NATURAL PLANT SPECIES INVENTORY OF THE IMPORTANT PLANT AREAS IN ARABIAN PENINSULA: BANI OMAR, TAIZ GOVERNORATE, REPUBLIC OF YEMEN

The study area is located on the South western mountains of Republic of Yemen, It is characterized by arid and semi-arid climate with high temperatures and low average annual rainfall. The aims of this study are to explore the natural plant species of one of the Important Plant areas of Arabian Peninsula and to evaluate the chance to be a protected area. 61 sample sites covering the whole ecological zones haven been conducted. 135 plant species are found, in which 3 plant species were endemic, 7 near endemic, 29 regional endemic. The study revealed also three vegetation communities with 7 vegetation associations (vegetation types). Vegetation dominated by Ficus cordata, F. sycomorus, Salvadora persica Tamarix aphylla and Ziziphus spina-christi were found on main wadis. Vegetation communities dominated by Acacia asak, Anisotes trisulcus, Jatropha variegate and Zygocarpum yemenense were found on rocky slopes and stony plateau.