Bedouin farms in the Saint Katherine mountainous area (South Sinai, Egypt)

This study aims to assess the natural and cultivated plant species in 26 Bedouin farms in Saint Katherine Protectorate (SKP), identify their soil and water characteristics, and assess the suitability of these farms for the cultivation of some wild medicinal plants. The farms were selected to represent wide wadis with deep sand and clay deposits, gorge-like wadis covered with rock fragments of different sizes, spot-like oases, and the Al Q’aa Plain. Using TWINSPAN (two-way indicator species analysis) and DCA (detrended correspondence analysis) techniques, the 26 farms were classified into 5 groups (I-V) based on their floristic composition of wild plants. These groups reflect an elevation gradient among the farms above sea level from a mean of 119 m to a mean of 1,865 m. A total of 73 wild species were recorded, with 47 in group II (500-1,000 m) and 25 in group V (>1,700 m). The common target species were Artemisia judaica, Acacia tortilis subsp. raddiana, Origanum syriacum subsp. sinaicum and Varthemia montana (34.6%–26.9%). The cultivated species numbered 25, with 17 in group II (500–1,000 m) and 11 in group IV (1,500–1,700 m). The common fruit trees were olive, grape, fig, apple, palm, almond, apricot and pomegranate (73.0%–42.3%). Based on the soil characteristics, 13 farms belong to soil class 2 that describes good soils with moderate limitations, and 12 belong to soil class 3 that describes moderately good soils, which can be used regularly for crops after proper treatment.