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
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.
Species from Baha region
Pls. refer flora checklist page for an updated nomenclature list.
*Not reported from other parts of Saudi Arabia
ACANTHACEAE
Anisotes trisulcus
Barleria acanthoides
Barleria bispinosa
Barleria 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
ALOEACEAE
Aloe castellorum
Aloe rubroviolacea
Aloe sabaea
Aloe shadensis
Aloe vacillens
AMARANTHACEAE
Achyranthes aspera var. aspera
Achyranthes aspera var. sicula
Aerva javanica
Aerva lanata
Amaranthus graecizans
Psilotrichum gnaphalobryum
Pupalia lappacea var. velutina
AMARYLLIDACEAE
Crinum album
Pancratium maximum
Scadoxus multiflorus
ANACARDIACEAE
Pistacea falcata
Rhus natalensis
Rhus retinorrhoea
Schinus terebenthifolius
Searsia glutinosa ssp. abyssinica
APOCYNACEAE
Adenium obesum
Carrisa edulis
ASCLEPIADACEAE
Angolluma commutata
Angolluma 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 decumbens
Arnebia hispidissima
Echium rauwolfii
Brandella erythraea
Cordia 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 gileadensis
Commiphora habessinica
Commiphora kataf
Commiphora myrrha
Commiphora quadricinta
CACTACEAE
Opuntia dellenii
Opuntia ficus-indica
CAMPANULACEAE
Campanula edulis
Wahlenbergia lobelioides ssp. nutabunda
CAPPARACEAE
Boscia angustifolia
Cadaba farinosa
Cadaba 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 foliacea
Cometes 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 parviflora
Maytenus undata
CHENOPODIACEAE
Chenopodium ambrosioides
Chenopodium murale
Dysphania schraderiana
Pupalia lappacea
Salsola kali
Salsola spinescens
Suaeda monoica
COMBRETACEAE
Combretum molle
Terminalia brownii
COMMELINACEAE
Aneilema forsskalii
Commelina africana
Commelina benghalensis
Commelina forsskalii
Cyanotis nyctritropa
COMPOSITAE
Achillea bieberstenii
Ambrosia maritima
Anvillea garcinii
Baccharoides schimperi
Bidens biternata
Blumea 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 dentata
Filago 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 schimperi
Kalanchoe 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 colocynthis
Coccinea grandis
Cucumis 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 ombet
Sansevieria ehrenbergii
Sansevieria forsskaliana
EBENACEAE
Diospyros mespliformis
Euclea schimperi
EPHEDRACEAE
Ephedra alata
ERICACEAE
Erica arborea
EUPHORBIACEAE
Acalypha ciliata
Acalypha 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 puchellum
Swertia woodii
GERANIACEAE
Erodium cicutarium
Erodium neuradifolium
Geranium biuncinatum
Geranium mascatense
Geranium rotundifolium
Geranium trilophum
Pelargonium multibracteatum
GRAMINEAE
Andropogon distachyos
Anthephora 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
Dipcade viride
Drimia maritima
HYPERICACEAE
Hypericum hircinum
Hypericum revoltum
Hypericum perforatum
IRIDACEAE
Gladiolus dalenii
LABIATAE
Becium filamentosum
Becium filamentosum
Lavandula 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 precatorius
Acacia 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 elata
Faidharbia 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 corymbulosum
Linum trigynum
*Linum usitatissimum
LOGANIACEAE
Buddleja polystachya
Nuxia oppositifolia
LORANTHACEAE
Oncocalyx schimperi
Phragmanthera austroarabica
Plicosepalus curviflorus
LYTHRACEAE
Woodfordia fruticosa
MALVACEAE
Abutilon bidentatum
Abutilon 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 hirsutus
Cocculus pendulus
MOLLUGINACEAE
Corbichonia decumbens
Gisekia pharnaceoides
Glinus lotoides
Mollugo nudicaulis
MORACEAE
Dorstenia foetida
Ficus cordata ssp. salicifolia
Ficus glumosa
Ficus ingens
Ficus sycamorus
Ficus vasta
MORINGACEAE
Moringa peregrina
MYRICACEAE
Morella humilis
MYRSINACEAE
Myrsine africana
NYCTAGINACEAE
Boerhavia repens
Commicarpus 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 ohroleuca
FUMARIACEAE
Fumaria parviflora
Hypecoum pendulum
PASSIFLORACEAE
Adenia venenata
PERACEAE
Clutia myricoides
PLANTAGINACEAE
Plantago afra
Plantago albicans
Plantago amplexicaulis
Plantago cylindrica
PLUMBAGINACEAE
Plumbago zeylanica
POLYGALACEAE
Polygala abyssinica
Polygala sp. aff. abyssinica
Polygala erioptera
Polygala senensis
POLOGONACEAE
Oxygonum sinuatum
Rumex nervosus
Rumex vesicarius
PRIMULACEAE
Anagallis arvensis
PTERIDOPHYTES
Actinopteris semiflabellata
Adiantum 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. coerulea
Samolus velerandi
RANUNCULACEAE
Clematis hirsuta
RESEDACEAE
Caylusea hexagyna
Ochradenus baccatus
Reseda arabica
Reseda decursiva
RHAMNACEAE
Rhamnus disperma
Rhamnus oleioides
Rhamnus staddo
Segeretia thea var. bornmuelleri
Ziziphus mucronata
Ziziphus spina-christi
ROSACEAE
Rubus sanctus
RUBIACEAE
Brenadia salicina
Galium 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 chalepensis
Teclea nobilis
SALICACEAE
Salix subserrata
SALVADORACEAE
Dobera glabra
Salvadora persica
SANTALACEAE
Osyris quadripartita
SAPINDACEAE
Cardiospermum canescens
Dodonaea angustifolia
SAPOTACEAE
Mimusops laurifolia
SCROPHULARIACEAE
Alectra parasitica
Anarrhinum 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 innoxia
Datura stramonium
Lycium shawii
Nicotiana glauca
Solanum forsskalii
Solanum incanum
Solanum nigrum
Solanum schimperianum
Solanum sepicula
Solanum villosum ssp. puniceum
Withania somnifera
STERCULIACEAE
Melhania ovata
Melhania philippsiae
Melhania velutina
Melhania sp.
TAMARICACEAE
Tamarix macrocarpa
THYMELIACEAE
Gnidia somalensis
TILIACEAE
Corchorus depressus
Corchorus 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 tenacissima
Forsskoalea viride
Parietaria alsinifolia
Parietaria umbricola
Urtica urens
VALERIANELLACEAE
Valerianella muricata
VERBENACEAE
Lantana rugosa
Premna resinosa
VITACEAE
Cissus quadrandularis
Cissus rotundifolius
Cyphostemma digitatum
ZYGOPHYLLACEAE
Fagonia bruguieri
Fagonia indica
Peganum harmala
Tetraena simplex
Tribulus terrestris
