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Sanjay Gairola

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (2): 223-228

    Tamer Mahmoud, Sanjay Gairola, Hatem Shabana & Ali El-Keblawy
    Contribution to the flora of United Arab Emirates: Glinus lotoides L. (Molluginaceae) and Senna occidentalis L. (Fabaceae) two new records

    ABSTRACT
    This paper reports Glinus lotoides L. (Molluginaceae) and Senna occidentalis L. (Fabaceae) as two new records to the flora of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In the UAE, G. lotoides grows in the seasonally inundated land when the water recedes and soils have high clay contents. This is the only representative species of the genus Glinus in the UAE. Hence, we added a new genus to the country’s flora. Senna occidentalis was recorded from Wadi Al-Ain with ca. 15 individuals in its population. This species is considered as a weed elsewhere, so, there should be further assessments in order to monitor naturalization potential in its new localities in the UAE. The general distribution of the newly recorded species, habitat preferences and taxonomy with a map of localities in the UAE are presented. The occurrence of both species in different places in the UAE calls for further investigation and more extensive field studies to explore the country’s genetic resources.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (3): 719–722

    Tamer Mahmoud, Sanjay Gairola, Hatem Shabana & Ali El-Keblawy
    Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W. Wight and Trifolium repens L. (Fabales Fabaceae) two new legume records for natural flora of the United Arab Emirates

    ABSTRACT
    In this report, we have recorded for the first time the presence of Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W. Wight and Trifolium repens L. (Fabales Fabaceae) in natural flora of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Based on extensive field surveys and literature review, it was apparent that these species have not been recorded before in the UAE flora.It might be important to mention that the two new records have great economic and agricultural importance. Both species are spontaneously occurring in the natural habitat and considered as good forage and can adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions. Specimens of both newly recoded species are deposited in the Sharjah Seed Bank and Herbarium (SSBH), UAE. Descriptions and photographs of these species are provided. The new records of vascular plants in UAE flora would help ecologists and conservation biologists in more potential scientific research and natural resources exploitations.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (3): 479-483

    Tamer Mahmoud & Sanjay Gairola
    Three new records to the flora of United Arab Emirates: Dactyloctenium australe Steud. (Poaceae) and two varieties of Neurada procumbens L. (Neuradaceae)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.3.479.483

    ABSTRACT
    Based on our recent field surveys, three new records, that had not previously been recorded in flora of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were discovered. The new records are Dactyloctenium australe Steud. (Poaceae) recorded from Al Bidiyah in Fujairah, and two varieties of Neurada procumbens L. (Neuradaceae), namely, N. procumbens var. stellata and N. procumbens var. al-eisawii, from Hamdah and Al Dhaid area in Sharjah. Detailed morphological examination of these species was carried out and brief descriptions, phenology, photographs, and distribution map is provided.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 11 (4): 0889-0896

    Hatem A. Shabana, Sanjay Gairola & Tamer Mahmoud
    Tridax procumbens L. (Asterales Asteraceae), a new record to the flora of the United Arab Emirates
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.4.889.896

    ABSTRACT
    Tridax procumbens L. (1753), recently collected from the mountain area in Masafi of Fujairah emirate, is recorded as a new alien plant for the flora of United Arab Emirates (UAE). With this discovery, Tridax is also added as a new genus to the country’s flora. T. procumbens is a weed that is native to the tropical and subtropical Americas and naturalized in many other countries as it can grow under a wide range of environmental conditions. This plant is locally of considerable medicinal importance in many countries as it can be used for the treatment of many diseases. Description, distribution, and photographs of this taxa, along with a distribution map, is presented. Herbarium and seed specimens of T. procumbens were deposited in the Sharjah Seed Bank and Herbarium (SSBH) of Sharjah Research Academy, UAE. The way of introduction of T. procumbens and time of its arrival in the UAE remains unknown. A more detailed study of the extent of the range of this species, its densities, and regeneration potential is suggested in the near future. The reports of new plant records to the flora highlight the importance of thorough botanical exploration in the country. Such botanical recording would be beneficial to nature conservationists and researchers alike.