Baha Region |
Topography and Climate Situatd on the western hilly area of Saudi Arabia (41-42E and 16-20N), between Taif and Asir Mountans, the Baha Region supports a dense vegetation comprised of both arid and tropical plants. The Baha Province is generally divided into the low-lying Tihama, the west facing moisture laden escarpments ranging between 1500 to 2215 m asl . and a generally arid east facing slopes. The area possesses several tourist spots including the historical Dhee Ain village near Al Mikhwa in Tihama area. The open plain in the low lying areas are intersected by several big and small valleys such as Wadi Hasaba, Maleel, Nabira, etc. The escarpments comprise rocky wadis and eroded stony slopes, runnels and ravines. Climate of Baha is greatly influenced by varying topography. It is moderate in summer (Max. up to 230 C.) and cool in winter (Max. up to 120 C) in highlands while it is hot in summer and warm to mild in winter in the low-lying areas such as Mikhwa in Tihama. Annual rainfall is less than 100 mm in the low-lying areas while it is about 250 to 500 mm in highlands
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Major plant communities in Al Baha Province at various altitudinal zones Acacia ehrenbergiana-A. tortilis community (500-1000 masl.) Codominant species: Hyphaene thebaica, Delonix elata, A. etbaica, Calotropis procera, Hyparrhenia hirta Acacia ask-Adenium obesum community (1100-1400 masl) Codominant species: Ficus palmata, Lycium shawii, Commiphora kataf, Hyparrhenia hirta, Stachys aegyptiaca, Teucrium polium. etc. Ficus cordata ssp. salicifolia-Nuxia oppositifolia community (1400-1600 masl) Codominant species: Olea europaea, Abutilon bidentatum, Hypoestes hirta, Rumex nervosus, Aerva Javanica, Pluchea dioscoides, etc. Olea europaea-Dodonaea angustifolia, Hyparrhenia hirta community (1600-1800 masl) Codominant community: Indigofera spinosa, Blepharis ciliaris, Psiadia punctulata, Rumex nervosus, Otostegia fruticosa, Stipa capensis etc., Juniperus procera-Acacia negrii-Olea europaea community (1800-2000 m asl) Codominant species: Dodonaea angustifolia, Rhamnus oleoides, Lavandula dentata, Plectranthus asirensis, Rumex nervosus, Hyparrhenia hirta etc. Juniperus procera community (2000 m asl and above) Codominant species: Dodonaea angustifolia, Lavandula detata, Themeda triandra, Solanum incanum, Otostegia fruticosa. Hyparrhenia hirta, etc. |
A wadi near Mikhwa |
Jabal Shada-Al Allah |
Jabal Shada- Asfal |
Species from Baha region *Not reported from other parts of Saudi Arabia
ACANTHACEAE
Anisotes trisulcus Barleria acanthoides Barleria bispinosaBarleria hochstetteri Barleria prionites Barleria proxima Barleria trispinosa Blepharis ciliaris Blepharis maderaspatensis Crossandra wissmannii Ecbolium gymnostachyum Ecbolium viride Hypoestes forsskalii Justicia flava Justicia heterocarpa Justicia odora Lepidagathis calycina Megalochlamys violacea Peristrophe paniculata Ruellia patula Ruellia prostrata
AIZOACEAE Aizoon canariense Zaleya pentandra
ALOEACEAEAloe castellorumAloe rubroviolaceaAloe sabaea Aloe shadensis Aloe vacillens
AMARANTHACEAE Achyranthes aspera var. asperaAchyranthes aspera var. sicula Aerva javanica Aerva lanata Amaranthus graecizans Psilotrichum gnaphalobryum Pupalia lappacea var. velutina
AMARYLLIDACEAE Crinum albumPancratium maximum Scadoxus multiflorus
ANACARDIACEAE Pistacea falcata Rhus natalensis Rhus retinorrhoea Schinus terebenthifolius Searsia glutinosa ssp. abyssinica
APOCYNACEAE Adenium obesumCarrisa edulis
ASCLEPIADACEAE Angolluma commutataAngolluma wissmannii Calotropis procera Caralluma hexagona Caralluma penicillata Caralluma petraea Caralluma retrospeciens Caralluma russeliana Caralluma sinaica Caralluma tuberculata Ceropegia vignaldiana Cynanchum acutum Cynanchus gerrardii Dregea schimperi Duvalia velutina Gomphocarpus fruticosus Gomphocarpus sinaicus *Gymnema sylvestris Huernia saudi-arabica. Leptadenia pyrotechnica Monolluma quadrangula Pergularia daemia Pergularia tomentosa Periploca aphylla Periploca somaliensis Sarcostemma arabica
ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus africanus Asparagus falcatus Dipcadi viride Dracaena ombet Sansevieria ehrenbergii Sansevieria forsskaliana
ASPHODELACEAE Asphodelus fistulosus
BARBEYACEAE Barbeya oleoides
BORAGINACEAE Arnebia decumbensArnebia hispidissimaEchium rauwolfiiBrandella erythraeaCordia monoica Cordia sinensis Cynoglossum bottae Ehretia obtusifolia Gastrocotyle hispida Heliotropium longiflorum Heliotropium ramosissimum Heliotropium strigosum Heliotropium zeylanicum Lappula spinocarpos Trichodesma africanum Trichodesma trichodesmoides var. dscolor
BURSERACEAE Commiphora gileadensisCommiphora habessinica Commiphora kataf Commiphora myrrha Commiphora quadricinta
CACTACEAE Opuntia delleniiOpuntia ficus-indica
CAMPANULACEAE Campanula edulisWahlenbergia lobelioides ssp. nutabunda
CAPPARACEAE Boscia angustifoliaCadaba farinosaCadaba glandulosa Cadaba longifolia Capparis cartilaginea Capparis decidua Capparis tomentosa Cleome amblyocarpa Cleome gynandra Cleome ramosissima Dipterygium glaucum
Maerua crassifolia Maerua oblongifolia
CAPRIFOLIACEAE Lonicera etrusca
CARYOPHYLLACEAE Arenaria foliaceaCometes abyssinica Dianthus deserti Gypsophila capillaris Herniaria hirsuta Minuartia hybrida Minuartia filifolia Paronychia arabica Paronychia chlorothyrsa Pollichia campestris Polycarpon tetraphyllum Silene apetala var. grandiflora Silene asirensis Silene hochstetteri Silene schimperiana Silene schweinfurthii Spergula fallax Spergularia diandra Stellaria media
CELASTRACEAE Maytenus parvifloraMaytenus undata
CHENOPODIACEAE Chenopodium ambrosioidesChenopodium muraleDysphania schraderiana Pupalia lappacea Salsola kali Salsola spinescens Suaeda monoica
COMBRETACEAE Combretum molleTerminalia brownii
COMMELINACEAE Aneilema forsskaliiCommelina africana Commelina benghalensis Commelina forsskalii Cyanotis nyctritropa
COMPOSITAE Achillea biebersteniiAmbrosia maritimaAnvillea garciniiBaccharoides schimperiBidens biternataBlumea bovei Calendula arvensis Carthamus oxycantha Carduus pycnocephalus Centaurea pseudosinaica Centaurothamnus maximus Cichorium bottae Conyza bonariensis Conyza hochstetteri Conyza incana Conyza stricta Crepis foetida Crepis sp. Dichrocephala crysanthemifolia Echinops hysterichoides Felicia abyssinica Felicia dentataFilago desertorum Filago pyramidata Flaveria trinervia Hedypnois rhagadioloides Helichrysum glumaceum Ifloga spicata Kleinia odora Lactuca dissecta Lactuca inermis Lactuca serriola Launaea massauensis Launaea mucronata Launaea nudicaulis Onopordon heteracanthum Osteospermum vaillantii Pegolettia senegalensis Phagnalon stenolepis Picris cyanocarpa Picris longirostris Pluchea dioscoridis Psiadia punctulata Pulicaria arabica Pulicaria inuloides Pulicaria petiolaris Pulicaria schimperi Pulicaria undulata Reichardia tingitana var. arabica Rhanterium epapposum Scorzonera papposa Senecio flavus Senecio glaucus Senecio lyratus Sonchus oleraceus Sonchus tenerrimus Tagetes minuta Urospermum picroides Verbesina encelioides Vernonia cinerascens Vernonia schimperi Xanthium spinosus
CONVOLVULACEAE Convolvulus asyrensis Convolvulus siculus ssp. agrestis Evolvulus alsinoides Ipomoea obscura Ipomoea sinensis ssp. blepharosepala Ipomoea triflora Seddera arabica Seddera latifolia Seddera virgata
CRASSULACEAE Crassula schimperiKalanchoe alternans Kalanchoe citrina Kalanchoe deficiens Kalanchoe lanceolata Sedum hispanicum Umblicus horizontalis
CRUCIFERAE Anastatica heirochuntica Brassica sp. Brassica tournefortii Capsella bursa-pastoris Eruca sativa Farsetia longisiliqua Farsetia stylosa Matthiola longipetala Morettia parviflora Notoceras bicorne Savignya parviflora Sisymbrium erysimoides Sisymbrium irio Sisymbrium orientale
CUCURBITACEAE Citrullus colocynthisCoccinea grandisCucumis prophetarum Kedrostis foetidissima
CUPRESSACEAE Juniperus procera
CYPERACEAE Cyperus alternifolius ssp. flabelliformis Cyperus bulbosus Cyperus neoschimperi var. viridis Cyperus obtusiflorus Cyperus rotundus Cyperus rubicundus Cliocharis geniculata Fimbristylis ferruginea Pycreus sanguinolentus
DIPSACACEAE Pterocephalus pulverulentus
DRACAENACEAE Dracaena ombetSansevieria ehrenbergii Sansevieria forsskaliana
EBENACEAE Diospyros mespliformisEuclea schimperi
EPHEDRACEAE Ephedra alata
ERICACEAE Erica arborea
EUPHORBIACEAE Acalypha ciliataAcalypha fruticosa Acalypha indica Andrachne aspera Croton lobatus Crozophora oblongifolia Chrozophora tinctoria Euphorbia cuneata Euphorbia granulata Euphorbia inaequilatera Euphorbia sp. aff. inarticulata Euphorbia parciramulosa Euphorbia peplus Euphorbia schimperiana Euphorbia schimperi Fluggea virosa Jatropha glauca Jatropha pelargonifolia Phyllanthus maderaspatensis Phyllanthus rotundifolius Ricinus communis Zahneria scabra
GENTIANACEAE Centaurium puchellumSwertia woodii
GERANIACEAE Erodium cicutarium Erodium neuradifoliumGeranium biuncinatum Geranium mascatense Geranium rotundifolium Geranium trilophum Pelargonium multibracteatum
GRAMINEAE Andropogon distachyosAnthephora nigritana Aristida adscensionis Aristida mutabilis Arthraxon prionodes Avena barbata Avena fatua Brachiaria deflexa Brachiaria leersiodes Brachiaria ovalis Brachiaria ramose Brachypodium distachyon Bromus pectinatus Castellia tuberculata Catapodium rigidum Cenchrus ciliaris Cenchrus pennisetiformis Cenchrus setigerus Chrysopogon plumulosus Cymbopogon sp. Cynodon dactylon Dactyloctenium scindicum Digitaria ciliaris Digitaria nodosa Digitaria velutina Eleusine multiflora Elionurus royleanus Enneapogon desvauxii Enneapogon lophotrichus Enneapogon persicus Enteropogon macrostachyos Eragrostis aspera Eragrostis barrellieri Eragrostis cilianensis Eragrostis ciliaris Eragrostis papposa Gastridium phleoides Hyparrhenia hirta Harpachne schimperi Lamarckia aurea Leptothrium senegalense Lolium rigidum Melanocenchris abyssinica Melinis repens Oropetium minimum *Panicum atrosanguineum Panicum coloratum Panicum maximum Panicum turgidum Pennisetum setaceum Phragmites australis Polypogon monspeliensis Polypogon viridis Rostraria pumila Saccharum spontaneum Sehima nervosus Setara verticillata Sporobolus ioclados *Sporobolus pellucidus Stipa capensis Stipagrostis ciliata Stipagrostis foexiana Stipagrostis obtusa Stipagrostis uniplumis Tetrapogon cenchriformis Tetrapogon tenellus Tetrapogon villosus Themeda triandra Tragus berteronianus Tricholaena teneriffae Tripogon africanus Tripogon montanus Vulpia muralis |
HYACINTHACEAE Dipcadi virideDrimia maritima
HYPERICACEAE Hypericum hircinum Hypericum revoltum Hypericum perforatum
IRIDACEAE Gladiolus dalenii
LABIATAE Becium filamentosumLavandula coronopifolia Lavandula dentata Lavandula pubescens Leucas alba Leucas glabrata Leucas urticifolia Marrubium vulgare Mentha longifolia Micromeria biflora Micromeria imbricata Nepeta deflersiana Ocimum forsskalii Orthosiphon pallidus Otostegia fruticosa Plectranthus asirensis Plectranthus comosus Plectranthus pseudomarrubioides Plectranthus tenuiflorus Salvia aegyptiaca Salvia deserti Salvia merjamie Scutellaria rubicunda ssp. subvelutinum Stachys aegyptiaca Teucrium polium Teucrium yemense Thuspinnata persica
LEGUMINOSAE Abrus precatoriusAcacia atropilosulus ssp. abyssinicus Acacia asak Acacia ehrenbergiana Acacia etbaica Acacia hamulosa Acacia johnwoodii Acacia origena Acacia tortilis Anagyris foetida Astragalus abyssinicus Astragalus pelecinus Astragalus vogelii Crotalaris emarginella Crotalaria microphylla Delonix elataFaidharbia albida Gycine wightii ssp. longicauda Indigofera spinosa Indigofera sp. nov. aff. trita ssp. subulata Indigofera volkensii Lotononis platycarpa Lotus arabicus Medicago laciniata Medicago polymorpha Ononis reclinata Rhynchosia malacophylla Rhynchosia totta Rhynchosia variegate Senna alexandrina Tamarindus indica Trifolium arvense Trifolium campestre Vermifrux abyssinica Vicia sativa ssp. nigra *Vigna macrorhyncha Vigna membranacea ssp. membranacea
LINACEAE Linum corymbulosumLinum trigynum *Linum usitatissimum
LOGANIACEAE Buddleja polystachyaNuxia oppositifolia
LORANTHACEAE Oncocalyx schimperiPhragmanthera austroarabica Plicosepalus curviflorus
LYTHRACEAE Woodfordia fruticosa
MALVACEAE Abutilon bidentatumAbutilon fruticosum Abutilon pannosum Abutilon ramosum Hibiscus sp. aff. aponeurus Hibiscus deflersii Hibiscus micranthus Hibiscus vitifolius Malva parviflora Malva verticillata Pavonia burchellii Pavonia glechomifolia Senna alexandrina Senna italica Sida ovata
MENISPERMACEAE Cocculus hirsutusCocculus pendulus
MOLLUGINACEAE Corbichonia decumbensGisekia pharnaceoides Glinus lotoides Mollugo nudicaulis
MORACEAE Dorstenia foetidaFicus cordata ssp. salicifolia Ficus glumosa Ficus ingens Ficus sycamorus Ficus vasta
MORINGACEAE Moringa peregrina
MYRICACEAE Morella humilis
MYRSINACEAE Myrsine africana
NYCTAGINACEAE Boerhavia repensCommicarpus ambiguous Commicarpus grandiflorus Commicarpus plumbaginaeus
OCHNACEAE Ochna inermis
OLEACEAE Jasminum grandiflorum ssp. floribundum Olea europaea ssp. cuspidata
ONAGRACEAE Epilobium hirsutum
ORCHIDACEAE *Eulophia guineensis Eulophia petersii Holothrix arachnoidea
OROBANCHACEAE Alectra parasitica Orobanche cernua agg. Orobanche minor Orobanche pubescens Orobanche ramose Striga gesnerioides Striga sp.
OXALIDACEAE Oxalis corniculata
PANDANACEAE Pandanus odorifer
PALMAE Phoenix dactylifera
PAPAVERACEAE Argemone ochroleucaFumaria parvifloraHypecoum pendulum
PASSIFLORACEAE Adenia venenata
PERACEAE Clutia myricoides
PLANTAGINACEAE Plantago afraPlantago albicans Plantago amplexicaulis Plantago cylindrica
PLUMBAGINACEAE Plumbago zeylanica
POLYGALACEAE Polygala abyssinicaPolygala sp. aff. abyssinica Polygala erioptera Polygala senensis
POLOGONACEAE Oxygonum sinuatumRumex nervosus Rumex vesicarius
PRIMULACEAE Anagallis arvensis
PTERIDOPHYTES Actinopteris semiflabellataAdiantum capillus-veneris Adiantum incisum Asplenium aethiopicum Asplenium trichomanes Asplenium officinarum Ceterach officinarum Cheilanthes coriacea Cheilanthes marantae Cheilanthes pteridioides Cosentina vellea Onychium divaricatum
PORTULACACEAE Portulaca grandiflora*Portulaca kermesina Portulaca oleracea Portulaca quadrifida Talinum portulacifolium
PRIMULACEAE Anagallis arvensis var. coeruleaSamolus velerandi
RANUNCULACEAE
Clematis hirsuta
RESEDACEAE Caylusea hexagynaOchradenus baccatus Reseda arabica Reseda decursiva
RHAMNACEAE Rhamnus dispermaRhamnus oleioides Rhamnus staddo Segeretia thea var. bornmuelleri Ziziphus mucronata Ziziphus spina-christi
ROSACEAE Rubus sanctus
RUBIACEAE Breonadia salicinaGalium aparine Galium setaceum ssp. decaisnei Kohautia caespitosa Oldenlandia capensis Pavetta longiflora Pentas lanceolata Psydrax schimperiana Pyrostria phyllanthoidea Sherardia avensis *Tarenna graveolens ssp. arabica Valantia hispida
RUTACEAE Ruta chalepensisTeclea nobilis
SALICACEAE Salix subserrata
SALVADORACEAE Dobera glabraSalvadora persica
SANTALACEAE Osyris quadripartita
SAPINDACEAE Cardiospermum canescensDodonaea angustifolia
SAPOTACEAE Mimusops laurifolia
SCROPHULARIACEAE Alectra parasiticaAnarrhinum forsskaolii Antirrhinum orontium Craterostigma pumilum Kickxia acerbiana Kickxia hastata Kickxia psuedoscoparia Linaria simplex Lindenbergia indica forma Scrophularia arguta Verbascum yremense Veronica anagalloides Veronica anagallis-aquatica Veronica opaca
SELAGINELLACEAE Selaginella imbricata
SOLANACEAE Datura innoxiaDatura stramonium Lycium shawiiNicotiana glaucaSolanum forsskaliiSolanum incanum Solanum nigrum Solanum schimperianum Solanum sepicula Solanum villosum ssp. puniceum Withania somnifera
STERCULIACEAE Melhania ovataMelhania philippsiae Melhania velutina Melhania sp.
TAMARICACEAE Tamarix macrocarpa
THYMELIACEAE Gnidia somalensis
TILIACEAE Corchorus depressusCorchorus trilocularis Grewia erythraea Grewia tembensis Grewia tenax Grewia velutina Grewia villosa Triumfetta flavescens Trumfetta heterocarpa
TYPHACEAE
Typha domingensis
ULMACEAE
Celtis africana
UMBELLIFERAE
Devera triradiata ssp. triradiata Ferula communis Foeniculum vulgare Pimpinella sp. Torilis arvensis
URTICACEAE Forsskoalea tenacissimaForsskoalea viride Parietaria alsinifolia Parietaria umbricola Urtica urens
VALERIANELLACEAE Valerianella muricata
VERBENACEAE Lantana rugosaPremna resinosa
VITACEAE Cissus quadrangularisCissus rotundifolius Cyphostemma digitatum
ZYGOPHYLLACEAE Fagonia bruguieriFagonia indica Peganum harmala Tetraena simplex Tribulus terrestris
Rumex nervosus
Juniperus procera Erica arborea |
Delonix elata |
Ziziphus spina-christi, near Jabal Shada |
Hillocks near Baljurashi |
Page designed and maintained by Dr. Jacob Thomas, Dept. of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. |