الفهرس 
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Abstract
Floristically Saint Catherine area is mainly of Irano-Turanian chorotype, and is characterized by many species such as: Adiantum capillus-veneris, Hypericum sinaicum).and the vegetation as a whole, are subjected to depletion by over-grazing over-cutting, and uprooting for fuel and medicinal uses. These severe impacts lead to environmental deterioration including disappearance of pastoral plant communities, dominance of unpalatable communities, extinction of rare and endemic species, paucity of trees, and soil erosion.
The present study aimed to: (1) Study the distributional behavior of some threatened medicinal plants. (2) Figure out the seed characteristics and germination and storage behavior of the studied species. (3) recommend appropriate conservation measurements.
Origanum syriacum, Teucrium polium, and Verbascum sinaiticum, were selected for the present study. One-hundred seventy-seven stands were selected in thirteen localities: G. El-Sarw, Kahf El-Ghola, Abo Gefa, W. El-Tofaha, G.El-Raba, W.El-Rutig, Gebal, Catherine, W.El-Talaa, Farsh El-Arentala, G. Mousa, W. Garagneia, and W. El-Maserday. In each stand, total plant cover and physiographical features (elevation, slope degree and exposure degree, and nature of soil surface), and soil were sampled for physical and chemical analyses.
The results of the present study revealed that Saint Catherine area is characterized by a high diversity of plant species. Seventy-seven species belonging to twenty-eight taxonomic families were collected and
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identified. These species includes 40% Geophytes (31 species), 21% Therophytes (16 species), 21% Phanerophytes (16 species), 15% Chamaephtyes (12 species), and 3% Hemicryptophytes (2 species). The recorded seventy-seven species included thirty species vulnerable, sixteen species are endangered, sixteen species are common, fourteen species are rare, seven species are endemic, and five species are critically endangered.
Data of vegetation and environmental variables were subjected to multivariate analyses using TWINSPAN for classification and CCA for ordination. Four main assemblages were recognized as a result of classification:
1- Teucrium polium
2- Chiliadenus montanus
3- Hypericum sinaicum
4- Origanum syriacum – Mentha longifolia
Seed germination experiments were done for the studied species and revealed that the highest germination of Origanum syriacum (23.8%) obtained when seeds were soaked in GA3 (10 ppm) for 24hbefore sowing at room temperature. The highest germination ration of Teucrium polium seeds (18%) resulted when seeds were soaked in calcium carbonate (1%) for 30 minute and then germinated in incubator at 15/20˚C.Verbascum sinaiticum seeds germinated with a percentage of 54% after soaking seeds in GA3 for 24h (500 ppm) and germinating at room temperature.
At the end of the study measurements have been suggested for conserving the studied threatened medicinal plants including:
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Constructing protected areas within different localities in Saint Catherine Protectorate through making enclosures.
The soil chemical and physical parameters are the main factors that control the distribution of studied medicinal plants in the study are of St. Catherine.
Constructing seed bank of the local flora especially threaten species.
Developing a management plan for the control of feral donkeys in the area.