Summary
Included here is Mesopotamia centralized on the Syrian Desert but also including the ‘Fertile Cresent’ in southeastern Anatolia. Other included areas are the highlands of eastern Edom and Sinai, the Judean Desert, northern Iraq up to the foothills of the Kurdistan Mountains and parts of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran.
Of the endemic and near endemic vascular plants so far recorded there are about 55 species in 41 genera and 18 families but no endemic genera. However, this list is likely to be incomplete so further information is required.
References
Ertekin, S. 2002. Plant diversity in Karacadag area. Dicle University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology. Association for Sustainable Rural & Urban Development.
Guest, E. & Al-Rawi, A. 1966. Flora of Iraq. Volume 1. Introduction to the Flora. Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Iraq.
Hedge, C. & Wendelbo, P. 1978. Patterns of distribution and endemism in Iran. Notes of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, 36: 441-464.
Zohary, M. 1962. Plant Life of Palestine. The Ronald Press Company, New York.
Zohary, M. 1973. Geobotanical Foundations of the Middle East. Volumes 1 & 2. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart & Swets & Zeitlinger, Amsterdam.
Zohary, M., Heyn, C. C. & Heller, D. 1980. Conspectus Florae Orientalis. The Israel Academy of Science and Humanities. Jerusalem.