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Checklist and life forms of plant species in contrasting climatic zones of Libya

Authors:
Tarek A Mukassabi at University of Benghazi
Tarek A Mukassabi
Gousn Ahmidat
Gousn Ahmidat
Gousn Ahmidat
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Imhamed M Sherif
Imhamed M Sherif
Imhamed M Sherif
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Abdusslam Elmogasapi at University of Benghazi
Abdusslam Elmogasapi
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Abstract and Figures

Little is still known about the composition and distribution of vegetation in the Mediterranean and Sahara regions of Libya, the two dominant climatic areas. In this study we identified the plant species and life form from a typical site in each region to assess the current state of the vegetation type. In the Mediterranean site, 238 plant species were found; therophytes formed 59% of the species identified, and included 11 endemic species, i.e. 15 % of all Libyan endemic species. In the Saharan site, only 167 plant species and 2 endemic species were found, also dominated by therophytes (49%). Three new record species for Libya were identified in the Saharan site. This study represents the first stage to explore a recently neglected flora.
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... In 2020 [45] studied Wadi Al-Hamar region and collected 112 species related to 93 genera and belonging to 31 families with the record of two endemic species. However, little is still unknown about the composition and distribution of the vegetation cover in Libya [31,43,44]. ...
... In general, endemism in Libyan is very low, as only about 4% of Libyan species are endemic[30]. In comparison, several endemic plants were recorded in other regions in Libya;[26] recorded 6 endemic species in South El-Marj,[41] published a record of 19 endemic species in their study,[43] recorded the presence of 11 endemic species in the Mediterranean region and 2 endemics in the desert region, [5] found 7 Libyan endemic species in Al-Abyar and Solouk regions, [6] collected 18 endemics in Wadi Al-Agar in Al-Jabal Akhdar, [3] recorded 4 endemics in Wadi Ka'am region and [45] recorded only 2 endemics in Wadi Al-Hamar area. Indeed, Al-Jabal Al-Akhadar region has been recorded as ...
The natural vegetation cover of Al-Dafna plateau in Northeast Tobruk, Libya.
Article
Full-text available
  • Aug 2022
Abstract: The main objective of this study is to assess the current status of the vegetative cover and the biological diversity in Al-Dafna plateau, as the selected study area has never been botanically studied before. A vegetation survey was conducted in the period between 2019-2022 for three consecutive growing seasons. The total number of the recorded plant species surveyed in the study area is 182 species belonging to 36 different families and 139 genera of vascular plants, representing 8.71% of the total species, 16.46% of total genera and 24.82% of total plant families in Libyan flora. These species were classified into three major groups according to their duration (life-span) as follows 62 perennial (55.33%), 118 annual (83.56 %) and 2 biennial species (3..1%). The distribution among the collected plants was characterised by a high proportion of annuals. Asteraceae had the highest contribution 31 species (17%), followed by Fabaceae 21 species (12%), Amaranthaceae 19 species (10%), Brassicaceae 16 species (9%) and Poaceae 12 species (7%). The results showed the largest genera were Plantago L. and Polygonum L. as each genus contained 5 species. Moreover, thirteen wild medicinal plant species were recorded. Importantly, six endemic species were recorded in the study area, representing 7% of the total endemic plant species in Libya. This study concludes that there is a significant diversity of plant species in the area of study. From this study, it seems that overgrazing has the grandest impact on vegetation cover in Al-Dafna plateau. The results of the present research suggest that conservation strategies should be taken to preserve the plant community structure in Al-Dafna plateau. Keywords: Al-Dafna plateau – Libyan flora – endemic plant species – vegetation - Libya.
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... In 2020 [45] studied Wadi Al-Hamar region and collected 112 species related to 93 genera and belonging to 31 families with the record of two endemic species. However, little is still unknown about the composition and distribution of the vegetation cover in Libya [31,43,44]. ...
... In general, endemism in Libyan is very low, as only about 4% of Libyan species are endemic[30]. In comparison, several endemic plants were recorded in other regions in Libya;[26] recorded 6 endemic species in South El-Marj,[41] published a record of 19 endemic species in their study,[43] recorded the presence of 11 endemic species in the Mediterranean region and 2 endemics in the desert region, [5] found 7 Libyan endemic species in Al-Abyar and Solouk regions, [6] collected 18 endemics in Wadi Al-Agar in Al-Jabal Akhdar, [3] recorded 4 endemics in Wadi Ka'am region and [45] recorded only 2 endemics in Wadi Al-Hamar area. Indeed, Al-Jabal Al-Akhadar region has been recorded as ...
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... In 2020 [45] studied Wadi Al-Hamar region and collected 112 species related to 93 genera and belonging to 31 families with the record of two endemic species. However, little is still unknown about the composition and distribution of the vegetation cover in Libya [31,43,44]. ...
... In general, endemism in Libyan is very low, as only about 4% of Libyan species are endemic[30]. In comparison, several endemic plants were recorded in other regions in Libya;[26] recorded 6 endemic species in South El-Marj,[41] published a record of 19 endemic species in their study,[43] recorded the presence of 11 endemic species in the Mediterranean region and 2 endemics in the desert region, [5] found 7 Libyan endemic species in Al-Abyar and Solouk regions, [6] collected 18 endemics in Wadi Al-Agar in Al-Jabal Akhdar, [3] recorded 4 endemics in Wadi Ka'am region and [45] recorded only 2 endemics in Wadi Al-Hamar area. Indeed, Al-Jabal Al-Akhadar region has been recorded as ...
The natural vegetation cover of Al-Dafna plateau in Northeast Tobruk, Libya
Article
  • Aug 2022
Abstract: The main objective of this study is to assess the current status of the vegetative cover and the biological diversity in Al-Dafna plateau, as the selected study area has never been botanically studied before. A vegetation survey was conducted in the period between 2019-2022 for three consecutive growing seasons. The total number of the recorded plant species surveyed in the study area is 182 species belonging to 36 different families and 139 genera of vascular plants, representing 8.71% of the total species, 16.46% of total genera and 24.82% of total plant families in Libyan flora. These species were classified into three major groups according to their duration (life-span) as follows 62 perennial (55.33%), 118 annual (83.56 %) and 2 biennial species (3..1%). The distribution among the collected plants was characterised by a high proportion of annuals. Asteraceae had the highest contribution 31 species (17%), followed by Fabaceae 21 species (12%), Amaranthaceae 19 species (10%), Brassicaceae 16 species (9%) and Poaceae 12 species (7%). The results showed the largest genera were Plantago L. and Polygonum L. as each genus contained 5 species. Moreover, thirteen wild medicinal plant species were recorded. Importantly, six endemic species were recorded in the study area, representing 7% of the total endemic plant species in Libya. This study concludes that there is a significant diversity of plant species in the area of study. From this study, it seems that overgrazing has the grandest impact on vegetation cover in Al-Dafna plateau. The results of the present research suggest that conservation strategies should be taken to preserve the plant community structure in Al-Dafna plateau. Keywords: Al-Dafna plateau – Libyan flora – endemic plant species – vegetation - Libya.
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... Local researchers recently conducted some surveys examined the AL-Jabal AL-Akhdar area (North-Eastern section of Libya) due to its flora, vegetation cover, biodiversity, climate, and ecological relevance. (Mukassabi et al., 2012;Al-Traboulsi and Alaib, 2021;Omar et al., 2021). The current study aimed to vegetation analysis in AL-Jabal AL-Akhdar, and these records not only provide an important baseline for the floristic elements, but they also provide authoritative information about the distribution of these species. ...
Vegetation Analysis of Cyrene (Campus apollo) Shahat AL-Jabal AL-Akhdar, Libya Pages ( )
Article
Full-text available
  • Jun 2024
The present study addressed the analysis of the natural vegetation in the Cyrene (campus apollo) ShahatAL-Jabal AL-Akhdar, Libya, by using the quadrate method. The diversity of vegetation at the site was estimated using nine quadrates. The dominant plant species were determined by the Importance Value Index (IVI) and were the most dominant species; Phlomis floccosa D. (IVI, 33.78%), Geranium molle L. (IVI,18.46%), and Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach. (IVI, 17%). The spatial distribution of vegetation in the study area was also studied by taking the (IVI) of each species within each quadrat and applying it to the Classification and ordination of communities, and by entering the data of the (IVI) for 9 quadrats and applying it to a Community Analysis Package (CAP) Program for the Classification and ordination of communities, and by using a technique Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN), which includes the Dendrogram and Detrended Correspondence analysis (DCA), done classification of vegetation in the study area into two communities, that according to the similarity between the quadrats and the prevailing dominance of the species in each community. Climatic variables were also taken (rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature), a ten-year average was calculated via data obtained from the Libyan National Meteorological Center, physical and chemical analyzes of soil was also carried out. ‫حتليل‬ ‫الغطاء‬ ‫النبايت‬ ‫يف‬ ‫قورينا‬ (‫حرم‬ ‫ابولو‬) ‫شحات‬ ، ‫اجلبل‬ ‫االخضر‬ ، ‫ليبيا‬ ‫إنصاف‬ ‫حسني‬ ‫دخيل‬ ‫محيدة‬ ‫مصطفى‬ ‫السنوسي‬ ‫رانيا‬ ‫فرج‬ ‫حممد‬ ‫ايناس‬ ‫حممد‬ ‫سعد‬. ‫شحات‬ ‫أبولو)‬ ‫(حرم‬ ‫القريوان‬ ‫منطقة‬ ‫يف‬ ‫الطبيعي‬ ‫النبايت‬ ‫الغطاء‬ ‫حتليل‬ ‫احلالية‬ ‫الدراسة‬ ‫تناولت‬ ‫باستخدام‬ ‫ليبيا،‬ ‫األخضر،‬ ‫اجلبل‬ ‫امل‬ ‫طريقة‬ ‫ربعات‬ ‫باستخدام‬ ‫املوقع‬ ‫يف‬ ‫النبايت‬ ‫الغطاء‬ ‫تنوع‬ ‫تقدير‬ ‫مت‬. ‫تسع‬ ‫مربعات.‬ ‫خالل‬ ‫من‬ ‫السائدة‬ ‫النباتية‬ ‫األنواع‬ ‫حتديد‬ ‫مت‬ (‫األمهية‬ ‫قيمة‬ ‫مؤشر‬ IVI ‫ًا؛‬ ‫انتشار‬ ‫األكثر‬ ‫األنواع‬ ‫وكانت‬) Phlomis floccosa D. (IVI, 33.78%) ، IVI,18.46%) Geranium molle L. ،) ‫و‬) Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach. 17 % IVI .) (‫بيانات‬ ‫إدخال‬ ‫خالل‬ ‫من‬ ‫الدراسة‬ ‫منطقة‬ ‫يف‬ ‫النبايت‬ ‫للغطاء‬ ‫املكاين‬ ‫التوزيع‬ ‫دراسة‬ ‫متت‬ ‫كما‬ IVI ‫يف‬ ‫وتطبيقها‬) (‫اجملتمعي‬ ‫التحليل‬ ‫حزمة‬ ‫برنامج‬ CAP ‫حتليل‬ ‫تقنية‬ ‫وباستخدام‬ ‫اجملتمعات،‬ ‫وتنسيق‬ ‫لتصنيف‬) ‫الثنائي‬ ‫املؤشر‬ ‫ذات‬ ‫األنواع‬ (TWINSPAN ‫حتليل‬ ‫تتضمن‬ ‫واليت‬ ،) Dendrogram (‫املنحرفة‬ ‫املراسالت‬ ‫وحتليل‬ DCA ‫الغطاء‬ ‫تصنيف‬ ‫مت‬ ،) ‫جمتمع.‬ ‫كل‬ ‫يف‬ ‫النوع‬ ‫وسيادة‬ ‫املربعات‬ ‫بني‬ ‫التشابه‬ ‫حسب‬ ‫وذلك‬ ‫جمتمعني‬ ‫إىل‬ ‫الدراسة‬ ‫منطقة‬ ‫تقسيم‬ ‫ومت‬ ‫النبايت‬ ‫أخذ‬ ‫مت‬ ‫كما‬ ‫األ‬ ‫(هطول‬ ‫املناخية‬ ‫املتغريات‬ ‫متوسط‬ ‫حساب‬ ‫ومت‬ ‫والصغرى)،‬ ‫العظمى‬ ‫احلرارة‬ ‫درجة‬ ‫مطار،‬ ‫خالل‬ ‫من‬ ‫سنوات‬ ‫العشر‬ ‫للتربة.‬ ‫والكيميائية‬ ‫الفيزيائية‬ ‫التحاليل‬ ‫إجراء‬ ‫مت‬ ‫كما‬ ‫الليبية،‬ ‫اجلوية‬ ‫لألرصاد‬ ‫الوطين‬ ‫املركز‬ ‫من‬ ‫عليها‬ ‫احلصول‬ ‫مت‬ ‫اليت‬ ‫البيانات‬ Ensaf, H. Dakeel , et al., 2024 Vol, 6 No.
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... Because of its flora, vegetation cover, biodiversity, climate, and ecological significance, the Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar area (in northeastern Libya) was the subject of recent assessments undertaken by local researchers. (Al-Traboulsi and Alaib, 2021;Omar et al., 2021;Mukassabi et al., 2012), still there is a lack of knowledge and data. Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar is a significant area for ecology. ...
Survey of Plant Species in Cyrene (Campus apollo) Shahat AL-Jabal AL-Akhdar, Libya
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2024
The main objective of this study was to survey plants on the campus of Apollo, located in the Shahat area. The vegetation sampling was carried out between November 2021 to May 2023 with several field trips to the study area, and make a preliminary list dealing with the floristic composition. 194 species belonging to 160 genera and 57 families were recorded, identified in the Herbarium and arranged using the Engler system. Pteridophyta were represented by one species one family, and 4 species 3 families of Gymnosperms, while the remaining 53 families belong to Angiosperms, Dicotyledon were represented by 43 families 154 species and Monocotyledon 10 families 35 species. The most dominant families were Asteraceae (14%), Poaceae family (11%), followed by Fabaceae family (9%). As for life forms, they were classified according to Raunkiaer and were the most dominant as Therophytes (48%), Chamaephytes (15%), and Geophytes (11%).
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... Paronychia argentea L. is a wild herb that belongs to Caryophyllaceae family, and is commonly named as (Rejelel-Al-Hamama) or (Shoishet el-raei) (Abuhamdah, et al., 2013). This herbal plant grows wild in waste places, uncultivated fields margins and field boarders (Braca, et al., 2008) of many countries such as, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Egypt (Gad, et al., 2012), Libya (Mukassabi, et al., 2012), Spain, Algeria, (Gonz´alez-Tejero, et al., 2008) and ...
In Vitro Propagation and Enhancement of Quercetins and Isorhamnetin Production in Wild Paronychia argentea L
Article
Full-text available
  • Feb 2020
Paronychia argentea is a herbal plant that grows wildly in Jordan and frequently used in folk medicine for treatment of many ailments, which exposed this plant to over collection and decline. Till now, there are few scientific researches on Paronychia argentea in terms of in vitro propagation and medicinal properties. This study aimed to experiment the possibility of propagating this plant via tissue culture approach, and to asses accumulation of quercetins, and isorhamnetin in the resulted microshoots. To achieve this aim, nodal segment from pre-established microshoots were transferred into different types of shoot multiplication media for shoot proliferation, while the resulted microshoots were inoculated into rooting media to test their rooting abilities. Meanwhile, amounts of querceins and isorhamnetin as affected by shooting media type were determined in the in vitro grown microshoots. Successful shoot proliferation was obtained in most treatments, while maximum number of microshoots (3.5 shoots/ explant) was recorded in cultures grown in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium plus 1.5 mg/L TDZ. Meanwhile, best rooting (5.9 roots/ explant) was recorded in cultures grown in MS medium plus 0.5 mg/L IBA. Moreover, maximum amounts of quercetins and isorhamnetin (1.867 and 1.376 ppm) were extracted from microshoots pregrown on MS media plus 0.5 mg/L TDZ. Generally, our results indicated that 0.5 mg/L TDZ was the best growth regulator to be added to the growth media of Paronychia argentea L. as it yielded a reasonable number of microshoots containing maximum amounts of quercetins and isorhamnetin as well. Our results can open the gate for more research on other in vitro approaches that can be applied to enhance production of such valuable compounds in this plant.
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... This study is amongst a few studies which focused specifically on this part of the Libyan Desert. Mukassabi et al. (2012) published a checklist and life-forms in two different climatic areas in Libya: Mediterranean and Desert climatic zones. In this study, a total of 238 species with 11 endemics were collected from the Mediterranean area, and 167 species with two endemics were collected from the desert area. ...
Our present knowledge about the history and composition of the vegetation and flora of Libya.
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 2019
Although the documentation of data about the Libyan vegetation began since ancient time and modern studies started at the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Libyan flora is not fully understood, particularly in the interior lands, the southern mountains, desert valleys and depressions, and, of course, the northern valleys. The number of recorded Libyan plants is about 2082 species; this is not commensurate with the vast area of Libya (1.75 million km2), nor with the significant variation amongst the various ecotypes in the different biogeographical zones of the country. Therefore, the flora and vegetation survey in Libya is still an open field of study, and the ease and continuous recording of new species demonstrate the necessity to document the bibliography of the flora and conduct more detailed investigations. Furthermore, an arbitration process and scrutiny of the collected plant specimens to produce an updated checklist and modern classification of the flora does not exist yet. This study is an attempt to provide a detailed and closed review of the literature and afford updated data about the composition of the flora, which could be an important step for initiating a reassessment and updating of the vegetation and flora of Libya.
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... This study is amongst a few studies which focused specifically on this part of the Libyan Desert. Mukassabi et al. (2012) published a checklist and life-forms in two different climatic areas in Libya: Mediterranean and Desert climatic zones. In this study, a total of 238 species with 11 endemics were collected from the Mediterranean area, and 167 species with two endemics were collected from the desert area. ...
Our present knowledge about the history and composition of the vegetation and flora of Libya
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 2019
Although the documentation of data about the Libyan vegetation began since ancient time and modern studies started at the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Libyan flora is not fully understood, particularly in the interior lands, the southern mountains, desert valleys and depressions, and, of course, the northern valleys. The number of recorded Libyan plants is about 2082 species; this is not commensurate with the vast area of Libya (1.75 million km 2), nor with the significant variation amongst the various ecotypes in the different biogeographical zones of the country. Therefore, the flora and vegetation survey in Libya is still an open field of study, and the ease and continuous recording of new species demonstrate the necessity to document the bibliography of the flora and conduct more detailed investigations. Furthermore, an arbitration process and scrutiny of the collected plant specimens to produce an updated checklist and modern classification of the flora does not exist yet. This study is an attempt to provide a detailed and closed review of the literature and afford updated data about the composition of the flora, which could be an important step for initiating a reassessment and updating of the vegetation and flora of Libya.
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... Also, design of these new natural areas and restoration sites to enhance the resilience of the local vegetation to the lack of annual precipitation and increase in the temperature is another advantageous strategy (Lovejoy, 2005). Ecological restoration projects established along elevational gradients in the Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar will be a practical strategy for certain native taxa, since some particular native species have been missed from sites where they used to be dominant (Mukassabi et al., 2012). Furthermore, focusing conservation resources on species that might become extinct is another strategy that should be considered, giving priority to establishing the new reserves on sites or areas where the species concerned are still found. ...
Medicinal plants in Cyrenaica, Libya: existence and extinction
Article
Full-text available
  • Aug 2017
Cyrenaica is a distinguished region located in the south of the Mediterranean region. Eighty-nine plant taxa were collected and identified as having medicinal properties from four main valleys in Cyrenaica in 2001 and 2013. Collections included the same 47 families in both years, dominated by Lamiaceae (9%) followed by Apiacea (8%) and Asteraceae (7%); only two of these species collected were endemic. Species frequency was assessed in both years and showed a dramatic decrease in 25 taxa over all sites. Regression analysis was applied to determine which plant families in Cyrenaica are more likely to contain species with medicinal compounds. Climate change was clearly noticeable in the last few decades; metrological data showed an increase in the mean monthly temperate and a decline in the annual rainfall over the whole area. This study concludes that there is a significant diversity of medicinal plant species on the southern edge of the Mediterranean which is being disturbed and some of wild native plant species could be under threat. Findings of this work suggest that conservation strategies should take place urgently; and suggest a number of important strategies that could be effective to preserve the plant community structure in this area.
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Effects of Topography and Monsoon Rain on Vegetation Composition of Sandy Arid Areas of District Khairpur Mir’s
Article
Full-text available
  • Sep 2017
Present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of monsoon rains and topography on plant communities of desert ecosystem of District Khairpur. The study was conducted at three desert sites differing in topography i.e. Kotdiji sand dunes, Ubhan Shah flat dunes and Sorah inter dunes, designated as site A, B and C respectively using quadrate method. The data of plant communities were recorded twice in a year during study period i.e. pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons and compared. The 35 plant species formed five plant communities at three sites. At site A Aerva - Calligonum-Leptadenia, formed pre-monsoon community and Aerva - Leptadenia–Salvadora formed post monsoon community. At site B, Aerva-Calligonum-Leptadenia and AervaLeptadenia-Citrullus formed pre and post monsoon communities respectively. While at site C, Calotropis-Alhagi, were dominant at pre and post monsoon. L. pyrotechnica showed significant correlation with C. colosynthesis and S. oleoides.
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SOIL ANALYSIS AND ITS RELATION TO LAND USE IN E-MARJ PLAIN, CYRENAICA
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 1968
Mari Plain is known to Europeans as the Barce Plain. The hin is situated in the west of the Jebel Akhdar, on the area intween the first and the second escarpment, known as the upper sonrace (Fig. 1). At the south-western end of the terrace karst' ansion has predominated and has advanced so far as to create a series of inland drainage basins; these, with their thick deposits of Terra Rossa, form the fertile plains of El-Marj (Barce), Siline and El-Abiar (Fig. 2). El-Marj Plain is a closed basin. The basin has a subvalley shape and it mainly extends south-west/north east. It is 42 kms. long and 12 kms. wide. The lowest point of the basin is 276 above sea level, situated one kilometer to the north-east of Old El-Marj town, and occupied by an intermittent lake in the winter, known as El-Ghariq.
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Deserts of the Middle East
Chapter
  • Jan 2001
The term “Middle East” has no standard definition. During and after the World War II, it has been used to define a region covering all the Arab states of southwest Asia, including Turkey, Iran, Palestine and Cyprus. In many definitions Sudan, Egypt and Libya are also regarded as Middle Eastern countries; sometimes, Afghanistan is included as well. The constant use of “Middle East” to describe this region in communiqués and amongst military personnel during World War II made the term familiar to a large public. The present author feels uneasy at using to such a term, because he cannot help wondering east of what and middle of what? In this book the term is used to describe a vast area consisting of desert countries in that part of the world, i.e. many of the Arab countries, Israel and Iran (Fig. 1).
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Environment and the Structure of Scrub Communities on the Limestone Plateaux of Northern Cyrenaica
Article
  • Jul 1954
1. The limestone massif of northern Cyrenaica rises from the Mediterrean in three great `steps' to an altitude of over 2000 ft. (610 m.). As a result of a system of faults running parallel with the coast, three plateaux are constituted, each rising to the next by steep, wall-like north-facing escarpment slopes. The three plateaux are situated as follows: (1) coastal plateau, which in parts is divided into a shore zone and a terrace platform; (2) plateau at about 800 ft. (244 m.) altitude; (3) dissected plateau at about 2300 ft. (700 m.) altitude. 2. The climate is Mediterranean in regime. The upper plateaux receive a higher rainfall, with lower temperatures and humidity than the coastal regions, where summer drought is very severe. 3. A line-transect from the sea to the top of the first escarpment slope traces the disappearance of the maritime element from the vegetation, and the development of a simple, open form of batha scrub, dominated by Poterium spinosum, on the coastal plateau. On the north-facing scarp slopes this is enriched by the entry of species belonging to the maquis formation of the higher plateaux. On south-facing slopes, however, the essentially Mediterranean Poterium association is replaced by species showing affinities with the Irano-Turanian floristic element (Mauritano-steppe subgroup). 4. On the highest plateau, well-developed Poterium spinosum batha is present, as well as two maquis associations (one dominated by Pistacia lentiscus and the other a mixed maquis in which the endemic Arbutus pavarii is prominent) and remnants of a `forest' climax with Cupressus sempervirens, Juniperus phoenicea, Olea europaea, Quercus coccifera, Ceratonia siliqua and Pinus halepensis. 5. Evidence is presented for regarding the maquis and batha communities as degradation products of the `forest'. It is further suggested that the main factor causing degradation is grazing, leading to exposure and erosion of the shallow soil. 6. Redevelopment of a stable soil and vegetation depends upon encouragement and protection of the natural communities, as well as planting species which provide effective cover and make economical use of sparse water supplies.
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Our present knowledge on the flora and vegetation of libya bibliography
Article
  • Jan 1972
A short account on the geography and climate of Libya is given. The estimated number of epithets in the Libyan flora is 1,600 species and 600 infraspecific epithets. The history of botanical exploration in Libya is chronologically dealt with. Important collections and their contributors from 1703 till the present time are mentioned. A comprehensive bibliography on the natural history of Libya is given. It includes 791 references covering studies dealing with flora and vegetation and such related topics as forestry, horticulture, climatology, geography and travels. Literature on cryptogams is excluded. The accumulation of this bibliography will be a step towards preparing a flora of Libya.
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