Raida Escarpments
Situated on the northwestern part of Abha city, Raida (Raydah) Escarpment is small-protected area controlled by the Saudi wild life Authority. It extends along the western slopes of Asir Mountains and covers about 9 km2. The entire plant diversity hot spot, located along a steep mountain slope between 1500m to 2900m above sea level,, is holding one of the few remaining dense Juniper woodlands of Saudi Arabia along with several endemic and endangered plants. About 397 species have been reported from this area, many of them are found only in Raida Escarpments, making it one of the important plant diversity areas in the Kingdom.
The vegetation of Raida Escarpments is relatively rich on the west facing slopes. However, the entire area, previously an inaccessible one due to the region’s steep slopes, is now facing degradation because of increased vehicular traffic and pastoral activity. Despite the area under protection by law, many populations including some of the rare species such as Huernia saudi-arabica, Ceropegia spp., Scadoxus multiflorus, Klenia odora, Adenia venenata etc., are increasingly marginalized during the past few years. These threatened populations do not have more than 20 plants/5 sq. km.
There are about 397 species in 81 families present in the protected area, many are on the verge of extinction due to climate change, land development, poor regeneration and an influx of invasive species such as Opuntia dellenii, O. ficus-indica, Nicotiana glauca, Tagetes minuta and Argemone ochroleuca. This area is also home to several endemic, near endemic and endangered species such as Centaurothamnus maximus, Senecio asirensis, Albuca pendula, Huernia saudi-arabica, etc. and Rhynchosia buramensis, Pittosporum viridiflorum ssp. arabicum, Hybanthus ennaespermus, Rhoicissus tridentata, Halleria lucida, Dombeya torrida, etc. respectively.
Acanthaceae
Anisotes trisulcus (Forssk.) Nees
Barleria bispinosa (Forssk.) Vahl.
Barleria prionitis ssp. apressa (Forssk.) Brumm. & Wood
Blepharis ciliaris (L.) B.L. Burtt.
Crossandra johanniannae Fiori
Ecbolium gymnostachyum (Nees) Milne-Redh.
Hypoestes forsskaolii (Vahl) R.Br.
Justicia flava (Vahl) Vahl
Justicia heterocarpa T. Anders.
Monechma debile (Forssk.) Nees
Peristrophe cernua Nees
Ruellia grandiflora (Forssk.) Blatt.
Ruellia patula Jacq.
Ruellia prostrate Poir.
Aloeaceae
Aloe abhaica (?hybrid)
Aloe fleurentinorum Lavr.
Aloe officinalis Forssk.
Aloe rivierei Lavr. & L.E. Newton
Aloe pseudorubroviolacea Lav. & Coll.
Aloe rubroviolacea Schweinf.
Aloe sabaea Schweinf.
Aloe vacillans Forssk.
Amaranthaceae
Achyranthes aspera L.
Aerva javanica (Burm.f.) Juss. ex Schult
Aerva lanata (L.) Juss.
Alternathera pungens Kunth.
Amaranthus graecizans L.
Celosia polystachya (Forssk.) C.C. Townsend
Celosia trigyna L.
Pupalia lappacea var. velutina (Moq.) Hook.f.
Amaryllidaceae
Crinum yemense Defl.
Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf.
Anacardiaceae
Pistacia falcate Mart.
Rhus natalensis (Bernh. ex C. Krauss) F.A. Barkley
Rhus retinorrhaea Steud. ex A. Rich
Apiaceae/Umbelliferae
Apium nodiflorum (L.) Lag.
Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link
Apocynaceae
Acokanthera schimperi (A.D.C) Benth.
Adenium obesum (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult.
Carissa edulis (Forssk.) Vahl
Asclepiadaceae
Angolluma wissmannii (O. Schwartz) Plowes
Ceropegia aristolochioides ssp. deflersiana Bruyns
Ceropegia superb D.V. Field & Colle.
Ceropegia variegata var. adelaidae Decne.
Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) W.T. Aiton
Caralluma eremastrum Schwartz
Caralluma hexagona Lavr.
Cynanchum viminale (L.) L.
Huernia saudi-arabica D.V. Field
Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov.
Periploca somaliensis Browicz
Rhytidocaulon sheilae D. V. Field
Sarcostemma arabicum Bruyns & P.I. Forst.
Asparagaceae
Asparagus africanus Lam.
Asparagus falcatus L.
Asteraceae/Compositae
Achillea biebersteinii Afan
Anthemis cotula L.
Artemisia abyssinica Sch.-Bip.
Bidens biternata (Lour) Merr. & Sherrf
Calendula arvensis L.
Carduus getulus Pomel
Centaurea schimperi DC.
Centaurothamnus maximus Wagenitz & Dittr.
Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore
Cichorium bottae Defl.
Cineraria abyssinica Sch.-Bip. ex A. Rich.
Conyza bonariensis (L.) Conquist
Conyza hochstetteri Sch.- Bip. ex A. Rich.
Conyza incana (Vahl) Willd.
Crepis rueppellii Sch.-Bip.
Dichrocephala crysanthemifolia Blume) DC.
Echinops sheilae Kit-Tan
Euryops arabicus Steud.
Felicia abyssinica Schi.-Bip. ex A. Rich.
Felicia dentate (A.Rich.) Dandy
Helichrysum foetidum var. microcephalum .A. Rich
Helichrysum forskahlii (J.F. Gmel.) Hillard & Burtt
Helichrysum schimperi (Sch. -Bip. ex A. Rich) Moeser
Kleinia odora (Forssk.) DC.
Kleinia anteuphorbium (Forssk.) DC.
Laggera decurrens (Vahl.) Hepper & J.R.I. Wood
Osteospermum vaillantii (Decne.) Norl.
Pegolettia senegalensis Cass.
Phagnalon stenolepis Chiov.
Psiadia puntulata DC.
Pulicaria undulate (L.) C.A. Mey
Pulicaria vulgaris Gaertn.
Reichardia tingitana var. arabica (Hochst. & Steud.) Ascher. & Schweinf.
Senecio asirensis Boulos & J.R.I. Wood
Senecio sumare Defl.
Senecio hadiensis Forssk.
Senecio lyratus Forssk.
Senecio hadiensis Forssk.
Solanecio angulata (Vahl.) C. Jeffrey
Sonchus tenerrimus L.
Tagetus minuta L.
Tarchonanthus camphorates L.
Verbesina encelioides (Cav.) Benth. & Hook.f.
Vernonia cinerascens Sch.Bip.
Vernonia schimperi Sch.Bip ex Hochst.
Vernonia leopoldii (Sch.Bip. ex Walp.) Vatke
Boraginaceae
Alkanna orientalis (L.) Boiss.
Brandella erythraea (Brand.) Mill.
Cordia Africana Lam.
Cordia nevillii Alston
Cynoglossum bottae Defl.
Echium longifolium Del.
Echium angustifolium Mill
Ehretia obtusifolia Hochst. Ex A. DC.
Heliotropium arbainense Fresen.
Heliotropium longiflorum Hochst. & Steud.
Brassicaceae
Arabidopsis kneuckeri (Bornm.) O. Schultz
Arabis alpine L.
Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medikus
Cardaria draba (L.) Desv.
Sisymbrium erysimoides Desf.
Sisymbrium irio L.
Sisymbrium runcinatum Lagger
Burseraceae
Commiphora babessinica (O.Berg.) Engl.
Cactaceae
Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller
Opuntia dillenii (Ker.-Gawl.) Haw.
Campanulaceae
Campanula edulis Forssk.
Legousia falcate (Ten.) Fritsch.
Capparaceae
Boscia angustifolia A. Rich.
Capparis deciduas (Forssk.) Edgw.
Capparis cartilaginea Decne.
Cleome ramosissima Webb.
Caprifoliaceae
Lonicera etrusca Santi
Caryophyllaceae
Arenaria foliacea Trurril
Minuartia filifolia Schweinf. Ex Hedge
Paronychia chlorothyrsa Murb.
Polycarpon tetraphyllum (L.) L.
Silene hochstetteri Rohrb.
Silene macrosolen Steud. Ex A. Rich.
Silene yemensis Defl.
Stellaria media (L.) Vill.
Celastraceae
Maytenus parviflora (Vahl) Sebsebe
Maytenus undata (Thunb.) Blakelock
Chenopodiaceae
Chenopodium album L.
Chenopodium murale L.
Chenopodium schraderianum Schultes
Salsola kali L.
Salsola spnescens Moq.
Combretaceae
Combretum molle R. Br.
Commelinaceae
Commelina albescens Hassk.
Commelina forsskalii Kunth.
Commelina africana L.
Cynotis nyctitropa Defl.
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus siculus L.
Cuscuta planiflora Tenore
Dichondra repens J.R. & G. Frost.
Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L.
Ipomoea obscura (L,) Ker.-Gawl.
Seddera Arabica Hochst. & Steud.
Crassulaceae
Crassula alba Forssk.
Crassula schimperi Fischer & Meyer
Kalalnchoe deficiens var. glabra Roadts
Kalanchoe lanceolata (Forssk.) Pers.
Sedum hispanicum L.
Umblicus horizontalis Boiss.
Cucurbitaceae
Coccinea grandis (L.) Voigt
Cucumis prophetarum L.
Kedrostis foetidissima (Jacq.) Congn.
Zahneria scabra (L.f.) Sond
Cupressaceae
Juniperus procera Defl.
Cyperaceae
Bolboschoenus maritimus ssp. maritimus (L.) Palla
Carex distans L.
Cyperus alternifolius Rottb.
Cyperus cruentus Rottb.
Cyperus dubius ssp. macrocephalus (C.B. Clk.) Lye
Cyperus rubicundus Vahl
Pycreus elegantulus (Steud.) C.B. Clk.
Dipsacaceae
Scabiosa columbaria L.
Dracaenaceae
Dracaena ombet Kotschy & Peyritsch
Sansevieria forskaliana (Schultes f.) F.H. Hepper & JRI Wood
Ebenaceae
Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. Ex DC.
Euclea schimperi ssp. schimperi (A. DC.) F. White
Ephedraceae
Ephedra foeminea Forssk.
Ephedra pachyclada Boiss.
Euphorbiaceae
Acalypha fruticosa Forssk.
Acalypha indica L.
Andrachne aspera Spreng.
Clutia myricoides Jaub. & Spach.
Euphorbia agowensis Hochst. ex Boiss.
Euphorbia cactus Ehrenb.
Euphorbia helioscopia L.
Euphorbia schimperiana Scheele
Ricinus communis L.
Tragia pungens (Forssk.) Muell.-Arg.
Gentianaceae
Swertia polynectaria (Forssk.) Gilg.
Geraniaceae
Erodium laciniatum (Cav.) Willd.
Geranium ocellatum Camp.
Geranium robertianum Camb.
Geranium rotundifolium L.
Geranium trilophum Boiss.
Hypericaceae
Hypericum hircinum L.
Hypericum revolutum Vahl
Juncaceae
Juncus rigidus Desf.
Lamiaceae/Labiatae
Endostemon tereticaulis (Benth.) M.R. Ashby
Lamium amplexicaule L.
Lavandula dentate L.
Leucas alba (Forssk.) Sebald
Mentha longifolia ssp. schimperi (Briq.) Briq.
Micromeria imbricate (Forssk.) C. Christens.
Nepeta deflersiana Schweinf. ex I.C. Hedge
Ociumum filamentosum Forssk.
Ocimum hadiense Forssk.
Otostegia fruticosa ssp. schimperi (Benth.) Sebald
Plectranthus asirensis J.R,I. Wood
Plectranthus barbatus Andrews
Plectranthus tenuiflorus (Vatke) Agnew
Salvia merjamie Forssk.
Scutellaria Arabica Jaub. & Spach.
Teucrium yemense Defl.
Leguminosae
Acacia abyssinica Hochst.
Acacia asak (Forssk.) Willd.
Acacia negrii Pichi-Sermolii
Acacia etbaica Schweinf.
Anagyris foetidia L.
Argyrolobium confertum Polhill
Astragalus atropilosulus subsp. abyssinicus (Hochst.) J.B.Gillett
Cadia purpurea (G.Piccioli) Aiton
Crotalaria pycnostachya Benth.
Delonix elata (L.) Gamble
Dorycnopsis abyssinica (A. Rich.) V.N. Tikhom. & D.D. Sok.
Indigofera amorphoides Jaub. & Spach.
Medicago polymorpha L.
Rhynchosia buramensis Hutch. & Bruce
Rhynchosia malacophylla (Spreng.) Boj.
Rhynchosia variegata (Def.) JRI Wood
Senna occidentalis (L.) Link.
Trigonella stellata Forssk.
Vicia sativa ssp. nigra (L.) Ehrh.
Vigna membranaceae ssp. caesia A. Rich.
Lichens
Usnea articulate (L.) Hoffm.
Linaceae
Linum corymbulosum Reichb.
Loganiaceae
Buddleja polystachya Fresen.
Nuxia oppositifolia Hochst.
Loranthaceae
Phragmanthera austroarabica A. G. Miller & J. Nyberg
Tapinanthus globiferus (A. Rich.) Tieghem
Malvaceae
Hibiscus aponeurus Sprague & Hutch.
Hibiscus deflersii Schweinf. ex Cufod.
Hibiscus vitifolius L.
Malva neglecta Wallr.
Malva parviflora Forssk.
Malva verticillata L.
Pavonia burchellii (DC.) R.A. Dyer
Sida spinosa L.
Moraceae
Dorstenia foetida
(Forssk.) Schweinf.
Ficus cordata ssp. salicifolia (Vahl) C.C. Berg.
Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq.
Ficus palmate Forssk.
Ficus sycomorus L.
Ficus vasta Forssk.
Myrsinaceae
Maesa lanceolata Forssk.
Myrsine africana L.
Nyctaginaceae
Boerhavia plumbaginea Cav.
Boerhavia sinuate (Meikle) Greuter & Burdt
Commicarpus grandiflorus (A. Rich.) Standley
Oleaceae
Jasminum
grandiflorum var. floribundum (R.Br. Ex Fresen.) P.S. Green
Oea europaea ssp. africana (Burm.f. ) P.S. Green
Onagraceae
Epilobium hirsutum L.
Orchidaceae
Eulophia petersii Reichb.f.
Orobanchaceae
Orobanche minor J.E. Smith
Orobanche ramose L.
Oxalidaceae
Oxalis corniculata L.
Palmae/Arecaceae
Phoenix dactylifera L.
Pandanaceae
Pandanus tectorius Parkinson ex Du Roi
Papaveraceae
Argemone ochroleuca Sweet
Fumaria abyssinica Hammer
Fumaria parviflora Lam.
Glaucium corniculatum (L.) Curtis
Papaver dubium L.
Passifloraceae
Adenia venenata Forssk.
Pittosporaceae
Pittosporum viridiflorum ssp. arabicum Chiov.
Poaceae/Gramineae
Andropogon distachyos L.
Aristida adscensionis L.
Arthraxon prionodes (Steudel) Dandy
Brachiaria leersioides (Hochst.) Stapf
Brachiaria ramose (L.) Stapf
Brachypodium distachyum (L.) Beauv.
Brachypodium retusum (Pers.) P. Beauv.
Bromus pectinatus Thunb.
Castellia tuberculosa (Moris) Bor
Catapodium rigidum (L.) C.E. Hubbard ex Dony
Cenchrus ciliaris L.
Coelachyrum poiflorum Chiov.
Coelachyrum yemenicum (Schweinf.) S. Phillips
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.
Dactyloctenium scindicum Boiss.
Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf.
Digitaria abyssinica (A. Rich) Stapf
Digitaria ciliaaris (Retz) Koel.
Digitaria velutina (Forssk.) P. Beauv.
Ehrharta erecta (Hochst) Pilg.
Enneapogon cenchroides (Roemer & Schultes) C.E. Hubb.
Eragrostis aspera (Jacq.) Nees
Eragrostis barrelieri Dav.
Eragrostis papposa (Roemer& Schultes) Steudel
Hyperrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf.
Lamarckia aurea Moench
Leptochloa obtusiflora Hochst.
Lolium persicum Boiss. & Hohen
Lolium rigidum Gaud.
Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka
Panicum coloratum L.
Panicum maximum Jacq.
Pennisetum nubicum (Hochst.) K. Schum. ex Engl.
Pennisetum setaceum (Forssk.) Chiov.
Pennisetum unisetum (Nees) Benth.
Pennisetum villosum R.Br. ex Fresen.
Piptatherum holciformis (M.Bieb.) Hackel
Piptatherum miliaceum (L.) Coss.
Poa leptoclada A. Rich.
Poa pratensis L.
Polypogon viridis (Gouan) Breistr.
Sporobolus angustifolius A. Rich.
Themeda triandra Forssk.
Tragus berteronianus Schultes
Tricholaeana teneriffae (L.f.) Link
Polygalaceae
Polygala rupicola Hochst. & Steud.
Polygala tinctoria Vahl.
Polygonaceae
Rumex vesicarius L.
Rumex nervosus Vahl
Portulacaceae
Portulaca oleracea L.
Portulaca quadrifida L.
Talinum portulacifolium (Forssk.) Asch. ex Schweinf.
Primulaceae
Anagallis arvensis var. arvensis L.
Anagallis foemina Mill.
Actiniopteris semiflabellata Pichi-Sermoli
Pteridophytes
Adiantum capillus-veneris L.
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Bech.
Asplenium trichomanes L.
Ceterach officinarum DC.
Paraceterach marantae (L.) R.M. Tryon
Pleopeltis macrocarpa (Bory ex Willd.) Kaulf.
Pteris dentata Forssk.
Pteris vittata L.
Ranunculaceae
Clematis simensis Fresen.
Ranunculus multifidus Forssk.
Resedaceae
Ochradenus baccatus Delile
Reseda lutea L.
Rhamnaceae
Rhamnus lycioides ssp. oleoides (L.) Jahandez & Maire
Sageretia thea (Osbeck) M.C. Johnston
Ziziphus spina-christi var. inermis Boiss.
Rosaceae
Rosa abysssinica R. Br.
Rubus canescens DC.
Rubiaceae
Galium aparinoides Forssk.
Pavetta longiflora Vahl
Pyrostria phyllanthoidea (Baill.) Bridson
Rutaceae
Ruta chalepensis L.
Teclea nobilis Del.
Sapindaceae
Dodonaea angustifolia L.f.
Cardiospermum helicacabum L.
Sapotaceae
Sideroxylon mascatense (A.DC.) T.D. Penn.
Scrophulariaceae
Anarrhinum forsskalii (J.F. Gmel.) Cuf.
Anarrhinum orontiium L.
Halleria lucida L.
Kickxia abhaica D.A. Sutton
Lindenbergia indica (L.) Kuntze
Scrophularia arguta Sol. ex Ait.
Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke
Verbascum bottae (Defl.) Hub.Mor.
Verbascum melhanense (Murb.) Hub.
Veronica anagallis-aquatica L.
Veronica opaca Fries
Solanaceae
Datura fastuosa L.
Datura stramonium L.
Nicotiana glauca R.C. Graham
Nicotiana tabacum L.
Solanum americanum Mill.
Solanum anguivi Lam.
Solanum incanum L.
Solanum schimperianum Hochst. Ex A. Rich.
Solanum surratense Burm.f.
Solanum villosum Mill.
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
Sterculiaceae
Dombeya torrida ssp. torrid (J.F Gmel.) P. Bamps
Melhania ovata var. abyssinica (Rich.) K. Schum.
Melhania stipulosa JRI Wood
Tiliaceae
Grewia tembensis Fresen
Grewia trichocarpa Hochst. ex A. Rich.
Grewia villosa Willd.
Ulmaceae
Celtis Africana Burm.f.
Urticaceae
Debregeasia saenab (Forssk.) Hepper & Wood
Forskaolea tenacissima L.
Parietaria alsinifolia Del.
Verbenaceae
Lantana petitiana A. Rich.
Lantana viburnoides (Forssk.) Vahl.
Violaceae
Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Mueller
Viscaceae
Viscum triflorum ssp. nervosum (A. Rich.) M.G. Gilbert
Vitaceae
Cissus quadrangularis L.
Cissus rotundifolia Vahl
Cyphostemma digitatum (Forssk.) Descoings
Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) Willd. & Drummon
Zygophyllaceae
Fagonia indica Burm.f.