Habitat and Plant Communities in the Egyptian Desert: III. The Wadi Bed Ecosystem

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Abstract
A wadi is usually a drainage system with an extensive catchment area. The paper surveys the vegetation of several wadis within 50 km from Cairo. The wadi bottom is covered with alluvial deposits of varying depth. On soil-barren areas are found chasmophytic communities as Stachietum aegyptiacae. On shallow soils succulent vegetation (Zygophylletum coccinii, Anabasietum setlferae) is the most common. On soils deeper than 50 cm Zilletum spinosae may be found. Deeper soils support grassland vegetation dominated by Pennisetum dichotomum, Panicum turgidum. or Lasiurus hirsutus depending on the composition of the soil. Woody vegetation is found on wadi terraces or bottoms with deepest deposits. Nitraria tridentata, Lycium arabicum, Atriplex halimus, Tamarix spp. may be dominant. The gradual modification of the plant cover proceeds with the gradual accumulation of alluvial sediments, a process dependent on the physical factors of topography and the hydrological regime of the wadi.

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