Abstract

Inventory and distribution of the aquatic plants historically recorded in the marshlands of Iraq were presented. More than hundred species of aquatic and amphibian plants have originally been recorded in the marshes of Iraq and less than 50% of this were recently recollected in 2004-2005. Several important aquatic plants such as the characteristic water lilies (Goaiba in Arabic) Nymphoides indica and N. peltata , the insectivorous Utricularia australis and the Arrowhead Sagittaria sagitifolia are seem to be disappeared. Until know sixteen obligate hydrophytes are not found. Two exotic species, Tamarix ramosissima and T. brachystichas invaded the area.Eight main types of aquatic vegetation were been identified and described, of which Hydrilla community was a new type for Iraq. The present status of plant diversity and communities of the Iraqi marsheswas compared with that mentioned in the past.

Keywords

The article was added to IASJ on 2013-03-31

2565 Total full text downloads since the date of addition