Flora and vegetation of the different habitats of the western Mediterranean region of Egypt.

Abstract

The present study aims to assess the relation between the floristic composition and the different habitats charcterizing the western Mediterranean region of Egypt, determine the community types that dominate the study area; and evaluating the rarity of the recorded species. Nine hundred and sixty eight species (belonged to 429 genera and 97 family) were recorded; 363 species were restricted to one habitat, while only one species occured in all the 13 habitats. Asteraceae had the highest contribution, followed by Fabaceae, Poaceae and Brassicaceae. The most represented life form was therophytes, while parasites were the least. Six habitat groups were resulted after the application of 1WINSPAN and DCA. Mediterranean elements were the most represented, followed by Irano-Turanian, but Sudano­ Zambezian elements were the least. Twenty endemics and 21 near endemic species were recorded. Species which had small geographical distribution, narrow habitat specificity and were non-abundant (SNN) were the most represented, while species had large geographical distribution, wide habitat specificity and non-abundant (LWN) were the least. Forty one species were recorded as introduced species in the study area. Therecent land use led to the emergence of new invasive species, which may severely affect the plant diversity and community structure of the study area.