Asir Mountains
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Asir Mountains |
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Raida Escarpments
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The vegetation of Asir is very interesting and consists of a variety of species. The west facing escarpment and the top are subjected to fog/cloud condensation in addition to seasonal rainfall. The mountains which have an altitude of about 3100 m have three or more layers of vegetation. The top layer consists of Juniperus procera, Nuxia congesta, Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Maesa lanceolata, Teclea nobilis, etc. The second layer consists of small trees or tall shrubs such as Olea europaea, Buddleja polystachya, Grewia spp. Dodonaea angustifolia, Debregeasia saenab, Carissa edulis, Ehretia obtusifolia, Canthium spp., etc. The third and fourth layer is formed of a number of dwarf shrubs and herbs. The density of the vegetation is varies from very dense in narrow west facing gullies to open and sparse on exposed slopes. The density of Juniperus trees decreases eastwards of the escarpments. On the eastern slopes of the mountains, the vegetation is sparse, mostly dominated by Acacia trees and some other xerophytes such as Euphorbia, Adenia, Aloe, etc. |
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Following is a consolidated list of species present in various habitats of the Asir Mountains. This list is based on preliminary studies conducted in the area, and is not necessarily reflecting the true characteristics of the Asir Mountains. |
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A. Low altitude areas (Hillocks and Foot hills- 400-1000m). a. Slopes Acacia abyssinica Acacia asak Acacia ehrenbergiana Acacia etbaica Acacia hamulosa Acacia mellifera Acacia tortilis Adenium obesum Aerva javanica Anisotes trisulcus Barleria bispinosa Berchemia discolor Buddleja polystachya Cadaba glandulosa Combretum molle Commiphora kataf Commiphora myrrha Euphorbia cuneata Gomphocarpus sinaicus Grecia tenax Justicia flava Maerua crassifolia Premna resinosa Pupalia lappacea
b. Runnels, disturbed ground, plains Abutilon spp. Aloe officinalis Argemone mexicana Calotropis procera Ceropegia spp. Cordia ovalis Blepharis ciliaris Datyloctenium scindicum Heliotropium longiflorum Ricinus communis Senna italica Sida ovata Solanum incanum
C. Altitude between 1600-2200 m Abutilon bidentatum Acacia albida Acacia etbaica Acacia negrii Buddleja polystachya Acacia seyal Achillea biebersteinii Acokanthera schimperi Aloe spp. Argyrolobium arabicum Asparagus africanus Barleria acanthodes Barleria proxima Cadia purpurea Campanula edulis Cluytia myricoides Commicarpus grandiflorus Conyza incana Cordia africana Dichrostachys cinerea Diospyros mespiliformis Dodonaea angustifolia Euclea schimperi Euphorbia ammak Gomphocarpus fruticosus Heliotropium longiflorum Hyperium rovolutum Jasminum grandiflorum Justicia flava Justicia odora Kleinia odora Lycium shawii Maerua crassifolia Moringa peregrine Olea chrysophylla Otostegia fruticosa Plicosepalus curviflorus Pulicaria glutinosa Pulicaria schimperi Rhus retinorrhoea Rosa abyssinica Ruellia patula Senecio asirensis Teclea nobilis Trichodesma calathiforme Verbascum yemense
E. Rainshadow regions of the Eastern slopes (between 1500-2000 m Acacia ehrenbergiana Acacia seyal Acacia tortilis Adenium obesum Aerva javanica Calotropis procera Citrullus colocynthis Cocculus pendulus Cordia sinensis Ecbolium gymnostachym Echinops sp. Euphorbia spp. Indigofera spinosa Lycium shawii Salvadora persica Ziziphus spina-christi |
B. Altitude between 1000-1600 m a. Slopes Acacia asak Acacia etbaica Acacia tortilis Acalypha racemosa Adenia venenata Anisotes trisulcus Barleria trispinosa Blepharis ciliaris Buddleja polystachya Cenchrus ciliaris Danthoniopsis barbata Dichrostachys cinerea Eragrostis papposa Euclea schimperi Ficus cordata ssp. salicifolia Ficus plamata Ficus sycamorus Hibiscus diflersii Hyparrhenia hirta Kleinia odora Leucas glabrata Pennisetum setaceum Polygala tinctoria Pulicaria crispa Tephrosia pumila Terminalia brownie Tetrapogon villosus
b. Water course community Acacia laeta Aloe sabea Alternanthera pungens Astragalus atropilisulus Astragalus corrugatus Centaurea pseudosinaica Cissus rotundifolia Coccinea grandis Combretum molle Commicarpus plumbagineus Datura stramonium Picus cordata ssp. salicifolia Ficus vasta Hibiscus vitifolius Nuxia oppositifolia Ocimum americanum Plumbago zeylanica Tamarindus indica Themeda triandra Verbascum bottae Withania somnifera Ziziphus spina-christi
D. High altitude areas ( between 2200-3100 m) Acacia negrii Achyranthes aspera Anagyris foetida Anarrhinum orientale Asparagus africanus Cadia purpurea Celtis africana Cenchrus ciliaris Centaurothamnus maximum Crinum album Dodonaea angustifolia Dracaena serrulata Juniperus procera Lavandula dentata Lonicera etrusca Marrubium vulgare Maytenus undata Micromeria imbricate Minuartia filifolia Nepeta deflersiana Nuxia oppositifolia Olea chrysophylla Otostegia fruticosa Pennisetum villosum Pistacia falcata Rumex nervosus Scadoxus multiflorus Senecio asirensis Senecio hadiensis Tagetus minuta Teucrium yemense
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site designed and maintained by dr. jacob thomas, dept. of botany & microbiology, king saud university, riyadh. |
