Ecological Study on Zygophyllum coccineum L. in Coastal and Inland Desert of Egypt

Abstract

Zygophyllum coccineum is very common plant in the limestone wadies and plains of the Eastern (Arabian) desert of Egypt and shows wide soil range. The present study provides an analysis of floristic composition and vegetation types of Z. coccineum at 60 sites in coastal and inland desert of Egypt, emphasizing the environmental factors that affect species distribution. A total of 79 species of the vascular plants (39 perennials, one biennial and 39 annuals) belonging to 63 genera and related to 24 families. Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Poaceae, Cruciferae and Zygophyllaceae are the largest families. Therophytes and chmaephytes are the most frequent, indicating a typical desert life-form spectrum. Chorological analysis of the study area revealed that 40.51% of the total species are Mediterranean taxa and 30.38% is Monoregional Saharo-Sindian. After application of the TWINSPAN and DCA, four groups (A-D) were identified and they were named after the characteristic species. Each group occupied a distinct type of habitats. Z. coccineum is assigned as dominant species in groups A and B or indicator species in groups C and D. Sodium, magnesium, SAR, PAR, EC and pH were the most effective soil factors on the spatial distribution of plants which showed high significant correlations with the first and second axes of CCA ordination diagram.