Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2024 | 16(12): 26225–26233
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online)
| ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9258.16.12.26225-26233
#9258 | Received 13 July
2024 | Final received 16 October 2024 | Finally accepted 28 November 2024
Noteworthy records of
vascular plants from the West Bank, occupied Palestinian territories
Banan Al-Sheikh 1,
Mazin B. Qumsiyeh 2 & Abdel-Salam Hubbieh
3
1,2 Biodiversity Center,
Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS), Bethlehem
University, Antonian Society Street, Bethlehem, State
of Palestine P1520468, Palestine.
3 Kharbatha
Al Misbah School, Palestine.
1 mazinq@bethlehem.edu,
2 banansh@yahoo.com (corresponding author), 3 abds88@ymail.com
Editor: Prishnee Bissessur, University of Mauritius, Réduit,
Mauritius. Date of publication: 26 December
2024 (online & print)
Citation: Al-Sheikh, B., M.B. Qumsiyeh & A-S. Hubbieh (2024).
Noteworthy records of vascular plants from the West Bank, occupied Palestinian
territories. Journal of Threatened Taxa 16(12):
26225–26233. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9258.16.12.26225-26233
Copyright: © Al-Sheikh et al. 2024. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund grant # cfp22-14.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Author details: Prof. Mazin Qumsiyeh is founder and volunteer director of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability, Bethlehem University (palestinenature.org). He also oversees the work of the Palestine Museum of Natural History. Banan Al-Sheikh served previously at the National
Agricultural Research Center and is now a researcher at the herbarium of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability, Bethlehem University (palestinenature.org). Abdel-Salam Hubieh is a biology teacher Kharbatha Al Misbah School, Palestine and field researcher for the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability, Bethlehem University.
Author contributions: Qumsiyeh—conception, writing, editing manuscript; Al-Sheikh—field work, data colletion, species identification, writing; Hubbieh—field work.
Acknowledgements: We are grateful to
Johann Gideon for editing and data review and to the Critical Ecosystem
Partnership Fund for partial support (related to species around wetlands).
Abstract: This study reports
noteworthy data records on 23 species belonging to 19 families of vascular
plants from the West Bank (occupied state of Palestine). For 15 uncommon/rare
species, the newly collected data meaningfully extend their range: Saccharum spontaneum, Cyrtomium falcatum, Eleocharis palustris, Crypsis factorovskyi, Coincya tournefortii, Medicago
ciliaris, Abutilon theophrasti,
Anabasis oropediorum, Allium rothii,
Fallopia convolvulus, Glycyrrhiza echinata,
Plantago major, Pseuderucaria
clavata, Lupinus palaestinus, and Cistanche
violacea. Eight other species are recorded for
the first time in the West Bank: Tordylium cordatum, Bergia ammannioides, Sambucus
ebulus, Araujia
sericifera, Euphorbia graminea,
Potamogeton nodosus, Cyrtomium falcatum, and Ulmus minor. Three of those eight species (Araujia sericifera,
Euphorbia graminea, and Cyrtomium
falcatum) are not local in the studied
region (introduced species). The fact that three of the eight new records were
introduced indicates that human disturbance is becoming dominant here as
elsewhere in the world. Such data are useful as Palestine is currently
implementing a new National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and one of
its actions is focused on the conservation of rare species of plants and combatting
introduced/invasive species.
Keywords: Biodiversity,
conservation, flora, geographic distribution, range extension, rare species,
State of Palestine.
INTRODUCTION
The small geographic
area of Palestine boasts diverse habitats because of the geologic history of
the African and Arabian tectonic plates’ movements that resulted in high
mountains but also the lowest point on earth at the Dead Sea. This geologic
history and Palestine’s geographic location at the nexus of the Eurasian and
African continents allowed this area to have diverse habitats and to include
floristic elements covering five assemblages: Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Saharo-Sindian,
Coastal, and Ethiopian-Sudanese. The local flora was studied showing
significant floral biodiversity (e.g., Zohary 1966,
1972; Feinburn-Dothan 1978, 1986; Danin
2004; Al-Sheikh 2019), but much remains to be explored, including updating the
presence, ecology, and conservation status of many families and groups. New
distributional records from the West Bank (occupied Palestinian Territories)
are being published now (Al-Sheikh & Mahasneh
2016; Pahl & Qumsiyeh
2021; Al-Sheikh & Qumsiyeh 2021, 2022; Gideon
& Qumsiyeh 2023; Qumsiyeh
& Al-Sheikh 2023).
The flora is
threatened by human activities including climate change, pollution, habitat
destruction, overexploitation, invasive species, and Israeli settlement
activities (Qumsiyeh & Abusarhan
2021; Qumsiyeh 2024). Nearly a third of the known
species of plants in the West Bank are rare or threatened (Al-Sheikh & Qumsiyeh 2022). Recently, a new protected area network for
the state of Palestine Gaza Strip, and the West Bank was created and approved
at the highest level of government (see Qumsiyeh et
al. 2023).
Together with the new
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), the plans to manage the
protected areas highlighted understanding plant distributions and the presence
of invasive species to facilitate habitat conservation and to face the human-
induced threats to the environment. These gaps in knowledge are important to
address to bridge the science-policy-practice gap for plant conservation.
Hence, a program was developed to collect field data and herbarium specimens,
especially from protected areas to fill that gap. The knowledge of the flora of
the West Bank is expanded with 23 noteworthy records.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The survey covered
areas of the West Bank (occupied Palestinian Territories) over five years 2019–2024).
Some data was collected before (2015–2019) but starting in 2019, field efforts
were intensified while taking into account some pauses
during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023/2024 conflict that resulted in
Israeli restrictions on the Palestinian movement. Plants were observed,
photographed, and specimens were collected by the team of the Palestine
Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PMNH) at Bethlehem University.
Data collected include locality coordinates, elevation, dates collected, and
notes on habitats. Species morphological descriptions given below as well as
identification are from published sources (Zohary
1966, 1972; Davis 1972; Feinbrun-Dothan 1978, 1986).
Voucher herbarium specimens were prepared and deposited in the herbarium
collection of the Palestine Museum of Natural History and catalogued and
numbered in the collection for future reference (numbers given below as
PMNH-H). For each species, we give (in order) the Latin name, location
collected, coordinates, elevation, date, and herbarium number. Comparison with
literature records and especially data posted at https://biogis.huji.ac.il/
(henceforth BIOGIS) was done for geographic distribution to assess the
extension of ranges and whether they are native or introduced. Accepted Latin
names were verified on the World Flora Online (WFO) plant list database to
ensure that the names are up-to-date and not synonyms.
RESULTS
Family Amaryllidaceae
Allium rothii Zucc.
Bethlehem
Governorate, Kisan, 31.589 N & 35.256 E, altitude
582 m, 11.iii.2021, PMNH H0269; and 31.584 N & 35.258E, altitude 573 m,
24.ii.2024; Khalil Governorate, Bani Naim, 31.528 N
& 35.214 E, altitude 573 m, 01.iv.2019, PMNH H 1223.
A bulbous plant, bulb
ovoid, 3–4 cm in diameter. Stem 6–15 cm. Leaves many, lanceolate, 0.6–3 cm,
smooth margin, spread on the ground, longer than stem. Spathe persistent,
shorter than the hemispherical umbel with dense flowers. Perianth stellate,
white with a purple or greenish midvein. Filaments and anthers are dark purple
as long as perianth. Ovary dark purple. Style short. Flowering February–April.
This species was noted rarely in areas north of the Naqab
and seems to exist in disjointed batches in the transition zone of the Irano-Turanian to the Mediterranean zone in the southern part
of the West Bank (BIOGIS and our data).
Family Asclepiadaceae
Araujia sericifera Brot. (Image 1)
Qalqilia Governorate, Sanneria,
32.168 N & 35.025 E, altitude 131 m, 11.xi.2020, PMNH H0694.
Description from
Santa Cruz & Cordero (2018): Sub-shrub climbing or vine, up to 5 m long,
evergreen, lactiferous. Stem pubescent, unbranched or branched, circular.
Taproot, with a main axis and smaller secondary branches. Leaves simple,
entire, opposite, with petiole of 10–20 mm long, ovate-oblong, ovate-lanceolate,
40–95 × 15–60 mm, apex acuminate, base truncate, upper surface green and
glabrous, and under surface canescent and densely pubescent. Inflorescences are
axillary of 2–5 flowers, sometimes solitary, pedicels 10–16 mm long. Calyx with
5 sepals, ovate or lanceolate. Corolla lobes 5 patent, oblong or
ovate-acuminate, apex obtuse, white or greenish dorsally. Androecium with 5
stamens. Seeds ca. 400 per fruit, 6.3–7.8 × 2.8–3.5 mm, compressed,
oval-lanceolate, rough, with pappus sericeous, 25 × 40 mm long, white,
deciduous. Flowering July–September. This species, originally from South
America (Federici et al. 1988), was introduced to Europe and more recently to
historical Palestine, primarily in coastal areas. This is the first record from
the West Bank, but we expect to find this species in other parts of the West
Bank with similar habitats.
Family Cyperaceae
Eleocharis palustris (L.) Roem. & Schult.
Jinsafut, Qalqilia
Governorate, 32.053 N & 35.134 E, altitude 412 m, 14.iii.2021, PMNH-H 0372.
A perennial plant
with creeping rhizomes. Stem leafless, erect, glaucous, ended with a solitary
terminal spikelet of inconspicuous greenish-brown flowers. Leaves bladeless,
brown sheaths clustered at the base of the stem. Flowering March–July.
According to BIOGIS , it is common in the coastal
areas of Palestine and was supposedly observed in two areas in the West Bank:
West of Qusin near Nablus (2022 & 2023) and in
the Dheisheh area of Bethlehem (1985). The latter is
now a highly urbanized area, and despite the visit, it was not located. It was
found in humid habitats in the periphery of a vernal pool near Jinsafut (see Qumsiyeh et al.
2022) and this seems to be also its habitat in other parts of the
Mediterranean.
Family Dryopteridaceae
Cyrtomium falcatum
(L.f.) C.Pres.
Ramallah Governorate,
Southwest of Deir Ibzei, 31.093 N & 35.124 E,
altitude 575 m, 10.ix.2021, PMNH H 0286.
A perennial fern with
a large rhizome. Leaves are made up of 6–10 pairs of shiny bright green
leaflets. Each leaflet has a flat to wavy to slightly toothed margin and a
netlike pattern of veins. Sori is held by brown or
black indusial on the underside of each leaflet. It is native to eastern Asia.
Nevertheless, as stated by POWO (2024), this plant was introduced in various
regions around the world. Cyrtomium falcatum is a popular ornamental plant and was
brought into the country but finding it in the wild in crevices in soft rock
(first record in the West Bank in the wild) indicates its potential spread, an
issue discussed by Van Valkenburg et al. (2014).
Family Caprifolaceae
Sambucus ebulus L. (Image 1A)
Ramallah Governorate,
Ain Sinia, 31.972 N & 35.229 E, altitude 644 m, 14.viii.2020, PMNH-H0322; Bethlehem Governorate, Battir, Ain Battir, 31.727 N
& 35.138 E, altitude 650 m, 23.vi.2009, PMNH-H 0414; Hebron Governorate,
Ain Hasaka, 31.564 N & 35.090 E, altitude 904 m,
02.v.2018, PMNH-H 0415.
Glabrous, perennial
herb, 0.5–2 m with creeping rhizome. Leaves have 3-6 paired leaflets; leaflets
lanceolate to elliptic, serrate, 7–15 x 2–6 cm. Stipules ovate. Inflorescence
with three primary flat-topped rays, 7–10 cm in diameter. Flowers white;
anthers purple. Fruits drupe globose, black. Flowering July-August in wet
areas. This species is known in the wild from Europe, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon,
northern Iraq, and northern Iran (Ebadi & Hisoriev 2011). The species was not reported from Jordan
(Al-Eisawi 2013; Taifour
& El-Oqlah 2017). As per BIOGIS it is around Jish in the upper Galilee, in Ein Shalaf
just south of lake Tiberias, and in Sataf west of
Jerusalem. This record is the first in the West Bank. The plant has numerous
medicinal uses (Jabbari et al. 2017).
Family Chenopodiaceae
Anabasis oropediorum Maire (Image 1)
Bethlehem Governorate, Al Rashaydeh
area, Wad Hasasah, 31,575 N & 35.383 E, altitude
168 m, 07.iii.2015, PMNH H 1631; Bethlehem Governorate, Al Rashaydeh
area, entrance of Wadi Darajeh, 31,572 N & 35.383
E, altitude 157 m, 24.ii.2024,
PMNH H 1632.
Small shrub 25–60 cm. Stems divergent at the base,
woody to nearly half of their length; branches opposite with nearly equal
internodes. Leaves reduced to 2-lobed short cupule; pointed at the young stems’
apices. Flowers opposite with perianth having five membranous wings 5–7 mm
long; ovate-orbicular; white or pink. Ovary papillose; stigma thick; papillose.
Embryo spiral coiled. Flowering October–November. There are four undated and
undocumented mentions of this species in the West Bank (BIOGIS). Our two
documented records (with herbarium specimens) for this rare species are
noteworthy.
Family Cruciferae
Coincya tournefortii
(Gouan) Alcaraz, T.E.Díaz, Rivas Mart. &
Sánchez-Gómez
Jenin Governorate,
National Agricultural Research Center, Arraba meadow,
32.77 3 N & 35.261 E, altitude 267 m, 14.ii.2017, PMNH-H0887.
It is annual, 20–70
cm, hispid below, glabrous above. Radical leaves rosulate, petiolate,
lyrate-pinnatisect. Lateral lobes 4–12, oblong, dentate-crenate. Inflorescences
10–20 flowers pale yellow, corymbose. Calyx 3–4 mm, Petals 6–8 mm, linear or
oblong. Fruiting pedicels 1–4 cm, fruit 3–6 cm, erect, glabrous. Seeds brown.
Flowering January–April. Habitat in sandy soil. This plant was found growing in
deep rich terra rosa fields of the Arraba meadow. The species is widespread in coastal areas
of historic Palestine. In the West Bank, this is the third record after Ain Yabrud and Lubban Al-Sharqiya noted on BIOGIS.
Family Cruciferae (Brassicaceae)
Pseuderucaria clavata (Boiss.
& Reut.) O.E.Schulz (Image 1)
Bethlehem
Governorate, AlRashaydeh desert, 31.479 N &
35.364 E, altitude 257 m, 07.iii.2015, PMNH-H1624.
Annual, glabrous,
10–35 cm. Stem ascending, branching from the base. Leaves fleshy; 3–9 cm;
petiolate; pinnatisect into linear terete lobes; radical leaves broader and
longer petioles. Calyx violet; 6–10 mm. Petals 13–22 mm; pale violet;
long-clawed. Fruit erect; 35–75 × 2 mm; linear; terminating style with a minute
stigma. Flowering February–April. This species was observed by Danin in the southeastern part of the West Bank, near Ain Gedi (BIOGIS) near our locality. These are the northernmost
records of the species which is found mostly in the Naqab
in our region and is a very rare species.
Family Elatinaceae
Bergia ammannioides Heyne
ex Roth
Sanour, Jenin Governorate, 32.370 N & 35.255 E, altitude
347 m, 30.vi.2024, PMNH-H2199.
Annual, 10–25 cm,
stems pinkish, hairy, erect, branched from the base. Leaves 10–30 x 5–10mm, opposite
elliptic- oblong to oblanceolate, acute, serrate with pointed tips except in
the basal part. Flowers in subsessile axillary
clusters. Sepals 5, pinkish, 1.2–1.5 mm, lanceolate, acuminate, membranous
margins, ciliolate. Petals 5, lanceolate, acute, white, shorter than sepals.
Stamens 5, as long as petals, anthers pale yellow. Ovary 5-celled, subglobose; stigmas 5, reddish. Seeds numerous, 0.2–0.3 mm,
ovoid, brown. Flowering August–September. The species is known from Africa to
Asia and into Australia (https://powo.science.kew.org/). In the studied region,
it is reported from very few localities in Jordan and the coastal and Galilee
regions of historic Palestine. This is the first record of this species and
this family in the West Bank.
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia graminea Jacq. (Image 1)
Nablus Governorate,
Nablus, 32.220 N & 35.266 E, altitude 540 m, 05.i.2023, PMNH-H 1611; 32.214
N & 35.280 E, altitude 550 m, 10.i.2024, PMNH-H1610.
A perennial herb
30–80 cm high with milky juice. Stem erect, pentagonal, glabrous. Leaves
alternate, petiolate, ovate-rounded, 17–40 mm long, 10–20 mm wide, entire,
acuminate. Cyathia together with a peduncle cyme, and
leaf-bracts opposite, linear or lanceolate, involucres turbinate; petaloid
appendage 2–4 (5), white, obcordate at apex. Stamen 13–20, basifixed, inner
filament ca. 1 mm, outer ones ca. 0.5 mm; anther yellow; female flower pedicel
pubescent; ovary, 3 carpels, styles 3. Capsules 2 mm long, 3 mm diameter, exserted out of involucre, pedicel ca. 4 mm long, each carpel
with 1 seed; seed 3 (Webster & Burch 1967). This perennial herb, originally
from South America, is commonly found growing along roadsides
(https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000962344). This is the first
record of this introduced species (native to Mexico), in the West Bank.
Family Malvaceae
Abutilon theophrasti Medik.
Qalqilia Governorate, Falamia,
32.224 N & 35.015 E, altitude 106 m, 27.vi.2022, PMNHH-H1135.
Annual, 40–60–(80) cm, tomentose. Stem single, branched above. Leaves alternate, 7–15 x 6–8
cm, long petioles, ovate-cordate, long acuminate, entire. Flowers grow on
stalks, either individually or in clusters. Calyx 0.8–1 cm, campanulate.
Corolla yellow, one and a half times longer than calyx; five obovate petals
attached at the base, notched at the apex. Fruit 1.5–2 cm in diameter;
mericarps 10–16 with awns up to 3 mm, 1–2 seeded each. Blooming: May–September.
It was noted on BIOGIS from Wadi Joz in east
Jerusalem but ours is the first verified West Bank record.
Family Orobanchaceae
Cistanche violacea (Desf.)
Hoffmanns & Link (Image 1G)
Bethlehem Governorate, Al Rashaydeh
area, 31.488 N & 35.345 E, altitude 257 m, 07.iii.2015, PMNH H 1617.
A parasitic desert plant, up to 30 cm. Bracts longer
than calyx. Calyx campanulate, glabrous, divided into lobes to its middle.
Corolla 2.5–3.5 cm longer than calyx by 2.5 times, glabrous, white corolla
tube, deep purple lobes, slightly curved outwards dark lilac limbs. It is
characterized by a prominent yellow semi-circular fold on the lower corolla
lip. This is the first record of this species in the West Bank. Reported in a
few localities in the Naqab and south Jordan (El-Eisawi 2013). Medicinal and herbal uses, and worldwide
distribution may make this an important global economic plant, though reproducing
it ex situ might be difficult (Thorogood et al. 2021; Azab
2021).
Family Papilionaceae (Leguminosae)
Glycyrrhiza echinata L.
Jenin Governorate, Sanour, 32.360 N & 35.247 E, altitude 366 m,
31.vii.2022, PMNH-H0746.
Perennial herb, 20–50
cm. Stem erect. Leaves 4–16 cm composed of 5–6 pairs of oblongs to elliptical,
obtuse, or acute leaflets. Peduncles up to 7 cm. Flowers 2–4 mm, in dense 1–4
cm spherical heads. Calyx teeth are triangular. Corolla bluish. Ovary
glandular. Fruiting heads 3–7 cm. spherical. Pod 1–1.5 × 0.5 cm, with prickles.
2–3 seeds. Flowering May–October. According to BIOGIS, there is only one visual
but undated record from the Qabatiya area in the West
Bank.
Medicago ciliaris (L.) All.
Jenin Governorate, Arraba meadow, National Agricultural Research Station,
32.773 N & 35.262 E, altitude 267 m, 27.iv.2016, PMNH-H0420.
Annual, 30–50 cm.
Stems procumbent or ascending. Stipules ovate, dentate with 2-fid distal tooth.
Leaflets are sometimes blotched, 6–20 × 5–15 mm, obovate, and shortly
apiculate. Peduncles 1–4 (rarely up to 10) flowered. Flowers 5–9 mm. Calyx
hairy, teeth equal to tube or shorter. Corolla is about twice as long as calyx,
yellow. Fruit large, spherical to ovoid, 10–20 mm high, spiny, covered with
many-celled hairs, coils 6–10, the broadest 9–15 mm diameter, surface covered
with a distinct net of veins, with about seven anastomosing veins, spines 2–4
mm long. Seeds 1–2 in each coil. Flowering March–May. Prefers damp, deep soils.
This is the third locality record for this rare species in the West Bank after
Ein Yabrud and Wadi Al-Joz
(near Jerusalem) (BIOGIS).
Lupinus palaestinus
Bioss.
Qalqilia Governorate, Sanneria,
32.127 N & 35.045 E, altitude 236 m, 30.iii.2022, PMNH-H0888.
Annual, hairy. Stems
15–30 cm, erect, branched from the base. Leaves 5–177 cm, stipules 1–1.5 cm,
adnate at base to petiole, petioles hairy, much longer than the blade, leaflets
6–10, subsessile, lanceolate to obovate, obtuse.
Racemes many-flowered, erect, exceeding foliage. Pedicels are shorter than
calyx. Flowers about 1.5–2.3 cm, erect. Calyx persistent, hirsute-villose, lower lip longer than the upper lip. Corolla is
twice as long as calyx; standards white lilac; wings connate at apex, keel
violet at apex. Pod hirsute-villose, 4–7 × 2 cm long,
2-4-seeded, erect, flattened, oblong-linear with a short beak. Flowering
February–April. Habitat in loamy soils in coastal areas. This species was
reported mostly along the coastal areas of historic Palestine, and BIOGIS has
two records in the West Bank but in atypical habitats (Kafr
Qaddum & Kisan). It may
have arrived through soil translocation from the coast for gardens since it is
not its habitat. Our specimen from the Qalqilya area
is within the kind of coastal habitats where we expect to see this species.
Family Plantaginaceae
Plantago major L.
Ramallah Governorate,
Aboud, 32.034 N & 35.071 E, altitude 250 m,
28.iv.2012, PMNH-H 0880.
Perennial herb,
glabrous. Leaves rosulate, broadly ovate or elliptic, obtuse, 3–7-veined,
narrowed to a long petiole. Scapes erect as long as
leaves or longer. Spikes narrow cylindrical, 5–35 cm. Bracts ovate, white
margined. Calyx lobes are equal, with a green midrib. Corolla lobes are short
and acute. Seeds minute, angular. Flowering March–October. It is found near
streams. BOIOGIS showed unconfirmed locations in three other West Bank areas: Qusin, Jalazon, and Wadi Joz.
Family Poaceae (Graminae)
Saccharum spontaneum
L. Wild
Nablus Governorate, Usarin, 31.118 N & 35.303 E, altitude 687 m,
10.xii.2020, PMNH-H 0403.
Perennial grass with
stiff leaves that are 0.5–1.0 cm wide, canaliculate, long attenuate, serrulate
at margins, keeled with white midrib, ligule short brown ciliate. Panicle 50–60
x 6–10 cm. Silky-villose with spikelets
4–6 mm, awnless, enveloped in long white silky hairs
of callus, which are twice as long as spikelets.
Lemma and palea are shorter than glumes which are
ciliate. Flowering September–January. A presumed record from the Ain Fashkha area was noted which was identify as “Israel”, but
it is in the occupied Palestinian Territories (Olsvig-Whittaker
et al. 2009). That paper was not taxonomic (not associated with herbarium
specimens), their identification is uncertain. In any case, the established
record is of significant as this plant is rare in the region. Wild sugarcane is
noted in northern Africa and Asia, with one record in Lebanon
(https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000896738).
Crypsis factorovskyi L.
Qalqilia Governorate, Qarawet
Bani Zaid., 32.053 N & 35.134 E, altitude 412 m, 26.viii.201(, PMNH-H 0886.
This annual plant has
internodes enveloped by leaf sheaths up to half their length. Leaf blades are
densely- haired, especially on the upper surface. Panicles are head-like,
compressed, terminal, and axillary. Terminal heads have numerous spikelets, 4–6 mm, with short pedicels, enveloped by an
involucre of two opposite coriaceous distal leaves. Glumes are shorter than spikelets, hyaline, and lanceolate; lower glumes shorter
and narrower than the upper. Palea two-veined,
shorter than lemma. Stamens 3. Flowering June–August. Habitat includes
inundated soils in winter and dry in summer. This species is mainly in the
mountains and coastal areas within 1948 areas of Palestine and is noted as
“very rare” in the Galilee (BIOGIS; Danin 2004). The
species prefers moist habitats and as per BIOGIS it is around a small pond in Qusin, while while it was
recorded it in the vernal pool near Jinsafut after
drying (see Qumsiyeh et al. 2022). Two other species
of Crypsis were recently reported from the
West Bank: C. acuminata Trin.
and C. alopecuroides (Piller
et Mitterpol) and Schrader (Qumsiyeh
& Al-Sheikh 2021).
Family Polygonaceae
Fallopia convolvulus (L.) Á.Löve
Bethlehem
Governorate, Husan, 31.715 N & 32.129 E, altitude
690 m, 16.vi.2021, PMNH-H 0715.
Herbaceous vine
growing to 1.5 m. Stem twine clockwise around other plant stems. Leaves
alternate, petiolate, triangular 1.5–6 cm long, 0.7–3 cm wide. Flower small in
short racemes, 5 green, white tepals, 5 stamens. Pistil with fused stigmas
forming a head. Fruit achene with one seed. This northern European species was
introduced and is now spreading in the temperate Mediterranean climate in our
region. In the West Bank, there are three other localities as per BIOGIS, but
two of them are arid locations and unlikely. If this interpretation is correct,
then this is the second record from the West Bank.
Family Potamogetonaceae
Potamogeton nodosus
Poir. (Image 1)
Jenin Governorate, Sanour, 32.368 N & 35.267 E, altitude 356 m,
14.viii.2022, PMNH-H1620.
A rhizome creeping
perennial herb. Leaves floating and submerged borne on petiole; floating
leaves, elliptic, entire 6–15 × 2.5–4 cm in length and width; submerged leaves
translucent, lanceolate up to 15 × 4 cm; entire, stipules up to 8 cm. Spike 3–6
cm with a long peduncle. Inflorescence is a spike of many small flowers arising
from the water on a peduncle. Fruitlets are tiny with a short beak. Flowering
May–August. This species, found in the Galilee and coastal areas, and this is
the first record in the West Bank.
Family Umbelliferae (Apiaceae)
Tordylium cordatum (Jacq.) Poir.
Jenin Governorate,
Siri’s nature reserve, 32.309N & 35.316 E, altitude 484 m, 26.ii.2016,
PMNH-H1612; Jenin Governorate, Jaba`, Hraish mountain, 32.336 N & 35.256 E, altitude 738 m,
06.iv.2022, PMNH-H 1613.
Annual, 40–80 cm.
Stem erect; branched; angular; hispidulous. Lower
leaves long - petiolate, cordate, blade 4–8 cm, doubly crenate; upper leaves
ovate-oblong or three sects into ovate segments. Umbels are mostly terminal
long peduncles. Bracts and bracteoles many, deflexed, bracteoles long or longer
than the umbellets. Petals 2–3 mm unequally 2-parted. Fruits are discoid;
dimorphic; 5–7 mm; orbicular; tuberculate with a smooth margin; outer part of
the margin white. Flowering April–June. The species was noted in the northern
areas of historic Palestine, BIOGIS reports two localities near the border
(Green Line) and inside the West Bank one from 1977 observation in the
northwest of the West Bank and one in the northeast near Jalbuon.
Our documented records are deeper inside the West Bank.
Family Ulmaceae
Ulmus minor Mill.
Ramallah Governorate,
Ain Sinia, 32.971N & 35.230E, altitude 644 m,
14.viii.2020, PMNH-H 1635.
The tree typically
grows to 20–30 m with a rounded crown. The bark of the trunk is rough and
furrowed in older trees to form a block pattern. The shoots are slender. The
leaves are smaller than those of the related European species, hence the
specific epithet minor. Leaves on juvenile growth (Suckers, seedlings) are
coarse and pubescent, whereas those on mature growth are generally smooth,
though remaining highly variable in form; there are generally fewer than 12
pairs of side veins. A common characteristic is the presence of minute
black glands along the leaf veins, detectable with the aid of a magnifying
glass. The samara is oval or obovate, glabrous, 12–15 mm long, notched
at the top, with the seed close to the notch. The species is noted in northern
areas of historic Palestine, and this is the first record in the West Bank and
is also the most southern record of its distribution in our region.
DISCUSSION
The data presented
above adds noteworthy records of 23 species strengthening knowledge of the
flora of the West Bank, an area (together with the Gaza Strip) projected to be
the new state of Palestine (now recognized by 160+ countries). For 15
uncommon/rare species, our data meaningfully extend their range: Saccharum spontaneum, Cyrtomium falcatum, Eleocharis palustris, Crypsis factorovskyi, Coincya tournefortii, Medicago
ciliaris, Abutilon theophrasti,
Anabasis oropediorum, Allium rothii,
Fallopia convolvulus, Glycyrrhiza echinata,
Plantago major, Pseuderucaria
clavata, Lupinus palaestinus, and Cistanche
violacea. Eight other species are recorded for
the first time in the West Bank: Tordylium cordatum, Bergia ammannioides, Sambucus
ebulus, Araujia
sericifera, Euphorbia graminea,
Potamogeton nodosus, Cyrtomium falcatum, and Ulmus minor. Three of those eight species
(Araujia sericifera,
Euphorbia graminea, and Cyrtomium
falcatum) are not local in our region
(introduced species). Of course, not all introduced species are invasive. This
indicates that human disturbance is becoming dominant here as elsewhere in the
world with a concomitant need for monitoring and eradication programs for
invasive plants. The other five are noteworthy and rare (likely threatened)
species and this helps us define key areas for conservation in line with the
new National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
In planning the
sustainable development of any country, a better understanding of its fauna and
flora is essential. Indeed, this is emphasized in the new National Biodiversity
Strategy and Action Plan and the new protected areas network (Qumsiyeh et al. 2023). It was found that uploaded data on
BIOGIS may not always be reliable because it can include observations by
non-professionals. Alternatively, terra rosa soil
brought from coastal Mediterranean areas may bring some species into the West
Bank (especially around Israeli settlements), giving unusual distributional
data (e.g., Lupinus palaestinus).
Such botanical
studies usually face difficulties globally due to a lack of resources and
capacity of local people. This is exacerbated in developing countries like
Palestine, where doing fieldwork is extremely hazardous due to restrictions on
movement by the Israeli occupation authorities. Yet, work like this is
essential for conservation efforts even in difficult circumstances.
Due to habitat
changes, overexploitation, climate change, pollution, invasive species, and
Israeli occupation practices, a significant portion of Palestine’s biodiversity
is vulnerable or threatened (Al-Sheikh & Qumsiyeh
2021, 2022; Pahl & Qumsiyeh
2021; Husein & Qumsiyeh
2022; Qumsiyeh & Albardeiya
2022). Understanding distributions and aligning them with the newly designated
protected area network for the nascent state of Palestine (Qumsiyeh
et al. 2023) could help conservation efforts for threatened taxa.
In conclusion, such
detailed floristic data is important to collect to add to the baseline for
understanding flora and will eventually help in better informing and devising
conservation efforts.
For
images - - click here for full PDF
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