Unfortunately, they suffered under the intense pressure caused by grazing, collection of fuel etc. However, four major ecosystems may be recognised, they are:
Sand-dune ecosystem: Some perennial shrubs which have medicinal value grow here. The other dominant plantation is the annual grass.
Salt-marshes and saline depressions: These are common along the shores of Kuwait. The plant-life here has to be more that just salt-tolerant since this is very much a marine dominated environment. A clearly defined zonation of plants associated with salt-marshes are found here.
Desert: This is dominated by bushy clamps of perennial desert grass. However, in low depressions where occasional rainfall gathers, attractive purple or blue colored flowers grow aplenty.
Natural Vegetation
The rainfall in Kuwait is extremely erratic with great variations occurring from one year to the next and even during the rainy season itself. Seasonal variations also occur when most of the rain is either too early or too late for the normal rainy season from October to May. These variations greatly affect the natural vegetation. During good rainy seasons the vegetative cover is luxurious while during dry seasons it may almost disappear.
The vegetation of Kuwait is composed of sparse low shrubs and herbaceous perennials and annuals. Recent studies indicate that there are 374 species of native and naturalized vascular plants in Kuwait. Shrubs constitute 9.1 percent of the species; herbaceous perennials 22.2 percent, and annuals 68.4 percent.
Only one native tree is known in Kuwait, representing the remaining 0.3 percent of the flora. The largest families are: Gramineae, Compositae, Cruciferae,Leguminosae, Chenopodiaceae and Caryophyllaceae.
Vegetation types are grouped into four ecosystems: sand dunes, salt marshes, desert plains, and desert plateaus. The first two ecosystems show marked differences in their vegetation and soil types while the two desert ecosystems vary only slightly in their soils and dominant species. Sand dune vegetation occupies the low dunes and ridges which extend along the Gulf shores, and spits are mainly composed of oolitic sands and lime stones. The coastal oolitic sands are usually occupied by Seidlitzia rosmarinus while the ridges are dominated by Zygophyllum qatarense or Atriplex leucoclada.
These species are associated with Pennisetum divisum, Halothamnus iraqensis, Seidlitzia rosmarinus, Panicum turgidum and Cistanche tubulosa. The latter occurs as a common root parasite on Zygophyllum and woody Chenopodiaceae, occupying the same area as Seidlitzia, Halothamnus and Atriplex.
At the foot of the coastal dunes, the terrain is rather flat or gently undulating with loamy, firm sand dominated by Zygophyllum qatarense. It is associated with Salsola imbricata, Lycium shawii, Halothamnus iraqensis, Cornulacaaucheri, Panicum turgidum and Heliotropium kotschyi.
Salt marshes occupy some coastal areas, as well as the islands of Bubyan and Warbah. Sabkha, or saline depressions, also occur in patches near the coast or inland not far from the coastal regions.
Featured Image Source