman (Botanical • Disruption of ecological interactions The threats to plant diversity vary worldwide. These include habitat loss Garden for the Future) and degradation, invasive aliens, over-exploitation of resources, and even • Pollution climate change. • Plant diseases Species extinctions are on the rise. • Over grazing More than 80,000 seed-bearing plant species (20% of the total) are currently under threat. Example of some endangered plants endemic to Saudi Arabia . Allium asirense (Alliaceae) The biodiversity must should be conserve because of its benefit for . Aloe armatissima (Aloeaceae) example services and biological resources (medicine, food, wood products, . Ceropegia tihamana (Asclepiadaceae) fibers etc.) which are essential to live our life on earth. . Silene asirensis (Caryophyllaceae) . Cornulaca arabica (Chenopodiaceae) Definition of terms used for Conservation status . Centaurothamnus maximus (Compositae) . Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining. . Ajuga arabica (Labiatae) . Extinct in the wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a . Astragalus collenettiae (Leguminosae) Area Declared naturalized population outside its historic range. Area Name . Reseda pentagyna (Resedaceae) Km2 Year . Critically endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. . Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild. Harrat al 13,775 1987 . Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild. Preservation approaches: Harrah . Near threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the near future. . Habitat restoration Al Khunfah 20,450 1987 . Least concern (LC) – Lowest risk; does not qualify for a higher risk category. . Removal of introduced species Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category. . Cleanup and rehabilitation At Tubayq 12,200 1989
In-situ conservation: In-situ conservation means the conservation of species Strategic goals for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity within their natural habitats. By In-situ biodiversity conservation method the . Establishment of national parks –protected area biodiversity area may be covered in the form of natural park/ . Establishment of gene banks sanctuary/biosphere reserve etc. . Collection and preservation of germplasm Ex-Situ conservation: . Legisation for conservation Ex-situ conservation involves the conservation of biological diversity . Control an over exploitation outside of their natural habitats. Ex-situ Biodiversity conservation can be done by forming Gene banks, seed Protected area in Saudi Arabia banks, botanical garden, collections of In vitro plant tissue culture. At present, Saudi Arabia has 15 protected areas which cover approximately 5% Ex-situ biodiversity conservation strategy plays an important role in of the land area and conserve about 43% of the country's flora. recovery programmes for endangered species. 29 Succulent species Aquatic species The aquatic flora in Saudi Arabia contains more than 40 aquatic or semi aquatic species Example Lemna spp Ceratophyllum demersum-
Zygophyllum Caralumma Parasitic plants (about 32 species)
Adenium Euphorbai
Poisonous Plants Weeds Cultivated Underground
Cenchrus ciliaris Calotropis procera Allium asirense Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of Saudi Arabia
Artemisia sieberi (Family Compositae): Leaves are used as an anthelmintic. Anthelmintic is an antiparasitic drugs that expel parasitic worms Ruta chalepensis (Family Rutaceae) Leaves are used to cure rheumatism Rheumatism is the disease marked by inflammation and pain in the joints, muscles, or fibrous tissue
Withania somnifera (Family Solanaceae) Citrullus colocynthis Leaves and roots are used as a (Family Cucurbitaceae ) poultice Leaves, seeds and roots are used in Poultice is the term used for insect bits “applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation” 31 FAMILY IDENTIFICATION
S. No Characters Family
1. Presence of Gynostegium along with milky latex: Asclepiadaceae
2. Stem often with swollen nodes. Petals fused, Acanthaceae flowers zygomprphic. Presence of Jaculators in seeds:
3. Presence of opposite leaves with Inter or intra Rubiaceae petiolar stipules and dichasial cyme:
4. Presence of Staminal column along with 5 separate Malvaceae petals. Mucilaginous texture:
5. Flowers always zygomorphic. Presence of lips in Orchidaceae the flower along with parallel venation in leaves:
6. Presence of Head: Asteraceae 32 FAMILY IDENTIFICATION
7. Presence of quadrangular stem along with Lamiaceae verticellaster inflorescence:
8. Presence of 4 petals n 6 stamens out of which 4 tall Brassicaceae and 2 short:
9. Presence of Pods: Fabaceae; If fls are Mimosaceae actinomorphic:
if fls are zygomorphic: Papilionaceae or Most of the times Papilionaceae is having Caesalpiniaceae imparipinnate leaves and Caesalpiniaceae is having paripinnate leaves.
10. Presence of malpighiaceous trichomes Malpighiaceae (dichotomous unicellular hairs), generally climbers:
11. Presence of latex; inflorescence haypanthodium, Moraceae fruits syconium:
12. Presence of Ochrea, inncomplete flowers: Polygonaceae 33 FAMILYFMILY IDENTIFICATIONIDENTIFICATION
13. Presence of Compound umbels; generally having Apiaceae hollow flower stalk:
14. Flowers incomplete, unisexual. Ovary trilocular: Euphorbiaceae
15. Leaves with parallel venation. Regular flowers Liliaceae with parts in multiples of three:
16. Plant bearing all characters of lilaceae but only Amaryllidaceae the ovary is inferior:
17. Flowers arranged in spikelets, phyllotaxy 1/2: Poaceae
18. Flowers arranged in spikelets, phyllotaxy 1/3: Cyperaceae
34 Identifying Plant Families
Caryophyllaceae (Flowers in cymes (group of flowers, terminal flower opens first, Single capsule fruit) . Herbs . Leaves in opposite pairs, unlobed, untoothed . Flowers usually have 5 petals . Flowers usually have 5 sepals . Flowers in cymes (group of flowers, terminal flower opens first) . Single capsule fruit
Brassicaceae (Presence of 4 petals n 6 stamens out of which 4 tall and 2 short ) . Herbs . Alternate leaves . No stipules . Flowers have 4 petals in a cross . Flowers have 4 sepals . Many cultivated vegetables 35 Identifying Plant Families
Apiaceae (Umbels type of inflorescence) . Herbs . Leaves usually alternate with sheathing, inflated leaf-stalk bases . Flowers have 5 separate petals . Flowers small . Umbels type of inflorescence
Lamiaceae / Labiatae (Presence of quadrangular stem along with verticellaster inflorescence: ) Herbs Square stems Leaves opposite Leaves often toothed No stipules Tubular flowers Flowers usually have hood and prominent lower lip
36 Identifying Plant Families Asteraceae / Compositae (Presence of Head) . Largest family of flowering plants worldwide . Herbs . Leaves without stipules . Flowers small in dense heads . Petals always joined into a corolla-tube (petals fused together below forming a tube)
Cucurbitaceae (Tendril present, pepo type fruit) . Herbaceous vines . Tendrils present . Plants usually monecious . Flowers 5-merous . Ovary inferior 37 . Fruit usually a pepo Identifying Plant Families Asclepiadaceae (Presence of Gynostegium along with milky latex) . Perennial herbs, vines, and shrubs with milky sap, some cactus-like . Leaves opposite or whorled, simple, entire . Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, with elaborate corona containing hoods and horns . Highly specialized pollination mechanism . Pollen contained in waxy pollinia connected in pairs to glands . Stamens and carpels united into gynostegium . Fruit a follicle . seeds with tuft of silky hairs
Euphorbiaceae (Flowers incomplete, unisexual. Ovary trilocular) . Habit: herbs, shrubs, stem succulents, trees; often with milky sap . Leaves: alternate, opposite, whorled; simple (rarely palmately compound); stipulate . Plants: monoecious or dioecious . Inflorescence: cymose, racemes, cyathium . Perianth: 0 (4-6); distinct or basally connate, free or adnate at base to stamens . Stamens: 1-many, distinct or variously connate . Ovary: 3 carpels; connate; superior; 3 (1-4) locules with 1 or 2 apical-axile ovules per locule; styles 3 (1-4), often forked . Fruit: schizocarpic capsule (drupe, berry, pod, samara) 38 Identifying Plant Families Fabaceae / Leguminosae
(Presence of Pods: Fabaceae;
If fls are actinomorphic: Mimosaceae if fls are zygomorphic: Most of the times Papilionaceae is having imparipinnate leaves and Caesalpiniaceae is having paripinnate leaves.
. Five-petalled flowers . Leaves usually trifoliate or pinnate . Wide standard petal at top . 5 sepals forming calyx-tube (lower parts of sepals fused) . Fruit an elongated pod
39 Distribution of natural vegetation across the world
40 SUMMARY
The flora of Saudi Arabia is one of the richest biodiversity areas in the Arabian Peninsula and comprises very important genetic resources of crop and medicinal plants distributed in marine and wide range of Terrestrial habitats (Islands, Wet land, Vally / Wadies, Mountains, Forest mountain regions, Al Harat, and Sandy Deserts)
In addition to its large number of endemic species, the components of the flora are the admixture of the elements of Asia, Africa and Mediterranean region.
According to Collenelte (1998), the greatest species diversity has been occurred in Asir and Hijaj, the western mountainous area of the Kingdom, which boarders the Red Sea.
A total of 2250 species (including Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms) in 142 families are represented in the flora of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Collenette 1998).
Of these, there are about 242 endemic and 600 rare and endangered species in the wild.
The flora of Saudi Arabia has a great medicinal species diversity which is expected to be more than 1200 (over 50%) out of its 2250 species (Rahman et al., 2003). Hence, the plant resources of Saudi Arabia should be explored and studied.
41 THANKS
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