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Damascus, (SANA)-Statistics
show that the number of plant species available in Syria is
about 3, 200 species, 900 of which are medical plants in
addition to many newly introduced plant species that have
adapted with the local environment and become part of the
biodiversity in Syria.
Environment expert Akram Darwish said that most of wild
plants in Syria belong to seed envelope specie, pointing out
that studies had registered about 330 endemic plant species
in Syria and Lebanon particularly at the coastal and inland
mountains.
The
number of plant species is considered very large according
to the whole area of Syria in comparison with other
countries in spite of the widespread deserts, he added.
This large number is due to the diversity of the
geographical regions in Syria such as the Mediterranean
Basin, semi-deserts, deserts and steppes and each of these
regions has its own plants that have adapted with its
climate.
Other factors have helped increas the number of plant
species in Syria such as the topographic diversity and the
temperature and its effect on wild plants diversity in
addition to planting many plants and weeds required by
agriculture in Syria.
Villagers in the Syrian countryside are very interested in
harvesting the fruits of Terebinth trees where women reap
their fruits at the end of summer to sell them at the
markets.
Sumac tree is planted at Qalamoun Mountains, Mara
Anemone, and some of Aleppo orchards. It
plays an important role in improving peoples' living
standards where they sell its fruits or use its leaves as
animals' fodders.
Laurel tree is an important aromatic ever-green plant in
Syria whose fruits are used for extracting oil and for
manufacturing high-quality soap in addition to using its
aromatic leaves in cooking.
Mahaleb tree is planted over a large area in Syria and it
has played an important role in supporting the national
economy and in the development of agriculture.
Mahaleb seeds are used as flavoring materials and food
preservatives, particularly in the pastries and its wood is
used in industry.
There are 3.077 species of florid seed envelope plants in
Syria, 243 of which are endemic and they grow at the
mountains such as al-Haramoun and the coastal and inland
mountains.
Ruaa AL-Jazaeri/ Kh.Aridi -SANA
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