Biogeography of the desert flora.

A. Shmida

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

104 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introductory comments are provided on vegetation types, causes of aridity, and biogeographical, ecological and eco-evolutionary 'rules' applicable to desert areas. The desert flora is considered in terms of: the main floristic regions as related to arid regions; the place of the desert flora in the global temperate-tropical catena; descriptions of the Eremaean (ie mainly desertic) flora, including a list of and commentary on typical desert genera shared by more than one continent; and the evolutionary taxon cycle hypothesis in relation to saline-sandy habitats and coastal Eremaean floras. The extent to which geological history can explain similarity or dissimilarity of floras is examined; differences might be explained because of dissimilar contemporary climate and soil, because the regions have a different environmental (climatic) history, or because the regions surrounding each study area differs in vegetation and growth-form strategy. -P.J.Jarvis

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)23-77
Number of pages55
JournalUnknown Journal
StatePublished - 1985

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