Phyto-Taxonomic Insights into the Flora of Wadi Ganona: A Case Study from Southwestern of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study affords a protaxonomic and phytosyllabic review of the plant species established at Wadi Ganona, southwestern Saudi Arabia. A total of 106 plant species were identified as follows: through an extensive collection, preparation, and identification of plant samples in the study area: 44 families and 83 genera. There is a higher specific richness in medicinal plant species, of which 39 species (36.8 percent of the total) illustrate pharmacological uses. Checklist of fodder, famine food, and threatened plant species is prepared to be used as aids to conservation. This study adheres to recent taxonomic corrections, incorporating updates to the classification of the Acacia genus, which is now divided into two distinct genera: Vachellia and Senegalia . The results suggest that Wadi Ganona plant species need to be protected and preserved to reduce desertification effects, to support the variability of species, and to prevent the loss of species that have economic and medicinal values. Measures to protect this peculiar vegetation, focusing on the further rational use of the described territory due to the violation of the balance of the biotic and abiotic components, are outlined. The present study adds to the knowledge of the force flora of the Western Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as there is a lack of such data in the published botanical literature for this area of the region and emphasizes the need to protect these invaluable resources.