Taif Region

Taif region is situated in the central foothills of the western mountains at an altitude of an approximately 2000 m above sea level (21⁰ 16` N – 40⁰ 25` E). It is an important place for the people due to its scenic views and fertile valleys which support the growth of a number of fruits and vegetables. Agriculture has been the prime economic income of Taif region. Even during pre-islamic times, farmers followed the advanced as well as traditional irrigation methods by diverting downward flowing rainwater to agriculture terraces or bringing rain water drawn from dams to irrigate parched wadis. Historically the tribes of Taif grew wheat and barley and fruits such as lime, apricot, orange, olive, fig, peaches, pomegranate, watermelons, grapes, almonds and dates. However, on the other hand, the agriculture development has to pay a heavy price for the natural vegetation of Taif region. Over the years, vast areas of virgin lands have turned into agriculture lands, which resulted in the disappearance of many wild species.

Climate

Mean monthly temperature ranges from 13.7⁰ C in January to 30.9⁰C in July. The mean maximum temperature is 37.8⁰ C in July and the mean minimum is 6.3⁰ C. The mean monthly rainfall ranges from 6.7 mm in June to 44.9 mm in May. Rainfall is characterized by irregularity and variability both space and time. In other words, Taif region enjoys an annual rainfall of about 208 mm.

Vegetation and topography of Taif region.

The rugged topographical features of the surveyed area contain a variety of land forms, ranging from high plateau, escarpments, rocky ridges, valleys, etc. Each of these habitats has its particular soil textures, water resources, microclimate as well as elevation above sea level. The top vegetation layer of the mountains is dominated by sclerophyllous woodland, comprising trees such as Juniperus procera, Juniperus phoenicea, Olea europaea, Acacia origena, etc. Vegetation in this part is somewhat luxurious with considerable cover and floristically this part has resemblances with Afromontane vegetation. Among the characteristic taxa of Juniperus woodland are: Barbeya oleoides, Buddleja polystachya, Euryops arabicus, Rumex nervosus and Dodonaea angustifolia.

Variation in altitudes affects the distribution of plant communites. A few communities are restricted to high elevations while others evenly distributed along the entire escarpments. Dodonaea angustifolia is usually found at altitude of about 1700 m, Olea europaea at 1800 m and Juniperus procera is found in areas with an altitude about 2000 m. However, overlapping of these three species can be found in many places with varying degree of species density and associations.

Approximately 343 species from 68 families are reported from the region. Major components of the vegetation are:

Trees. Juniperus procera, Acacia gerrardii, Acacia origena, Barbeya oleoides, Rhus retinorrhoea, Buddleja polystachya, Ficus palmata, Ziziphus spina-christi, Celtis Africana, Maytenus parviflora.

Shrub Dodonaea angustifolia, rumex nervosus, Withania somnifera, Opuntia ficus-indica, Solanum incanum, Otostegia fruticosa, Ochradenus baccatus, Clutia myricoides, Sageretia thea etc.

Perennial herbs Euryops arabicus, Lavandula dentata, Pulicaria undulata, Pluchea dioscoridis, Teucrium polium, Themeda triandra, Ruta chalepensis, Periploca brevicoronata, Echinops erinaceus, etc.

Acanthaceae

Barleria bispinosa (Forssk.) Vahl

Barleria trispinosa (Forssk.) Vahl

Blepharis ciliaris (L.) B.L. Burtt.

Ecbolium viride (Forssk.) Alston

Hypoestes forsskaolii (Vahl) R.Br.

Hypoestes verticillaris (L.f.) Sol. ex Roem. & Schult.

Justicia odora (Forssk.) Lam.

Peristrophe bicalyculata (Retz.) Nees

Ruellia patula Jacq.

Aizoaceae

Aizoon canariense L.

Gisekia pharnaceoides L.

Aloeaceae

Aloe sheilae Lavr.

Amarathaceae

Aerva javanica (Burm. f.) Juss. ex Schult.

Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult.

Pupalia lappacea (L.) Juss.

Anacardiaceae

Pistacia falcata Becc. ex Mart.

Apiaceae

Ferula ovina (Boiss.) Boiss.

Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

Asclepiadaceae

Borealluma tuberculata (N. E. Br.) Plowes

Caralluma retrospiciens (Ehrenb.) N.E. Br.

Caralluma sinaica (Decne. A. Berger

Desmidorchis retrospiciens Ehrenb.

Gomphocarpus sinaicus Boiss.

Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forssk.) Decne.

Pergularia tomentosa L.

Periploca aphylla Decne.

Periploca brevicornata Goyder & Boulos

Periploca somaliense Browicz

Periploca somaliensis Browicz

Asperagaceae

Asparagus stipullaris Forssk.

Asparagus africanus Lam.

Asparagus aphyllus var. stipularis (Forssk.) Bak.

Asperagus mitis A. Rich.

Asphodelaceae

Asphodelus fistulosus L.

Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav.

Asteraceae

Achillea arabica Kotschy

Achillea biebersteinii Afan.

Ambrosia maritima L.

Anthemis sp.

Calendula arvensis L.

Carduus pychocephalus L.

Conyza bonariensis (L.) Conquist

Conyza stricta Willd.

Conyza incana Willd.

Echinops spinosissimus Turra

Echinops erinaceus Kit Tan

Euryops arabicus Steud. ex Jaub. & Spach.

Felicia dentata (A. Rich.) Dandy

Helichrysum glumaceum DC.

Ifloga spicata (Forssk.) Sch.Bip.

Lactuca serrriola L.

Onopordum heteracanthum C.A. Mey.

Osteospermum vaillantii (Decne.) Norl.

Picris cyanocarpa Boiss.

Psiadia Arabica Jaub. & Spach.

Psiadia punctulata (DC.) Vatke

Pulicaria crispa (Forssk.) Benth

Pulicaria Arabica (L.) Cass.

Pulicaria undulate (L.) C.A. Mey

Rhanterium epapposum Oliv.

Sonchus oleraceus L.

Tarchonanthus camphoratus L.

Tripteris vaillantii Decne.

Verbesina enceloides (Cav.) Benth. & Hook.f.

Barbeyaceae

Barbeya oleoides Schweinf.

Boraginaceae

Alkanna orientalis (L.) Boiss.

Arnebia hispidissima (Lehm.) DC.

Echium rauwolfii Del.

Echium angustifolium Mill.

Gastrocotyle hispida (Forssk.) Bge.

Heliotropium arbainense Fresen.

Heliotropium longiflorum Hochst. & Steude.

Heliotropium pterocarpum (DC. & A.DC.) Hochst. & Steud. ex Bunge

Trichodesma africanum (L.) R.Br.

Trichodesma calathiforme Hochst.

Brassicaceae

Biscutella didyma L.

Eruca sativa Miller

Farsetia aegyptia Turra

Farsetia longisiliqua Decne.

Farsetia ramossissima Fourn.

Lepidium sativum L.

Lepidium draba L.

Lepidium africanum Boiss.

Morettia philaeana DC.

Sisymbrium erysimoides Desf.

Capparaceae

Cadaba glandulosa Forsssk.

Cadaba longifolia DC.

Capparis deciduas (Forssk.) Edgew.

Cleome ramosissimum (Lehm.) DC.

Maerua oblongifolia (Forssk.) A. Rich.

Caprifoliaceae

Lonicera etrusca Santi

Caryophyllaceae

Dianthus desertii Kotschy

Gypsophila capillaries (Forssk.) C.Chr.

Paronychia Arabica (L.) /DC.

Paronychia sinaica (L.) DC.

Polycarpaea robbairea (Kuntze) Greauter & Burdet

Sclerocephalus arabicus Boiss.

Silene macrosolon Steudel

Celastraceae

Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell

Maytenus undata (Thunb.) Blakelock

Maytenus heterophylla (Eckl. & Zeyh.) N. Robson

Maytenus parviflora (Vahl) Sebsebe

Maytenus heterophylla (Eckl. & Zeyh.) N. Robson

Chenopodiaceae

Atriplex leucoclada Boiss.

Chenopodium album L.

Chenopodium ambrosioides L.

Chenopodium album L.

Salsola tetrandra Fossk.

Salsola kali L.

Cistaceae

Helianthemum lippii (L.) Dum.-Cours.

Commelinaceae

Commelina forsskalii Vahl

Commelina Africana L.

Convolvulaceae

Convolvulus asyrensis Kotschy

Convolvulus buschiricus Bornm.

Convolvulus hystrix Vahl

Convolvulus asyrensis Kotschy

Crassulaceae

Umblicus horizontalis (Guss.) DC.

Cucurbitaceae

Coccinea grandis (L.) Voigt.

Cucumis prophetarum L.

Cupressaceae

Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl.

Juniperus phoenicea L.

Cyperaceae

Cyperus longus L.

Cyperus schimperianus Steud.

Cyperus rubicundus Vahl

Eleocharis palustris (L.) Roem. & Schult.

Scripus inclinatus Asch. & Schweinf. ex Boiss.

Dipsacaceae

Pterocephalus pulverulentus Boiss. & Blume

Ephedraceae

Ephedra camphylopoda C.A. Mey.

Ephedra foeminea Forssk.

Ephedra alata Decne.

Euphorbiaceae

Andrachne aspera Spreng.

Chrozophora verbascifolia (Willd.) A. Juss.eEx. Spreng.

Clutea lanceolata var. glabra Forssk.

Clutia myricoides Jaub. & Spach.

Euphorbia cuneata Vahl

Euphorbia schimperi Presl.

Euphorbia schimperiana Scheele

Euphorbia arabica Hochst. & Wteud.

Euphorbia granulate Forssk.

Phyllanthus rotundifolius Klein ex Willd.

Ricinus communis L.

Geraniaceae

Erodium neuradifolium Delile ex Godr.

Geranium rotundifolium L.

Geranium trilophum Boiss.

Hypericaceae

Hypericum chryrostictum Webb.

Leguminosae

Lavandula coronopifolia Poir.

Lavandula dentate L.

Lavandula pubescens Decne.

Lavandula stricta Del.

Leucas inflate Benth.

Marrubium vulgare L.

Micromeria imbricata (Forssk.) C. Chr.

Micromeria myrtifolia Boiss. & Hohen.

Nepeta deflersiana Schweinf. ex Hedge

Orthosiphon pallidus Royle ex Benth.

Otostegia fruticosa ssp. schimperi (Benth.) Sebald

Plectranthus asirensis J.R.I. Wood.

Salvia aegyptiaca L.

Salvia deserti Decne.

Salvia verbenaca L.

Salvia aegyptiaca L.

Scutellaria arabica Jaub. & Spach.

Stachys aegyptiaca Pers.

Stachys schimperi Vatke

Teucrium polium L.

Teucrium yemense Deflers.

Teucrium polium L.

Leguminosae

Acacia asak (Forssk.) Willd.

Acacia albida Del.

Acacia ehrenbergiana Hayne.

Acacia etbaica Schweinf.

Acacia gerrardii Benth.

Acacia hamulosa Benth

Acacia laeta R.Br.

Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne

Acacia abyssinica Hochst.

Acacia origena Asfaw

Anagyris foetida L.

Astragalus atropilosulus (Hochst.) Bunge

Astragalus asterias Steven

Astragalus sieberi DC.

Astragalus spinosus (Forssk.) Muschl.

Astragalus tribuloides Del.

Astragalus vogelii (Webb) Bornm

Astragalus atropilosulus ssp. abyssinicus (Hochst.) J.B. Gillett

Cassia senna L.

Crotalaria aculeate De Wild.

Crotalaria emarginella Vatke

Indigofera spinosa Forssk.

Lotus lalambensis Schweinf.

Lotus quinatus (Forssk.) Gillet

Melilotus indicus (L.) All.

Tephrosia apollinea (Del.) DC.

Trigonella stellata

Liliaceae

Gagea reticulate (Pall.) Schult & Schult f.

Linaceae

Linum corymbulosum Rchb.

Loranthaceae

Loranthus heteromorphus A. Rich.

Phragmanthera regularis (Steud. ex Sprague) M.G. Gilbert

Phragmanthera austroarabica A.G. Miller & Nyberg

Plicosepalus curviflorus (Benth. ex Oliv) Tiegh.

Lythraceae

Woodfordia uniflora (A. Rich.) Koehne

Malvaceae

Abutilon pannosum (G. Forst.) Schltdl.

Hibiscus micranthus L.f.

Hibiscus vitifolia (L.) Mattei

Malva parviflora L.

Menispermaceae

Cocculus pendulus (J.R. Forst. & G. Forst.) Diels

Moraceae

Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq.

Ficus cordata ssp. salicifolia (Vahl) C.C. Berg

Ficus vasta Forssk.

Ficus palmate Forssk.

Ficus cordata ssp. salicifolia (Vahl) C.C. Berg

Ficus palmate Forssk.

Nyctaginaceae

Boerhavia diffusa L.

Boerhavia coccinea Mill.

Boerhavia vulvariifolia Poir.

Commicarpus sinuatus Meikle

Commicarpus plumbagineus (Cav.) Standl.

Commicarpus helenae (Roem. & Schult.) Meikle

Commicarpus grandiflorus (A. Rich.) Standl.

Commicarpus mistus Thulin

Oleaceae

Jasminum grandiflorum ssp. floribundum (R.Br. Ex Fresen.) P.S. Green

Olea europaea L.

Onagraceae

Epilobium hirsutum L.

Orobanchaceae

Cistanche tubulosa (Schenk.) Hook.

Orobanche ramose L.

Oxalidaceae

Oxalis corniculata L.

Palmae

Phoenix caespitosa Chiov.

Papaveraceae

Argemone mexicana L.

Argemone ochroleuca Sweet.

Plantaginaceae

Plantago lanceolata L.

Plantago amplexicaulis Cav.

Poaceae

Anthephora hochstetteri Nees

Aristida adscensionis L.

Aristida mutabilis Trin. & Rupr.

Arthraxon lanceolatus (Roxb.) Hochst.

Brachiaria leersioides (Hochst.) Stapf

Bromus fasciculatus C. Presl

Cenchrus ciliaris L.

Cenchrus setigerus (Forssk.) Morrone

Cenchrus ciliaris L.

Danthoniopsis barbata (Nees) C.E. Hubb.

Enneapogon schimperianus (Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) Renv.

Enteropogon prieurii (Kunth) Clayton

Eragrostis papposa (Desf. ex Roem. & Schult.) Steud.

Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf.

Lamarckia aurea Moench

Lasiurus scindicus Henrard

Lolium perenne L.

Microchloa kunthii Desv.

Panicum coloratum L.

Pennisetum divisum (Forssk. ex J.F. Gmel.) Henrard

Pennisetum setaceum (Forssk.) Chiov.

Phalaris minor Retz.

Rhynchelytrum reptans (Willd.) C.E. Hubb.

Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv.

Stipagrostis obtusa (Delile) Nees

Stipagrostis plumose (L.) Munro ex T. And.

Stipagrostis uniplumis (Licht.) De Winter

Tetrapogon villosus Desf.

Tetrapogon cenchriformis (A. Rich.) Clayton

Tetrapogon spathaceus (Hochst. ex Steud.) Hack. ex T. Durand & Schinz

Tetrapogon villosus Desf.

Themeda triandra Forssk.

Tricholaena teneriffae (L.f.) Link

Vulpia muralis (Kunth)Nees

Polygalaceae

Polygala abyssinica R.Br. ex Fresen.

Polygonaceae

Calligonum comosum L’Her.

Rumex vesicarius L.

Pteridophytes

Actiniopteris semiflabellata Pitchi-Sermolli

Cheilanthes catanensis (Cosent.) H.P. Fuchs

Resedaceae

Caylusea hexagyna (Forssk.) M.L. Green

Ochradenus baccatus Delile

Reseda muricata C. Presl

Rhamnaceae

Rhamnus disperma Ehrenb. ex Boiss.

Rhamnus staddo A. Rich.

Rhamnus disperma Ehrenb. ex Boiss.

Rhamnus lycioides L.

Sageretia thea (Osbeck) M.C. Johnst.

Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf.

Rosaceae

Prunus dulcis (Mill.( D.A. Webb.

Rosa abyssinica R. Br.

Galium tricorne Stokes

Rutaceae

Haplophyllum tuberculatum Juss.

Ruta chalepensis L.

Sapindaceae

Osyris quadripartita Salzm. ex Decne.

Dodonaea angustifolia L.f.

Scrophulariaceae

Anarrhinum forsskalii (J. F. Gmel) Cuf.

Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennel

Kickxia spartioides (Brouss. ex Buch) Janch.

Lindenbergia sinica Benth.

Scrophularia deserti Delile

Scrophularia arguta Aiton

Scrophularia hypericifolia Wydler

Verbascum sinaiticum Benth.

Veronica anagallis-aquatica L.

Solanaceae

Datura innoxia Mill.

Lycium barbarum L.

Lycium shawii Roem. & Schult.

Solanum albicaule Kotschy ex Dunal

Solanum incanum L.

Solanum careens Dunal

Solanum unguiculatum A. Rich.

Solanum incanum L.

Solanum nigrum L.

Solanum schimperianum Hochst. Ex. A. Rich

Solanum villosum Mill.

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Sterculiaceae

Melhania denhamii R. Br.

Melhania philippsiae Baker f.

Melhania incana B. Heyne ex Wall.

Tamaricaceae

Tamarix mascatensis Bunge

Tamarix passerinoides Delile

Tamarix nilotica (Ehrenb.) Bunge

Tliaceae

Grewia erythraea Schweinf.

Grewia tenax (Forssk.) Fiori

Grewia tembensis Fresen.

Celtis africana Burm.f.

Urticaceae

Forsskaolea tenacissima L.

Urtica urens L.

Urtica pilulifera L.

Verbenaceae

Verbena officinalis L.

Viscaceae

Viscum schimperi Engl.

Vitaceae

Cissus quadrangularis L.

Cissus rotundifolia Vahl

Zygophyllaceae

Fagonia bruguieri DC.

Fagonia glutinosa Delile

Fagonia indica Burm.f.

Peganum harmala L.

Tribulus terrestris

var. rajasthanensis (Bhand. & Sha.) Hem. & J. Thomas