Flora and Vegetation of the Eastern Desert of Egypt

The Eastern Desert of Egypt occupies 21% (c. 223000 km2) of the total area of Egypt. From the early beginnings of the last century, this desert attracted scientists, especially botanists, to study its flora, ecology and vegetation. This study (between Latitudes 30°00ˈN and 24°00ˈN) included an up-to-date checklist of its flora, quantitative analysis of its vegetation, patterns of species distribution, and a proposed phytogeographical map based on GIS analysis techniques of 500 geo-referenced sites as a preliminary step towards a general vegetation map. Classification of the vegetation yielded 20 vegetation associated distributed in 3 major habitats: (1) inland desert, (2) coastal wadis, and (3) roadsides. Fourteen species, mostly weeds, characterized the present survey that neither recorded in previous studies nor in the literature. These may be considered as new additions to the flora of the Eastern Desert of Egypt. On the other hand, 92 historical records (61 perennials, 31 annuals) were documented, and there was no other indication about their presence till to date. These can be considered as extinct. Species of Saharo-Sindian chorotype (element) were the dominant.