Perennial shrubs in Egypt: current status and updated red data list

Abstract

The present study aims at: 1) Preparing a checklist of the perennial shrubs (of height ≥ 50 cm) in the Egyptian flora; 2) Determining the species that are considered alien; 3) Determining the endemic or near-endemic species; 4) Analysing the checklist in terms of taxonomic diversity, geographical distribution, abundance, rarity forms, goods and services, threats, and physical defense; 5) Evaluating the IUCN Red List Categories of species; and 6) Determining the in situ and ex situ conservation actions taken towards these plants in Egypt. In the present study, 171 taxa belonging to 99 genera and 37 families were recorded. They inhabit ten natural and four anthropogenic habitats. SNN (Small geographic range — narrow habitat — non abundant plants) are the most represented rarity form (132 taxa). Sinai is the most diverse region in terms of shrubs (96 taxa). The North African-Indian Desert chorotype has the highest occurrence of shrubs (130 taxa), followed by the Sudanese Park Steppe (75 taxa). Medicinal plants (126 taxa) were the most offered goods, while sand accumulation (79 taxa) was the most represented service. Over-collecting and over-cutting are the most important threats. Four taxa are evaluated as Extinct, another two are Extinct in the Wild, while 70 taxa are threatened with extinction (15 taxa are Critically Endangered, 35 taxa are Endangered, and 20 taxa are Vulnerable). In addition, some 89 species are being conserved (59 taxa are under in situ conservation in the protected areas, 15 taxa are included in botanic gardens, while 85 taxa are kept in the herbaria as dry specimens, and five taxa in gene banks as seed samples).