Current knowledge of plant ecology in the Arab Gulf Countries

TLDR: In this article, a compilation of the available information about the plant ecology and the plant life in the Arab Gulf countries is presented, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

Abstract: The study is a compilation of the available information about the plant ecology and the plant life in the Arab Gulf Countries. These countries include: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates; with an area of 2560074 sq.km. Records obtained by the author during the excursion and botanical studies in these countries are included. The climatological data and the physiography of the area are investigated as regards their influence on the plant life. The plant communities recorded by the different investigators and by the author are given. These communities comprise three main groups, namely, a) desert plant communities, dominated by grasses (5), sedges (1), under-shrubs (17), shrubs and trees (13), b) halophytic plant communities (9), c) mountainous plant communities (5). The rhythmic, irregular, developmental and retrogressive changes in the vegetation are investigated. The direct and indirect effects of the human activities on the desert vegetation are discussed.