Dispersal mechanisms of flowering plants in the central region of Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Disseminules of wild plants in the Central desert region possess different types of morphological adaptations to cope with the dispersal agents in the arid environment.

Most disseminules are dispersed by either autochory or anemochory.

The present study also showed that dispersal of most disseminules is effected by more than one agent.

Such alternation of dispersal capabilities increases the efficiency of the plants to increase their distribution range and thereby their chances of survival.

Among the major families studied, plants belonging to Compositae and Gramineae are most successful in terms of geographical area of occurrence, density and diversity.