Author(s): Mohamed Ahmed Hassnen El-Beheiry
Article publication date: 2007-08-31
Vol. 25 No. 3 (yearly), pp. 102-109.
133
Keywords
flora, diversity, hydrophyres, water level, disturbance, Lake Abha, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
The study analyzes the vegetation along Lake Abha in Southwestern Saudi Arabia. A total of 42 plant species were recorded. The annuals decrease, and the biennials and perennials increase along the moisture gradient form the terraces to the free - water zone. Six vegetation clusters were identified. The most important are clusters which were identified by the presence of the following species: Phragmites australis, Juncus punctorius, Typha domingensis, Cyperus rotundus, Datura innoxia, Cynodon dactylon, Cornulaca monacantha, and Potamogeton nodosus. Each of these communities has been analyzed by classification and ordination techniques and its habitat described and discussed.