Characterization of the wild trees and shrubs in the Egyptian flora

Abstract

THE present study aims to study the floristic characteristics of the native trees and shrubs (with height ≥50cm) in the Egyptian flora. The floristic characteristics include taxonomic diversity, life and sex forms, flowering activity, dispersal types, economic potential, threats and national and global floristic distributions. Nine field visits were conducted to many locations all over Egypt for collecting trees and shrubs. From each location, plant and seed specimens were collected from different habitats. In present study 228 taxa belonged to 126 genera and 45 families were recorded, including 2 endemics (Rosa arabica and Origanum syriacum subsp. sinaicum) and 5 near-endemics. They inhabit 14 habitats (8 natural and 6 anthropogenic). Phanerophytes (120 plants) are the most represented life form, followed by chamaephytes (100 plants). Bisexuals are the most represented. Sarcochores (74 taxa) are the most represented dispersal type, followed by ballochores (40 taxa). April (151 taxa) and March (149 taxa) have the maximum flowering plants. Small geographic range - narrow habitat - non abundant plants are the most represented rarity form (180 plants). Deserts are the most rich regions with trees and shrubs (127 taxa), while Sudano-Zambezian (107 taxa) and Saharo-Arabian (98 taxa) was the most. Medicinal plants (154 taxa) are the most represented good, while salinity tolerance (105 taxa) was the most represented service and over-collecting and over-cutting was the most represented threat. Plants with spiny organs such as spiny stipules, leaves, branches, inflorescences and fruits or woody branches with spine-like terminates are the most represented (64 taxa).