Notes on the Flora of Dalieh

Moustapha A. Itani1, Mariana M. Yazbek2, Mohammad S. Al-Zein1, 3, 4*

1
Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management, Faculty of Agricultural and Food
Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon; 2Genetic Resources Section, Biodiversity and
Integrated Gene Management Program, International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas
(ICARDA), Beirut, Lebanon; 3Biology Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of
Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon; 4Nature Conservation Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
*msalzein@gmail.com

The coastal area extending from Beirut in the north to Jiyyeh in the south has recently
been designated as an important plant area (IPA). Dalieh, one of the last remaining
patches of semi-natural vegetation in this IPA, is highly threatened by development
(urbanization; construction and/or expansion of roads and highways; construction of
hotels and resorts) and habitat fragmentation1. Its flora comprises 6% of the flora of
Lebanon2. Most plant species occurring in Dalieh (ca. 90%) are herbaceous.

In the past five years, the presence of 102 out of at least 153 species of seed-bearing
plants reported from Dalieh has been confirmed2,3,4 (Figure 1). They belong to 46
families, around 20% of which belong to the Asteraceae (Sunflower family) (Table 1).
Of these species:

 One, the thick-leaved stock of Beirut (Matthiola crassifolia Boiss. & Gaill.), is
endemic (occurring only in Lebanon).
 Forty six are regional endemics (occurring in the Mediterranean basin or parts
thereof):

Family Species Common name

Apiaceae Crithmum maritimum L. Rock samphire
Apiaceae Scaligeria napiformis Cretan Scaligaria
(Spreng.) Grande
Asteraceae Asteriscus aquaticus (L.) Sweet-scented
Less. oxeye
Asteraceae Bellis sylvestris Cirillo* Southern daisy
Asteraceae Cardopatium corymbosum Black chameleon
(L.) Pers.
Asteraceae Carthamus tenuis (Boiss. Slender safflower
& C. I. Blanche) Bornm.
Asteraceae Crepis palaestina (Boiss.) Palestine
Bornm. hawkweed
Asteraceae Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Viscous dittrichia
Greuter
Asteraceae Echinops gaillardotii Gaillardot's
Boiss.* globe-thistle
Asteraceae Leontodon tuberosus L. Tuberous
dandelion
Asteraceae Limbarda crithmoides (L.) Golden samphire
Dumort.
Asteraceae Picris rhagadioloides (L.) Tall ox-tongue
Desf.
Asteraceae Reichardia picroides (L.) Various-leaved
Roth* reichardia
Asteraceae Urospermum picroides Prickly-cupped
(L.) F. W. Schmidt goat's-beard
Boraginaceae Anchusa hybrida Ten. Hybrid bugloss
Boraginaceae Echium angustifolium Narrow-leaved
Mill. viper's-bugloss
Boraginaceae Echium glomeratum Poir. Clustered viper's-
bugloss
Boraginaceae Echium rubrum Forssk.* Red-flowered
viper's-bugloss
Boraginaceae Heliotropium Hairy heliotrope
hirsutissimum Grauer
Boraginaceae Hormuzakia aggregata Clustered
(Lehm.) Guşul. Hormuzakia
Brassicaceae Enarthrocarpus arcuatus Curved
Labill. enarthrocarpus
Capparidaceae Capparis sicula Veill. Spiny caper
Caryophillaceae Minuartia thymifolia Thyme-leaved
(Sm.) Bornm. sandwort
Caryophillaceae Paronychia argentea Silvery nailwort
Lam.
Caryophillaceae Silene aegyptiaca L. (L.) Egyptian catchfly
Chenopodiaceae Beta vulgaris subsp. Sea garden beet
maritima (L.) Arcang.*
Chenopodiaceae Halimione portulacoides False purslane
(L.) Aellen
Chenopodiaceae Salsola tragus L.* Prickly saltwort
Malvaceae Malva nicaeensis All.* Nice mallow
Malvaceae Malva punctata (All.) Dotted tree-
Alef. mallow
Plantaginaceae Plantago lagopus L. Round-headed
plantain
Plantaginaceae Veronica cymbalaria Cymbal
Bodard speedwell
Plumbaginaceae Limonium narbonense Narrow-leaved
Mill. sea-lavender
Plumbaginaceae Limonium virgatum Twiggy sea-
(Willd.) Fourr. lavender
Plumbaginaceae Plumbago europea L. European
leadwort
Poaceae Catapodium marinum (L.) Darnel meadow-
C. E. Hubb. grass
Poaceae Elytrigia juncea (L.) Rush sea-couch
Nevski
Poaceae Gaudinia fragilis (L.) P. Brittle oat
Beauv.*
Poaceae Piptatherum miliaceum Millet Mountain-
(L.) Coss. rice
Primulaceae Anagallis arvensis L. Blue field
pimpernel
Primulaceae Cyclamen persicum Mill. Persian cyclamen
Rosaceae Sarcopoterium spinosum Spiny burnet
(L.) Spach
Rubiaceae Crucianella imbricata Imbricate
Boiss.* crosswort
Rubiaceae Galium canum DC. White bedstraw
Rubiaceae Galium murale (L.) All. Wall bedstraw
Thymelaeceae Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Shaggy sparrow-
Endl.* wort
*Species reported in previous studies but not confirmed by the authors

 At least six are nationally threatened.

Family Species Common Name

Boraginaceae Echium angustifolium Narrow-leaved
Mill. viper's-bugloss
Boraginaceae Hormuzakia aggregata Clustered
(Lehm.) Guşul. hormuzakia
Brassicaceae Matthiola crassifolia Thick-leaved stock
Boiss. & Gaill. of Beirut
Brassicaceae Enarthrocarpus Curved
arcuatus Labill. enarthrocarpus
Poaceae Elytrigia juncea (L.) Rush sea-couch
Nevski
Thymelaeceae Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Shaggy sparrow-
Endl. wort

 Twelve are introduced, of which 11 are cited in the Global Compendium of

Weeds5 and at least six are potentially invasive.
Family Species Common Notes*
name
Arecaceae Phoenix Date Presence
dactylifera L. palm confirmed;
naturalized?
Asteraceae Erigeron Buenos Presence
bonariensis L. Aires confirmed;
fleabane naturalized
Asteraceae Erigeron Canadian Presence
canadensis L. fleabane confirmed;
naturalized
Asteraceae Sphagneticola Creeping Presence
trilobata (L.) ox-eye confirmed;
Pruski introduced;
potentially
invasive
Cactaceae Opuntia ficus- Barbary Reported by
indica (L.) fig Dardas (2000)
Mill. as Opuntia sp.;
presence
confirmed;
naturalized?
Chenopodiaceae Suaeda Saltwort Reported by
prostrata Pall. Mouterde 1935;
presence
confirmed;
introduced; not
reported in
Global
Compendium of
Weeds
Lamiaceae Lantana West Presence
camara L. Indian confirmed;
lantana potentially
invasive
Meliaceae Melia Persian Presence
azedarach L. lilac confirmed;
potentially
invasive
Oxalidaceae Oxalis pes- Bermuda Presence
caprae L. buttercup confirmed;
potentially
invasive
Solanaceae Datura metel Hairy Presence
L. thorn- confirmed;
apple introduced?
 Solanaceae Nicotiana Tobacco- Reported by
glauca shrub Dardas 2000;
Graham presence
confirmed;
potentially
invasive
Solanaceae Solanum Tomato Presence
lycopersicum confirmed;
L. potentially
invasive
*All species are reported in the Global Compendium of Weeds unless otherwise indicated; species
are considered potentially invasive if they are included in the Global Invasive Species Database.

Perhaps what makes Dalieh exceptionally important is the fact that it constitutes one of
the last havens for coastal native plants, specifically the Beirut’s thick-leaved stock
(Matthiola crassifolia Boiss. & Gaill.), a stenoendemic restricted to a small area within
Lebanon (Figure 4). This endangered species occurs in Beirut and Byblos, and is highly
threatened by urbanization1,2. At least four species previously reported from the site
have not been found lately, one of which, the sea grass Zostera noltii Hornem. (= Zostera
nana Mert. ex Roth), has probably become nationally extinct2. Another, the European
leadwort (Plumbago europaea L.) has only been lost at Dalieh in the past five years
(Figure 1).

References:
1
Yazbek, M., N. Machaka-Houri, M. S. Al-Zein, S. Safi, N. Sinno-Saoud and S. Talhouk.
2010. Important Plant Areas in Lebanon: A preliminary study based on published
literature and consultations with national experts. Beirut: Ibsar – AUB (with Plantlife).
155 pp.
2
Tohme, G. and H. Tohme. 2014. Illustrated Flora of Lebanon. Second Edition. Beirut:
Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research. 610 pp.
3
Dardas, M. M. 2000. Floristic Assessment of Selected Communities Along the
Lebanese Littoral Zone. M.S. Thesis. Beirut: American University of Beirut. 88 pp.
4
Mouterde, P. 1935. Petite Flore Des Environs De Beyrouth. Beyrouth: Imprimerie
Catholique. 149 pp.
5
Randall, R. P. 2012. A Global Compendium of Weeds. Second Edition.
Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia.

Table 1: Major families of seed-bearing plant species in Dalieh, with the minimum
number of species per family

Family Number
 of
Species
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family) 29
Poaceae (Grass
family) 18
Caryophyllaceae
(Carnation family) 7
Fabaceae (Bean
family) 7
Boraginaceae
(Borage family) 6
Lamiaceae (Mint
family) 6
Apiaceae (Carrot
family) 5
Solanaceae (Tomato
family) 5
Please arrange the attached photos in two lanes, each with three pictures as follows:

Fig. 1.1 Fig. 1.2 Fig. 1.3

Fig. 1.4 Fig. 1.5 Fig. 1.6

Figure 1: Plant species from Dalieh: 1.1: Bunch-flowered Narcissus (Narcissus

tazetta L.; Amaryllidaceae); 1.2: European leadwort (Plumbago europea L.;
Plumbaginaceae), a regional endemic; 1.3 Black Chameleon (Cardopatium
corymbosum (L.) Pers.; Asteraceae), a regional endemic; 1.4 Twiggy sea lavender
(Limonium virgatum (Willd.) Fourr., Plumbaginaceae), a regional endemic that went
extinct in Dalieh in the past five years; 1.5: Beirut’s thick-leaved stock (Matthiola
crassifolia Boiss. & Gaill.; Brassicaceae), a Lebanese stenoendemic; 1.6: Sea poppy
(Glaucium flavum Crantz.)
 Tree 2

Shrub 4

Small shrub 1

Dwarf shrubs 3

Climber 1

Herbaceous with woody or wood-like base 18

Ligneous (non-herbaceous) 4

Herbaceous 120

Figure 2: The life forms of plant species reported from Dalieh, including the number
of species for each life form