Gymnospermae and Pteridophyta

One species of gymnosperms; Ephedra foliata Boiss (Ephedraceae), and one species of Pteridophyta, Ophioglossum aitchisonii d’Almeida,

have been listed in the flora of Kuwait (Boulos &

Al-Dosari, 1994).

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• Sand dunes vegetation: comprises a series of low coastal dunes which extends along the southern to northern coastal strips. The soil is composed of loose coarse sand. It is usually dominated by Zygophyllum qatarense and/or Seidlitzia rosmarinus, with occasional by Atriplex leucoclada and Nitraria retusa.

Common associates are Lycium shawii and Pennisetum divisum.

• Salt marshes ‘sabkha’ and saline vegetation:

The marshes are influenced by tidal action and the shallow saline water table. Soil ranges from loamy sand to sandy clay.

This vegetation type dominates in areas of Kuwait bay coasts and Khor Al-Sabiyah. It is also found in Bubiyan and Warba Islands.

Chenopodiaceae dominates the vegetation with Halocnemum strobilaceum common near the shore and Nitraria retusa and Zygophyllum qatarensefurther inland.

• Desert plains vegetation: this type dominates most of the desert land area (west of the coastal region) and is represented by a number of communities:

a. Cyperus steppe: dominated by Cyperusconglomeratus and common to the south and south-west of Kuwait City. Commonly associated with

Panicum turgidum. The soil is of deep, moderately loose, coarse sand.

b. Rhanterium steppe: dominated by Rhanterium epapposum and found in the central and north-east of Kuwait.

Common associates are Convolvulus oxyphyllus, Moltkiopsis ciliata and Stipagrostis plumosa. Found on shallow to moderately deep soils with a calcareous hardpan.

c. Haloxylon steppe: dominated by Haloxylon salicornicum found mainly in northern areas of Kuwait.

Found on shallow soils with a hardpan.

The desert plateau vegetation: Found mainly in the extreme west of Kuwait;

dominated by Haloxylon salicornicum with Citrullus colocynthis also occuring frequently. Annual plants densely cover areas where perennial plants are absent.

These include Arnebia spp. Helianthemum spp. Astragalus spp. and Schismus barbatus. Zilla spinosa dominates Wadi Al-Batin area. Found on thin soils consisting of generally of few inches of coarse or soft loamy sand, often mixed with pebbles and gravel, over a hardpan.

The native vegetation of Kuwait is of high values as it represents semi-arid and arid vegetation of the region and contains highly adaptable genes to the harsh environment, extreme drought, poor soil and organic matter and tolerates high salinity (Zaman et al., 2009). The vegetation types of Kuwait are mainly defined by geomorphological changes, soil types and climatic conditions. Four main vegetation types are recognised in Kuwait according to Halwagy & Halwagy (1974):