Augmenting Lebanon’s Flora: Documentation of Eighteen Newly Recorded species and Noteworthy observations on Rediscovered Taxa

A sustained, countrywide botanical exploration facilitated the recognition of a remarkable assemblage of species newly added to Lebanon’s floristic inventory, encompassing diverse taxonomic groups. The presence of these taxa in a variety of unique ecological settings—previously overlooked or insufficiently studied—underscores the significance of this contribution to the understanding of Lebanon’s biodiversity. This investigation reports previously unrecorded taxa, Ambrosia confertiflora DC. (Asteraceae), Clinopodium graveolens subsp. rotundifolium (Pers.) Govaerts (Lamiaceae), Colchicum antilibanoticum Gomb. (Colchicaceae), Colchicum feinbruniae K.Perss. (Colchicaceae), Centaurea depressa M.Bieb., synonymized as Cyanus depressus (M.Bieb.) Soják. (Asteraceae), Chenopodium giganteum D.Don. (Amaranthaceae), Echium arenarium Guss. (Boraginaceae), Echinops spinosissimus subsp. spinosus Greuter (Asteraceae), Geranium columbinum L. (Geraniaceae), Iris wallisiae T.Hall & Seisums (Iridaceae), Lamium moschatum subsp.micranthum (Boiss.) Mennema (Lamiaceae), Nothoscordum×borbonicum Kunth (Amaryllidaceae), Parietaria judaica subsp. judaica (Urticaceae), Plantago lanceolata var. dubia (L.) Lilj. (Plantaginaceae), Physalis ixocarpa Brot. ex Hornem. (Solanaceae), Senecio vulgaris var. denticulatus (O.F.Müll.) Hyl. (Asteraceae), Silene caramanica Boiss. & Heldr. (Caryophyllaceae) and Verbascum qulebicum Post. (Scrophulariaceae). All collected specimens were subjected to a standardized curation protocol—including photographic documentation, harvesting, desiccation, and long-term deposition as herbarium vouchers in the K. Addam Herbarium at AUL University (Lebanon). Their taxonomic diagnoses, ecological profiles, and spatial distributional data are articulated with comprehensive precision.The identification of newly recorded taxa was substantiated through a comparative updated nomenclature, morphological descriptions, phenological notes, and photographic documentation to facilitate accurate identification. This research underscores the necessity of biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts to safeguard Lebanon’s unique plant heritage analysis with existing floras and contemporary literature. Furthermore, this study provides.