Non-native Asteraceae in Tunisia
Sixteen new Asteraceae are recorded in the non-indigenous flora of Tunisia. Six species (Dimorphotheca ecklonis, Gaillardia pulchella, Gazania linearis var. linearis, Guizotia abyssinica, Rudbeckia triloba and Tithonia diversifolia) are recorded for the first time in North Africa. It is interesting to note the occurrence of Ambrosia artemisiifolia (EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants) in Tabarka (Houamdia, North-Western Tunisia). The species has previously been recorded as naturalized in Egypt and as casual in Algeria and Morocco.
Table 1. New records of non-native Asteraceae in Tunisia.
Species | Form | Native range |
Ambrosia artemisiifolia | Annual | North America |
Argyranthemum frutescens | Perennial | Canary Islands |
Artemisia absinthium | Perennial | Europe and North Africa |
Bidens pilosa | Annual | Tropical America |
Calendula officinalis | Perennial | Asia |
Chrysanthemum morifolium | Perennial | Asia |
Dimorphotheca ecklonis | Perennial | Southern Africa |
Erigeron karvinskianus | Perennial | Central and South America |
Gaillardia pulchella | Perennial or annual | Americas |
Gaillardia × grandiflora | Perennial | North America |
Gazania linearis | Perennial | South Africa |
Guizotia abyssinica | Annual | East Africa |
Helianthus annuus | Annual | North America |
Rudbeckia triloba | Biennial or perennial | North America |
Tagetes erecta | Annual | Americas |
Tithonia diversifolia | Annual | Americas |
Sources
El Mokni R, Iamonico D, Véla E, Verloove F, Domina G (2022) New records of Asteraceae for the non-native flora of Tunisia and north Africa with some nomenclatural remarks. Mediterranean Botany 43, e73688. https://doi.org/10.5209/mbot.73688 |