New occurrences for the flora of Lebanon: Sideritis syriaca subsp. nusairiensis (Post) Hub.-Mor. (Lamiaceae) and Thymus sipyleus Boiss. (Lamiaceae) and consideration on their distribution, natural habitats, and conservation status

Abstract

Investigations carried out during 2019 on the vascular flora of Jabal Akroum, the northernmost part of the Mount Lebanon range near the Syrian border, yielded two new records of Lamiaceae species for the flora of Lebanon: Sideritis syriaca subsp. nusairiensis (Post) Hub.-Mor. and Thymus sipyleus Boiss. We present findings on the distribution and ecology of these species as well as their conservation status at the national level in accordance with International Union for the Conservation of Nature guidelines. We also report on the natural habitats of Jabal Akroum.