Endemic and near endemic taxa of the flora of Egypt

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to provide baseline information on
endemism in Egypt. A total of 191 endemic and near-endemic taxa are
recorded from Egypt and one or more neighboring countries. Seventy six taxa
are believed to be endemic to Egypt of these twenty one are steno-endemic.
About 31.6% of endemics are found in the Mountainous Southern Sinai
subregion. 61 near endemics are selected which are concentrated in four
local territories of endemism in Egypt and adjacent countries (NE and SE
Libya, NE Sudan, S Palestine, NW Jordan and NE Arabian Peninsula).
However, 54 near endemic taxa that are widely distributed or not in the range
of these four territories are not included in this work. It was found that the
near endemic taxa of Sinai and Southern Palestine are relatively high (50.8
%). For each recorded taxon IUCN category was defined, about 94.7% of the
endemics and 98.4 % of the near-endemics are Red Data taxa. Fourteen taxa
are believed to be extinct and 118 face threats (5 regionally extinct, 48
critically endangered, 21 endangered, 29 vulnerable and 15 near threatened).
Most endemic and near-endemic taxa belong to Leguminosae, Labiatae,
Caryophyllaceae and Compositae which is the largest.
Key words: Egypt's Flora, Endemics, Near-endemics, Steno-endemics,
Threatened taxa, IUCN Categories.

Full text

1
Egypt. J. Bot.
(2013)
Endemic and Near-Endemic Taxa in the Flora of Egypt
Hasnaa Hosni, Amal Hosny, Eman Shamso and Rim Hamdy.
Botany Department, The Herbarium, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613 –
Egypt.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to provide baseline information on
endemism in Egypt. A total of 191 endemic and near-endemic taxa are
recorded from Egypt and one or more neighboring countries. Seventy six taxa
are believed to be endemic to Egypt of these twenty one are steno-endemic.
About 31.6% of endemics are found in the Mountainous Southern Sinai
subregion. 61 near endemics are selected which are concentrated in four
local territories of endemism in Egypt and adjacent countries (NE and SE
Libya, NE Sudan, S Palestine, NW Jordan and NE Arabian Peninsula).
However, 54 near endemic taxa that are widely distributed or not in the range
of these four territories are not included in this work. It was found that the
near endemic taxa of Sinai and Southern Palestine are relatively high (50.8
%). For each recorded taxon IUCN category was defined, about 94.7% of the
endemics and 98.4 % of the near-endemics are Red Data taxa. Fourteen taxa
are believed to be extinct and 118 face threats (5 regionally extinct, 48
critically endangered, 21 endangered, 29 vulnerable and 15 near threatened).
Most endemic and near-endemic taxa belong to Leguminosae, Labiatae,
Caryophyllaceae and Compositae which is the largest.
Key words: Egypt's Flora, Endemics, Near-endemics, Steno-endemics,
Threatened taxa, IUCN Categories.
Introduction
Endemism is the restriction of the natural range of a taxon to a defined
geographical distribution; the geographical area is either political boundaries of a
country (endemics), or ecogeographical boundaries of two or more countries regardless
of their political boundaries. The narrow distributed taxa are Steno-endemics (Gaston
1994).
Biodiversity loss is one of the world’s issues and there is growing global concern
about the status of the biological resources on which much of human life depends. It has

2
been estimated that the current rate of loss is between 1000 and 10,000 times higher than
naturally lost.
According to Thomas et al. (2004), endemics are often especially endangered or
vulnerable due to their small population, low genetic diversity and specific habitat
requirements. Apart from the loss of natural habitats and climatic changes, the excessive
human activities, e.g. over exploitation, may generally make endemics and near-
endemics to become extinct taxa.
Egypt occupies the northeastern part of Africa with an extension to Asia (Sinai
Peninsula). It extends for about 1073 km from North to South and about 1229 km
from
East to West with a total area of more than one million km
2
. Two corridors link Egypt
with Tropical and Equatorial Africa (River Nile) and Tropical Indian Ocean (Red Sea).
According to Wickens (1992) Egypt is perhaps the most arid country in North Africa in
which desert conditions prevail throughout the country; cultivated areas in the Nile
Valley and the Oases of the Western Desert derive water from the Nile River and
Nubian aquifers.
According to White (1983) the African mainland is divided into 18 Phytochoria
comprising 9 Regional Centers of Endemism, separated by six Regional Transitional
Zones and three Regional Mozaics; three of these phytochoria are represented in Egypt:
Sahara regional zone, Sahel regional transition zone and Mediterranean - Sahara
regional transitional zone. According to White & Leonard (1991) the northern coastal
region of Egypt adjacent to the Mediterranean belongs to the Mediterranean – Sahara
regional transition zone; Sahara-Sindian regional zone is met in the Egyptian deserts
with three subzones: the Sahara regional subzone is limited to the east, the Arabian
regional subzone is represented in the northern part of Sinai Peninsula (the Isthmic

3
Desert) and the Nubo-Sindian local centre of endemism is represented by the coastal
plains along the Red Sea and the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba; Sahel regional transition
zone eventually the Gebel Elba district (SE corner of Egypt) in addition to the Irano-
Turanian regional centre of endemism (SW Asia), where element of the western regional
sub center penetrate to mountainous Sinai (El Hadidi 2000).
According to Zahran & Willis (2009), Egypt comprises four main geographical units:
The Eastern Desert (223000 km
2
), the Western Desert including the Mediterranean
coastal belt (681000 km
2
), the Nile Land (25000 km
2
) and Sinai Peninsula (61000 km
2
).
The Nile Land includes several islands in the main stream of the Nile and its Delta
branches. Fayium depression (1700 km
2
) is connected to the Nile region by a principal
irrigation canals.
The flora of Egypt shows apparent affinities in particular with certain species
confined to phytogeographic subdivision of the country. Many attempts have been made
to provide a conservation assessment for different taxonomic groups. Täckholm (1974)
in her systematic revision of the flora of Egypt reports 1950 species that belong to 610
genera and 130 families of vascular plants, among which 69 are endemic taxa including
14 infraspecific taxa. El Hadidi & Fayed (1994/95) increased these numbers to 2076
species (730 genera) with 91 endemic taxa including 17 infraspecific taxa. Recently,
Boulos (2009) recorded 2100 species belonging to 755 genera and 129 families of native
and naturalized vascular plants, of these 60 taxa are cited as endemics and 93 taxa are
near-endemics i.e. known from Egypt and one neighboring country.
However, most of these studies did not apply the appropriate criteria used to evaluate
species conservation status. Attempts to evaluate Egypt's biodiversity conservation
status had been started in 1979 by El Hadidi, who listed 120 threatened species at the

4
request of the Threatened Plant Unit (TPU) of the IUCN. Abdallah & Sa'ad (1980)
recorded 55 endangered species with its geographical distribution in Egypt. The Red
Data List of 142 woody perennials compiled by El Hadidi et al. (1992) indicated the
degree of threat of each taxon. IUCN (1998) listed 82 threatened species from Egypt of
which two are extinct and 19 endangered. Following the IUCN categories (1994), El
Hadidi & Hosni (2000) provides a list of 457 threatened and endemic taxa. Although
these conservation studies have taken place in Egypt for some time, yet there is a lack of
comprehensive information on species distribution and recent IUCN categories (2003).
Furthermore, considerable areas of natural vegetation are subjected to degradation
through sever exploitation, urban expansion, overgrazing, land reclamation and invasive
species… etc. which in some instances lead to the loss of the habitats supporting
populations of endemic and near-endemic taxa. An accurate and complete listing of
endemic and near-endemic vascular plant species and its degree of threats using the
IUCN Red List categories (2003 & 2010) needs to be developed; the aim of this study is
a step in that direction.
Materials and Methods
To decide the status of the endemic and near-endemic taxa (species, subspecies or
varieties) among the flora of Egypt is rather difficult because of the lack of the available
comprehensive data. Therefore we relied on several sources of information mainly
taxonomy and flora specialists and literatures notably are Zohary (1966,1972); Zohary et
al..(1983); Täckholm (1974); Jafri & Gadi (1976-1988); El Hadidi (1979, 1998);
Collenette (1985); Feinbrun-Dothan (1978, 1986); Danin (1983, 1986, , 1997, 2000);
Danin et al. (1985) Danin & Hedge (1998), El Hadidi et al. (1989 & 1999); El Hadidi &
Fayed (1994/95); El Hadidi & Hosni (1996,2000); El Gibali (1987); El Gadi (1988-89);

5
El Karemy & Hosni (1996), Hosny et al. (1992), Hepper (1998); Mostafa & Kamel
(1995); Migahid (1988-1989); Miller & Cope (1996); Boulos (1999-2005, 2009);
Chaudhary (1999-2001); Al-Eisawi (1998); El Hadidy (2003) and Englen et al. (2004).
In addition, herbarium records, field studies and some other information have been
obtained through personal communications. Therefore, the provided list represents the
best judgment of the authors. Accordingly, some taxa that were regarded by Täckholm
(l.c.), El Hadidi (l.c.) and Boulos (l.c.) as endemics or near endemics are not included
The selected near-endemic taxa are those with small restricted range being
confined to a particular area regardless to political borders between adjacent countries
i.e. Egypt and Central & South Palestine with slight extension to SW Jordan and NW
Arabia or NE & SW Libya as well as NE & NW Sudan. These taxa are grouped in four
main territories viz. (1) Northeastern territory (includes Sinai Peninsula, Galala
mountains of Egypt in addition to Central and South Palestine, NW Arabia and SW
Jordan); (2) Northwestern territory (includes the Mediterranean coastal belt of NW
Egypt and NE Libya); (3) Southwestern territory (includes Gebel Uweinat area which
lies at Egypt’s border with Libya and Sudan) and (4) Southeastern territory (include
Gebel Elba district of SE corner of Egypt, NE Sudan as well as SW Arabia).
Nomenclature was mainly following Täckholm (1974), and in some cases has been
updated according to El Hadidi & Fayed (1994/95) and Boulos (1999-2005 & 2009).
The phytogeographical regions within Egypt proposed by El Hadidi (2000) are adopted
in Fig. (1). The endemic and the selected near- endemic taxa and their families are listed
alphabetically in Table (1) and Table (2) respectively. The near endemic taxa that are
widely distributed either in Egypt or in the neighboring countries as well as taxa outside

6
these four territories are not included in this work and are listed in appendix (1).
Distribution of all taxa and its IUCN categories within Egypt are provided.
Fig. (1): The phytogeographical territories of Egypt (after EI HADIDI, 2000). (Da) Arabian Desert, (Dg)
Galala Desert, (Di) Isthmic Desert, (Dl) Libyan Desert, (Dn) Nubian Desert, (Ge) Gebel Elba district,
(Mm) Mareotis sector of the Mediterranean coastal land, (Ms) Sinaitic sector of the Mediterranean coastal
land, (Nn) Nubian sector of the Nile land, (Nv) Nile valley sector of the Nile land, (Ol) Oases of the
Libyan Desert province, (On) Oases of the Nubian Desert province, (Ra) Arabian sector of the Red Sea
coastal plains, (Rq) Aqaba Gulf sector of the Red Sea coastal plains, (Rz) Suez Gulf sector of the Red Sea
coastal plains, (S) Mountainous southern Sinai, and (Ug) Gebel Uweinat massive.
For each taxon the following data are given: valid name, habitat, distribution and
degree of threat (if known) with the symbol of IUCN category version 2003. Taxa has
been assessed as RE -Regionally Extinct, i.e., taxa previously recorded but now extinct
within the region but extant in other parts, EX- Extinct, i.e., the taxon no longer exists;
CR- Critically Endangered, i.e., the taxon considered to be facing extremely high risk of
extinction in the wild; EN- Endangered, i.e., the taxon facing a very high risk of
extinction; VU –Vulnerable, i.e., the taxon facing a high risk of extinction in the near
future if the causal factors continue operating; NT -Near Threatened, i.e., the taxon

7
likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future; LC -Least Concern, i.e., the
taxon is widespread and abundant, and DD- Data Deficient, i.e., there is no adequate
information to make assessment of risk.
Results and Discussion
Endemics:
A total number of 76 taxa recorded (including five subspecies and 14 varieties)
belonging to 57 genera and 27 families (Table 1). None of the Egyptian endemics are of
generic or higher taxonomic level. Monocots are represented by 12 taxa (15.7 % of the
total endemic flora) distributed among five families.
The large families are: Compositae (= Astraceae) (represented by nine taxa, 11.8
% of the total endemics); Caryophyllaceae and Labiatae (= Lamiaceae) (represented by
eight taxa each, 10.5%) and Leguminosae (= Fabaceae) (seven taxa, 9.2%);
Hyacinthaceae (= Asparagaceae) (represented by five taxa, 6.6%), Cruciferae (=
Brassicaceae) and Scrophulariaceae (represented by four taxa each, 5.3%), Alliaceae (=
Amaryllidaceae), Euphorbiaceae and Zygophyllaceae (represented by three taxa each,
3.9% each), Gramineae (= Poaceae), Plumbaginaceae, Polygonaceae, Solanaceae and
Umbelliferae (= Apiaceae) ( represented by Two taxa each, 2.6%). Meanwhile 12
families (ten dicots and two monocots) are represented by one taxon each (1.3%)
(Fig.2).

8
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Compositae
(11.8%
)
Caryophyllaceae
(
10.5%
)
Labiatae
(10.5%
)
Leguminosae
(
9.2%
)
Hyacinthaceae
(
6.6%
)
Cruciferae
(
5.3%
)
Scrophulariaceae
(
5.3%
)
Alliaceae
(3.9%
)
Euphorbiaceae
(
3.9%
)
Zygophyllaceae
(
3.9%
)
Gramineae
(
2.6%
)
Plumbaginaceae
(
2.6%
)
Polygonaceae
(2.6%
)
Solanaceae
(2.6%
)
Umbelliferae
(
2.6%
)
12
Families (1.3%
)
Families
Numbe r of e ndemic taxa
Fig. (2): Distribution of the endemic taxa among different families in Egypt.
It will be noticed from Table (1) that there are 54 taxa restricted to only one
phytogeographical region; 18 are recorded in two regions and four are known from
more than two regions.
The occurrence of the 54 monoregional taxa according to the geographical
distribution in Egypt is as follows: 27 taxa, (35.5 % of the total endemics in Egypt) are
restricted to Sinai Peninsula, among which 17 are localized in the mountainous of south
Sinai and six are confined to the Mediterranean sector of Sinai which that extends from
Port Said to Rafah. Eleven taxa are known from the western sector of the Mediterranean
coastal belt (Mareotis sector which extends between Sallum and Abu Qir, El Hadidi
2000). Nine taxa are restricted to the Nile region of which Glinus runkewitzii Täckh. &

9
Boulos and Tephrosia kassasii Boulos are confined to the Nile Nubian (area from the
Sudanese border at Wadi Halfa northwards to Kom Ombo). Five taxa are recorded from
the Eastern Desert, of these four are recorded from Galala mountain blocks facing the
Gulf of Suez in the northern part of the Eastern Desert. The remaining two taxa: Apium
graveolens L. var. bashmensis Hosni and Melilotus serratifolius Täckh. & Boulos are
recorded from Bahariya and El Dakhla Oases (Western Desert) respectively.
A total of twenty one taxa of the total endemics are steno-endemics, i.e., having
narrow distribution, of these 13 taxa are confined to rocky habitats of St. Catherine
mountainous area (200 km
2
) of Southern Sinai (Gebel St. Catherine and Gebel Musa,
2641 m, asl and 2285 m, asl, respectively), this area was declared in 1988 as a natural
protectorate (El Hadidi 2000). The isolated sites, the rocky habitats and the climatic
conditions in these areas constitute an excellent ecological niche for many endemics.
Four taxa viz. Dianthus guessfeldtianus Muschl., Crepis aegyptiaca (Schweinf.)Täckh.
& Boulos, Bellevelia flexuosa Boiss. var. galalensis Täckh. & Drar and Helianthemum
schweinfurthii Grosser are confined to Galala mountains in N Eastern Desert (250-1500
m, asl); while Origanum isthmicum Danin and Scorzonera drarii Täckh. are restricted
to Gebel El Halal and Ain El Ghodirat (N Sinai), respectively. Apium graveolens L. var.
bashmensis Hosni is only known from Ain Bashmu (Bahariya Oasis) whereas Silene
apetala Willd. var. glabrata E. Shamso is restricted to Agiba – Mersa Matruh area
(Mareotis sector).
Among the total 76 endemic taxa recorded in Egypt, 72 taxa are threatened (94.7 %
of the total endemics recorded) (Fig. 5). Using the IUCN Red List criteria, 35 taxa are
assessed as Critically Endangered (46.1 %), 11 taxa as Endangered (14.5 %), 12 taxa are
considered to be Vulnerable (15.8 %), while 14 taxa (18.4 % of the total endemics

10
recorded) are believed to be Extinct, of these Echinops taeckholmiana Amin , Senecio
belbeysius Delile, Trigonella media Delile, Glinus runkewitzii Täckh. & Boulos,
Persicaria obtusifolia (Täckh. & Boulos) Gteuter & Burdet, Bromus javorkae Pénzes,
Tephrosia kassasii Boulos, are lowland plants known from the Nile Valley, Nile
Faiyum and Nile Nubian whose habitats have been destroyed or due to the changes in
agricultural and drainage systems, the latter two taxa are already confirmed extinct
(IUCN 1998; El Hadidi & Hosni 2000). Excessive human activities and over
exploitation of the Egyptian desert plants e.g. overgrazing, uncontrolled cutlery for fuel
or other purposes are the main factors for the establishment of unfavorable conditions
for most of the species. Five taxa are known only from type locality or a single gathering
viz. Limonium sinuatum (L.)Mill subsp. romanum Täckh. & Boulos, Veronica kaiseri
Täckh., Scorzonera drarii Täckh., Bellevelia salah-eidii Täckh. & Boulos and Muscari
salah-eidii (Täckh. & Boulos) Hosni. Two have not been collected throughout the last
50 years viz. Muscari longistylum (Täckh. & Boulos) Hosni and Vicia sinaica Boulos.
The majority of the endemic taxa are exclusively inhabiting only one habitat either
rocky and stony ground (e.g. Brassica deserti Danin & Hedge), sandy soil (e.g.
Anthemis microsperma Boiss. & Kotschy), cultivated lands (e.g. Sinapis allionii Jacq.),
moist places (e.g. Sonchus macrocarpus Boulos & C. Jeffrey), water springs (e.g. Apium
graveolens L. var. bashmensis Hosni), canal banks (e.g. Rumex aegyptiacus L.) or salty
places (e.g. zygophyllum album L. fill. var. album), other taxa are inhabiting more than
one habitat e.g. Nepeta septemcrenata Ehrenb. ex Benth., Lupinus digitatus Forssk. and
Allium blomfeldianum Asch. & Schweinf.. (Table 1).
Two main distribution patterns are distinguished for the endemic taxa: contracted
pattern with special habitat conditions that favour the growth of an apparently high

11
number of species (21 taxa) which are extremely localized (steno-endemics) and are
obviously facing immediate danger of extinction; these taxa occur in few areas notably
within conservation areas in the montane country of southern Sinai especially in St.
Catherine area (13 taxa) and the wadis of Galala Desert (N and S Galala) (four taxa).
Diffused pattern characterized by species distributed in two or more
phytogeographical regions. The Mediterranean taxa of Sinaitic sector diffuses to Isthmic
desert or Suez and Aqaba Gulf or southward to mountainous Sinai and to some extent to
Galala Desert. Another diffused pattern is that of the taxa of Eastern Desert which
diffuse to mountainous Sinai and Gebel Elba district or Red Sea Coastal plains.
Near endemics:
The selected 61 near-endemic taxa (including 13 infraspecific taxa) are listed in
Table (2) are distributed between 31 families of which monocots are represented by four
families and eight taxa. Compositae (= Astraceae) is the largest family, represented by
11 taxa; on the other hand each of 20 families is represented by only one taxon which
constitutes more than half the number of the recorded families.
Table (2) shows the distribution of the selected near-endemic taxa in Egypt and
neighboring countries, viz. Palestine, Arabia, Libya, Jordan and Sudan. Four suggested
local territories of endemism have been proposed to extend the limits of these taxa in
Egypt; these territories were chosen to represent the natural distribution of taxa
regardless to political borders between countries. The first territory (Northeastern) of
local endemism include Central & South Palestine in addition to Sinai and N & S
Galala mounatins of E Desert of Egypt (representing part of Arabian regional subzone
as well as Irano Turanian regional of endemism, sensu Léonard 1989) this region
characterized by the highest number of near endemics (45 taxa represents 73.8% of the

12
total taxa); the second territory (Northwestern) include NE Libya and NW Egypt
representing part of Mediterranean Sahara regional transitional zone is represented by
11 taxa about 18.03 % of the total number of near endemics; while the third territory
(Southeastern) which include Gebel Elba district of SE corner of Egypt, NE Sudan as
well as SW Arabia (part of Nubo-Sindian local centre of endemism ) represented by
three taxa about 4.9% of the total recorded taxa. The fourth territory (Southwestern)
includes Gebel Uweinat area which lies at Egypt’s border with Libya and Sudan
(representing part of Saharo Sindian regional zone) constitutes a low percentage,
represented by only two taxa (3.3% of the total near endemic recorded taxa). (Fig.3).
Northeas tern territory
(45) 73.8%
S outhea s tern territory
(3) 4.9%
S outhwes tern territory
(2) 3. 3%
Northwes tern territory
(11) 18.03%
Fig.(3): Number and percentage of selected near-endemic taxa in the four territories
The near endemics of Central and South Palestine as well as Sinai and Galala
Deserts of Egypt show the greatest number of near endemics (18 taxa, 29.5%); the near
endemics of NE Libya and NW Egypt are represented by 11 taxa (18.03%) and SW

13
Jordan & NE Egypt by eight taxa (13.1%), while the near endemics of NW Arabia &
NE Egypt and NE Sudan as well as SE Egypt comprise four taxa (6.6 %) and two
(3.2%), respectively. Meanwhile the near endemics of Egypt, C & S Palestine and SW
Jordan are represented by ten taxa (16.4%) which is the highest number recorded (Fig.
4).
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Number of
shared taxa
Palesne ( 29.5%
)
Arabia (6.6%
)
jordan (13.1%
)
Libya (18.03%
)
Sudan (3.2%
)
Jordan &
Arabia (3.2%
)
Libya & Sudan (3.2%
)
Arabia & Sudan (1.6%
)
Palesne & Arabia (1.6%
)
Palesne & Jordan (16.4%
)
Palesne, Jordan & Arabia (
3.2%
)
Countries
Fig.(4). Number and percentage of selected near-endemic taxa of Egypt and neighboring
countries shows that the near endemics of Sinai and Palestine are relatively high.
The analysis of the near-endemic data collected indicates that 60 taxa representing
98.4% of the total recorded number face threats of different categories (Fig.5). The data
of near-endemic taxa listed in Table (2), shows that the Northeastern region comprises
the highest number of threatened taxa (44 taxa), the Sinai Peninsula and Galala
mountains of Eastern Desert of Egypt determine the westernmost limit of distribution for
40 near-endemics recorded in that territory; the remaining four taxa have far western
extent covering the Mediterranean coastal belt viz. Onopordum alexandrinum Boiss.,

14
Astragalus caprinus L., Allium roseum L. var. tourneauxii Boiss. and Aegilops
longissima Schweinf. & Muschl.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
E N V U R E L C NT C R E x
Near
E n de m ic
E n de m ic
Fig. (5): Threats of endemic and selected near-endemic taxa in Egypt and neighboring
countries. (EN: Endagered, VU, Vulnerable, RE: Regionally extinct, LC: Least
concern, NT: Near threatened, CR: Critically endangered, EX: Extinct)
This is also the case for the natural geographical extent of the Mediterranean
coastal belt, eleven taxa are known from the Northwestern territory (NW Egypt & NE
Libya) of which Crepis libyca (Pamp.) Babc. ex Shab., Valantia lanata Delile ex Coss.
and Allium barthianum Asch. & Schweinf. are considered regionally extinct.
According to Abdel-Ghani & Abdel Khalik (2006), the flora of Gebel Elba
represents a continuation of the Sudanian tropical region with the very similar climatic
and topographic conditions. Elba area represents the northernmost limit of distribution
of three Sudanian tropical taxa recorded in the Southeastern territory, one of these is
treated here as regionally extinct viz. Commiphora quadricincta Schweinf.

15
Conclusion
Endemism is fairly low in Egypt, since only c. 6.57% of the total flora are endemic
and near- endemic. It is clear that Sinai is one of the most important hot spots of
endemism in Egypt represented by 86 taxa (about 4.09% of the total flora of Egypt) and
about (63.5%) of 137 endemic and near-endemic taxa recorded. It is also clear that the
near-endemics of Sinai and Palestine are relatively high, represented by 31 taxa (50.8%
of the total near endemics) which represent the natural continuation of this area between
Sinai and Palestine. Four local regions of endemism are proposed within the four
phytochoria represented in Egypt. Egypt has developed national program for
conservation of biodiversity that included the establishment of a National Gene bank for
the preservation of wild species landraces and wild relatives of the plant genetic
resources and crops in Egypt. Moreover, Egypt declared the establishment of 30
protected areas, occupying more than 15% of its total area. The preparation of a new
Red Data Book for the flora of Egypt is highly recommended
Acknowledgment: We wish to thank the late Prof. Dr. Mohamed El Kassas, Cairo
University for his valuable comments; thanks are also due to Prof. Dr. M. Zharan,
Mansoura University for revising the manuscript.
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21
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