New records for Amaranthus spinosus and Cardamine occulta in Morocco
During field surveys on the Atlantic coastline of Morocco in 2021 two new alien plant species were recorded:
- Amaranthus spinosus (Amaranthaceae) is reported from a number of locations including Mehdia, Sidi Boughaba, Rabat, and Casablanca in a number of different habitats including roadsides, pavements, an ornamental tree nursery, gardens and waste lands. Population size ranged from several individuals to over 1000. A. spinosus is native to the Americas and is globally widespread (EPPO region, Africa, Asia and Australia) where it can be a problematic species in agricultural areas and pastures. It is often reported as a casual species in the EPPO region. Spread is via seed which are dispersed naturally by wind and water. Seed of A. spinosus is also reported as a contaminant of other plant seed, grain and agricultural machinery.
- Cardamine occulta (Brassicaceae) is reported from Mehdia, Sidi Boughaba, Rabat, and Sidi Taibi. It was found in plant nurseries and greenhouses. It is native to tropical Asia and is found in many countries in the EPPO region. In some EPPO countries, it is also a recent introduction, e.g. first recorded in Poland in 2019.
Sources
Sukhorukov AP, Leger JF, Chambouleyron M (2023) Two new species alien to the flora of Morocco: Amaranthus spinosus (Amaranthaceae) and Cardamine occulta (Brassicaceae). Flora Mediterranea 33, 31-38.
Pliszko A (2020) First record of Asian Cardamine occulta Hornem. (Brassicaceae) in Poland. BioInvasions Records 9(3), 655–659