Taxonomic Study on Subfamily Faboideae = Papiloideae in Habiel Jabbar District, Lahej Governorate, Republic of Yemen

Abstract

This investigation was aimed to shed light on the subfamily Faboideae = Papilionoideae, in Habiel Jabbar District, during January 2018 to August 2019. An introductory order deals with the most significant features of Faboideae = Papilionoideae, synonyms, local names, distribution in the study area, in addition to an artificial key for separation between of species and genera of Faboideae = Papilionoideae in the studied area, and up-to-date nomenclature for all studied taxa are presented. The present study revealed the existence of 23 species within 8 genera belongs to sub-families of Faboideae = Papilionoideae. The greatest genera recorded are: Indigofera (9 sp.) and Tephrosia (4 sp.), these two genera represent about 56.52% of the total species recorded in the studied area. The present results revealed that Zygocarpum yemenense is endemic to the flora of Yemen. The vegetative and reproductive characters proved that they are with high taxonomic values in identification and classification at the level of species and genera. Densely covered in stalked glands in all parts of the plant, pod of legume, if straight or curved and a number of leaflets, are with high taxonomic values in identification and classification of the members of the genus Indigofera. The simple leaf or compound leaf which consists of five or more leaflets, distinguishing between three species are belonging of genus Tephrosia. One species (Indigofera sp. nov. of Faboideae = Papilionoideae) among the recorded taxa is identified as a new species to science.