Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Fig. 6. Desert
and semi-desert
vegetation from
Dolo, Sidamo
floristic region.
INTRODUCTION
17
Aristida and Stipagrostis, while another characteristic
species, Panicum turgidum, is perennial. This vegetation
type occurs in many parts of the Afar region in low­lying
and hot areas extending to the lowlands in northern and
western parts of Eritrea, in parts of the Ogaden and around
Lake Chew Bahir and the Omo Delta below 400 m.
Some of the Aloe that occur in this vegetation
type include A. bertemariae (endemic) and A. citrina
(Aloaceae). This vegetation type is marked in pale
creamy yellow colour (Fig. 5) and is represented by an
example as shown in Fig. 6.
2. Acacia-Commiphora woodland and bushland
(ACB)
This includes large areas of dry lowlands to the east of the
Ethiopian and Eritrean Highlands and in the Rift Valley.
Because of considerable differences, this complex has
been divided into two subtypes.
Subtype 2a. Acacia-Commiphora woodland and bushland
proper (ACB)
This vegetation type is characterized by drought
tolerant trees and shrubs, with small, either deciduous
or evergreen leaves. The understorey mainly consists of
shrubs, per ennial herbs, often with underground waterstoring
organs, and grasses, of which a large proportion
is annual. The trees and shrubs include species of Acacia