New records and addition to the flora of Saudi Arabia, mainly from Faifa Governorate, Jazan Region

Abstract

Based on vegetation surveys made in the southern region of Saudi Arabia between 2020 and 2021, five new plant taxa including four species and one subspecies, belonging to four families that had not previously been recorded in Saudi Arabia's flora were discovered. Within the Arabian Peninsula, all newly recorded species (i.e., Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC. (Fabaceae), Commiphora schimperi (O.Berg) Engl. (Burseraceae), Maerua angolensis DC. subsp. angolensis (Capparaceae), Peperomia leptostachya Hook. & Arn. (Piperaceae), and Vigna vexillata (L.) A.Rich. (Fabaceae) were recorded in Yemen while A. vaginalis was also recorded in Oman. Brief descriptions and comments on the phytogeography of each taxon are given. The distribution of plants in Faifa Mountains and surrounding areas was mapped using geographic information systems (GIS) and ground surveys.