Abstract
The descriptive flora of Iraq is incomplete, with ± 900 species yet to be described. However, names of all species with their distribution in the different physiographic districts of Iraq are databased (in BRAHMS) from information obtained from published sources and herbarium records. A quantitative analysis of the flora shows ± 3300 species (accepted names) in 908 genera belonging to 136 families of flowering plants. The families Asteraceae (409 spp.), Fabaceae (393 spp.), Poaceae (264 spp.), Brassicaceae (195 spp.) and Apiaceae (155 spp.) are the largest. An analysis of the distribution of the flora in the different physiographic regions and districts of Iraq shows the Mountain Region (northern mountains of Iraq) and the Central Alluvial Plains District in the Lower Mesopotamian Region to be the most species rich. Iraq is influenced by two major phytochoria, the Saharo-Sindian and the Irano-Turanian, which are subdivided into regional phytochoria specific to the Middle East region. Endemism is high in the Irano-Turanian region of Iraq which occupies the Mountain and major part of the Upper Plains and Foothills Regions. These Regions also contain the majority of the endemic and near endemic species. Biodiversity surveys carried out by Nature Iraq during 2005–2010 propose 88 Key Biodiversity Areas in Iraq. The National Report on Biodiversity in Iraq (CBD) outlines the threats to biodiversity and habitats in Iraq and a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for the protection and conservation of species-rich and biodiverse habitats.
Highlights
The Middle East is one of the most important regions of the Old World, with respect to its development of many of the earliest human civilisations and domestication of food crops and from a geobotanical and floristic viewpoint (Zohary, 1973; Zohary et al, 2012).For the purpose of this paper, the Middle East is taken to include Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, countries of the Arabian Peninsula (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates), Iraq and Iran, excluding Sudan and countries of central Asia, Cyprus, Crete and Socotra (Fig. 1).Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core
The Euphrates rises in the Caucasus Mountains of Armenia, flows southwesterly across east-central Turkey, generally southeast through Syria and Iraq and into the Persian Gulf
It joins with the Tigris in southern Iraq and from that junction continues as Shatt al Arab
Summary
The Middle East is one of the most important regions of the Old World, with respect to its development of many of the earliest human civilisations and domestication of food crops and from a geobotanical and floristic viewpoint (Zohary, 1973; Zohary et al, 2012). The Euphrates rises in the Caucasus Mountains of Armenia, flows southwesterly across east-central Turkey, generally southeast through Syria and Iraq and into the Persian Gulf. It joins with the Tigris in southern Iraq and from that junction continues as Shatt al Arab. Low-lying coastal regions of the Arabian Peninsula, Jordan and Iraq and those bordering the Mediterranean Sea have much more moderate winter temperatures: Jeddah in western Saudi Arabia averages 23°C in January and 31.5°C in July. Lowland desert areas in the interior regions of the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Iraq and Egypt have extreme heat in the winter with temperatures sometimes reaching 25°C or higher
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
