Parasitic flora of Saudi Arabia
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The Saudi Arabian parasitic flora includes at least 13 genera, from 8 different families. They vary from Obligate parasites, Facultative parasites, Stem parasites, Root parasites, Holoparasites and Hemiparasites. Some of these families are completely parasitic, e.g. Cuscutaceae while in others the life cycle of some genera lead autotrophic method of nutrition and some are either total or partial parasites, e.g. Lauraceae. Though the parasites are less significant as far as the flora of the Kingdom is concerned, species belonging to this group are extremely interesting due to their morphological and physiological adaptations. The flora of Saudi Arabia contains about 32 species of total or partial parasites that are native or introduced to the Kingdom. Majority of species are found in the southwestern region, except Orobanchaceae and Cuscutaceae.

The many species of mistletoes, belonging to Viscaceae and Loranthaceae, comprise about three-quarters of all parasitic species. Several other families of parasitic flowering plants are also well-known, especially the broomrapes (Orobanchaceae) and dodders (Cuscutaceae). Members of the Loranthaceae are mainly found on species such as Acacia spp. and Maerua crassifolia. Three species have been reported under Viscaceae, of which Viscum schimperi is a leafless plant. Dodder (Cuscuta spp.) and mistletoes (Viscum spp.) are serious problems for plants. Cuscuta is common weed in several agriculture fields and damage certain economically important crop plants. Members of Loranthaceae and Viscum species in southwestern mountains are often found abundant on tree branches; sometimes mask the identity of the host plant or even kill the host plant.

Members of the parasitic flora of Saudi Arabia

  

  1. Alectra parasitica
  2. Cassytha filiformis
  3. Cistanche phyelypaea
  4. Cistanche tubulosa
  5. Cistanche tubulosa var. albiflora
  6. Cistanche violacea
  7. Cuscuta campestris
  8. Cuscuta hylina
  9. Cuscuta pedicellata
  10. Cuscuta planiflora
  11. Cynomorium coccineum
  12. Harveya obtusifolia
  13. Hydnora johannis
  14. Oncocalyx glabratus
  15. Oncocalyx schimperi
  16. Orobanche abyssinica
  17. Orobanche aegyptiaca
  18. Orobanche cernua
  19. Orobanche hypertomentosa
  20. Orobanche minor
  21. Orobanche oxyloba
  22. Orobanche pubescens
  23. Orobanche ramosa
  24. Parentucellia latifolia ssp. flaviflora
  25. Phragmanthera austro-arabica
  26. Plicosepalus acaciae
  27. Plicosepalus curviflorus
  28. Striga asiatica
  29. Striga gesnerioides
  30. Striga hermonthica
  31. Tapinanthus globiferus
  32. Viscum cruciatum
  33. Viscum schimperi
  34. Viscum triflorum ssp. nervosum

 

Scrophulariaceae

Lauraceae

Orobanchaceae

Orobanchaceae

Orobanchaceae

Orobanchaceae

Cuscutaceae

Cuscutaceae

Cuscutaceae

Cuscutaceae

Cynomoriaceae

Orobanchaceae

Hydnoraceae

Loranthaceae

Loranthaceae

Orobanchaceae

Orobanchaceae

Orobanchaceae

Orobanchaceae

Orobanchaceae

Orobanchaceae

Orobanchaceae

Orobanchaceae

Orobanchaceae

Loranthaceae

Loranthaceae

Loranthaceae

Scrophulariaceae

Scrophulariaceae

Scrophulariaceae

Loranthaceae

Viscaceae

Viscaceae

Viscaceae

 

Cistanche tubulosa

Plicosepalus curviflorus

Site maintained by Jacob Thomas, Herbarium, Dept. of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA