Author(s): H Abulfatih, E Abdel Bari, A Alsubaey, and Y Ibrahim
Article publication date: 2002-03-01
Vol. 20 No. 1 (yearly), pp. 25-32.
229
Keywords
Qatar, Zygophyllum Qatarense, Ecological plasticity, Phytogeography Environment, diversity, Widespread
Abstract
Zygophyllum qatarense Hadidi maintains enormous ecological plasticity. It is the most widespread, succulent shrubby species in Qatar, adapted to various habitats and a wide range of soil types: sandy, sandy-rocky, and sandy-loam; and inhabits dry areas which receive sporadic scanty winter rain, as well as permanently moist soil. It stands soil salinity ranges from non-saline to very strongly saline (1.0 - 11.85 dS/m), and pH ranging from 7.5 to 7.8. However, it evades mobile sands, highly saline salt flats (Sabkha), depressions of fine-textured soil (Rawda), agricultural land and stagnant waters.