Summer flora and annotated checklist of Jabel Nafousa, Libya

Abstract

A survey of the vascular flora of Jabel Nafousa (Nafousa Mountain) was conducted during the summer of 2022. A total number of 94 different taxa representing 35 families, 83 genera, and 94 species of which 33 families, 81 genera, and 92 species belong to Angiosperms, and 2 families, 2 genera, and 2 species belong to Gymnosperms. This study has revealed that the family Poaceae represents the most sizable family in the region with 14 species followed by the family Asteraceae with 12 species, whereas, the families Amaranthaceae, Fabaceae, and Zygophyllaceae with 6 species each. The families Brassicaceae, Lamiaceae, and Liliaceae are represented with 5, 4, and 4 species respectively. Other families are represented with 1-3 species. The results of this survey showed that 3 species are worth consideration because they exist in dominant and their distribution in the area of study is very common, including Hammada scoparia, Retama raetam, and Ziziphus lotus.  The dominancy of such species indicates that the climate of the region varies between arid-semiarid due to scarcity of rainfall, and very hot conditions, especially in summertime. With the exaptation of the 3 dominant species, other species are found to be capable of competing with the extremely hot conditions of the region. The life forms of the collected species of Jabel Nafousa showed the dominance of Therophytes with 24 species followed by Chamaephytes with 22 species, Hemicryptophytes with 17 species, Nanophanerophytes with 12 species, geophytes with 10 species, and Phanerophytes with 9 species. The present study of the summer flora of Jabel Nafousa represents the first attempt of its nature. An annotated checklist of 94 species collected and identified with relevant synonyms, distribution, and life form spectrum is included.