Nova Hedwigia 56 3-4 491-496 Stuttgart, Mai 1993

Lichen flora from high altitude areas of Saudi Arabia

by

H.A. Bokhary, S. Parvez

Department of Botany, King Saud University. P.O . Box 2455, Riyadh 11451. Saudi Arabia

and

A.H. Abu-Zinada

National Commision for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD) Riyadh. Saudi Arabia

With 1 figure and 2 tables

Bokhary. H.A .• S. Parvez & A.H. Abu-Zinada (1993): Lichen flora from high altitude areas of Saudi Arabia. - Nova Hedwigia 56: 491-496.

Abstract: Forty-nine species belonging to thirty-two genera of lichens are reported from high altitude areas of Saudi Arabia. These locations are Jabal AI-Lauz near As-Sharaf NW of Tabuk. Jabal Shaar near AI-Muwalih. Jabal Shaminsal near Madina Munawara. Jabal Aja wa Salmah in Hail, Jabal Tuwaiq between Riyadh and Qaseem and Hail region of Saudi Arabia. Out of the total genera and species of lichens encountered , twelve species and eight genera are new additions to Saudi Arabian lichen flora. A list of lichens reported from Saudi Arabia so far is also given excluding the names of lichens reported in this study.

Introduction

Existing information on the lichen flora of arid regions like Saudi Arabia is still in­complete (Abu-Zinada et al. 1986). Some observations on the lichens of the Arabian Peninsula were reported as early as 1903 (Steiner 1903) and later by Lamb in 1936. However, the first authentic work on Saudi Arabian lichens was that of Abu-Zinada and Hawksworth (1974), who reported seven genera and twenty species from south­ern and central regions. Subsequently, KUrschner (1984) reported thirteen species of lichens from Asir mountains (south-western region bordering Red Sea) where as Abu-Zinada et al. (1986) studied the flora of central, southern and western regions of Saudi Arabia, recording altogether sixty seven lichen species, and providing a key for their identification. More recently, Frey (1989) reported some species of lichens on Juniperus excelsa and Acacia origena, also from the south west region of Saudi Arabia.

All the regions of Saudi Arabia so far studied for lichen flora generally have a com­paratively high rainfall and humidity whereas other, more arid regions such as the north-western and northern regions have not been surveyed. The following study

0029-5035 / 93 / 0056-0491 $1.50 © 1993 J. Cramer in der Gebr iJder Bornlraeger

Verlagsbuchhandlung. D-IOOO Berlin D-7000 Stuttgart

491

was therefore undertaken to survey the lichen flora at high altitude areas of these latter regions, namely, Jabal AJ-Lauz near As-Sharaf NW of Tabuk, Jabal Shaar near AI-Muwalih, Jabal Shaminsal near Madina Munawara, Jabal Tuwaiq between Riyadh and Qaseem and Jabal Aja wa Salmah in Hail.

Methods

Sampling localities

Details of these locations are as follows:

(Fig. I) A. Jabal Aja \Va Salmah (Hail) 27°50'N , 41°40 'E B. Jabal AI-Lauz (NW Tabuk) 28°40 ' N, 35°45 ' E C. Jabal Shaar (AI-Muwalih) 27°45 'N, 35°50 'E D. Jabal Tuwaiq (Riyadh and Qaseem) 24°-26°30 'N, 45°-46°30 'E E. Jabal Sahminsal (Mad ina Munawara) 24°N, 39° E

This survey has been made between February 26, 1988 to March 13, 1988.

All of these sites are remote areas where no meteorological station exists and hence no climatological data are available, although some meteorological data about Tuwaiq mountain were reponed (Frey & Kursch ­ner 1987).

Determination of lichens were kindly done by Prof. Dr. J. Poelt (PIL), Dr. Othmar Breu13 (Br13.), Mr. Thorsten Lumbsch (Lumb.), Prof. Dr. J.M. Egea (Egea) and Dr. Th. Esslsinger (Ess\'). Comfirmatory identification of some lichens was also carried out by the Commonwealth Mycological Institute (IMI). Kew, Surrey, England. The lichen samples are deposited in the personal herbarium of Prof. Dr. H.A. Bokhary.

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Results and discussion

Out of forty-nine species belonging to thirty-two genera recorded in the present stu­dy, twelve species and eight genera represent new country records for Saudi Arabia (Abu-Zinada and Hawksworth 1974; Ktirschner 1984; Abu-Zinada et a11986; Abo­Khatwa 1989; Frey 1989).

The occurrence of lichen species in the different sites surveyed is listed in Table 1. The largest number of species was recorded from Jabal Aja followed, in descending order, by Jabal Tuwaiq, Jabal Al Lauz, Jabal Shaminsal and the lowest number from Jabal Shaar. None of the species recorded was found to be common to all the locations surveyed; however, two species namely Gonohymenia mesopotamiea and Thyrea nigrite/la were common to four of the five locations.

The lichen flora of northern and north-western parts of Saudi Arabia is apparently quite different from that of the southern and south-western parts; thus, out of the forty-nine species reported here, only thirty-seven are reported previously from cen­tral, southern and south-western parts (Abu-Zinada & Hawksworth 1974; Ktir­schner 1984; Abu-Zinada et al. 1986; Frey 1989). Clearly the lichen flora of northern and north-western part of Saudi Arabia differs from that of other areas not only in terms of species, but also at the genus level, new genera are being added in the present study viz. Endoearpon; Gonohymenia, Peeeania (Mass.) Forrss.; Psoroti­ehia Massa!.; Rhizoplaea; Staurothele umbrina (Ach.) Tuck and Verruearia Jusee/la Ach. and one cyanolichen. By contrast several genera such as Bue/lia, Can de/aria, Cladonia, Dime/aena, Hyperphyscia, Ph/yetis, Phaeophyscia, Physeonia, Pyxine, Ramalina, Rhizoearpon, Sarcogyne, Usnea and Xanthoparmelia which were repor­ted elsewhere in the Kingdom (Abu-Zinada & Hawksworth 1974; Ktirschner 1984; Abu-Zinada et al. 1986; and Abo-Khatwa 1989) were absent in northern and north­western regions. We also found no evidence of other genera which Ktirschner and Nash (pers. comm.) mentioned among lichens of Saudi Arabia, i.e. Toninia, Flavo­parme/ia, F/avopunete/ia, NeoJuscelia, Paraparmelia, Punete/ia and Xanthoparme­fia during the period of survey for the present study (Table 2).

The high proportion of new taxa found in this study illustrate the fact that the lichen flora of Saudi Arabia needs further exploration, particularly with respect to ecophy­siology and lichen communities (Abu-Zinada et al. 1986).

Acknowledgements

We are deeply thankful to Prof. Dr. 1. Poelt, for hi s kindly and valuable suggestions and also for his help in the identification of lichens.

We are also thankful and appreciate the help of lichen' s specialists Dr. Othmar Breufl of Naturhistori­sches Museum, Wien; Mr. H. Thorsten Lumbsc h of Botanisches Institut, University of Essen; Dr. Th . Esslinger of Agriculture Experiment Station, North Dakota State University , Fargo and Prof. Dr. J .M. Egea of Universidad de Murcia, Dept de BioI. Vegetal, for determination of various lichens.

Authors are thankful to National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for sponsoring and providing facilities for present study.

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Table I. Occurrence of li chens in the high altitude areas of Saudi Arabia

Lichens Localit ies

Habita t A B C D E

Acarospora lavicola Steiner R + Anaplychia ciliaris (L.) Koerber CS Aspicilia circummunila (Nyl.) Flagey CS + + + Caloplaca brouardii (B . de Lesd.) Zahlbr. CS + C. irrubescens (Ny!.) Zahlbr. CS Calapyrenium conlumescens (Nyl.) Breuss CS C. lachneum (Ach. ) R. San!. CS + C. sp. CS Collema subjlaccidum Degel.· CS + C. lenax (Sw.) Ach. CS&R + + C. lunaejormee (Ach.) Ach. * CS&R + + C. undulalum Flot. var. granlilosum Degel. * CS + Cyanolichen CS + Dermalocarpon miniatum (L.) Mann CS + + Diploschisles diacapsis (Ach .) Lumbsch* R + + D. ocellalus (Yuill.) Norman CS + D. scruposus (Schreber) Norman CS + Endocarpon pusillum Hedw*' CS + Fulgensia julgida* CS + + Gloeoheppia sp. CS + G. IUrgida (Ach.) Gyeln . CS + + + Gonohymenia mesopolamica J. Stein." CS + + + Heppia lulosa (Ach.) Ny!. CS H. lurgida (Ach.) Nyl" CS + Heleroderma leucomelos (Fee) Poelt' CS + Lecanora bolcana (Pollin i) Poelt' CS + L deserlorum Kphbr* = Aspicilia CS&R + L. sp. CS&R + + Lecidea decipiens (Hedw.) Ach. = Psora CS + + Lepraria sp . CS + Leplogium sp. CS + Parmelia liliacea (Hofrm.) Ach. CS + P. verruculifera Ny!. CS + + + Peccania liruncula Ny!." CS + Pellula crispalula (Nyl.) Egea ' CS + + P. obscuratula (Ny!.) Egea* CS + P. radieala Ny!. CS + Perlusaria albescens (Huds .) Choisy & Wern . CS + Physcia sp. + Psora decipiens (Hedw.) Hoffm . CS + Psorotichia sp . .. CS + Rhizoplaca peltala CS + Squamarina concreseens (Mull. Arg.) Poelt CS + + Staurothele umbrina (Ach.) Tuck" CS + Teloschisles chrysophlhalmus (L.) Th. Fr. R + Thyrea nigrilella Lettau = Gonohymenia CS& R + + + T. plieatissima (Nyl.) Zahlbr.· CS&R + + + Verrucaria juseella Ach .·· CS&R + Xanlhoria sp . CS&R +

• New species for Saudi Arabia; •• New genus fo r Saudi Arabia

A = Jaba l Aja (Hail); B = Jabal AI-Loz (WNW) Tabouk; D = Jabal Shaar (Al-Mawalih); D = Jaba l Tuwaiq (Riyadh & Qassim) ; E = Jabal Shaminsal (Madinah Munawara).

CS = On compacted sand; R = On rocks

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Table 2. List of other lichens reported from Saudi Arabia

A.&H. Kii. A. et a!. AK Fr.Lichen species N 1975 1984 1986 1989 1989

Acarospora Slrigala (Ny!.) latta + A. sulphurala (Arnold) Arnold + A. kaspica Gyelnik = Anaplychia + A. praeradiosa (Ny!.) Poell & Leukert Aspicilia + 8uel/ia badia (Fr.) Massa!. + 8. punclala (Hoffm.) Massa!. + 8. subalbula (Ny!.) Miil!. + Caloplaca holocarpa (Hoffm.) Wade + Candelaria concolor (Dickson) B. Stein + Candelariel/a vilel/ina (Hoffm.) Mull. + Col/ema furfuraceum (Arnold) Du Rielz + Cladonia sp. + Dermalocarpon vel/ereum sp. vellereum + Dimelaena oreina (Ach.) Norman + Diploschisles albescens Lettau + D. arabiensis Lumbsch + Diplolomma alboalrum (Hoffm.) Flotow + Flavoparmelia soredians + Flavopunclelia soredica + Fulgensia fulgens (Sw.) Elenkin + Hyperphyscia adglulinala (Florke) Mayrh. + Lecanora campeslris (Schaerer) Hue + L. chlarolera Nyl. + L. conlorla (Hoffm.) Slein = Aspicilia + L. laevis Poell + L. muralis (Schreb.) Rabh. + Lecidella euphorea (Florke) Hertel + L. cf. euphorea (Florke) Ny!. + Lecidoma demissum (Rutstrom)

G. Schneider & Hertel + Lepraria incana (L.) Ach. + + Neofuscelia caliginosa + Paraparmelia subannexa + Parmelia annexa Kurok. + P. auslroafricana Stir!. + P. flavenlior Slir!. + P. prolomalrae Gyeln. + P. linclorum Ny!. + P. weberi Hale + P. coccodes (Ach .) Ny!. + + Phaeophyscia orbicularis (Neck.) Moberg + Phlyclis argena (Sprengel) Flotow + Physcia adscendens (Fr.) H. Olivier + P. aipolia (Ehrh. ex Humb.) Hampe + P. biziana (Mass.) Zahlbr. + P. orbicularis (Neck.) Th. Fr. = Phaeophyscia + P. slel/aris (L.) Ny!. + Physconia dislorla (Wilh.) Laundon + P. grisea (Lam.) Poell + P. perisidiasa (Erichsen) Moberg + Punclelia barreri + P. punclilla + Pyxine nubila Moberg + Ramalina farinacea (L.) Ach. + + + R. pollinaria + Rhizocarpon geographicum subsp.

linei (Tornab.) Clauz. & Roux +

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Table 2. Contd.

A.&H . Kii. A. et a1 AK Fr.Lichen species N 1975 1984 1986 1989 1989

Sarcogyne privigna (Ach.) Massa\. + Squamarina crassa (Huds.) P oelt + Teloschistes chrysophthalmus (L.) Th. Fr. + + T. villosus (Ach .) Norman + Toninia tristis Th. Fr. + Usnea articulata (L .) H offm. + + + + U. bornmuelleri Steiner + Xanthoparmelia dubiala + X. isidiosa + X. iniquila + X. mougeolina + X. cf. scabrosa sp. + X. sp. + Xanlhoria fallax (Hepp) Arnold + X. parietina (L.) Th. Fr. + + + + Sterile crust +

A.H. Abu -Zinada & Hawksworth (1974) Kii . Kiirschner (1984) A. et at. Abu-Zinada et al. (1986) N Prof. Nash (unpublished record, personal communication) AK Abo-Khatwa (1989) Fr. Frey (1989)

References

ABO-KHATWA, A .N. (1989): A contribution to the lichens of Saudi Arabia and the role of lichen acids. - Proc. Wildlife Cons. Dev. Saudi Arabia. 3: 201-208.

ABU-ZINADA, A.H. & D.L. HAWKSWORTH (\974) : A contribution to the lichen flora of Saudi Ara­bia. - Bull . Fac. Sci. Riyadh Univ. 6: 224-233.

ABU-ZIN ADA , A. H., D.L. HAWKSWORTH & H.A. BOKHAR Y (1986): The lichens o f Saudi Arabia, with a key to the species reported. - Arab Gulf J. Scient. Res. Sp. Pub. 2: p. 54.

FREY, W. (1989): The bryophytes of Saudi Arabia and the importance of their conservation (Studies in Arabia n Bryophytes 9). - Proc. Wildlife Cons. Develop. Saudi Arabia 3: 209-219.

FREY , W. & H. KURSCHNER (\987): A desert bryophyte synusia from the Jaba l Tuwaiq mountain systems (Centra'l Saudi Arabia) with the description of two new Crossidium species (Po ttiaceae). Studies in Arabian Bryop hytes 8. - Nova Hedwigia 45: 119-136.

KURSCHNER, H . (\984) Epiphytic communities of the Asir mountains (SW Saudi Arabia). Studies in Arabian Bryophytes. - Nova Hedwigia XXXIX: 117-199.

LAMB, I.M. (1936): Lichens from Bahrein Island. - J. Bot. London 74: 346-35\.

STEINER, J. (1903): Bearbeitung der von O. Simony 1898 und 1899 in Sudarabien auf Sokotra und den benachbarten Inseln gesammelten Flechten. - Denkschr. Kaiserl. Akad, Wiss. Wien, Mat.-nat. KI 71 (1902) : 93 -102.

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