Assuit University Journal of Botany, 34 (2): 219-244

Ornamental Vegetation of Qanatir Public Park

Kamal H. Shaltout and Emad A. Farahat*
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Tanta University
* Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University

ABSTRACT
The present study aims at identifying and analyzing the ornamental vegetation of
Qanatir Public Park in the southern section of the Nile Delta, Egypt. One hundred and
twelve ornamental species; belonging to 91 genera and 45 families and represented by
4449 individuals are cultivated recorded in the Qanatir Public Park. The highly
represented families are Leguminosae (14.2 %), Palmae (8%) and Moraceae (7.1%).
Each of Apocynaceae, Myrtaceae and Verbenaceae are represented by 6 species
(5.3%). Moreover, 8 families are represented by 2 species, and 27 families are
represented by only one species. The classification of these species according to the
common horticultural categories indicates that trees and shrubs have the highest
contribution (80 species, 3513 individuals), while cycads (palm-like) have the lowest
contribution to the recorded species (1 species, 7 individuals). Many species recorded
in Qanatir Park were not recorded in the old gardens in Greater Cairo and some of
them are very rare in Egypt such as Sarcocephalus cordatus. The ground weed flora
associated with the ornamental plants in the Park, were identified and analyzed. Due to
the history and plant wealth of this Park, it is important to develop and activate the role
of botanical gardens of Qanatir Park in the local community of Greater Cairo as an
educational and cultural park.
Keywords: ornamental plants, Qanatir Public Park, weed flora
INTRODUCTION
Qanatir (the Arabic word of barrages) has been built across the river or its effluents. A
barrage is an open dam; its function is not to store water but merely to raise its level
behind the barrage so as to divert some of the water into the canals whose entrances
are above the barrage and to regulate water movement for irrigation purposes (Zaki
1937 and Hurst 1952). The Delta Barrages may be the first particular irrigation work
built in the world at the beginning of the 19th century (Zaki 1937). The establishment

of the gardens of the Public Park was synchronized with the construction of the Delta
Barrages. These gardens have a variety of ornamental plants, which were introduced to
Egypt during the time of Mohammed Ali Pacha (1843) the governor of Egypt at that
time (Zaki 1937).
The study of the urban habitats in Egypt takes considerable attention in the last
few decades. For example, The study of Shaltout and Sharaf El-Din (1988) along the
CairoAlexandria agricultural road, led to identify seven habitat types and 19 plant
communities. Shaltout and El-Sheikh (2003) studied the species diversity of the urban
habitats in Nile Delta. 248 species belonged to 46 families were recorded; few were
common throughout all habitats. For most habitats, species diversity was higher in
spring than in the other seasons, particularly summer and autumn. El-Sheikh et al.
(2004) studied the flora of the gardens and flowerbeds of Qanatir Public Park for one
season. 67 species related to 23 families (45 annuals, 2 biennials and 20 perennials)
were recorded. Five vegetation groups, recognized after the application of
TWINSPAN classification technique, were named after their leading dominant
species. El-Sheikh et al. (2004) reported that Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Chinese
Hibiscus), Bougainivellea glabra (Paper Flower), Delonix regia (Poinciana),
Cassuarina equisetifolia (She Oak), Ficus microcarpa, Lagerstomia indica (Cape
Myrtle) and Cassia nodosa (Pink & White Shower) are the dominant ornamental
species in Qanatir Park.
The present study aims at identifying, analyzing and documentation of the
ornamental vegetation of Qanatir Public Park in South Nile Delta, Egypt. Moreover,
the ground weed flora associated with the ornamental plants in the gardens of the Park,
its classification and diversity were studied.
THE STUDY AREA
The study area is located in the most southern section of the Nile Delta;
extending from Tawfiky effluent in the east to Behera effluent in the west (Fig. 1). It
lies at about 20 km north of Cairo. The study area is characterized by its wide gardens
(i.e. Qanatir Public Park), which represent the northern lung of the greater Cairo and
its boundaries in addition to the internal and external tourism. The relatively large
green area of the gardens (35 ha = 87.5 acres) gives it its potentialities as public park.
Many formal and informal activities are accompanying with the gardens. These
activities may be economic in nature, which by turn facilitate more than 2000

222

temporary and permanent jobs. The formal activities (60%) include small shopping
centers, booth, restaurants, cafeteria, Nile cruising and others (CAEDS, 2004). The
informal activities (40%) include bicycles, motorcycles, swings, amusement centers,
horse ridding, fishing, selling of souvenirs, and photography.
The climatic features prevailing in the study area (1950-1975) indicate that
January is the coldest month, while July and August are the hottest. The lowest mean
minimum air temperature ranges from 7.6 C at Banha to 8.8 C at Cairo, while the
highest mean maximum air temperature ranges from 34.4 C to 34.9 C at the same
direction (Table 1). Mean relative humidity ranges between 53 % at Cairo and 75 % at
Banha, mean evaporation rate varies between 5.2 mm day-1 at Banha and 11.8 mm day1

at Cairo, while mean monthly rainfalls approximates 1.9 mm at both stations

(Anonymous 1980).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ornamental vegetation of Qanatir Park was sampled from the gardens and nurseries,
which have considerable vegetation (10 gardens and 1 plant nursery). The ornamental
plants were re-identified in the Herbarium of Orman Botanical Garden and classified
into the following common horticultural categories: conifers, cycads or palm-like,
palms, trees and shrubs, climbers or liana, perennial and annual herbs, and succulents
and spiny plants Soliman and Amer (2002). The consulted references in the
identification process include Kelly and Hiller (1995), Soliman and Amer (2002) and
herbarium sheets. Voucher specimens of the recorded species were deposited in the
Herbarium of Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan
University. The total cover and the cover of the weed species (%) associated with the
ornamental plants of the Park were measured in 30 permanent quadrates (20 x 20 m) in
the gardens and nurseries for four seasons (spring 2002 to winter 2003). Identification
and nomenclature of weed flora were according to Tckholm (1974) and Boulos
(1995).
Three soil samples were collected from profiles (0 50 cm) of each sampled
quadrate. Soil texture was determined by the Bouyoucos hydrometer method. Calcium
carbonate was estimated using Bernards calcimeter. Soil water extracts of 1:5 were
prepared for the determination of soil salinity (EC) and soil reaction (pH) using
electric conductivity (mS cm-1) and pH meters. Chlorides were determined by direct
titration against silver nitrate solution using 5 % potassium chromate as an indicator.

222

Soluble bicarbonates were estimated by titration against 0.01N HCl and sulphates were
determined turbidimetrically as barium sulphate at 500 nm. Nitrates were determined
using sodium salicylate, H2SO4 and NaOH as analytical reagents. The sulphanilamide
diazotization was used for determination of nitrite in soil extract. Phosphates were
determined in the soil water extract by the direct colourimetric molybdenum blue
method. Ca and Mg were determined by titration against 0.01N-versenate solution
using meroxide and erichrome black T as indicators. Sodium and potassium were
determined using flame photometer (Allen et al., 1974).
Two-way

indicator

species

analysis

(TWINSPAN)

and

detrended

correspondence analysis (DECORANA) were applied to the matrix of cover estimates

of 74 species in 30 stands (Hill, 1979a, b). The agglomerative clustering techniques
were applied to ordinate and classify the zonal vegetation of the habitats based on
Srensen similarity coefficient (Srensen 1948). The Srensen similarity matrix was
plotted using the Non-Metric Multidimensional scaling (N-MDS) technique (Kruscal,
1964). Species richness for vegetation groups was calculated as the average number of
species per stand. Species turnover was calculated as a ratio between the total number
of species recorded in a certain vegetation group and its alpha diversity (Whittaker,
1972). Relative evenness of the importance value of species was expressed by
Shannon-Wiener index: = -si =1 Pi (log Pi). The relative concentration of dominance
was expressed by Simpsons index: D = 1/C, C = - si =1 (Pi) 2, where S is the total
number of species and Pi is the relative importance value (relative cover) of ith species
(Pielou, 1975; Magurran, 1988).
RESULTS
One hundred and twelve species of ornamental plants were recorded in El- Qanatir
Public Park (Appendix 1). The classification of these species into the common
horticultural categories (Table 2) indicates that cycads (palm-like) have the lowest
contribution to the recorded species (only 1 species, represented by 7 individuals in
Afla garden). On the contrary, trees and shrubs have the highest contribution (80
species, represented by 3513 individuals in all gardens), followed by palms (8 species,
357 individuals), and succulent and spiny plants (6 species, 269 individuals). It is clear
that perennial and annual herbs (4 species, 132 individuals) have the lowest

222

representation in A, B, Abu-Kirdan and Afla gardens, while climbers (9 species, 59

individuals) have low representation in El-Nakheel, El-Nile, Mohamed Ali and ElGamea gardens. Conifers (4 species) have a considerable representation in El-Nile and
B gardens (32 and 26 individuals, respectively).
The recorded species belong to 91 genera and 45 families (Table 3) and
represented by 4449 individual in all gardens. The most represented families are
Leguminosae (14.2 %), Palmae (8%) and Moraceae (7.1%). Each of Apocynaceae,
Myrtaceae and Verbenaceae are represented by 6 species (5.3%). Moreover, 8 families
are represented by 2 species, and 27 families are represented by only one species.
High plant diversity was recorded in Garden B where the highest numbers of
plant individuals, genera, species and families (Table 3), where El- Menoufy garden
has the minimum. The total area of the gardens of Qanatir Public Park, which have
considerable ornamental vegetation (excluding small plant nurseries), is approximately
35 hectare (about 87.5 acres). Garden B has the largest area (6.8 hectare), while ElMenoufy garden has the smallest (0.3 hectare). The area of the other gardens varies
between 2 and 5.7 hectare.
Casuarina cunninghamii has the highest number of individuals in the gardens;
it is cultivated as fence plants and windbreaks. It is followed by Duranta erecta,
Nerium oleander, Ficus infectoria, Delonix regia, Ficus nitida, Sanseviera trifasciata,
Euphorbia pulcherima and Washingtonia filifera. It is found that Casuarina
cunninghamii is the first dominant species in El-Nile garden and the second dominant
species in El-Mashtal garden. Nerium oleander is the first dominant species in garden
A and Abu-Kirdan garden and the second dominant species in Mohammed Ali garden.
It is found also that, Ficus infectoria is the first dominant species in Afla and ElGamea gardens and the second dominant species in El-Nakheel garden. Moreover,
Washingtonia filifera is the dominant species in El-Nakheel garden, while Delonix
regia is the second dominant species in El-Gamea and El-Menoufy gardens.
In an attempt to assess the degree of similarity between the gardens of Qanatir
Public Park, based on the presence of ornamental species, Srenson similarity
coefficients were calculated (Table 4). Some pairs of the gardens have high similarity
such as El-Nile garden with Afla, Abu-Kirdan and B gardens (0.65, 0.55 and 0.54,
respectively), and garden A with garden B (0.50). The lowest degree of similarity was
attained between Mohammed Ali and El-Menoufy garden (0.10).

222

The

application

of

the

agglomerative

clustering

and

non-metric

multidimensional scaling ordination techniques on the 11 studied gardens, based on

the presence of the ornamental plant species, produced six clusters (Fig. 2). The first
cluster comprises gardens A and B, while each of El-Mashtal and El-Menoufy gardens
represent the second and third clusters. The fourth cluster comprises El-Nakheel and
El-Gamea gardens, while the fifth one comprises Mohammed Ali and El-Behery
gardens. The last cluster comprises Abu-Kirdan, Afla and El-Nile gardens.
The spatial variation in the soil characteristics indicates that the sand varies
between 69.6 % and El-Nakheel garden to 92.6 % in B garden, while pH varies
between 7.6 in Abu-Kirdan garden and 8.2 in Mohamed Ali garden (Table 5). The
highest value of EC (1.7 mS cm-1) was obtained in El-Menoufy garden, and the lowest
(0.2 mS cm-1) was in El-Nakheel garden.
The application of TWINSPAN classification technique on the cover estimates
of 74 weed species in 30 stands in the gardens and nurseries led to the recognition of
seven weedy vegetation groups at level 3 of classification (Table 6). The application
of DCA on the same set of data indicates a reasonable segregation among these groups
along the ordination axes 1 and 2 (Fig. 3, Table 7). These groups were named after
their dominant species as follows: 1- Paspalum dilatatumPoa annua in El-Nakheel, B
and El-Behery gardens, 2- Poa annua in many gardens, 3- Cynodon dactylon in many
gardens, 4- Phyla nodiflora in less trampled gardens of low visitors activity (e.g.
Mohamed Ali, El-Gamea, and El-Mashtal gardens), 5- Cynodon dactylon-Convolvulus
arvensis in El-Mashtal garden, 6- Convolvulus arvensis and 7- Euphorbia peplus in
the nurseries.
The total number of species varies between 26 species in Cynodon dactylon
group (VG.3) and 13 species in Paspalum dilatatumPoa annua group (VG.1) (Table
7). The Poa annua group (VG.2) has the highest values of species turnover (3.1) and
the lowest of species richness (6.2 species/stand), relative concentration of dominance
(3.37) and relative evenness (1.5). Cynodon dactylonConvolvulus arvensis group
(VG.5) has the highest values of species richness (12.6 species/stand.) but the lowest
of species turnover (1.6), while Convolvulus arvensis group (VG.6) has the highest of
relative concentration of dominance and relative evenness.

222

DISCUSSION
Comparing the richness of the ornamental species of Qanatir Park with those of the
old gardens in Cairo and Giza (Diwan et al. 2004, Anonymous, 2004) indicates that
Qanatir Park has the lowest numbers of species; although it has the biggest area. For
example, the area of Orman Botanical Garden is about one third that of Qanatir Park,
but it has the highest numbers of all the horticultural categories (except the
succulents). Moreover, the aquatic and semi-aquatic plants are not represented in
Qanatir Park.
Qanatir Park is characterized by the presence of some species such as
Sarcocephalus cordatus, which is a very rare tree in this Park (one individual).
Table 9. Comparison between some horticultural categories of the ornamental species
of Qanatir Park with those of the old gardens in Cairo and Giza (After Diwan
et al. 2004, Anonymous, 2004)

Garden
Prince

Horticultural category

Mohamed Alis

Agricultural
Zohrea

Zoo

Orman

Qanatir

Museum
Palace

Area (ha)
Conifers
Palms
Trees & Shrubs
Climbers
Aquatic & Semi-aquatic
Succulent and Spiny Plants
Total

5.5
7
24
62
13

-9
12
79
11

3.4
10
23
128
30

33.6
8
16
140
16

11.8
28
52
243
42

35.1
3
8
80
8

2
61
169

2
-113

2
-193

3
-183

8
37
410

-6
105

Also, one individual of this species has been recorded in Giza Zoo garden
(Diwan et al. 2004). In addition, Bauhinia forficata, Bauhinia vahlii, Ficus benjamina,
Ficus infectoria, Lawsonia inermis, Melaleuca ericifolia, Olearia paniculata, popplus
alba and Punica granatum var. nana are among the species of Qanatir Park which are
absent from the old gardens of Cairo and Giza. The gardens of Qanatir were initially
established at the end of nineteenth century synchronized with the commencement of
Delta Barrages construction (Zaki, 1937), so, many of its ornamental plants, especially
trees, are going back to that time. Ficus benghalensis, Ficus infectoria, Ficus nitida,

222

Ficus benjamina and Sarcocephalus cordatus are the oldest plants in the gardens
(about 100-150 year) (Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources, unpublished data).
Bombax ceiba, Pterospermum acerifolium, Quercus robur, Pinus roxburghii, Bambusa
nana, Phytolacca dioica, Roystonia regia and Washingtonia filifera are from 80 100
years old. Vitex agnus-castus, Thunbergia grandiflora, Phoenix dactylifera, Nerium
oleander, Delonix regia, Callistemon citrinus, Butea frondosa and Bauhinia variegata
are from 50 80 years old. The ages of these plants are approximated and the real
dates of cultivation of these plants were not documented.
Comparing the dominant ornamental species of Qanatir Park in the present
study with that of El-Sheikh et al. (2004), it is evident that some of the species
recorded as dominants in El-Sheikh et al. (2004) are either rare (e.g. Ficus elastica,
Cupressus sempervirens and Bougainivillea glabra) or not exist, probably due to
misidentification (e.g Ficus microcarpa). The two studies are not comparable
regarding the total numbers of plant species and their individuals in each garden. This
may be due to the fact that the study of El-Sheikh et al. (2004) relied on informal
statistics. For example, the gardens No. 1,2 and 3 in El-Sheikh et al. (2004), are not
existing now entirely (previously were called El Ferdous and El Tawfiky gardens).
Moreover, El Behery and El Nile gardens were not included in the study of El-Sheikh
et al. (2004).
The similarity coefficients between the gardens indicate that some gardens
have high similarity (e.g. El-Nile, Abu-Kirdan and Afla gardens). On the other hand,
other gardens have high dissimilarity (e.g. Mohamed Ali and El-Menoufy garden). The
application of agglomerative clustering and multidimensional scaling (MDS)
technique led to segregate the gardens according to their species composition into 6
clusters. El-Mashtal garden that was separated as unique cluster is characterized by its
own ornamental species (e.g. Euphorbia lactea, Clerodendrum splendens, Hyphaene
thebaica, Ficus lyrata and Pterospermum acerifolium). El-Menoufy garden was
segregated away from all the other gardens, probably due to its poor ornamental
vegetation. The other gardens were segregated as independent clusters according to
their species composition (e.g. El-Nakheel and El-Gamea gardens were characterized
by low species diversity; Mohamed Ali and El-Behery gardens had a medium species
diversity; while B and A garden, and Abu-Kirdan, Afla and El-Nile gardens had high
species diversity).

222

It is clear that the soil salinity of Qanatir gardens are lower than that of the
other habitats in South Nile Delta (Shaltout et al. 2005) such as terraces (2.3 mS cm1

), slopes (3.3 mS cm-1), and ditches, fallow and flooded lands (1.1 mS cm-1).
Weed vegetation of the gardens and nurseries in Qanatir Public Park were

dominated by geophytes-helophytes and therophytes such as Paspalum dilatatum, Poa

annua, Convolvulus arvensis and Euphorbia peplus. This could be attributed to the
fact that these life forms have higher reproductive capacity and ecological,
morphological and genetic plasticity under high levels of disturbances than biennials
and perennials (Harper 1977 and Grime 1979). Moreover, the most represented
families of the weeds in the gardens and nurseries were Compositae and Graminae.
Both families possess seeds and grains on intermediate germination and rapid growth;
and many of their species have ability for extensive lateral spread providing flexible
regeneration strategies. This combination of characters is considered to equip them
well to exploit man-made habitats (Gilbert 1991 and El-Sheikh et al. 2004).
From the study of Qanatir Park gardens, one can conclude the following facts:
1-

Some gardens can be considered as fallow gardens due to presence of large

unoccupied areas e.g. El-Nakheel garden has only 26 species, represented by 134
individuals; although its area is 4 ha. This status is coinciding on El- Gamea garden
(3.1 ha.) which has 17 species, represented by 128 individuals.

2-

Garden A, B, El-Nile and El-Mashtal, have the highest numbers of genera,

species and individuals. On the contrary, El-Behery, El-Menoufy and Abu-Kirdan
are the poorest gardens.

3-

Shading and spacing between trees and shrubs in a certain garden depend on the
density of species and the total cover of plants crown. For example, Afla Garden is
the most shaded garden due to presence of many large crowned trees (e.g. Bombax
ceiba, Delonix regia, Dalbergia sisso, Ficus infectoria and Cassia nodosa). The
gardens of El-Behery, El-Menoufy, El-Nakheel and El-Gamea are wide spaced
gardens due to the low vegetation density and small crowns of their plants (e.g.
Justacia adhatoda, Populus alba, Phoenix canariensis and Washinghtonia filifera).

4-

According to the spaces between the ornamental plants in the gardens, the
associated weed species can grow. In shaded places, the shade-tolerant and/or
rhizomatous species grow vigorously (e.g. Cynodon dactylon, Euphorbia peplus,

222

Paspalum dilatatum, Oxalis corniculata, Phyla nodiflora and Commicarpus

helenae).
5-

Most of gardens are irrigated by inundation, which consume large amounts of

water.

6-

There is no clear specification or characterization in the gardens (i.e. there are

no specialized gardens such as woodland garden, bedrock garden and kid-garden).

7-

Absence of seasonality in flowering of the ornamental plants; most plants flower

in spring and early summer.
Accordingly, the gardens of Qanatir Public Park needs new designation,
increasing the ornamental plants, establishment of new specialized gardens or units
and environmental management for all its resources. So it is important to develop and
activate the role of botanical gardens of Qanatir Park in the local community of
Greater Cairo as an educational and cultural park.

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Anonymous (1980): Climatic Normals of the Arab Republic of Egypt up to 1975.
Cairo: Ministry of Civil Aviation, Meteorological Authority, General
Organization for Governmental Printing Office, pp. 433.
Anonymous (2004): Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Reclamation, Central
Administration of Forestation and Environment, Orman Botanical Garden, pp.
28.
Boulos, L. (1995): Flora of Egypt: checklist. Al Hadara Publishing, Cairo. pp. 283.
CAEDS (Center for Architectural and Engineering Design Support) (2004): Project of
Environmental Protection and Architectural Development of Qanatir Public
Park. Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University. Report I.
Diwan, B.H., Youssef, T.L. and Magid, A.A. (2004): Plant Atlas of Botanical Gardens
in Cairo and Giza. (1st ed., in Arabic) General Egyptian Authority of Books.
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Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 1: 266-283.
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Sciences, 27 (2): 137-158

222

Gilbert, O.L. (1991): The Ecology of Urban Habitats. London: Chapman and Hall.
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Hill, M.O. (1979a): TWINSPAN- A FORTRAN Program for Arranging Multivariate
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Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, pp. 52.
Hill, M.O. (1979b): DECORANA- A FORTRAN Program for Detrended
Correspondence Analysis and Reciprocal Averaging. Cornell University, Ithaca,
New York, pp. 90.
Hurst, H.E. (1952): The Nile. London: Constable, pp. 326.
Kelly, J. and Hiller, H.J.G. (1995): The Hiller Gardeners Guide to Trees and Shrubs.
The Readers Digest Association, INC. Pleasantville, New York / Montreal. pp.
640.
Kruscal, J. B. (1964): Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling: A Numerical Method.
Psychometrika 29 , 115-129 .
Magurran, A.E. (1988): Ecological Diversity and its Measurements. Princeton
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Pielou, E.C. (1975): Ecological Diversity. A Willy-Interscience Publication, New
York, pp.165.
Shaltout, K.H. and El-Sheikh, M.A. (2003): Vegetation of the Urban Habitats in the
Nile Delta Region, Egypt. Urban Ecosystems, 6: 205-221.
Shaltout, K.H. and Sharaf El-Din, A. (1988): Habitat Types and Plant Communities
along A Transect in the Nile Delta Region. Feddes Repertorium, 99: 153-162.
Shaltout, K.H., Hassan, L.M. and Farahat, E.A. (2005): Vegetation Environment
Relationships in South Nile Delta. Taeckholmia, (25): in Press.
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222

Table 1. Long-term annual averages of the meteorological data of two meteorological stations
in the study area (Anonymous, 1980).
BANHA
31 11` E, 30 28` N

CAIRO
31 15` E, 30 03` N

Meteorological variable
Range

Mean

Range

Mean

Max. air temperature (C)

19.3 34.4

27.8

19.0 34.9

28.0

Min. air temperature (C)

7.6 20.8

14.4

8.8 21.8

15.6

Mean air temperature (C)

13.4 27.4

21.1

13.9 28.3

21.4

Relative humidity (%)

48.0 75.0

76.0

42.0 61.0

53.0

Evaporation (mm day-1)

2.9 8.4

5.2

7.4 17.0

11.8

Rainfall (mm month-1)

1.9

1.9

Table 2. Classification of the recorded ornamental species in Qanatir Public Park, according
to their horticultural categories. Maximum and minimum numbers of individuals are
underlined.

Abu-Kirdan

Afla

El- Nakheel

Mohamed
Ali

El-Gamea

ElMenoufy

El- Behery

15

26

15

32

10

112

Cycads

Palms

16

23

66

27

105

14

15

14

70

357

Trees and Shrubs

224

768

185

591

89

817

278

112

66

77

306

3513

Climbers (Liana)

26

14

59

Perennial and
Annual herbs

23

91

132

Succulent and
Spiny Plants

264

269

191

671

134

128

73

91

486

4449

Total

290

1100

980

232

305

Total

El- Mashtal

Garden B

Conifers

El-Nile

Horticultural
Category

Garden A

Garden

Table 3. Matrix of Srensen similarity coefficients (Srensen, 1948) calculated between

each pair of the 11 gardens in Qanatir Public Park (based on the presence of their ornamental
species).

Afla

0.53

0.54

0.45

El-Nakheel

0.36

0.38

0.46

0.45

El-Nile

0.51

0.54

0.55

0.65

0.39

Mohamed Ali
El Gamea

0.39
0.31

0.37
0.36

0.43
0.43

0.42
0.53

0.47
0.42

0.47
0.46

0.38

El-Menoufy

0.20

0.13

0.17

0.29

0.26

0.23

0.13

0.46

El-Behery

0.24

0.24

0.49

0.47

0.27

0.52

0.56

0.38

0.20

El-Mashtal

0.42

0.41

0.41

0.48

0.34

0.46

0.29

0.31

0.19

ElMenoufy

0.45

El-Behery

El-Gamea

Mohamed
Ali

0.35

Afla

Abu-Kirdan

AbuKirdan

0.54

Garden B

Garden

Garden A

El-Nile

El-Nakheel

Garden

222

0.31

Table 4. Characteristics of the 11 gardens of Qanatir Public Park and the number of their ornamental plant individuals, species, genera
and families. The maximum and minimum values are underlined.

Garden

Area
( ha)

No. of
No. of No. of
individuals genera species

No. of Total st
1 dominant species
families ratio

2nd dominant species

2.1

290

41

49

23

6.5 Nerium oleander

Acalpha wilkesiana

6.8

1100

56

67

29

24.7 Sanseviera trifasciata

Aloe barbadensis

Abu-Kirdan

2.1

191

24

27

15

4.3 Nerium oleander

Dalbergia sisoo

Afla

5.7

671

24

30

13

15.1 Ficus infectoria

Euphorbia pulcherima

El Nakheel

4.4

134

21

25

16

Washingtonia filifera

El Nile

2.4

980

31

34

20

22

Casuarina cunninghamii Malvaviscus arboreus

Mohamed
Ali

1.4

305

20

22

16

6.9 Duranta erecta

Nerium oleander

El Gamea

3.1

128

14

17

2.9 Ficus infectoria

Delonix regia

El Menoufy

0.3

73

1.6 Ficus nitida

Delonix regia

El Behery

3.6

91

11

12

El Mashtal

3.3

486

39

46

26

10.9 Alocasia macrorrhiza

35.1

4449

91

112

45

100

Total

Popplus alba

222

Ficus infectoria

Malvaviscus arboreus
Casuarina
cunninghamii

Table 5. Mean of soil characteristics of the 11 gardens in Qanatir Public Park. SD: Standard deviation. The maximum and minimum
values are underlined. F-value and its probability are indicated.

El-Nakhel

El-Nile

Mohamed
Ali

El-Gamea

ElMenoufy

El-Behery

ElMashtal

Mean SD

F-value

Afla

Silt
Clay

AbuKirdan

Sand

Garden B

Soil variable

Garden A

Garden
P

79.8

69.6

70

85.3

92.6

80

83.1

75.8

78.9

86.1

82.74

80.4 6.8

0.92

0.53

16

23

25

12

16

12

20

15

10

11.6

15.1 5.9

0.57

0.80

7.4

2.7

2.4

4.9

4.2

6.1

3.9

5.7

4.6 1.5

0.57

0.80

8.1

7.8

7.6

7.9

7.9

8.2

8.2

7.6

7.9

7.8

7.7

7.9 0.2

1.18

0.36

EC (mS cm-1)

0.7

1.1

0.6

0.2

0.3

0.5

1.2

1.7

1.5

0.9 0.5

0.43

0.90

HCO3

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01 0.0

0.91

0.54

Cl

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.01

0.02

0.05

0.01

0.2

0.02

0.01

0.06 0.06

0.43

0.90

SO4

0.01

0.02

0.02

0.01

0.00

0.01

0.01

0.02

0.02

0.01

0.01

0.012 0.006 0.79

0.63

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.4

0.2

0.15 0.09

0.64

0.75

3.0

21.5

21.6

2.4

6.6

1.4

5.8

23.9

3.5

13.5

3.4

9.69 8.7

1.79

0.14

18.7

18.5

18.6

14.2

23.7

11.5

11.7

23.8

18.2

12.4

16.1

17.0 4.3

0.65

0.74

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.02

0.02

0.07

0.02

0.03

NO3
NO2
P

mg100g-1

4.2

pH

0.03

0.01

0.05 0.04

0.42

0.91

0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002

0.002

0.001 0.00

0.38

0.93

Ca

0.04

0.1

0.05

0.04

0.02

0.03

0.03

0.10

0.10

0.05

0.05

0.06 0.00

0.61

0.77

Mg

0.04

0.06

0.1

0.04

0.02

0.03

0.03

0.05

0.1

0.04

0.1

0.06 0.00

0.29

0.97

2.3

2.1

2.5

1.9

2.2

2.8

2.7

2.1

2.6

2.1

2.3 0.00

0.61

0.77

Na

CaCO3 (%)

232

Table (6). Presence percentage (P%) of the weed flora in the gardens of Qanatir Public Park
(r = values < 1).
Name of species

Family

Allium roseum L.
Amaranthus hybridus L.
Amaranthus lividus L.
Amaranthus viridis L.
Ammi majus L.
Anagallis arvensis L.
Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) F.Muell. ex
Benth
Bidens pilosa L.
Bromus catharticus Vahl
Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik.
Chenopodium ficifolium Sm.
Chenopodium murale L.
Cichorium endiva subsp. divaricatum
(Schousb.) P.D. Sell
Commicarpus helenae (Schult.) Meikle
Convolvulus arvensis L.
Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist
Coronopus niloticus (Delile) Spreng.
Cuscuta pedicellata Ledeb.
Cynanchum acutum subsp. acutum L.
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.
Cyperus longus L.
Cyperus rotundus L.
Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd.
Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf
Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.
Echinochloa colona (L.) Link
Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.
Emex spinosa L.
Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) F.T. Hubb.
Euphorbia heterophylla L.
Euphorbia hirta L.
Euphorbia peplus L.
Euphorbia prostrata Aiton
Fimbristylis bisumbellata (Forssk.) Bubani
Homognaphalium pulvinatum (Delile) Fayed
& Zareh.
Lactuca serriola L.
Lamium amplexicaul L.
Leptochloa panicea (Retz.) Ohwi, Bot.Mag.
Lolium perenne L.
Lotus glaber Mill.
Malva parviflora L.
Matricaria recutita var. recutita L.
Medicago polymorpha L.
Melilotus indicus (L.) All.
Mentha piperita L.
Oxalis corniculatus L.
Oxalis corymbosa DC.
Panicum repens L.
Paspalidium geminatum (Forssk.) Stapf
Paspalum dilatatum Poir.
Phalaris minor Retz.

222

P%

Alliaceae
Amaranthaceae
Amaranthaceae
Amaranthaceae
Umbelliferae
Primulaceae

Life form
Ge-He
Th
Th
Th
Th
Th

Umbelliferae

Th

10

Compositae
Gramineae
Cruciferae
Chenopodiaceae
Chenopodiaceae

Th
Th
Th
Th
Th

20
23.3
13.3
6.7
13.3

Compositae

Th

Nyctaginaceae
Convolvulaceae
Compositae
Cruciferae
Cuscutaceae
Asclepiadaceae
Gramineae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Gramineae
Gramineae
Gramineae
Gramineae
Gramineae
Polygonaceae
Gramineae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Cyperaceae

Ge-He
He
Th
Th
Pa
Ph
Ge-He
Ge-He
Ge-He
Th
Th
Th
Th
Th
Th
Th
Th
Th
Th
Th
Th

13.3
43.3
16.7
23.3
r
3.3
86.7
r
16.7
3.3
3.3
16.7
16.7
10
3.3
3.3
3.3
6.7
33.3
3.33
6.67

Compositae

Th

Compositae
Labiatae
Gramineae
Gramineae
Leguminosae
Malvaceae
Compositae
Leguminosae
Leguminosae
Labiatae
Oxalidaceae
Oxalidaceae
Gramineae
Gramineae
Gramineae
Gramineae

Th
Th
Th
Th
He
Th
Th
Th
Th
Ge-He
Ge-He
He
Ge-He
Ge-He
Ge-He
Th

r
3.33
3.33
10
20
23.3
r
23.3
r
3.3
40
r
r
r
70
r

3.3
13.3
r
10
3.3
20

Table 6 Continued
Species

Family

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. Ex Steud.

Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene
Plantago major L.
Poa annua L.
Polygonum equisetiforme Sm.
Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf.
Portulaca oleracea L.
Pseudognaphalium luteo-album (L.) Hilliard &
B.L. Burtt
Senecio glaucus subsp. coronopifolius L.
(Maire) C. Alexander
Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv.
Setaria x verticilliformis Dumort.
Sisymbrium irio L.
Solanum nigrum L.
Sonchus oleraceus L.
Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.
Stellaria pallida (Dumort.) Pire
Trianthema portulacastrum L.
Tribulus terrestris L.
Trifolium resupinatum L.
Urtica urens L.
Veronica persica Poir.
Vicia sativa L.
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

232

Gramineae
Verbenaceae
Plantaginaceae
Graminae
Polygonaceae
Graminae
Portulacaceae

P%
Life form
Ge-He
r
He
36.7
He
3.3
Th
73.3
Ch
3.3
Th
r
Th
13.3

Compositae

Th

3.33

Compositae

Th

Graminae
Graminae
Cruciferae
Solanaceae
Compositae
Graminae
Caryophyllaceae
Aizoaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Leguminosae
Urticaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Leguminosae
Solanaceae

Th
Th
Th
Ch
Th
Th
Th
Th
Th
Th
Th
Ge-He
Th
Ch

13.3
6.7
13.3
r
16.7
r
10
10
3.33
30
6.7
3.3
6.7
r

Fig. 1. The chief features of the Nile Delta (arrow refers to the study area, c.f. Zahran &
Willis, 1992).

222

(a) Agglomerative clustering

(b) Similarity ordination

Fig. 2. The dendrogram resulting from the agglomerative clustering technique (a) and
similarity ordination of the ornamental vegetation of the 11 gardens of Qanatir Public
Park.

232

.
(a) TWINSPAN
Classification level
1
2
3
2
5

(b) DCA

350
G7

300

AXIS 2

250

G2

200

G3

150
G1
100

G6

50

G5

G4

0
0

50

100

150

200
AXIS 1

250

300

350

400

Fig. 3.. The relationship between the 7 groups generated after the application of TWINSPAN
on the 30 stands that characterize the weed flora of the gardens and nurseries of
Qanatir Public Park (a), and the position of their cluster centroids on the first and
second axes of DCA (b).

222