Raudhas of Saudi Arabia
Raudhas are shallow depressions (meadows) seen along the western side of the Dahna desert. Majority of raudhas are ed by the water and propagules carried away through water channels and wadis flowing eastwards. During rainy seasons, these propagules accumulate in the depressions against the sand bodies. Majority of raudhas are located in the central Najd area. Raudhat Khuraim is the largest among all raudhas in the Kingdom with an average length of 18 km and and a width of 2.5 km. Other raudhas are relatively small, less diverse in terms of speciation, density and abundance. Acacia gerrardii is the most dominant tree species along with Capparis decidua in few raudhas. Shrub components are many in these raudhas, represented by Lycium shawii, Ziziphus nummularia, Ochradenus baccatus, Calotropis procera, etc. Perennial herbs include Rhazya stricta, Rhanterium epapposum, Pulicaria undulata, Capparis spinosa, Achillea fragrantissima. Herbs constitute major share of the ground cover of all raudhas which appear as a green carpet during spring. Ground cover is mainly represented by annuals such as Trigonella spp., Malva parviflora, Lepidium aucheri, Tripleurospermum auriculatum, Anthems deserti, etc.
Major raudhas in the Najd Area and their floras are as follows
Raudhat Khuraim
Ephedraceae
Ephedra foliata Boiss. ex C.A. Meyer
Angiosperms (Dicotyledons)
Aizoaceae
Aizoon canariense L.
Aizoon hispanicum L
Apiaceae
Ammi majus L.
Anisosciadium lanatum Boiss
Apocynaceae
Rhazya stricta Decne
Asclepiadaceae
Calotropis procers (Ait.) Ait.f
Asteraceae
Anthemis deserti Boiss.
Anthemis pesudocotula Boiss.
Anthemis zoharyana Eig
Atractylis carduus (Forssk.) C. Christ
Calendula arvensis L
Calendula tripterocarpa Rupr
Centaurea pseudosinaica Czerep
Filago desrtorum Pomel
Flaveria trinervia (Spreng.)
Ifoga spicata (Forssk.) Sch. Bip.
Launaea capitata (Spreng.)
Launaea nudicaulis (L.) Hook. f
Leontodon laciniatus (Bertol.)
Matricaria aurea (Loefl.) Sch.-Bip
Picris babylonica Hand.-Mazz
Picris jaubertiGamal-Eldin
Pulicaria undulata (L.) C.A.
Reichardia tingitana (L.) Roth.
Rhanterium epapposum Oliv
Scorzonera musilii Velen
Senecio glaucus
Sonchus oleraceus L
Tripleurospermum auriculatum (Boiss.) Rech. f.
Zoegea purpurea Fresen.
Boraginaceae
Arnebia decumbens (Vent.) Coss. et Kral.
Arnebia hispidissima (Lehm.) DC
Echium arabicum R.
Gastrocotyle hispida (Forssk.) Bge
Heliotropium bacciferum Forssk
Heliotropium digynum (Forssk.) Aschers. ex C. Christ
Heliotropium ramosissimum (Lehm.) DC.
Lappula spinocarpos (Forssk.) Aschers.
Moltkiopsis cilitata (Forssk.) I.M. Johnston
Brassicaceae
Anastatica hierochuntica L.
Brassica tournefortii
Cakile arabica Vel. et Bornm.
Eremobium aegyptiacum ssp. lineare (Delile)
Eruca sativa Mill.
Erucaria hispanica (L.)
Farsetia aegyptia
Farsetia longisiliqua Decne
Farsetia stylosa R. Br
Horwoodia dicksoniae
Lepidium aucheri Boiss.
Leptaleum filifolium (Willd.) DC
Matthiola longipetala (Vent.)DC
Neotorularia torulosa (Desf.) Hedge et J.
Notoceras bicorne (Ait.) Amo
Schimpera arabica Hochst. et Steud
Sinapis arvensis L.
Sisymbrium irio L
Sisymbrium orientale L.
Zilla spinosa Prantl
Capparaceae
Capparis decidua (Forssk.) Edgew
Capparis spinosa L.
Cleome amblyocarpa Barr. & Murb
Caryophyllaceae
Gypsophila cappillaris (Forrsk.) C. Christ.
Herniaria hirsuta L
Paronychia arabica (L.) DC
Polycarpaea repens (Forssk.) Aschers. et Schwienf.
Polycarpaea robbairea (Kuntze) Greuter &
Pteranthus dichotomus Forssk.
Silene arabica Boiss
Silene conoidea L.
Silene villosa Forssk.
Spergula fallax (Lowe) Krause
Spergularia diandra (Guss.) Heldr. & Sart.
Chenopodiaceae
Bassia muricata (L.) Asch
Beta vulgaris L
Chenopodium murale L.
Haloxylon salicornicum (Moq.) Bge.
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus austro-aegyptiacus Abdullah & Sa’ad
Convolvulus oxyphyllusBoiss. ssp.oxycladus Rech.f
Convolvulus pilosellifolius Desr. in Lam.
Cucurbitaceae
Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad
Cucumis prophetarum L.
Euphorbiaceae
Andrachene telephoides L.
Chrozophora tinctoria (L.) Raf
Euphorbia dracunculoides Lam.
Euphorbia granulata Forssk
Fabaceae
Astragalus corrugatus Bertol.
Astragalus schimperi Boiss.
Astragalus sieberi DC
Astragalus spinosa L.
Astragalus tribuloides Del
Medicago laciniata (L.) Mill.
Melilotus indica (L.) All.
Trigonella anguina Del
Trigonella hamosa L.
Trigonella stellata Forssk.
Geraniaceae
Erodium deserti (Eig)
Erodium laciniatum (Cav.) Willd
Lamiaceae
Salvia aegyptiaca L.
Teucrium oliverianum Ging.
Teucrium polium L. (Ja’dah)
Malvaceae
Althaea ludwigii L.
Malva neglecta Wallr.
Malva parviflora L
Malva verticillata L.
Mimosaceae
Acacia gerrardii Benth. ssp. negevensis Zoh
Neuradaceae
Neurada procumbens L
Papaveraceae
Hypecoum pendulum L
Papaver rhoeas L
Plantaginaceae
Plantago amplexicaulis Cav
Plantago boissieri Hausskn. et Bornm
Plantago ciliata Desf
Plantago ovata Forssk
Plantago psammophila Agnew et Chalabi-
Polygonaceae
Emex spinosa (L.) Campd
Polygonum argyrocoleum Steudel ex Kunze
Rumex vesicarius L
Ranunculaceae
Delphinium orientale J. Gay
Resedaceae
Caylusea hexagyna (Forssk.) M.L. Green
Oligomeris linifolia (Vahl) J.F. Macbr
Reseda alba L. ssp. decursiva (Forssk.) Maire
Reseda arabica Boiss
Rhamnaceae
Ziziphus nummularia (Burm.f.) Wight et Arn.
Rutaceae
Haplophyllum tuberculatum (Forssk.) A. Juss.
Solanaceae
Lycium shawii Roem. Et Schult.
Zygophyllaceae
Fagonia glutinosa Delile
Fagonia indica Burm.f.
Peganum harmala L.
Monocotyledons
Liliaceae
Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav
Poaceae
Bromus pulchellus Fig. & De Not.
Cenchrus ciliaris L.
Centropodia forsskalii (Vahl) Cope
Cutandia memphitica (Spreng.) Benth
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.
Eragrostis barreleri Dav
Lasiurus scindicus Henr.
Lolium rigidum Gaud
Panicum turgidum Forssk.
Pennisetum divisum (Gmel.) Henr
Phalaris minor Retz
Poa annua L
Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf.
Rostraria cristata (L.) Tzvelev
Schismus barbatus (L.) Thell
Stipa capensis Thunb.
Stipagrostis drarii (Tack.) de Wint
Stipagrostis plumosa (L.) Munro ex T. Anders
Tragus racemosus (L.) All.
Triticum aestivum L
Raudhat Tanhat
Aizoaceae
Aizoon canariense
Alliaceae
Allium sindjarense
Apiaceae
Deverra sp.
Anisosciadium lanatum
Deverra sp.
Apocynaceae
Calotropis procera
Rhazya stricta
Asphodelaceae
Asphedelus tenuifolius
Asphodelus refractus
Asteraceae
Echinops sp.
Atractylis mernephthae
Scorzonera longipapposa
Filago desertorum
Rhanterium epapposum
Calendula arvensis
Picris babylonica
Anthemis sp.
Pulicaria undulata
Launaea mucronata
Launaea procumbens
Gymnarrhenia micrantha
Launaea mucronata
Launaea capitata
Launaea capitata
Asteriscus pygmaeus
Ifloga spicata
Koelpinia linearis
Artemisia monosperma
Achillea fragrantissima
Artemisia seiberi
Centaurea pseudosinaica
Tripleucrospermum auriculatum
Boraginaceae
Echium arabicum
Moltkiopsis ciliata
Heliotropium bacciferum
Heliotropium sp.
Gastrocotyle hispida
Arnebia decumbens
Brassicaceae
Horwoodia dicksoniae
Erucaria hispanica
Savignya parviflora
Schimperia arabica
Lepidium aucheri
Diplotaxis acris
Erucaria hispanica
Zilla spinosa
Horwoodia dicksoniae
Sisymbrium orientale
Diplotaxis erucoides
Schimpera arabica
Caesalpiniaceae
Senna italica
Capparaceae
Cleome amblyocarpa
Capparis decidua
Caryophyllaceae
Paronychia arabica
Paronychia arabica
Polycarpaea robbiarea
Silene arabica
Sclerocephalus arabicus
Chenopodiaceae
Bassia muricata
Chenopodium murale
Cistaceae
Helianthemum lippii
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus pilosellifolius
Convolvulus buchiricus
Convolvulus oxyphyllus ssp. oxycladus
Cucurbitaceae
Citrullus colocynthis
Euphorbiaceae
Chrozophora tinctoria
Euphorbia dracunculoides
Euphorbia retusa
Euphorbia dracunculoides
Geraniaceae
Monsonia nivea
Lamiaceae
Teucrium oliverianum
Salvia aegyptiaca
Malvaceae
Althaea ludwigii
Mimosaceae
Acacia gerrardii
Neuradaceae
Neurada procumbens
Orobanchaceae
Orobanche cernua
Papaveraceae
Hypecoum pendulum
Papilionaceae
Astragalus spinosus
Onobrychis ptolemaica
Trigonella stellata
Medicago laciniata
Astragalus tribuloides var. thapsacenus
Trigonella hamosa
Astragalus bombycinus
Trigonella hamosa
Plantaginaceae
Plantago ovata
Plantago boissieri
Poaceae
Cutandia memphitica
Hordeum murinum
Cynodon dactylon
Triticum aestivum
Rostraria cistata
Avena barbata
Bromus sp.
Phalaris minor
Cutandia memphitica
Stipa capensis
Lasirus scindicus
Polygonaceae
Rumex vesicarius
Emex spinosa
Rumex vesicarius
Calligonum comosum
Resedaceae
Caylusea hexagyna
Reseda arabica
Rhamnaceae
Ziziphus nummularia
Rutaceae
Haplophyllum tuberculatum
Scrophulariaceae
Scrophularia deserti
Solanaceae
Lycium shawii
Zygophyllaceae
Fagonia glutinosa
Fagonia bruguieri
Tribulus macropterus
Tribulus terrestris
Raudhat Khasham
Apocynaceae
Calotropis procera
Rhazya stricta
Asphodelaceae
Asphodelus tenuifolius
Asteraceae
Asteriscus pygmaeus
Calendula arvensis
Echinops sp.
Filago desertorum
Gymnarrhenia micrantha
Lactuca sp.
Launaea capitata
Picris babylonica
Pulicaria undulata
Scorzonera musillii
Tripleurospermum auriculatum
Boraginaceae
Gastrocotyle hispida
Heliotropium bacciferum
Brassicaceae
Lepidium aucheri
Sisymbrium irio
Zilla spinosa
Caryophyllaceae
Herniaria hirsuta
Paronychia arabica
Spergula fallax
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus pilosellifolius
Ephedraceae
Ephedra foliata
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia retusa
Gramineae
Cynodon dactylon
Hordeum murinum
Panicum divisum
Phlaris minor
Polypogon monsepeliensis
Schismus barbatus
Labiatae
Teucrium oliverianum
Leguminosae
Acacia gerrardii
Trigonella anguina
Trigonella stellata
Malvaceae
Althaea ludwigii
Malva parviflora
Plantaginaceae
Plantago ciliata
Plantago ovata
Polygonaceae
Emex spinosa
Resedaceae
Oligomeris linifolia
Rhamnaceae
Zizphus nummularia
Rubiaceae
Gallium aparinoides
Solanaceae
Lycium shawii
Umbelliferae
Anisosciadium lanatum
Ducrosia anethifolia
Raudhat Shams
Aizoaceae
Aizoon canariense
Asclepiadaceae
Pergularia tomentosa
Boraginaceae
Heliotropium bacciferum
Caryophyllaceae
Gymnocarpos decandrum
Paronychia robbiarea
Pteranthus dichotomus
Sclerocephalus arabicus
Spergula fallax
Cistaceae
Helianthemum lippii
Compositae
Artemisia seiberi
Asteriscus pygmaeus
Astragalus tribuloides
Filago desertorum
Launaea angustifolia
Launaea nudicaulis
Picris babylonica
Pulicaria guestii
Tripleurospermum auriculatum
Zoegea purpurea
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus fatmensis
Convolvulus pilosellifolius
Cruciferae
Anastatica heirochuntica
Lepidium aucheri
Notoceras bicorne
Sisymbrium erysimoides
Sisymbrium irio
Zilla spinosa
Cucurbitaceae
Cucumis prophetarum
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia granulata
Geraniaceae
Erodium deserti
Gramineae
Cenchrus ciliaris
Cynodon dactylon
Schismus barbatus
Stipa caapensis
Stipagrostis plumosa
Hyacinthaceae
Dipcadi erythraeum
Labiatae
Salvia aegyptiaca
Leguminosae
Acacia ehrenbergiana
Acacia raddiana
Trigonella stellata
Malvaceae
Althaea ludwigii
Malva parviflora
Plantaginaceae
Plantago amplexicaulis
Plantago ciliata
Plantago ovata
Polygonaceae
Emex spinosa
Solanaceae
Lycium shawii
Zygophyllaceae
Fagonia bruguieri
Fagonia glutinosa
Tribulus terrestris
Raudhat Spilah
Acanthaceae
Blepharis ciliaris
Asclepiadaceae
Calotropis procera
Asphodelaceae
Asphodelius tenuifolius
Asteraceae
Achillea fragrantissima
Boraginaceae
Echium arabicum
Gastrocotyle hispida
Heliotropium bacciferum
Capparaceae
Cleome amblyocarpa
Chenopodiaceae
Bassia muricata
Haloxylon salicornicum
Compositae
Calendula arvensis
Launaea capitata
Launaea mucronata
Launaea nudicaulis
Picirs babylonica
Pulicaria undulata
Scorzonera intricata
Tripleurospermum auriculatum
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus pilosellifolius
Cruciferae
Erucaria hispanica
Zilla spinosa
Gramineae
Cynodon dactylon
Stipa capensis
Stipagrostis plumosa
Labiatae
Salvia aegyptiaca
Leguminosae
Astragalus spinosa
Medicago laciniata
Trigonella stellata
Acacia gerrardii
Malvaceae
Althaea ludwigii
Malva parviflora
Plantaginaceae
Plantago amplexicaulis
Plantago ovata
Polygonaceae
Rumex vesicarius
Resedaceae
Caylusea hexagyna
Rhamnaceae
Ziziphus nummularia
Rutaceae
Haplophyllum tuberculatum
Solanaceae
Lycium shawii
Umbelliferae
Anisosciadium lanatum
Zygophyllaceae
Tribulus terrestris
Tumair
Aizoaceae
Aizoon hispanicum
Apiaceae/Umbelliferae
Anisosciadiumlanatum
Asclepiadaceae
Pergularia tomentosa
Asphodelaceae
Asphodelus tenuifolius
Asteraceae/Compositae
Achillea fragrantissima
Anvillea garcinii
Artemisia sieberi
Calendula arvensis
Carduus pycnocephalus
Filago desertorum
Ifloga spicata
Koelpinia linearis
Launaea angustifolia
Picris babylonica
Reichardia tingitana
Rhanterium epapposum
Senecio glaucus
Senecio flavus
Tripleurospermum auriculatum
Boraginaceae
Arnebia decumbens
Heliotropium bacciferum
Echium rauwolfii
Gastrocotyle hispida
Brassicaceae/Cruciferae
Savignya parviflora
Diplotaxis acris
Erucaria hispanica
Schimpera arabica
Notoceras bicorne
Capparaceae
Cleome amblyocarpa
Caryophyllaceae
Herniaria hirsuta
Paronychia arabica
Polycarpaea repens
Silene apetala
Silene arabica
Chenopodiaceae
Haloxylon salicornicum
Cistaceae
Helianthemum kahiricum
Dipsacaceae
Scabiosa oliveri
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia retusa
Andrachne telephioides
Fumariaceae
Fumaria parviflora
Iridaceae
Gynandriris sisyrinchium
Lamiaceae/Labiatae
Salvia aegyptiaca
Lallementia royleana
Leguminosae
Acacia ehrenbergiana
Astragalus vogeli var. fatmensis
Astragalus corrugatus
Astragalus hamosus
Astragalus spinosus
Astragalus tribuloides
Hippocrepis bicontorta
Medicago orbicularis
Medicago laciniata
Melilotus indica
Onobrychis ptolemaica
Trigonella stellata
Trigonella hamosa
Trigonella anguina
Liliaceae
Gagea reticulata
Neuradaceae
Neurada procumbens
Plantaginaceae
Plantago amplexicaulis
Plantago ciliata
Plantago coronopus
Plantago ovata
Plumbaginaceae
Limonium lobatum
Poaceae/Gramineae
Avena barbata
Brachypodium distachyon
Bromus rubens
Bromus fasciculatus
Cutandia memphitica
Cymbopogon commutatus
Eragrostis barrelieri
Hordeum murinum
Rostraria cristata
Schismus barbatus
Stipa capensis
Stipagrostis plumosa
Primulaceae
Anagallis arvensis
Resedaceae
Reseda muricata
Oligomeris linifolia
Caylusea hexagyna
Reseda arabica
Rutaceae
Haplophyllum tuberculatum
Zygophyllaceae
Fagonia glutinosa
Raudhat Khafs
Amaranthaceae
Haloxylon salicornicum
Apiaceae
Anisosciadium lanatum
Apocynaceae
Calotropis procera
Rhazya stricta
Asteraceae
Achillea fragrantissima
Anthemis deserti
Calendula arvensis
Filago desertorum
Launaea capitata
Launaea mucronata
Matricaria aurea
Picris babylonica
Pulicaria undulata
Boraginaceae
Echium arabicum
Brassicaceae
Cakile arabica
Eruca sativa
Erucaria hispanica
Lepidium aucheri
Schimpera arabica
Sisymbrium irio
Caryophyllaceae
Paronychia arabica
Spergula fallax
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus pilosellifolius
Leguminosae
Acacia gerrardii
Astragalus annularis
Astragalus corrugatus
Astragalus eremophilus
Astragalus haurensis
Astragalus schimperi
Astragalus spinosus
Astragalus tribuloides
Astrgalus bombycinus
Astragalus vogelli ssp. fatmensis
Trigonella anguina
Trigonella stellata
Triogonella hamosa
Malvaceae
Althaea ludwigii
Malva parviflora
Plantaginaceae
Plantago amplexicaulis
Poaceae
Cynodon dactylon
Lolium rigidum
Phalaris minor
Stipa capensis
Triticum aestivum
Polygonaceae
Emex spinosus
Polygonum argyrocoleum
Rumex vesicarius
Zygophyllaceae
Fagonia bruguieri
Raudhat Noura
Apiaceae
Anisosciadium lanatum
Apocynaceae
Calotropis procera
Rhazya stricta
Asphodelaceae
Asphodelus tenuifolius
Asteraceae
Anthemis deserti
Calendula arvensis
Filago desertorum
Launaea capitata
Matricaria aurea
Picris babylonica
Pulicaria crispa
Tripleurospermum auriculatum
Boraginaceae
Heliotropium bacciferum
Brassicaceae
Cakile arabica
Lepidium aucheri
Sisymbrium erysimoides
Zilla spinosa
Capparaceae
Cleome amblyocarpa
Caryophyllaceae
Herniaria hirsuta
Paronychia arabica
Paronychia robbiearia
Spergula fallax
Spergularia diandra
Chenopodiaceae
Haloxylon salicornicum
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus pilosellifolius
Cucurbitaceae
Citrullus colocynthis
Euphorbiaceae
Andrachene aspera
Euphorbia retusa
Leguminosae
Astragalus corrugatus
Astragalus eremophilus
Astragalus schimperi
Astragalus spinosus
Astragalus tribuloides
Astrgalus haurensis
Trigonella anguina
Trigonella hamosa
Trigonella stellata
Malvaceae
Althaea ludwigii
Malva parviflora
Plantaginaceae
Plantago amplexicaulis
Plantago ciliata
Poaceae
Brachypodium distachyon
Cynodon dactylon
Hordeum murinum
Rostraria cristata
Stipa capensis
Polygonaceae
Emex spinosa
Resedaceae
Caylusea hexagyna
Solanaceae
Lycium shawii
Zygophyllaceae
Fagonia bruguieri
Fagonia indica
Um Al Ghata
Apocynaceae
Caltropis procera
Rhazya stricta
Asphodelaceae
Asphodelus teunifolius
Boraginaceae
Gastrocotyle hispida
Caryophyllaceae
Paronychia arabica
Compositae
Calendula arvensis
Launaea mucronata
Pulicaria undulata
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus pilosellifolius
Cruciferae
Zilla spinosa
Gramineae
Schismus barbatus
Labiatae
Teucrium oliverianum
Leguminosae
Acacia gerrardii
Astragalus haurensis
Lotus halophilus
Medicago laciniata
Senna italica
Trigonella anguina
Trigonella stellata
Malvaceae
Malva parviflora
Polygonaceae
Emex spinosa
Rumex vesicarius
Solanaceae
Lycium shawii
Zygophyllaceae
Peganum harmala
Khararah, West of Riyadh
Amaranthaceae
Aerva javanica
Apocynaceae
Rhazya stricta
Calotropis procera
Leptadenia pyrotechnica
Boraginaceae
Gastrocotyle hispida
Moltkiopsis ciliata
Capparaceae
Cleome amblyocarpa
Caryophyllaceae
Polycarpaea repens
Compositae
Anthemis deserti
Artemisia monosperma
Ifloga spicata
Launaea capitata
Launaea mucronata
Picris babylonica
Pulicaria undulata
Tripleurospermum auriculatum
Cruciferae
Eremobium lineare
Erucaria hispanica
Farsetia stylosa
Lepidium aucheri
Zilla spinosa
Geraniaceae
Erodium laciniatum
Gramineae
Cenchrus ciliaris
Cynodon dactylon
Eragrostis barrelieri
Lasiurus scindicus
Panicum turgidum
Phragmites australis
Schismus barbatus
Leguminosae
Acacia ehrenbergiana
Acacia gerrardii
Senna italic
Malvaceae
Malva parviflora
Neuradaceae
Neurada procumbens
Polygonaceae
Emex spinosa
Resedaceae
Caylusea hexagyna
Ochradenus baccatus
Rhamnaceae
Ziziphus nummularia
Solanaceae
Datura innoxia
Lycium shawii
Zygophyllaceae
Fagonia indica
Tribulus terrestris