Vegetation analysis of Wadi Al-Jufair, a hyper-arid region in Najd, Saudi Arabia
A., Alatar, . 2012
Wadi Al-Jufair, a tributary of Wadi Nisah, is one of the important wadis of Najd region
(Saudi Arabia) sheltering a rich diversity of higher plants. The study area is extended into approximately
15 km2 encompassing the commonest geomorphological features encountered in desert
wadis. The wadi supports several rare plants, including Maerua crassifolia Forssk., a regionally
endangered tree, and Acacia oerfota (Forssk.) Schweinf., a rare shrub with restricted distribution.
The present study aims to analyze the vegetation of wadi Al-Jufair and propose its designation
as an important plant reserve. The vegetation type is fundamentally of chamaephytic nature with
some phanerophytes, and distinguished into associations where the dominant perennial species give
the permanent character of plant cover in each habitat. Four vegetation groups were identified with
the application of TWINSPAN, DCA and CCA programs and named after the characteristic species
as follows: Lycium shawii; A. oerfota; Acacia raddiana–Rhazya stricta and Artemisia monosperma.
These plant associations demonstrate significant variation in soil texture, moisture, organic
matter, pH, EC, and minerals of Wadi Al-Jufair.
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