Taxonomy and distribution of two newly recorded genera in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Countries in the Arabian Peninsula have undergone strenuous plant collections duringthe past two decades as part of enriching various Herbaria in the region or producingand updating the flora of the region. Recent botanical explorations in the southwesternparts of Saudi Arabia have yielded interesting specimens of two distinct taxa. Criticalstudy of these specimens revealed that they belong to two genera previously notreported for the flora of Saudi Arabia. Descriptions and photographs of the newlyreported taxa, viz. Encelia Adanson and Galinsoga Ruiz & Pav., both belonging toAsteraceae, are provided for easy identification. A brief account on the taxonomy anddistribution of the two genera in Saudi Arabia are also provided.

Keywords

• Asteraceae
• Encelia
• Galinsoga
• flora
• Saudi Arabia.