Abstract
The analysis of morphological variation and RAPD polymorphism distinguished populations of
A. herba alba
from populations of
A. judaica
and
A. monosperma
. Higher morphological diversity is found in
A. herba alba
compared to the other two species, but molecular data derived from RAPD polymorphism also indicated that
A. herba alba
is more polymorphic than the other two species. However, RAPD fingerprinting also indicated sharp polymorphism among populations of both
A. judaica
and
A. monosperma
. Geographic and local ecological variations related to elevation of the sites of the examined populations may be regarded to have played a role in the genetic diversity of the examined populations of
Artemisia
species in the study area. The results are important for future plans for sustainable conservation of medicinal plants in Saudi Arabia. However, extensive sampling of the examined
Artemisia
species populations is required, and more regional data should be obtained from other distribution areas.