Ahmed K. Osman & Ibrahim A. El Garf - herbmedit.org K. Osman & Ibrahim A. El Garf ... fined to this...

Ahmed K. Osman & Ibrahim A. El Garf

Studies on the shallow wadies of the Mareotis sector of the

Mediterranean coastal land of Egypt: Floristic features of Wadi Hashem

Abstract

Osman, A. K. & El Garf, I. A.: Studies on the shallow wadies of the Mareotis sector of the

Mediterranean coastal land of Egypt: Floristic features of Wadi Hashem. — Fl. Medit. 25: 57-

71. 2015. — ISSN: 1120-4052 printed, 2240-4538 online.

A total of 195 species were recorded in the different sectors of Wadi Hashem cut-in the lime-

stone plateau west of Mersa Matruh (Egypt). The distribution of these species in the different

sectors of the Wadi as well as the phytochoria for the recorded species is provided. The highest

number of species (157) was recorded in the stream part of the Wadi bed while the lowest num-

ber (34) was recorded in the three cliffs of the Wadi. Sixty seven species forming 34.36% of the

total are typical Mediterranean (monoregional) taxa. About 93 species (47.69%) are bi- or

pluriregional taxa with apparent Mediterranean affinities.

Key words: flora, phytochoria, Wadi Hashem, Mareotis sector.

Introduction

The Mediterranean coastal land of Egypt remains floristically one of less known

territories of this country. It is regarded by El-Hadidi (1980) as one phytogeographi-

cal (ecological) territory extending for about 970 km from Sallum on the Egyptian-

Libyan border eastwards to Rafah on the Egyptian-Palestinian border, with an average

width of 15-20 km in a north-south direction. Zahran & al. (1985, 1990) distinguished

between three sectors of the Mediterranean coastal land: western (the Mareotis,

extending for 550 km between Sallum and Alexandria), middle (Deltaic, extending for

180 km between Alexandria and Port Said) and eastern (Sinaitic, extending for 220 km

between Port Said and Rafah). El-Hadidi (2000) divided the Mediterranean coastal

land of Egypt into: Mareotis sector where Cyrenaican elements are prominent and

Sinaitic sector where East Mediterranean taxa prevail. He regarded the Deltaic sector

sensu Zahran & al. (1985, 1990) as transitional zone between both sectors. According

to Zahran & Willis (1992), the western Mediterranean coastal belt is by far the richest

part of Egypt in its floristic composition owing to its relatively high rainfall. Boulos

(1975) cited 1095 taxa recorded along Mediterranean coastal land of Egypt and El-

Hadidi (2000) gave an estimate of 1060 taxa which are recorded in the Mediterranean

Fl. Medit. 25: 57-71

doi: 10.7320/FlMedit25.057

Version of Record published online on 57 December 2015

coastal land, among which 321 are typical Mediterranean taxa which are not known

elsewhere in Egypt. Mashaly (1987) recorded 225 species from Deltaic sector of the

Mediterranean coastal land of Egypt; of which about 45% are Mediterranean taxa and

Khedr (1999) recorded 135 species in the Mediterranean Deltaic Burollos Lake with

more than half of the species (54.1%) have Mediterranean distribution. Gibali (1988)

recorded 382 taxa from the Sinaitic sector, of which 50% are Mediterranean. At pres-

ent no exact estimation can be given for the number of species of Mareotis sector

extending for 550 km between Sallum and Alexandria, which can raise up to 600 taxa

(El-Hadidi 1993). Among the earlier works that are known to the authors dealing with

the floristic features and vegetation of some Wadies dissecting the limestone plateau

running parallel to the west Mediterranean coast of Egypt are that of El-Hadidi & al.

(1986), El-Kady & Sadek (1992), Kamal & El-Kady (1993), El-Garf (2003), Salama

& al. (2003 & 2005), Osman & al. (2009) and Youssef & al. (2014).

The Study Area

Wadi Hashem (31° 21’ 775” N, 27° 00’ 476” E) is one of the main shallow gullies drain-

ing the southern limestone plateau, which lies parallel to the west Mediterranean coast

(Fig. 1). These gullies (Wadies) are different from the true drainage systems (Wadies) of

the Eastern Desert (El Hadidi 2000a, 2000b). The Wadi consists of several shallow efflu-

ents which cut through the limestone plateau. These effluents unite into a deep gorge-like

channel about 5km long which varies in width between 10-100 meters. The Wadi may be

photographically distinguished into the following sectors:

a. Upper reach part: (31° 21’ 775” N, 27° 00’ 476” E): comprises the first high area that

provides a highly specialized habitat for a number of chasmophytic species. The Upper

reach part lies at 88 m a.s.l..

b1. Upstream part: The upper level of the Wadi bed is next to upper reach (31° 21’ 850”

N, 27° 00’ 504” E) (b1), about 81 m a.s.l. and 12 m wide.

b2,b3: Middle and Downstream parts: The middle and lower levels of the Wadi bed

comprise the mouth of the Wadi (31° 22’ 862” N, 27° 01’ 355” E), which are delimited

by salt marshes towards the sea coast. Large amounts of runoff water and alluvial soil,

collect forming a plain where figs, olives and barley are cultivated; they are laid at 23-

67 m a.s.l. and 20-100 m wide.

C. Cliffs: consists of three cliffs which provide a highly specialized habitat for a number

of chasmophytic species. The first upper cliff next to upper reach (31° 21’ 07”N+, 27°

00’ 477” E, 85m a.s.l.) is 3-5 m. High; the second and the third ones at the middle stream

part (31° 22’ 612” N, 27° 01’ 240” E, 50m a.s.l.) is 30-40 m high.

S. Slopes: comprises bordering slopes for the Wadi bed. The upper positions on the slopes

are steep and accumulate few amounts of soil which supports chasmophytic vegetation.

The middle and the down positions of slopes are less steep and accumulate shallow soil

mixed with rock fragments of different sizes. They support shrubby vegetation which is

more prominent in the lower positions of slopes.

58 Osman & El Garf: Studies on the shallow wadies of the Mareotis sector of the ...

Materials and methods

Mediterranean regions are characterized by their long growing seasons of moderate to

warm temperatures and little rainfall (with most precipitation occurring in the winter

months (Fig. 2). The study area was visited periodically in the period from 2005 to 2006,

twice yearly. The recorded species were arranged in alphabetic order. Floristic categories

are those of White (1965), Wickens (1978) and Zohary (1973). Plant collections were iden-

Flora Mediterranea 25 — 2015 59

Fig. 1. Location map of Wadi Hashem west of Mersa Matruh town.

tified according to Täckholm (1974), Boulos (1999, 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2009) and El-

Hadidi (2000 a,b). Nomenclature is according to Boulos (1999, 2000, 2002, 2005 and

2009). Reference collections are kept in the Cairo University Herbarium (CAI) and Qena

Faculty of Science, Botany Department Herbarium.

Results

Plant species recorded in different sectors of Wadi Hashem are listed in Table 1. The list

includes 196 species belong to 41 families of phanerogams and one family (Ephedraceae)

of vascular cryptogams. Their generic representation is quite variable, and only one fami-

ly has more than thirty genera (Asteraceae 31), one family possesses 20 genera (Poaceae)

and one family holds more than 10 genera (Fabaceae 14). Six families include from 4 to

9 genera (Caryophyllaceae 9, Chenopodiaceae 7, Lamiaceae 7, Apiaceae 6, Brassicaceae6 and Polygonaceae 4), 10 families own two genera and 23 families comprise only one

genus. Only one family exceeds 30 taxa (Asteraceae 38), two families includes from 20 to

27 taxa (Poaceae 27, Fabaceae 22) and one has more than 10 taxa (Caryophyllaceae 11),

The lowest number of taxa (34 species) was recorded from the cliffs. Five taxa are con-

fined to this sector viz. Periploca angustifolia, Umbilicus horizontalis, Ephedra aphylla,

Hyparrhenia hirta and Rostraria cristata. Forty seven taxa were recorded in the upper

reach sector, of which Minuartia geniculata, Polycarpea repens, Aegilops bicornis and

Vulpia fasiculata are restricted to this habitat. Ninety-two taxa were recorded on the slopes

of the wadi 19 taxa of which are restricted to this habitat viz. Allium neapolitanum, A. rose-um, Bupleurum nanum, B. semicompositum, Asphodelus aestivus, A. tenuifolius,


Fig. 2. Climate diagram of Matruh (N 31º19' – E 27 º 13'), North East of Egypt.


Tabl

e 1.

Dis

tribu

tion

of sp

ecie

s rec

orde

d in

diff

eren

t sec

tors

of W

adi H

ashe

m a

nd it

s flo

ristic

cat

egor

ies.

Se

ctor

s:-

a =

Upp

er re

ach

part,

b1

= th

e fir

st W

adi b

ed p

art n

ext t

o up

stre

am, b

2 =

the

mid

dle

stre

am p

art o

f Wad

i bed

, b3

= th

e do

wns

tream

par

t of W

adi b

ed (m

outh

), c1

= th

e fir

st

cliff

nex

t to

upst

ream

, c2

= th

e se

cond

clif

f at t

he m

iddl

e st

ream

par

t, c3

= th

e th

ird c

liff d

own

the

seco

nd c

liff d

irect

ly, s

1 =

slop

es a

t the

upp

er p

art o

f the

Wad

i, s2

= sl

opes

at

the

mid

dle

part

of th

e W

adi,

s3 =

slop

es a

t the

dow

n pa

rt of

the

Wad

i.

O

ccur

renc

e:-

= a

bsen

t, +

= pr

esen

t.

Fl

oris

tic c

ateg

orie

s:-

CO

SM.

= C

osm

opol

itan,

ER

-SR

. =

Euro

-Sib

eria

n, G

C.

= G

uine

o-C

ongo

lian

regi

on,

IR-T

R.

= Ir

ano-

Tura

nian

, M

ED.

= M

edite

rran

ean,

PA

L. =

Pal

eotro

pica

l, PA

N.

= Pa

ntro

pica

l, SA

. = S

ahar

oAra

bian

, SA

-SI.

= Sa

haro

-Sin

dian

, S. =

Som

alia

n, S

-Z. =

Sud

ano-

Zam

besi

an.

Fam

ilies

N

o. o

f gen

era

Spec

ies

Sect

ors

Flor

istic

cat

egor

ies

a b1

b2

b3

c1

c2

c3

s1

s2

s3

Aiz

oace

ae

1 M

esem

brya

nthe

mum

cry

stal

linum

L.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+ER

-SR

M

esem

brya

nthe

mum

nod

iflor

um L

. -

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+S

A–S

I+IR

-TR

Alli

acea

e 1

Alli

um b

arth

ianu

m A

sch.

& A

schw

einf

. -

- -

- -

- -

+ +

- M

ED

Alli

um e

rdel

ii Zu

cc.

- -

- -

- +

- -

+ +

MED

+ IR

-TR

A

llium

nea

polit

anum

Cyr

. -

- -

- -

- -

- +

+ M

ED

Alli

um ro

seum

L.

- -

- -

- -

- -

- +

MED

+SA

–SI

Am

aran

thac

eae

1 A

mar

anth

us g

raec

izan

s L.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

-TR

A

mar

anth

us v

irid

is L

. -

- +

+ -

- -

- -

- C

OSM

.

Api

acea

e

6

Bup

leur

um n

anum

Poi

r.

- -

- -

- -

- -

+ -

MED

+IR

–TR

B

uple

urum

sem

icom

posi

tum

L.

- -

- -

- -

- -

- +

MED

+SA

–SI+

IR–T

R

Cor

iand

rum

sativ

um L

. -

- +

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED

Dau

cus s

yrtic

us M

urb.

-

+ -

- -

- -

- -

- M

ED

Dev

erra

tort

uosa

(Des

f.) D

C.

+ +

+ -

- +

- +

+ +

SA–S

I E

ryng

ium

cam

pest

re L

. -

+ -

- -

- -

- -

- M

ED

Foe

nicu

lum

vul

gare

subs

p. p

iper

itum

(Ucr

ia.)

Cou

t. -

- +

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+I

R-T

R

Ara

ceae

1

Ari

saru

m v

ulga

re T

arg.

Toz

z.

- +

- -

- -

- +

- -

MED

A

scle

piad

acea

e 1

Pe

ripl

oca

angu

stifo

lia L

abill

. -

- -

- -

- +

- -

- M

ED

Asp

arag

acea

e 1

Asp

arag

us st

ipul

aris

For

ssk.

-

+ -

- -

- -

+ +

- M

ED

A

spho

dela

ceae

A

spho

delu

s aes

tivus

Bro

t. -

- -

- -

- -

+ -

+ M

ED

Asp

hode

lus f

istu

losu

s L.

+ +

- -

- -

- +

+ +

MED


1 A

spho

delu

s ten

uifo

lius C

av.

- -

- -

- -

- -

+ +

MED

+IR

–TR

Ast

erac

eae

31

Ach

illea

sant

olin

a L

. +

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+I

R-T

R

Ana

cycl

us m

onan

thos

(L.)

The

ll.

+ -

+ +

- -

- +

- +

MED

A

nthe

mis

mic

rosp

erm

a B

oiss

. & K

otsc

hy

- +

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

A

ster

iscu

s hie

roch

untic

us (M

icho

n) W

iklu

nd

-

- +

- -

+ -

- -

MED

+IR

–TR

A

ster

iscu

s spi

nosu

s (L

.) Sc

h. B

ip.

- +

+ -

- +

- -

+ +

MED

+IR

–TR

A

trac

tylis

can

cella

ta L

. -

- -

+ -

- -

+ -

- M

ED+I

R–T

R

Atr

acty

lis c

ardu

us (F

orss

k.) C

. Chr

ist

- -

- +

- -

- +

- -

MED

C

alen

dula

arv

ensi

s L.

+ +

+ +

- -

- +

- -

MED

+IR

-TR

C

ardu

ncel

lus e

rioc

epha

lus B

oiss

. +

+ -

- +

- -

+ +

- SA

–SI

Car

dunc

ellu

s mar

eotic

us (D

elile

) Han

elt

+ +

+ +

+ -

- +

- +

MED

C

ardu

us g

etul

us P

omel

-

+ -

- -

- -

+ -

- M

ED

Cen

taur

ea a

lexa

ndri

na D

elile

+

- +

- -

- -

+ +

- M

ED

Cen

taur

ea g

lom

erat

a V

ahl.

- -

+ -

- -

- +

- -

MED

C

icho

rium

end

ivia

subs

p. d

ivar

icat

um (S

chou

sb.)

P. D

. Sel

l. -

+ +

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+I

R–T

R

Cyn

ara

corn

iger

a L

indl

. -

+ +

- -

- -

+ +

+ M

ED

Ech

inop

s spi

nosu

s L.

+ +

+ -

- -

- +

- -

MED

F

ilago

des

erto

rum

Pom

el

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

SA–S

I+IR

–TR

F

ilago

mar

eotic

a D

elile

-

+ -

+ -

- -

+ +

- M

ED

Gar

hadi

olus

ang

ulos

us J

aub.

& S

pach

-

- +

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+I

R–T

R

Gle

bion

is c

oron

ariu

m (L

.) T

zvel

ev

+ -

- +

- -

- +

- -

MED

G

ymna

rrhe

na m

icra

ntha

Des

f. -

- -

- +

- -

- +

- SA

–SI+

IR–T

R

Hed

ypno

is rh

agad

iolo

ides

(L.)

F.W

. Sch

mid

t -

- -

+ -

- -

- -

+ M

ED+I

R–T

R

Iflo

ga sp

icat

a (F

orss

k.) S

ch. B

ip.

- -

+ +

- -

+ -

- -

MED

+SA

–SI

Laun

aea

capi

tata

(Spr

eng.

) Dan

dy

+ -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+SA

–SI

Laun

aea

nudi

caul

is (L

.) H

ook.

f.

+ +

- +

- -

- -

+ -

SA–S

I+IR

–TR

+S–Z

Le

onto

don

sim

plex

(Viv

.) W

idde

r.

- -

- +

- -

+ -

- -

MED

M

atri

cari

a au

rea

(Loe

fl.) S

ch. B

ip.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

–TR

+ER

–SR

O

nopo

rdum

ale

xand

rinu

m B

oiss

. -

- +

+

+ +

+ +

- M

ED+S

A–S

I+IR

–TR

Ast

erac

eae

Phag

nalo

n ru

pest

re (L

.) D

C.

- +

+ -

- -

- +

+ -

MED

+IR

–TR

Pi

cris

asp

leni

oide

s L.

- -

- +

- -

+ -

- -

MED

Pi

cris

long

iros

tris

Sch

. Bip

. -

- +

- -

+ -

- -

- M

ED

Rei

char

dia

tingi

tana

(L.)

Rot

h -

- +

+ -

- -

+ -

- M

ED+

SA-S

I Sc

orzo

nera

und

ulat

a V

ahl

- -

- -

- -

- +

- -

MED

Se

neci

o gl

aucu

s sub

sp. c

oron

opifo

lius (

Mai

re) C

. Ale

xand

er

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

SA–S

I+IR

–TR

Se

riph

idiu

m h

erba

-alb

a (A

sso.

) Soj

k.

- -

- -

- +

- +

+ +

MED

+IR

–TR

Tab

le 1

. co

nti

nued

.


Sonc

hus o

lera

ceus

L.

- -

+ +

- -

- -

- -

CO

SM.

Uro

sper

mum

pic

roid

es (L

.) F.

W. S

chm

idt

+ -

+ +

- -

- -

- +

MED

+IR

-TR

V

allis

neri

a sp

iral

is L

. -

+ +

- +

- +

- -

- M

ED

B

orag

inac

eae

2

Anc

husa

aeg

yptia

ca (L

.) A

. DC

. -

- -

+ -

- +

- -

- M

ED+I

R-T

R

Ech

ium

ang

ustif

oliu

m M

ill.

- -

+ +

- -

- -

- +

MED

+SA

–SI

Ech

ium

rubr

um F

orss

k.

- -

+ +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

–TR

Bra

ssic

acea

e 6

Bis

cute

lla d

idym

a L

. -

- -

- -

- -

- +

- M

ED+I

R–T

R

Car

rich

tera

ann

ua (L

.) D

C.

+ -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+SA

–SI

Did

esm

us b

ipin

natu

s (D

esf.)

DC

. +

- -

+ -

- -

- -

+ M

ED

Ena

rthr

ocar

pus l

yrat

us (F

orss

k.) D

C.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

M

atth

iola

long

ipet

ala

subs

p. li

vida

(Del

ile) M

aire

. +

+ +

- -

- -

- +

+ M

ED+I

R-T

R

Sisy

mbr

ium

irio

L.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+SA

–SI+

IRTR

+ER

- SR

C

appa

race

ae 1

C

appa

ris s

pino

sa v

ar. i

nerm

is T

urra

-

+ +

- +

- +

- -

- M

ED

C

aryo

phyl

lace

ae

9

Gym

noca

rpos

dec

andr

us F

orss

k.

- +

- -

- +

- -

+ +

MED

+SA

-SI

Her

niar

ia h

emis

tem

on J

. Gay

-

+ -

- -

- -

- +

- M

ED+S

A–S

I H

erni

aria

hir

suta

L.

- -

- -

- -

- +

- -

MED

+IR

–TR

+ ER

-SR

. M

inua

rtia

gen

icul

ata

(Poi

r.) T

hell.

+

- -

- -

- -

- -

- M

ED

Paro

nych

ia a

rabi

ca L

am.

- +

- -

- -

- -

+ +

MED

+SA

–SI

Poly

carp

ea re

pens

(For

ssk.

) Asc

h. &

Sch

wei

nf.

+ -

- -

- -

- -

- -

SA–S

I Po

lyca

rpon

tetr

aphy

llum

(L.)

L.

+ +

+ +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+SA

–SI+

IR–T

R

Sile

ne a

peta

la W

illd.

-

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+I

R–T

R

Sper

gulla

falla

x (L

owe)

E. H

. K. L

. Kra

use

+ -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

–TR

Sp

ergu

lari

a di

andr

a (G

uss.)

Boi

ss.

+ -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

-TR

Sp

ergu

lari

a m

arin

a (L

.) B

essl

er

- +

- -

- -

- -

- -

MED

Che

nopo

diac

eae

7 C

heno

podi

acea

e

Ana

basi

s art

icul

ata

(For

ssk.

) Moq

. +

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- SA

-SI +

IR-T

R

Atr

iple

x ha

limus

L.

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- -

MED

+SA

–SI

Bet

a vu

lgar

is L

. +

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+I

R–T

R+E

R–S

R

Che

nopo

dium

mur

ale

L.

+ -

- +

- -

- -

- -

CO

SM.

Hal

oxyl

on sa

licor

nicu

m (M

oq.)

Bun

ge e

x B

oiss

. +

- -

- -

- -

+ -

- SA

–SI+

IR–T

R

Hal

oxyl

on sc

opar

ium

Pom

el

- -

- +

- -

- -

- +

SA–S

I+IR

–TR

N

oaea

muc

rona

ta (F

orss

k.) A

sch.

& S

chw

einf

. +

+ -

- -

+ -

+ +

+ M

ED+I

R-T

R

Suae

da p

ruin

osa

Lan

ge

- -

+ -

- -

+ -

+ +

MED

Cis

tace

ae

2

Fum

ana

thym

ifolia

(L.)

Spac

h ex

Web

b.

- -

+ -

- -

- -

+ -

MED

H

elia

nthe

mum

kah

iric

um D

elile

-

- -

- -

+ -

- -

+ SA

–SI

Hel

iant

hem

um li

ppi (

L.)

Dom

. Cou

rs.

- +

- -

- -

+ -

- -

SA–S

I+S–

Z

Con

volv

ulus

alth

aeoi

des L

. -

+ +

- -

- -

- -

- M

ED

Tab

le 1

. co

nti

nued

.


Con

volv

ulac

eae

2 C

onvo

lvul

us a

rven

sis L

. -

+ +

- -

- -

- -

- PA

L C

onvo

lvul

us o

leifo

lius D

esr.

-

- -

- -

+ -

- +

+ M

ED

Cre

ssa

cret

ica

L.

- -

+ +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

-TR

C

rass

ulac

eae

1

Um

bilic

us h

oriz

onta

lis (G

uss.)

DC

. -

- -

- -

+ -

- -

- M

ED

Cyp

erac

eae

2 C

arex

div

isa

Hud

s. -

+ -

- -

- -

+ -

- M

ED+I

R–T

R+E

R-S

R

Cyp

erus

rotu

ndus

L.

- -

+ +

- -

- -

- -

PAN

D

ipsa

cace

ae 1

Pt

eroc

epha

lus p

lum

osus

(L.)

Cou

lt.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

-TR

E

phed

race

ae 1

E

phed

ra a

phyl

la F

orss

k.

- -

- -

- -

+ -

- -

MED

Eup

horb

iace

ae

1

Eup

horb

ia fo

rssk

aolii

J. G

ay.

- -

- -

- -

- -

- +

PAL

Eup

horb

ia h

iero

soly

mita

na B

oiss

. -

- -

- -

- -

- +

- M

ED+I

R–T

R

Eup

horb

ia p

eplis

L.

- -

- -

- -

- +

- -

CO

SM.

F

abac

eae

14

Alh

agi g

raec

orum

Boi

ss.

- -

+ +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

-TR

A

stra

galu

s ast

eria

s Ste

ven

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+SA

–SI

Ast

raga

lus h

amos

us L

. -

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+I

R–T

R

Hip

pocr

epis

cyc

loca

rpa

Mur

b.

- -

- +

- -

- +

- -

MED

H

ymen

ocar

pos c

irci

nnat

us (L

.) Sa

vi

+ -

- -

- -

- +

- -

MED

La

thyr

us m

arm

orat

us B

oiss

& B

lanc

he

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

La

thyr

us sa

tivus

L.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+SA

–SI

Lotu

s cre

ticus

L.

- +

- -

- -

- -

+ -

MED

Lo

tus h

alop

hilu

s Boi

ss. &

Spr

uner

. -

- -

- -

- -

+ -

- M

ED

Med

icag

o po

lym

orph

a L

. -

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- C

OSM

. M

edic

ago

sativ

a L

. -

- +

+ -

- -

- -

- SA

-SI+

IR-T

R

Med

icag

o tr

unct

ula

Gae

rtn.

-

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED

Mel

ilotu

s ind

icus

(L.)

All.

-

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- PA

L O

nobr

ychi

s cri

sta-

galli

(L.)

Lam

. -

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED

F

abac

eae

Ono

nis s

erra

ta F

orss

k.

- -

- -

- -

- -

+ -

MED

+SA

–SI

Scor

piur

us m

uric

atus

L.

- -

- +

- -

- -

+ -

MED

Tr

ifoliu

m to

men

tosu

m L

. -

+ -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+I

R-T

R+E

R-S

R

Trig

onel

la h

amos

a L

. -

- +

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+

SA-S

I Tr

igon

ella

mar

itim

a Po

ir.

- -

+ +

- -

- -

- -

MED

Tr

igon

ella

stel

lata

For

ssk.

+

+ -

+ -

- -

- -

- SA

–SI+

IR–T

R

Vic

ia m

onan

tha

Ret

z -

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+I

R-T

R

Vic

ia sa

tiva

L.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

–TR

+ER

–SR

G

eran

iace

ae 1

E

rodi

um c

rass

ifoliu

m L

’ Hér

. +

- -

+ -

- -

- -

+ SA

-SI

M

arru

bium

aly

sson

L.

- +

- -

- -

- -

- -

MED

+SA

–SI

Mic

rom

eria

ner

vosa

(Des

f.) B

enth

. +

+ +

- +

- -

- +

- M

ED

Tab

le 1

. co

nti

nued

.


La

mia

ceae

7

Phlo

mis

floc

cosa

D. D

on

- +

+ -

+ -

+ +

+ +

MED

+SA

–SI

Pras

ium

maj

us L

. -

+ -

- +

- -

- -

- M

ED

Salv

ia a

egyp

tiaca

L.

- +

- -

- -

- -

- -

SA–S

I+S–

Z Sa

lvia

lani

gera

Poi

r.

- +

- -

- -

- -

- +

MED

+ SA

-SI

Salv

ia v

erbe

naca

L.

+ +

- -

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

–TR

+ER

–SR

Te

ucri

um p

oliu

m L

. -

- -

- -

- -

+ -

+ M

ED+I

R–T

R

Thym

us c

apita

tus (

L.)

Lin

k -

+ +

- -

- -

- +

+ M

ED

M

alva

ceae

1

Mal

va a

egyp

tia L

. -

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+

SA-S

I M

alva

par

viflo

ra L

. -

+ -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED

Mal

va sy

lves

tris

L.

- -

+ +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

-TR

O

leac

eae

1

Ole

a eu

ropa

ea L

. -

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- G

C+S

+SA

+ SA

–SI

Oro

banc

hace

ae

2 C

ista

nche

tubu

losa

(Sch

enk)

Hoo

k. f.

-

- +

- -

- -

- -

- M

ED+S

A–S

I O

roba

nche

schu

ltzii

Mut

el.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

Papa

vera

ceae

2

Papa

ver h

ybri

dum

L.

+ +

- -

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

–TR

+ER

–SR

Pa

pave

r rho

eas L

. -

- +

- -

- -

- -

- M

ED

Roe

mer

ia h

ybri

da (L

.) D

C.

- -

+ -

- -

- -

+ -

MED

+IR

–TR

+ER

–SR

Plan

tagi

nace

ae

1

Plan

tago

alb

ican

s L.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

Pl

anta

go c

ryps

oide

s Boi

ss.

- -

+ +

- -

- -

- -

MED

Pl

anta

go o

vata

For

ssk.

+

- -

- -

- -

- +

- SA

–SI+

IR–T

R

Pl

umba

gina

ceae

1

Lim

oniu

m lo

batu

m (L

.f.) C

haz.

+

+ +

- -

- -

+ -

- M

ED+S

A–S

I Li

mon

ium

pru

inos

um (L

.) C

haz.

-

- +

- -

+ -

- -

+ SA

–SI

Lim

oniu

m tu

biflo

rum

(Del

ile) K

untz

e -

- -

- -

- -

- -

+ M

ED

Poac

eae

2 20

Poac

eae

Aeg

ilops

bic

orni

s (Fo

rssk

.) Ja

ub. &

Spa

ch

+ -

- -

- -

- -

- -

MED

+ SA

-SI

Aeg

ilops

kot

schy

i Boi

ss.

- -

+ +

- -

- -

- +

SA-S

I + IR

-TR

A

vena

fatu

a L

. -

+ -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+S

A–S

I+IR

–TR

A

vena

ster

ilis L

. -

- +

- -

- -

- -

+ M

ED+I

R-T

R

Bra

chyp

odiu

m d

ista

chyu

m (L

.) P.

Bea

uv.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

–TR

+ER

-SR

B

rom

us c

atha

rtic

us V

ahl.

+ -

- +

- -

- -

- +

MED

+SA

–SI+

IR–T

R

Bro

mus

rube

ns L

. -

+ +

- -

- -

+ -

+ M

ED+S

A–S

I+IR

–TR

C

utan

dia

dich

otom

a (F

orss

k.) B

att.

& T

rab.

-

- -

+ -

- -

- -

+ M

ED+S

A–S

I+IR

–TR

C

utan

dia

mem

phiti

ca (S

pren

g.) B

enth

. -

- -

+ -

- -

- +

- M

ED+I

R-T

R

Cyn

odon

dac

tylo

n (L

.) Pe

rs.

- +

+ +

- -

- -

- -

PAN

D

acty

lis g

lom

erat

a L

. -

+ -

- -

- -

- -

+ M

ED

Dic

hant

hium

ann

ulat

um (F

orss

k.)

Stap

f -

+ -

- -

- -

- -

- C

OSM

. H

orde

um m

urin

um su

bsp.

lepo

rinu

m (L

ink.

) Arc

ang.

-

+ +

+ -

- -

+ -

+ M

ED+I

R-T

R

Hyp

arrh

enia

hir

ta (L

.) St

apf

- -

- -

- +

- -

- -

MED

+SA

–SI+

IR–T

R

Tab

le 1

. co

nti

nued

.


Lam

arck

ia a

urea

(L.)

Moe

nch

+ +

- -

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

–TR

Lo

lium

per

enne

L.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- -

CO

SM.

Lyge

um sp

artu

m L

oefl.

ex

L.

- -

- -

- -

- -

- +

MED

O

ryzo

psis

mili

acea

(L.)

Asc

h. &

Sch

wei

nf.

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- -

MED

Pa

raph

olis

incu

rva

(L.)

C.E

. Hub

b +

+ -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+I

R–T

R+E

R–S

R

Phal

aris

min

or R

etz.

-

+ +

+ -

- -

+ +

- M

ED+I

R-T

R

Ros

trar

ia c

rist

ata

(L.)

Tzv

elev

-

- -

- +

- -

- -

- M

ED+

SA-S

I R

ostr

aria

pum

ila (D

esf.)

Tzv

elev

-

- +

- -

+ -

- -

- M

ED+

SA-S

I Sc

hism

us b

arba

tus (

L.)

The

ll.

+ +

- -

- -

- +

- -

MED

+SA

–SI+

IR–T

R

Stip

a ca

pens

is T

hunb

. +

- -

- -

- -

- +

+ M

ED+I

R–T

R

Stip

a la

gasc

ae R

oem

. & S

chul

t. -

- -

- -

- -

- -

+ M

ED+I

R–T

R

Stip

a pa

rvifl

ora

Des

f. -

- -

- -

- -

- +

- M

ED+I

R–T

R

Vul

pia

fasc

icul

ata

(For

ssk.

) Sam

p.

+ -

- -

- -

- -

- -

MED

Poly

gona

ceae

4

Em

ex sp

inos

a (L

.) C

ampd

. +

- +

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED

Poly

gonu

m e

quis

etifo

rme

Sm.

+ +

+ +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+IR

–TR

Po

lypo

gon

mon

spel

iens

is (L

.) D

esf.

- -

+ +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+SA

–SI+

IR–T

R

Rum

ex v

esic

ariu

s L.

- -

+ +

- -

- -

- -

MED

+ SA

-SI

Ran

uncu

lace

ae 1

A

doni

s den

tata

Del

ile

- -

- +

- -

- +

+ -

MED

+SA

–SI+

IR-T

R

Res

edac

eae

1

Res

eda

phyt

eum

a L

. +

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED

Ros

acea

e 1

Sa

ngui

sorb

a m

inor

subs

p. v

erru

cosa

(G. D

on) H

olm

. -

+ -

- -

- -

- -

- M

ED

Rub

iace

ae

2 C

ruci

anel

la a

egyp

tiaca

L.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- +

MED

V

alan

tia h

ispi

da L

. +

+ -

- +

- -

+ -

- M

ED

Scro

phul

aria

ceae

2

Kic

kxia

aeg

yptia

ca (L

.) N

ábel

ek

- +

- -

- -

- -

- -

SA–S

I V

erba

scum

leto

urne

uxii

Asc

h. &

Sch

wei

nf.

- +

- -

- -

- -

- -

MED

So

lana

ceae

2

Lyci

um e

urop

aeum

L.

- +

+ -

- +

+ +

+ -

MED

So

lanu

m n

igru

m L

. -

- -

+ -

- -

- -

- C

OSM

. Ta

mar

icac

eae

1

Rea

umur

ia h

irte

lla J

aub.

& S

pach

-

- -

+ -

- -

- -

+ SA

–SI+

IR–T

R

Thym

elae

acea

e 1

Thym

elae

a hi

rsut

a (L

.) E

ndl.

+ +

+ -

- -

- +

+ -

MED

+ SA

-SI

Ver

bena

ceae

1

Ver

bena

supi

na L

. -

+ -

+ -

- -

- -

- M

ED+S

A–S

I+IR

–TR

Zy

goph

ylla

ceae

2

Fag

onia

cre

tica

L.

- -

- +

- -

- -

- +

MED

Pe

ganu

m h

arm

ala

L.

+ +

- -

- -

- -

- -

MED

+SA

–SI+

IR–T

R

Fam

ilies

= 4

2 N

umbe

r of

Spe

cies

= 1

95

4764

63

97

10

15

14

43

43

46

Num

ber

of g

ener

a =

145

4715

7 34

92

Tab

le 1

. co

nti

nued

.

Scrozonera undulata, Biscutella didyma, Herniaria hirsuta, Euphorbia forsskaolii, E.

hierosolymitana, E. peplis, Lotus halophilus, Ononis serrate, Teucrium polium, Limoniumtubiflorum, Lygeum spartum, Stipa lagascae and S. parviflora.

The Wadi bed of the upper stream part (b1) had 64 taxa. Nine taxa were confined to this

sector viz. Daucus syrticus, Eryngium campestre, Spergularia marina, Marrubiumalysson, Salvia aegyptiaca, Dichanthium annulatum, Sanguisorba minor subsp. verrucosa,

Kickxia aegyptiaca and Verbascum letourneuxii. The Wadi bed of the middle and the lower

stream part (b2, b3) including the mouth had the highest number of the recorded species

which were 131 (about 66.8 %) species. Forty seven species were only recorded from this

sector, most of which are weeds of cultivation. Among those to mention, Amaranthus grae-cizans, Sonchus oleraceous, Sisymbrium irio, Cyperus rotundus, Cressa cretica, Melilotusindicus, Vicia sativa and Polypogon monspliensis.

From a phytogeographical point of view, the recorded species in the different sectors of

Wadi Hashem fall under three main phytochoria: Mediterranean taxa, Saharo-Sindian taxa

and widely spread taxa. One species only (Olea europaea) is belonged to Guineo-Congolian

region combined with other phytochoria (Table 2). A total of 161 species representing 82.1%

of the total number of recorded species is Mediterranean taxa of different affinities. Among

these, 68 species forming 34.7% of the total number of recorded species are typical


Phytochoria Number of

species Percentage

(%) Monoregional ME 67 34.36 SA-SI 7 3.59 Total 74 37.95 Biregionals ME + SA-SI 25 12.82 ME + IR-TR 41 21.02 ME + ER-SR 1 0.51 SA-SI + IR-TR 11 5.64 SA-SI + S-Z 2 1.02 Total 80 41.02 Pleuriregionals ME + SA-SI + IR-TR 14 7.18 ME+ IR-TR + ER-SR 11 5.64 ME + SA-SI + IR-TR + ER-SR 1 0.51 SA–SI + IR–TR + S–Z 1 0.51 GC+S+SA+SA-SI 1 0.51 Total 28 14.36 Cosm 8 4.10 Pal 3 1.54 Pan 2 1.02 Total 13 6.67

Table 2. The number of recorded species belonging to the main floristic categories

and their relevant percent (%) (abbreviations according to tab. 1).

Mediterranean species (monoregional) which are well represented in the different sectors of

the Wadi. The other 93 species (or 47.4 %) are bi- or pluriregional taxa, which are combined

with other phytochoria. Saharo-Sindian taxa are represented by less number of species (21

species or 10.7%) including seven monoregional species and fourteen are bi- or pluriregion-

al taxa. The widely spread taxa comprise 13 species, contributing to 6.6 % of the total num-

ber of recorded species (Figs. 3, 4). Most of these species are weeds of cultivation.

Discussion and conclusions

The present results indicate that in the Wadi Hashem area, 8 families only (Asteraceae,Poaceae, Fabaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Lamiaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Brassicaceae and

Apiaceae) contribute nearly two thirds of the total flora. These families represent most of the

floristic structure in the Mediterranean north African Flora (Quézel 1978). According to El-

Hadidi (1993), about 600 taxa are represented in the Mareotis sector of the Mediterranean

coastal land of Egypt. In Wadi Hashem area, the present survey records 195 species (about

one third of the 600 taxa). The number of genera is 146, indicating a high generic index of

1.3 (196/146). This in accordance with Zoharyʼs (1973) observation “that a striking feature

in Egypt’s flora is the large number of genera in proportion to that of species.

The distribution of the species in different sectors of the Wadi is shown in Table 1. Clearly

the downstream part had the highest number of species (157) representing about 80% of the

total. This can be related to the availability of adequate run-off water and accumulation of

fine soil material of considerable depths. Foeniculum vulgare subsp. piperitum (Ucria) Cout.


Fig. 3. Floristic category spectrum of Wady Hashem according to number of vegetarian regions.

Was recorded by Täckholm (1974) as very rare taxon from Nile delta and south Sinai. The

occurrence of this taxon in western Mediterranean coastal land was recorded by Hosni (1984)

based on a single collection from Wadi Habis, Wadi Um El Rukham and Osman & al. (2009)

from Wadi Abu Lamguor. Wadi Hashem is a less known natural habitat where dense growth

of Foeniculum vulgare ssp piperitum was encountered. The big size of the Wadi and the

thickness of the soil in the downstream part provides favorable conditions for the growth of

this rare taxon. Today the area is being subjected to rapid development due to increase in pop-

ulation pressure. Several dams have already been constructed by the native people across

lower stream part of the Wadi. The natural vegetation is being plowed under for the cultiva-

tion of Fig and Orchards. One can expect the destruction of the remaining natural protective

measures are taken. Mediterranean taxa (mono-, bi- and pluriregional) among Wadi Hashem

flora are represented by a relatively higher percentage (82.04%) of plant species as compared

with other floristic elements (Table 2). This attributed to the fact that the Mediterranean

species stand for more music environmental conditions (Salama & al. 2003). This was also

confirmed by El-Demerdash & al. (1990) for the eastern Mediterranean deltaic region, Khedr

(1999) for a Mediterranean deltaic lake and El Garf (2003) for Wadi Halazeen. The other

floristic elements such as cosmopolitan, pantropical, palaeotropical, Saharo-Sindian, Irano-

Turanian and Guineo-Congolian elements are represented by a variable number of species

reflecting their differential capability to penetrate the region.


Fig. 4. Floristic category of Wadi Hashem: COSM. = Cosmopolitan, ER-SR. = Euro-Siberian, GC. =

Guineo-Congolian region, IR-TR. = Irano-Turanian, MED. = Mediterranean, PAL. = Paleotropical,

PAN. = Pantropical, SA. = SaharoArabian, SA-SI. = Saharo-Sindian, S. = Somalian, S-Z. = Sudano-

Zambesian.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. Arbi Guetat, Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Tunis,

Carthage University, Tunisia, for help during the writing of the present study and to Members of Cairo

University Herbarium, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, for continuous help throughout the present study.

References

Boulos, L. 1975: The Mediterranean element in the floras of Egypt. La Flore du Bassin

Méditerranéen: essai de systématique synthétique. – Pp. 119-124 in: Colloque n°2B5 de

CNRS.

–– 1999: Flora of Egypt, 1. – Cairo.

–– 2000: Flora of Egypt, 2. – Cairo.

–– 2002. Flora of Egypt, 3. – Cairo.

–– 2005. Flora of Egypt, 4. – Cairo.

–– 2009. Flora of Egypt Checklist. – Cairo.

El-Demerdash, M. A., Zahran, M. A. & Serag, M. S. 1990: On the Ecology of the deltaic

Mediterranean coastal land, Egypt. III. The habitat of salt marshes of Damietta-Port Said

coastal region. – Arab Gulf J. Sci. Res. 8: 103-119.

El Garf, I. A. 2003: Studies on the shallow wadies of the Mareotis sector of the Mediterranean coastal land

of Egypt. 1. Floristic features of Wadi Halazeen. – Bull. Fac. Sci., Assuit Univ. 32(I-D): 61-71.

El-Hadidi, M. N. 1980: An outline of the planned flora of Egypt, in M. N. El-Hadidi (ed.) Flora of

Egypt, Taeckholmia, add. Ser. 1: 1-12.

–– 1993: Natural Vegetation. –Pp.39-62 in: Craig, G. M. (ed.), The Agriculture in Egypt. – Oxford.

–– (ed.) 2000: Flora Aegyptiaca, 1(1)-1(2). – Cairo.

––, Springuel, I. & Hoffman, M. A. 1986: Wild Barley Hordeum spontaneum L. in Egypt. – Biol.

Conserv. 37: 291-300.

El-Kady, H. F. & Sadek, L. 1992: On the phytosociology of wadi Um Ashtan in the western desert

of Egypt. – Feddes Repert. 103: 269-277.

Gibali, M. A. 1988: Studies on the Flora of Northern Sinai. – Unpublished M. Sc. Thesis, Faculty of

Science, Cairo University.

Hosni, H. A. 1984: Taxonomic Revision of the Family Umbelliferae in Egypt. – Unpublished Ph. D.

Thesis, Faculty of Science; Cairo University.

Kamal, S. & El-Kady, H. F. 1993: Vegetation analysis of some wadis in the Egyptian Mediterranean

desert. – Feddes Repert. 104: 537-545.

Khedr, A. A. 1999: Floristic composition and phytogeography in a Mediterranean deltaic lake (Lake

Burollos), Egypt. – Ecol. Medit. 25(1): 1-11.

Mashaly, I. A. 1987: Ecological and Floristic studies of the Dakahlia - Diamietta region. –

Unpublished Ph. D. Thesis, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University.

Osman, A. K., El-Garf, I. A. & Nasr H. 2009: Studies on the shallow wadies of the Mareotis sector

of the Mediterranean coastal land of Egypt. 2- Floristic features of Wadi Abu Lamguor. – Pp.

1-16 in: Proceedings of 7th International Conference of the Egyptian Society of Biotechnology

and Environmental sciences in collaboration with Istanbul Technical University & the

Egyptian cultural center. 7-9 August 2009. – Istanbul.

Quézel, P. 1978: Analysis of the flora of Mediterranean and Saharan Africa. – Ann. Missouri Bot.

Gard. 65: 479-534.

Salama, M. F., Abd El-Ghani, M. M., El-Naggar, S. M. & Baayo, K. A. 2003: Floristic composition

and chorological analysis of the Sallum area, west Mediterranean, Egypt. – J. Union Arab.

Biolog. Cairo 13(B): 27-47.


––, ––, –– & –– 2005: Vegetation structure and environmental gradients in the Sallum area, Egypt. –

Ecol. Medit. 31(1): 15-32.

Täckholm, V. 1974: Student’s flora of Egypt (ed. 2). – Cairo.

Youssef, A. M., Morsy, A. A., Mosallam, H. A. & Hashim, A. M. 2014: Vegetation and soil rela-

tionships in some Wadies from the north-central part of Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. – Minia Sci.

Bull. 25(1): 1-28.

Wickens, G. E. 1978: The flora of Jebel Marra (Sudan Republic) and its geographical affinities. – Kew.

White, F. 1965: The savanna-woodlands of the Zambezian and Sudanian Domains, an ecological and

phytogeographical Comparison. – Webbia 19: 651-681.

Zahran, M. A., El-Demerdash, M. A. & Mashaly, I. A. 1985: On the ecology of the Deltaic coast of

the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt. I. General Survey. – Proc. Bot. Soc. Egypt 4: 1392-1402.

––, –– & –– 1990: Vegetation types of the deltaic Mediterranean coast of Egypt and their environ-

ment. – J. Veg. Sci. 1: 301-310.

–– & Willis, A. J. 1992: The vegetation of Egypt. –– London.

Zohary, M. 1973: Geobotanical foundations of the Middle East, 1-2. –Stuttgart.

Addresses of the authors:

Ahmed K. Osman1,2 & Ibrahim A. El Garf 3,1Biology Department, Science College, Northern Border University, Arar, KSA2Botany Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt.3Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza-12613, Egypt.


Ahmed K. Osman & Ibrahim A. El Garf - herbmedit.org K. Osman & Ibrahim A. El Garf ... fined to this...

Documents

Transcript of Ahmed K. Osman & Ibrahim A. El Garf - herbmedit.org K. Osman & Ibrahim A. El Garf ... fined to this...