Bull 1013 Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus. (2025) 18 (4): 1013-1028. https://doi.org/10.26842/binhm.7.2025.18.4.1013 ARTICLE REVIEW ENDEMIC PLANTS IN TWO PHYTOGEOGRAPHIC SUB-REGIONS: MIDDLE SAHARO-SINDIAN AND MESOPOTAMIA IN IRAQ Ali Haloob *, Zainab Abid Aun Ali** and Russul Saad Hamshkan* *National Herbarium of Iraq, Directorate of Seed Testing and Certification, Ministry of Agriculture, Baghdad, Iraq ** Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq Corresponding author: zainabao_bio@csw.uobaghdad.edu.iq Received: 23 July 2025, Revised: 1 Dec. 2025, Accepted: 6 Dec. 2025, Published:20 December 2025 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ABSTRACT The study aims to update the records of endemic plant species within two phytogeographic sub-regions of Iraq, the Middle Saharo-Sindian and Mesopotamia regions. The update was conducted through a comprehensive review of scientific name validity, endemic status, and recently described species reported in previous studies, which collectively recorded 89 endemic taxa across these regions. The current results identify only 29 endemic taxa belonging to 22 genera and 15 families. The family Asteraceae and the genus Anthemis exhibited the highest number of endemic taxa. In terms of distribution, eight taxa were restricted to the Middle Saharo-Sindian region, thirteen to Mesopotamia, and eight were shared between both sub-regions. Additionally, the study provides an updated account of the distribution of endemic species across Iraq's physiographic districts. It discusses possible causes underlying the differences in the number of endemic taxa compared with previous reports. This information will help to provide a framework for research and focus conservation efforts for these endemic taxa. Keywords: Asteraceae, Endemism, Irano-Turanian, Physiographic, Phytogeographical. INTRODUCTION An endemic taxon naturally found in any specific area and nowhere else; this is a relative term in that a taxon can be endemic to a small island, to a country, or a continent (IUCN, 2010). Wherever an endemic plant is a taxon that shows a limited distribution, or species with a small geographical range as a result of the characteristics of the plant, its seed dispersal, diastrophism, and isolation mechanisms (Vaishali and Janarthanam, 2004). Iraq is a country located in southwestern Asia, covers a land area of about 438,320 km² (Ararat et al., 2011), and plant species richness is estimated to be ± 3300 species (Ghazanfar and McDanie, 2015). For the endemism status of plant species in Iraq, four studies have BULLETIN OF THE IRAQ NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Iraq Natural History Research Center & Museum, University of Baghdad https://jnhm.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/BINHM/Home Copyright © Bulletin of the Iraq Natural History Museum Online ISSN: 2311-9799, Print ISSN: 1017-8678 https://doi.org/10.26842/binhm.7.2025.18.4.1013 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1295-2220 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3096-5295 https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3524-908X mailto:zainabao_bio@csw.uobaghdad.edu.iq https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://jnhm.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/BINHM/Home 1014 Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus. 18 (4): 1013-1028. Endemic plants in two phytogeographic discussed the issue, starting with Zohary (1950), who identified 190 endemic species, and divided them into three phytogeographic sub-regions: Irano-Anatolian, consisting of 132 species; Mesopotamia, with 49 species; and Middle Saharo-Sindian in Iraq, which consisted of 9 species. Guest (1966) in Flora of Iraq noted Zohary (1950) when he described the endemic plant species in Iraq, but in other volumes of the Flora of Iraq the status of endemism was mentioned within the distribution information for different plant taxa (Townsend and Guest, 1966, 1974, 1980 a, b, 1985; Townsend et al., 1968; Ghazanfar and Edmondson, 2013, 2016; Ghazanfar et al., 2019). Ghazanfar and McDanie (2015) analyzed the quantities and biogeography of the Flora of Iraq and mentioned that there are 181 species of endemic plants: 6 species in the desert region, 9 species in the steppe region, 113 in the mountain region, and 53 species in the alpine region, without reporting any lists of these endemic species. Youssef (2020) listed 174 endemic taxa to Iraq (153 spp. 11 subsp., and 10 var.) without details on their distribution, just mentioning that 14% of the annual endemic species were found in the steppes of the Mesopotamian and arid areas in western Iraq. Moreover, there are 2 new species discovered and described, collected from these two phytogeographic sub-regions: Salvia arabica Al-Musawi & Weinert, Phelipanche umqasrensis Al–Mayah & Al-Asadi, Spergularia iraqensis Haloob, Al-Musawi & Adeel (Al- Musawi and Weinert, 1989; Al-Mayah and Al-Asadi, 2016; Haloob et al., 2021). There is a long-lasting interest concerning the ecological conditions that provide a template for differentiation and/or persistence of restricted endemic species (Durry, 1974). Zohary (1950) mentioned that the geographical position is inhabited by a heterogeneous phytogeographical character. The phytogeographical elements of the Mediterranean, the Irano-Turanian, the Saharo-Sindian, and the Eurosiberian-Boreoamerican are represented in the Flora of Iraq. Whatever, Iraq comprises parts of two phytogeographic regions only: (1) the Irano-Turanian region represented by the Mesopotamian and the Iano-Anatolian sub-regions, and (2) the Saharo-Sindian by the Middle Saharo-sandian sub-region (Guest, 1966). Mesopotamian sub-region comprising the Irano-Turanian territories of the Syrian Desert, almost the whole of the Jazira, parts of the southern Anatolian plains, and some territory in the Iranian plateau. Characteristically, the vegetation comprises mainly steppe or sub-desert communities on grey calcareous desert soil, often gravelly or stony; there is no mountain vegetation exesis. The Mesopotamian element of the Iraqi Flora comprises about 145 species, representing 15% of the total Irano-Turanian Flora as then known in Iraq, and lists 49 species as endemic in Iraq in this sub-region. While the Middle Saharo-Sindian comprises Egypt, Sinai, parts of Lower Palestine, the greater part of central and southern Jordan, extra-tropical Arabia, and Lower Iraq, precisely the north border of this sub-region in Iraq stretches along a line drawn from east to west, Mendali through Bellad to Hit to Jabel Aneize. The characteristic vegetation has the best advantage in the northerly tracts of sub-desert and the borders of the steppe. The Middle Saharo-Sindian element of the Iraqi Flora comprised about 118 species, representing 6% of the total Flora of Iraq, and listed 9 species as endemic to this sub-region (Zohary, 1950; Guest, 1966). 1015 BULLETIN OF THE IRAQ NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Haloob et al. This study aims to update the data on endemic plants in the Middle Saharo-Sindian and Mesopotamian phytogeographic sub-regions of Iraq. The research also seeks to create a database of these species to be used in conservation efforts to protect them from extinction, especially given their restricted distribution. By checking the previous studies and newly discovered species, this work provides updated information on the endemic taxa, their scientific names, and their distribution. The current study data will contribute to future efforts to monitor the state of plant diversity and vegetation in Iraq, which is particularly crucial in light of ongoing climate change and the lack of a Red List assessment for the Flora of Iraq. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study involved a comprehensive revision of previous reports documenting endemic plant species in Iraq (Zohary,1950; Townsend and Guest, 1966, 1974, 1980 a, b; 1985; Townsend et al., 1968; Ghazanfar and Edmondson, 2013, 2016; Ghazanfar and McDanie, 2015; Ghazanfar et al., 2019; Youssef, 2020 (. The researcher personally reviewed these references and examined reports of newly described species from these two phytogeographic sub-regions. The scientific names were verified for validity and current acceptance using Plants of the World Online (https://powo.science.kew.org/) and World Flora Online (https://www.worldfloraonline.org/). To reassess the endemic status and distribution of taxa, floras of neighboring countries were reviewed, including Flora Iranica (Rechinger, 1963-2015), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands (Davis, 1965-1984), Flora oriental (Boissier, 1867- 1888), Flora of Saudi Arabia (Migahid, 1978), Flora of Syria, Palestine, and Sinai (Post, 1896), checklist of plants of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (http://ww2.odu.edu/~lmusselm/plant/jordan/), Flora of Saudi Arabia - checklist (https://plantdiversityofsaudiarabia.info/flora-checklist-2/). Herbarium specimens were examined in the National Herbarium of Iraq (BAG) and verified through digital catalogues of Kew (https://apps.kew.org/herbcat/navigator.do), Edinburgh (http://elmer.rbge.org.uk/bgbase/vherb/bgbasevherb.php), and the Virtual Herbaria of Vienna (http://herbarium.univie.ac.at/database/search.php). The phytogeographic framework followed Guest (1966), shown in Map (1), who divided Iraq to four main physiographic regions: Mountain, Upper Plains and Foothills, Desert plateau, and Lower Mesopotamian, each subdivided into several districts (Maps 1- 3). According to this classification, the Mesopotamian phytogeographic sub-region includes the Jabal Sinjar District (MJS) within the mountain region; most districts of the Upper Plains and Foothills region except the southern parts of the Persian Foothills District (FPF); the Lower parts of Jazira District (DLJ), and Ghurfa-Adhaim District (DGA); and the southern half of the Western Desert District (DWD) within the Desert plateau. The Middle Saharo-Sindian sub-region is represented by all districts of the Lower Mesopotamian region, the Southern Desert District (DSD) within the Desert plateau, and the southern parts of both the Western Desert District (DWD) and the Persian Foothills District (FPF). This framework was adopted to ensure accurate phytogeographic placement of endemic taxa within Iraq. https://powo.science.kew.org/ https://www.worldfloraonline.org/ http://ww2.odu.edu/~lmusselm/plant/jordan/ https://plantdiversityofsaudiarabia.info/flora-checklist-2/ https://apps.kew.org/herbcat/navigator.do http://elmer.rbge.org.uk/bgbase/vherb/bgbasevherb.php http://herbarium.univie.ac.at/database/search.php 1016 Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus. 18 (4): 1013-1028. Endemic plants in two phytogeographic Map (1): The phytogeographic sub-regions in Iraq. (Guest, 1966) Map (2): The physiographic regions in Iraq; Mountain regions: Jabal Sinjar District (MSJ), Amadiya District (MAM), Rowanduz District (MRO), Sulaymaniyah District (MSU); Upper Plains and Foothills regions: Upper Jazira District (FUJ), Nineveh District (FNI), Arbil District (FAR), Kirkuk District (FKI), Persian Foothills District (FPF); Desert regions: Lower Jazira District (DLJ), Ghurfa-Adhaim District (DGA), Western Desert District (DWD), Southern Desert District (DSD); Lower Mesopotamian: Eastern Alluvial Plain District (LEA), Central Alluvial Plain District (LCA), Southern Marsh District (LSM), Basra Estuarine District (LBA). (Guest, 1966). 1017 BULLETIN OF THE IRAQ NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Haloob et al. Map (3): The two phytogeographic sub-regions: Middle Saharo-Sindian and Mesopotamia with physiographic districts in Iraq. Mountain regions: Jabal Sinjar District (MSJ), Amadiya District (MAM), Rowanduz District (MRO), Sulaimaniya District (MSU); Upper Plains and Foothills regions: Upper Jazira District (FUJ), Nineveh District (FNI), Arbil District (FAR), Kirkuk District (FKI), Persian Foothills District (FPF); Desert regions: Lower Jazira District (DLJ), Ghurfa-Adhaim District (DGA), Western Desert District (DWD), Southern Desert District (DSD); Lower Mesopotamian: Eastern Alluvial Plain district (LEA), Central Alluvial Plain District (LCA), Southern Marsh District (LSM), Basra Estuarine District (LBA). (Guest, 1966). RESULTS The total number of endemic plant taxa described in the previous reports in the Mesopotamia and Middle Saharo-Sindian phytogeographic sub-regions in Iraq was 89 taxa, belonging to 23 families and 59 genera. Zohary (1950) mentioned that there were 58 taxa endemic to these two phytogeographic sub-regions: 9 taxa were found in the Middle Saharo- Sindian sub-region, and 49 taxa were found in Mesopotamia. The Flora of Iraq noted that 32 taxa were endemic to these two phytogeographic sub-regions: 6 taxa in the Middle Saharo- Sindian region, and 26 taxa were identified in Mesopotamia. 18 taxa from the total number of endemic plant taxa mentioned in the two previous reports were synonyms (Tab.1). The study found 29 taxa (26 species, 1 subspecies, and 2 varieties) were endemic to the Mesopotamia phytogeographic sub-region and the Middle Saharo-Sindian phytogeographic sub-region in Iraq. These 29 endemic taxa belonged to 22 genera and 15 families. The Asteraceae recorded 10 taxa, which was the highest number of taxa among the plant families in these regions, and the genus Anthemis also recorded 7 endemic taxa, which was the highest among genera. Halothamnus iraqensis var. hispidulus Botsch. was the most widespread taxon recorded in 7 different districts. Additionally, researchers collected 16 endemic taxa from a single district, each with an extremely narrow distribution range (Tab. 2). 1018 Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus. 18 (4): 1013-1028. Endemic plants in two phytogeographic Table (1): Endemic plant taxa listed in (Zohary, 1950) and Flora of Iraq (Townsend and Guest, 1966, 1974, 1980 a, b, 1985; Townsend et al., 1968; Ghazanfar and Edmondson, 2013, 2016; Ghazanfar et al., 2019). No. Taxa Family Zohary (1950) Flora of Iraq Middle Saharo-Sindian sub-region 1 Atriplex belangeri (Moq.) Bioss. (1879) = Atriplex thunbergiifolia (Boiss. & Noë) Boiss. (1879) Amaranthaceae * 2 Climacoptera khalisica Botsch. (1982) Amaranthaceae * 3 Halothamnus iraqensis var. hispidulus Botsch. (1981) Amaranthaceae * 4 Picris babylonica Hand.-Mazz. (1913) Asteraceae * 5 Sphaeranthus strobiliferus Boiss. & Noë (1856) Asteraceae * 6 Lithospermum babylonicum Zohary (1950) Boraginaceae * 7 Astragalus sieberi DC. (1825) = Astragalus zubairensis Eig. (1955) Fabaceae * 8 Bromus haussknechtii Boiss. (1884) Poaceae * * 9 Eragrostis boriana Launert (1964) Poaceae * 10 Calligonum eigii Zohary (1950) Polygonaceae * 11 Pteropyrum naufelum Al- Khayat (1993) Polygonaceae * 12 Polygonum corrigioloides Jaub. & Spach (1845) Polygonaceae * 13 Haplophyllum tuberculatum (Forssk.) A.Juss. (1825) = Haplophyllum propinquum Spach. (1849) Rutaceae * 14 Eremurus rechingeri Wendelbo (1962) Xanthorrhoeaceae * Mesopotamia sub-region 15 Allium chrysantherum Boiss. & Reut. (1882) Amaryllidaceae * 16 Allium macrochaetum Boiss. & Hausskn. (1882) Amaryllidaceae * 17 Allium Olivieri Boiss. (1882) Amaryllidaceae * 18 Allium sindjarense Boiss. & Hausskn. (1875) Amaryllidaceae * 19 Allium vinicolor Wendelbo (1973) Amaryllidaceae * 20 Ferula sphenobasis Townsend (1966) Apiaceae * http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Boraginaceae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Polygonaceae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Polygonaceae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Polygonaceae/ 1019 BULLETIN OF THE IRAQ NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Haloob et al. 21 Ducrosia flabellifolia Boiss. (1844) Apiaceae * 22 Arum hainesii Agnew & Hadac ex Riedl (1981) Araceae * 23 Alrawia nutans (Wendelbo) Press. & Wendelbo (1979) Asparagaceae * 24 Bellevalia mosheovii Feinbrun (1939) Asparagaceae * 25 Ornithogalum iraqense Feinbrun (1941) Asparagaceae * 26 Ornithogalum neurostegium subsp. neurostegium Boiss. & C.I.Blanche = Ornithogalum ulophyllum Hand.-Mazz. (1914) Asparagaceae * 27 Anthemis corymbulosa Boiss. & Hausskn. (1875) Asteraceae * 28 Anthemis wettsteiniana Hand.- Mazz. (913) = Anthemis deltawensis Eig. (1938) Asteraceae * 29 Anthemis wettsteiniana Hand.- Mazz. (1913) = Anthemis deserti-syriaci Eig. (1938) Asteraceae * 30 Cota brevicuspis (Bornm.) Holub. (1974) = Anthemis feinbruniae Eig. (1938) Asteraceae * 31 Anthemis leptophylla Eig. (1938) Asteraceae * 32 Anthemis handel-mazzettii Eig. (1938) Asteraceae * * 33 Anthemis homalolepis Eig. (1938) Asteraceae * * 34 Anthemis microlepis Eig. (1938) Asteraceae * 35 Anthemis plebeia Boiss. & Noé (1875) Asteraceae * 36 Anthemis microlepis Eig. (1938) = Anthemis singarensis Eig. (1938) Asteraceae * * 37 Anthemis wettsteiniana Hand.- Mazz. (1913) Asteraceae * 38 Centaurea alveicola Rech. f. (1959) Asteraceae * 39 Centaurea regia Boiss. (1846) Asteraceae * 40 Centaurea singarensis Boiss. et Hausskn. (1875) Asteraceae * 41 Cousinia wesheni Post (1891) = Cousinia chaborasica Bornm. & Hand.-Mazz. (1912) Asteraceae * 42 Echinops haussknechtii Boiss. (1875) = Echinops armatus Boiss. & Hausskn. (1875) Asteraceae * 43 Echinops descendens Hand.- Mazz. (1913) Asteraceae * http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Asparagaceae/ 1020 Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus. 18 (4): 1013-1028. Endemic plants in two phytogeographic 44 Jurinea mesopotamica Hand.- Mazz. (1913) Asteraceae * 45 Onopordum heteracanthum C.A.Mey. (1831) = Onopordum canum Eig. (1942) Asteraceae * 46 Scorzonera deserti-syriaci Eig. (1938) Asteraceae * 47 Scorzonera abdulazizii Eig. (1950) Asteraceae * 48 Sphaeranthus strobiliferus Boiss. & Noë (1856) Asteraceae * 49 Arnebia deserti-syriaci Zohary (1946) Boraginaceae * 50 Odontarrhena singarensis (Boiss. & Hausskn.) Španiel, Al-Shehbaz, D.A.German & Marhold (2015) = Alyssum singarense Boiss. & Hausskn. ex Bioss. (1888) Brassicaceae * 51 Erysimum oleifolium J.Gay (1842) = Erysimum strophades Boiss. (1849) Brassicaceae * * 52 Hesperis novakii subsp. Mirabilis Dvořák (1968) Brassicaceae * 53 Gypsophila pallida Stapf (1886) Caryophyllaceae * 54 Convolvulus euphraticus Bornm. (1906) Convolvulaceae * 55 Convolvulus sarothrocladus Boiss. & Hausskn. (1875) Convolvulaceae * 56 Astragalus caryolobus Bunge (1868) Fabaceae * 57 Astragalus obtusifolius DC. (1825) Fabaceae * 58 Astragalus sarae Eig (1955) Fabaceae * 59 Chesneya rytidosperma Jaub. & Spac (1842) = Chesneya oliveri Jaub. & Spach (1842) Fabaceae * 60 Hedysarum singarense Boiss. & Hausskn. (1872) Fabaceae * 61 Lathyrus bijugus Boiss. & Noe (1856) Fabaceae * * 62 Onobrychis haussknechtii Boiss. (1872) = Onobrychis bicolor Bornm. (1924) Fabaceae * 63 Onobrychis ptolemaica (Delile) DC. (1825) = Onobrychis olivieri Boiss. (1872) Fabaceae * 64 Onobrychis lunata Boiss. (1843) Fabaceae * 65 Vicia singarensis Boiss. & Hausskn. (1872) Fabaceae * http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Boraginaceae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Brassicaceae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/ 1021 BULLETIN OF THE IRAQ NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Haloob et al. 66 Hypericum Olivieri Boiss. (1867) Hypericaeae * 67 Moraea sisyeinchium (L.) Ker Gawl. (1804) = Iris maculata Baker (1890) Iridaceae * * 68 Iris aucheri (Baker) Sealy (1950) = Iris sindjarensis Boiss. & Hausskn (1882) Iridaceae * 69 Alcea chrysantha (Sam.) Zohary (1963) = Althaea chrysantha Sam. (1953) Malvaceae * 70 Glossostemon bruguieri Desf. (1817) Malvaceae * 71 Glaucium cuneatum Cullen (1968) Papaveraceae * 72 Glaucium grandiflorum subsp. refractum (Nábelek) Mory (1879) = Glaucium refractum Nábelek (1923) Papaveraceae * 73 Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Thwaites (1864) = Aeluropus mesopotamicus Nábelek (1929) Poaceae * 74 Henrardia pubescens (Bertol.) Boiss. (1964) = Lepturus pubescens (Bertol.) Boiss. (1884) Poaceae * 75 Parapholis gracilis Bor. (1963) Poaceae * 76 Stipa assyriaca Hand.-Mazz. (1914) Poaceae * 77 Calligonum tetrapterum Jaub. & Spach (1855) Polygonaceae * 78 Nigella deserti Boiss. (1841) = Nigella assyriaca Boiss. (1867) Ranunculaceae * 79 Reseda haussknechtii Müll.Arg. (1868) Resedaceae * * 80 Plocama olivieri (A.Rich. ex DC.) M.Backlund & Thulin (2007) = Neogaillonia Olivieri (A.Rich. ex DC.) Linch. (1973) Rubiaceae * 81 Haplophyllum tuberculatum (Forssk.) A.Juss. (1825) = Haplophyllum chesneyanum Boiss. (1867) Rutaceae * 82 Haplophyllum tuberculatum (Forssk.) A.Juss. (1825) = Haplophyllum glabrum Bornm. (1911) Rutaceae * http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Iridaceae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Iridaceae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Papaveraceae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Papaveraceae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Ranunculaceae/ 1022 Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus. 18 (4): 1013-1028. Endemic plants in two phytogeographic Table (2): Endemic plant taxa restricted either to the Middle Saharo-Sindian or Mesopotamia phytogeographic sub-regions or both. (Zohary, 1950; Rechinger, 1963; Guest, 1966; Riedl, 1967; Townsend et al., 1968; 1974; Townsend and Guest, 1980a; 1980b; Rechinger, 1982; Townsend and Guest, 1985; Ghazanfar and Edmondson, 2013, 2016; Podlech and Iranshahr, 2015; Ghazanfar et al., 2019). No. Taxa Family District Middle Saharo-Sindian sub-region 1 Climacoptera khalisica Botsch. (1982) Amaranthaceae LCA 2 Sphaeranthus strobiliferus Boiss. & Noë (1856) Asteraceae LCA & LSM 3 Heliotropium lasianthum Riedl (1979) Boraginaceae DWD 4 Lathyrus bijugus Boiss. & Noë (1856) Fabaceae LCA 5 Salvia arabica Al-Musawi & Weinert (1989) Lamiaceae FPF 6 Phelipanche umqasrensis Al–Mayah & Al- Asadi (2016) Orobanchaceae DSD 7 Eragrostis boriana Launert (1964) Poaceae LCA & LEA 8 Eremurus rechingeri Wendelbo (1962) Xanthorrhoeaceae FPF Mesopotamia sub-region 9 Anthemis leptophylla Eig. (1983) Asteraceae FPF, FNI & FUJ 10 Anthemis hamrinensis Iranshahr (1981) Asteraceae FPF & DGA 11 Anthemis microlepis Eig. (1938) Asteraceae FUJ & FKI 12 Centaurea singarensis Boiss. et Hausskn. (1875) Asteraceae FUJ & MJS 13 Jurinea mesopotamica Hand.-Mazz. (1913) Asteraceae FUJ 14 Podonosma sindjarensis (Riedl) L.Cecchi & Hilger (2021) Boraginaceae MJS 15 Hesperis novakii subsp. Mirabilis Dvorak (1968) Brassicaeae MJS 16 Spergularia iraqensis A. haloob, Al-Musawi & H, Adeel (2021) Caryophyllaceae FPF 17 Vicia singarensis Boiss. & Hausskn. (1872) Fabaceae MJS 18 Thymus syriacus var. edentatus Jalas (1982) Lamiaceae FAR 19 Glaucium cuneatum Cullen (1968) Papaveraceae FKI 20 Reseda haussknechtii Müll.Arg. (1868) Resedaceae FUJ, FPF & MJS http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/ http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Papaveraceae/ 1023 BULLETIN OF THE IRAQ NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Haloob et al. 21 Albraunia psilosperma Speta (1982) Scrophulariaceae FKI Taxa extent in the Middle Saharo-Sindian and Mesopotamia sub-regions 22 Halothamnus iraqensis var. hispidulus Botsch. (1981) Amaranthaceae FPF, DLJ, DWD DSD, LCA, LEA & LSM 23 Arum hainesii Agnew & Hadac ex Riedl (1981) Araceae FPF & LEA 24 Anthemis handel-mazzettii Eig (1938) Asteraceae DWD & DSD 25 Anthemis homalolepis Eig (1938) Asteraceae DGA & DWD 26 Anthemis plebeia Boiss. & Noé (1875) Asteraceae FPF, DWD & DSD 27 Anthemis wettsteiniana Hand.-Mazz. (1913) Asteraceae FPF, DGA, DWD & LCA 28 Centaurea alveicola Rech. f. (1959) Asteraceae FPF 29 Convolvulus euphraticus Bornm. (1906) Convolvulaceae DWD The endemic taxa are distributed in phytogeographic sub-regions as follows: 8 taxa were restricted to the Middle Saharo-Sindian phytogeographic sub-region; they belonged to 8 genera and 8 families. There were 13 endemic taxa recorded restricted to the Mesopotamia phytogeographic sub-region, belonging to 11 genera and 9 families. Asteraceae consisted of 5 taxa, which was the highest number of taxa among other families. While there were 8 endemic species recorded in both the Middle Saharo-Sindian phytogeographic and Mesopotamia phytogeographic sub-regions in Iraq, belonging to 5 genera and 4 families, again, Asteraceae consisted of 5 taxa, which was the highest number of taxa among other families distributed in both sub-regions. On another hand, the endemic taxa were distributed in physiographic regions as follows: the highest concentration of endemic taxa was recorded as 17 taxa in the Upper Plains and Foothills physiographic region, followed by 9 taxa in the Desert Plateau physiographic region, 7 taxa in the Lower Mesopotamian physiographic region, and the lowest physiographic region recorded 5 taxa in the Mountain physiographic region (Jabal Sinjar). The study had to note that all the districts have recorded endemic plants except Basra Estuarine District (LBA), while the Persian Foothills District (FPF) was the richest with 11 endemic taxa, and the Nineveh District (FNI), Arbil District (FAR), Lower Jazira District (DLJ), and Southern Marsh District (LSM) were the poorest districts, which recorded one endemic taxon (Tab. 2). DISCUSSION The previous studies that dealt with the endemic plant taxa in the Middle Saharo-Sindian and Mesopotamia phytogeographic sub-regions in Iraq, the acceptance of the scientific names, and the number of endemic plant taxa needs to be updated, specially the volumes of the Flora of Iraq that aren’t complete and published yet, so there was a lack that made the Flora of Iraq 1024 Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus. 18 (4): 1013-1028. Endemic plants in two phytogeographic not full information about all endemic plant taxa in these phytogeographic sub-regions. This study aims to update and document the information about the endemic plant taxa in these phytogeographic sub-regions in one study. The study found a difference in the number of endemic plants taxa in the Middle Saharo- Sindian and Mesopotamia phytogeographic sub-regions in Iraq compared with the two previous studies; Zohary (1950) listed 9 endemic species for the Middle Saharo-Sindian and 49 endemic species for Mesopotamia sub-region, Flora of Iraq described 6 taxa as endemic to the Middle Saharo-Sindian and 26 taxa as endemic to the Mesopotamia sub-region (Townsend and Guest, 1966, 1974, 1980 a, b, 1985; Townsend et al., 1968; Ghazanfar and Edmondson, 2013, 2016; Ghazanfar et al., 2019). This study recorded 8 and 13 endemic plant taxa to these sub-regions and 8 endemic taxa distributed between them. The reason for this discrepancy in numbers is that some species are considered synonymous. In addition, some taxa that were indicated as endemic to Iraq in previous studies were later recorded in other countries. Therefore, this study did not consider them as an endemic plant. The Mesopotamia phytogeographic sub-region is a narrow sub-region between two large phytogeographic sub-regions, the Middle Saharo-Sindian and Irano-Anatolian sub-regions, which makes the Mesopotamia phytogeographic sub-region represent a transition phytogeographic sub-region. This phytogeographic interference and transition make this phytogeographic sub-region richer in endemic taxa from the Middle Saharo-Sindian phytogeographic sub-region. In addition, the Upper Plains and Foothills physiographic region is a geographical extension between the Mountain physiographic region to the north and the Desert Plateau physiographic region and Lower Mesopotamian physiographic region to the west and south, that makes this region represent a transitional region between different habitat and vegetation types. This interesting habitat plays as a refuge for these endemic taxa, all these reasons probably explains why the Upper Plains and Foothills physiographic region have the highest number of taxa, compared to other physiographic regions, as well as the phytogeographic variation that exists in the Persian Foothills district (FPF) has reflected in richness of this district in endemic plant taxa. However, Asteraceae is the largest plant family of vascular plants with 432 taxa in Iraq (Ghazanfar et al., 2019), and it has the highest number of endemic plant species in Iraq with 44 species (Youssef, 2020). This is also compatible with the result that indicates the Asteraceae has the highest number of endemic taxa in the Middle Saharo-Sindian and Irano-Anatolian sub-regions in Iraq, even Anthemis genus, which is the largest genus belonging to the Asteraceae in Iraq, and it recorded the highest number of endemic taxa compared to other genera in studied phytogeographic sub-regions. The history of the long evolution of Asteraceae dates back to ∼83 million years ago (the Late Cretaceous) and the diversity in growth forms: herbs (annual, biennial, and perennial), shrubs, trees, and vines. In addition to the unique characters of inflorescence, it comprises a dense cluster of many florets surrounded by a compact bract that increases the chances of successful pollination, and the specialized structures (pappus) of the fruits (achenes) help in dispersal, allowing for extensive diversification and adaptation to a different environmental condition (Mandel et al., 2019; Vijverberg et al., 2021; Zhang and Elomaa, 2024). 1025 BULLETIN OF THE IRAQ NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Haloob et al. The rare plants need more research and field studies. This study depended on herbaria specimens. However, in Iraq, there have not been many plant surveys conducted in the last 24 years, which reflects the lack of data on the rare and endemic plants in Iraq. Until now, there has been no Red List assessment for Iraqi plants. Even in the IUCN (2010) Red List, there are a few numbers of plant species distributed in Iraq that have been assessed, and almost all these species are from the Mountain physiographic region, so this study will help to begin the preparation of studies and put assessments on the Plant Red List in Iraq. As well as these endemic plant taxa, we should prioritize establishing national-level conservation strategies to save them from the different threats, and their conservation should be a priority. CONCLUSIONS Updating the taxonomic status of endemic plants in the Middle Saharo-Sindian and Mesopotamia phytogeographic sub-regions of Iraq revealed 29 taxa, compared to 89 taxa previously reported. This reduction highlights the importance of continuous taxonomic revision and monitoring. 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(2025) 18 (4): 1013-1028. افيتين ثانويتين: منطقة السنديان-الصحراءالنباتات املتوطنة في منطقتين جغر النهرين في العراق ما بين املتوسطة ومنطقة الزيداوي*، زينب عبد عون علي ** و رسل سعد همشكان* لوباحعلي ، وزارة الزراعة، بغداد، العراق وتصديق البذور * املعشبة الوطنية العراقية، مديرية فحص جامعة بغداد، بغداد، العراق -** قسم علوم الحياة، كلية العلوم للبنات 20/12/2025، النشر: 6/12/2025القبول ،1/12/2025املراجعة: ،23/7/2025االستالم: الخالصة فرعيتين تهدف منطقتين ضمن املتوطنة النباتية األنواع سجالت تحديث الى الدراسة الصحراء جغرافيتين منطقة العراق: في بيومنطقة السنديان-الوسطىنباتيتين ن ما وحالة العلمية األسماء لصحة شاملة مراجعة خالل من التحديث أجري وقد النهرين. مجتمعة سجلت والتي السابقة، الدراسات اوردتها التي ً حديثا املوصوفة واألنواع التوطن في هاتين املنطقتين. اظهرت النتائج الحالية 89 ً متوطنا ً نباتيا ً ينتمي الى 29نوعا ً متوطنا ً نوعا و 22 ً هما Anthemis L.,1753جنس و Asteraceaeعائلة. كانت العائلة املركبة 15جنسا منطقة في محصورة انواع ثمانية ان تبين التوزيع، حيث من . ً انتشارا -الصحراءاألكثر سنديان ً بين النهرين، بينما اشتركت املنطقتان في في منطقة ما الوسطى، وثالثة عشر نوعا املناطق ضمن املتوطنة األنواع لتوزيع تحديثا الدراسة تقدمت كما انواع متوطنة. ثمانية في عدد األنواع املتوطنة االختالفالجغرافية الفسيولوجية وناقشت األسباب املحتملة وراء بالتقارير والدراسات السابقة. ً مقارنة