Overview on vegetation characteristics of selected populations in the Eastern Desert of Egypt

The current study dealt with the distribution of main plant communities and vegetation grouping in relation to soil characteristics in 22 locations across the Eastern Desert of Egypt. A total of 63 species (20 annuals and 43 perennials) representing 50 genera and 22 different families were recorded. Statistical multivariate analysis divided the vege-tation to four groups (A, B, C and D). Group A survives in the south eastern corner of the eastern desert and dominated by several acacias. The per-centage of silt and the concentration of magnesium were the factors most affecting the distribution of groups. Group B occupied the middle part of the eastern desert, its vegetation was associated with gravels on soil surface which cover and protect the clay from high temperature and consequently maintain the clay water content. Group C spread from south to north at the west boundaries of the eastern desert. The western boundary lies near the Nile valley where the soil expected amount of moisture and the eastern side near the Red Sea where the air is moist. The high role of phosphate upon the distribution of this group may due to the dependence of plants on the organic solutes to catch the available moisture as bound water to survive the severe desert conditions. Group D occupied the northern part where the temperature is lower and near Lake Naser in the south. This group depends on inorganic solutes to maintain the plant turgidity to remain alive