EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 08 - 2020 Num. article: 2020/183

Checklist of alien flora of Algeria


This checklist includes alien flora to Algeria whose presence is due to intentional or accidental introduction because of human activity. Those taxa included should (1) have been introduced (or presumed to be introduced) through activities related to humans or their domestic animals, whether intentionally or not, and (2) have been found in the natural environment. In total, 211 alien plants (206 species and 5 subspecies) belonging to 151 genera and 51 families were recorded in Algeria from the current literature. Most of the alien plants originated from North America (31.3%) and the Mediterranean Basin (19.4%). Nearly half (43%) are therophytes (short lived annual species) and occur in highly disturbed habitats (62%), such as arable fields (44.5%) or ruderal habitats (17.5%). Introduced plants for ornamental purposes account for almost half (43.6%) of the alien flora. A large proportion (51.2%) of the alien species are naturalized in Algeria, with about 16% considered as invasive or potentially invasive (Table 1).
 

Table 1. List of alien plant species considered invasive or potentially invasive in Algeria. Invasive score: 1 = with a clear invasive behaviour, although by the moment it is only found in largely disturbed systems. It is needed to monitor its further behaviour. 2 = it is known as invasive and although it is not threatening natural or man-made ecosystems, it is suspected to do it in the near future. 3 = dangerous (invasive and causing ecological damage or alteration) for natural ecosystems.


Species

Family 

Invasive score


Abutilon theophrasti 

Malvoideae

1


Acacia mearnsii 

Fabaceae

3


Acacia melanoxylon 

Fabaceae

1


Acacia saligna 

Fabaceae

3


Agave americana 

Asparagaceae

2


Ageratina adenophora

Asteraceae

2


Ailanthus altissima*

Simaroubaceae

3


Ambrosia artemisiifolia*

Asteraceae

2


Carpobrotus acinaciformis*

Aizoaceae

2


Carpobrotus edulis*

Aizoaceae

3


Chenopodium ambrosioides 

Amaranthaceae

1


Cotula coronopifolia 

Asteraceae

3


Cuscuta campestris 

Convolvulaceae

3


Elaeagnus angustifolia 

Elaeagnaceae

1


Erigeron bonariensis 

Asteraceae

2


Erigeron canadensis 

Asteraceae

2


Erigeron karvinskianus 

Asteraceae

1


Ipomoea indica 

Ipomoea

2


Fallopia baldschuanicum*

Polygonaceae

2


Lantana camara 

Verbenaceae

1


Leucaena leucocephala subsp. glabrata

Mimosoideae

2


Nicotiana glauca 

Solanaceae

2


Opuntia ficus-indica 

Cataceae

3


Oxalis pes-caprae*

Oxalidaceae

3


Paspalum distichum*

Panicoideae

3


Phytolacca americana 

Phytolaccaceae

3


Polygala myrtifolia 

Polygalaceae

3


Ricinus communis 

Euphorbiaceae

2


Robinia pseudoacacia 

Fabaceae

3


Solanum elaeagnifolium**

Solanaceae

3


Symphyotrichum squamatum

Asteraceae

2


Xanthium orientale subsp. italicum

Asteraceae

1


Xanthium spinosum 

Asteraceae

2


Xanthium strumarium subsp. strumarium 

Asteraceae

2


* EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants



** EPPO A2 List




Sources

Meddour R, Sahar O, Fried G (2020) A preliminary checklist of the alien flora of Algeria (North Africa): taxonomy, traits and invasiveness potential. Botany Letters. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23818107.2020.180277