Studies on five Silene L. Taxa in Saint Catherine Protectorate, South Sinai, Egypt
13-04-2020 22:54
This work aims to document morphological and anatomical features of Silene L. taxa in Saint Catherine protectorate as well as their distribution. Five Silene taxa are investigated representing 17% of all Egyptian Silene; three of these taxa are endemic. Investigated taxa grow in 5 microhabitats (slope, gorges terraces, farsh (basin) and wadis) either alone or associated with other species. The total populations of three Silene taxa (S. odontopetala Fenzl subsp. congesta Boiss, S. leucophylla Boiss, and S. oreosinaica Chowdhuri; the latter two are endemics) were represented by a low number of individuals (60−140) and are threatened by abiotic and biotic risks which may lead to their extinction