Distributions of four alien plants in Morocco including a new country record
During field surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024, the distribution of four alien plant species were recorded in Morocco, with one species, Cardiospermum microcarpum (Sapindaceae) presenting a new record for the country.
Cardiospermum microcarpum is a climbing vine native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, and is widely spread in Africa, Asia, and Australia. It is also recorded in Albania and Greece. In North Africa, it is recorded from Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia. In Morocco, C. microcarpum was recorded from irrigated avocado, corn, and sugarcane fields near Ksar El Kebir, Laouamra, and Dar Gueddari.
Euphorbia heterophylla (Euphorbiaceae; EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants) is a monoecious C4 annual species with a taproot. It is native to the Americas and is recorded as a non-native species in the EPPO region, Africa, Asia, and Australia where it is an invasive species of pasture land and various crops. In Morocco, E. heterophylla has been found in various irrigated crops (citrus, corn, olive, pepper, sesame, sugarcane,) near Beni Mellal, and Ksar El Kebir. At each site the population ranged from one to 10 individual plants at various stages from seedling to fruiting.
Euphorbia nutans (Euphorbiaceae) is an annual species native to the Americas. It is recorded as an invasive species in the EPPO region (e.g. Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye) where it can grow along roadsides and forest edges and ruderal habitats. In Morocco, E. nutans is recorded in various irrigated crops (e.g. sesame, sugarcane) near Beni Mellal, Settat, and Ksar El Kebir.
Malvastrum coromandelianum (Malvaceae) is an annual or perennial species native to the Americas. In Morocco, it was recorded around the harbour of Agadir where it was found within a cultivated olive groove and under palm trees (Phoenix canariensis: Arecaceae).
Sources
Abbès T, Khamar H (2025) Notes on four alien naturalized weeds in Morocco: extended distribution and new record. Acta Botanica Malacitana 50, 21796