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 23C.) and cool in winter (Max. up to 12C) 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.

Erica arborea
A view of Baha escarpments from a wadi in Makhwah
Delonix elata

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