Comparative Floristic composition and Life- Form Analysis of the Northern and Southern Slopes of the AL-AKhdar Mountainous, Libya

Abstract

The study was conducted in the Green Mountain region, located in northeastern Libya, during the spring seasons of 2024 and 2025. Eleven sites were selected, including 6 on the northern slope and 5 on the southern slope, with variations in elevation gradients. A total of 569 plant species were recorded, belonging to 325 genera and 80 families. A comparison was made between the floristic composition and life forms across the mountain slopes, and the results showed that the families with the most species were as follows the Asteraceae 74 sp, followed by the Fabaceae 49 sp, then the Poaceae 48 sp, the Apiaceae 44 sp and Lamiaceae 27 sp. Based on the Life span in study 268 (47.01%) species were Perennial and 301 (52.99%) species of Annuals, which are close due to the presence of geophytes belonging 79  (13.88%) to the perennials that are buried beneath the soil surface in summer. The results of the analysis of life forms of the studied plants according to Raunkiaer's classification showed that Therophytes are the most dominant 298 species (52.74%), followed by hemicryptophytes 108 species (18.98%), Chamaerphytes 36 species (6.32%), phanerophytes 46 species (8.08%), and flowering parasitic plants 2 species (0.35%). The northern slope is more diverse than the southern slope due to the topographic and climate, and environmental conditions play a key role in the variation of floristic composition and the diversity of life forms. It is necessary to conserve and maintain this diversity and ensure the sustainability of the vegetation through clear strategy.