Alien plant species in Algeria including new country records
An inventory of alien plant species was conducted between 2022 and 2025 in the Naâma region of Algeria, an administrative entity located in western Algeria. This region is arid with a mountainous region in the south. In total, 51 taxa (49 species, one hybrid and one variety), belonging to 20 families and 40 genera were recorded (Table 1), and two species are new records for Algeria, namely Atriplex suberecta (Amaranthaceae) and Euphorbia hypericifolia (Euphorbiaceae).
Table 1. 51 alien taxa reported from the Naâma region of Algeria
Taxa | Family | Origin | Potential pathway |
Ailanthus altissima* | Simaroubaceae | Asia | Ornamental |
Alcea rosea | Malvaceae | Central Asia | Ornamental |
Amaranthus albus | Amaranthaceae | North America | Grain contaminant |
Amaranthus blitoides | Amaranthaceae | Americas | Grain contaminant |
Amaranthus muricatus | Amaranthaceae | Americas | Grain contaminant |
Amaranthus retroflexus | Amaranthaceae | Americas | Grain contaminant |
Atriplex canescens var. gigantea | Amaranthaceae | Americas | Fodder |
Atriplex suberecta | Chenopodioideae | Australia | Grain contaminant |
Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica | Cactaceae | South America | Ornamental |
Bassia indica | Amaranthaceae | Asia | Fodder |
Bassia scoparia | Amaranthaceae | Asia | Ornamental |
Bidens aurea | Asteraceae | North & Central America | Grain contaminant |
Brassica napus | Brassicaceae | Europe | Agriculture |
Bromus catharticus | Poaceae | South America | Grain contaminant |
Centaurea hyalolepis | Asteraceae | Central Asia | Grain contaminant |
Datura ferox | Solanaceae | North America | Grain contaminant |
Datura innoxia | Solanaceae | Americas | Grain contaminant |
Datura stramonium | Solanaceae | North & Central America | Grain contaminant |
Dysphania atriplicifolia | Amaranthaceae | North America | Grain contaminant |
Eleusine indica | Poaceae | Africa, Asia, Oceania | Grain contaminant |
Erigeron canadensis | Asteraceae | Americas | Grain contaminant |
Euphorbia hypericifolia | Euphorbiaceae | Central & South America | Grain contaminant |
Galinsoga parviflora | Asteraceae | Americas | Grain contaminant |
Gazania × splendens | Asteraceae | Africa | Ornamental |
Guizotia abyssinica | Asteraceae | Africa | Grain contaminant |
Gypsophila pilosa | Caryophyllaceae | Central Asia | Grain contaminant |
Kalanchoe daigremontiana | Crassulaceae | Madagascar | Ornamental |
Lepidium didymum | Brassicaceae | South America | Grain contaminant |
Lepidium sativum | Brassicaceae | Europe | Agriculture |
Linum usitatissimum | Linaceae | Europe | Agriculture |
Melia azedarach** | Meliaceae | Australia | Ornamental |
Mirabilis jalapa | Nyctaginaceae | North & Central America | Ornamental |
Morus alba | Moraceae | Asia | Ornamental |
Nicotiana glauca | Solanaceae | South America | Ornamental |
Nigella sativa | Ranunculaceae | Asia | Agriculture |
Oxalis corniculata | Oxalidaceae | Asia | Grain contaminant |
Oxalis pes-caprae* | Oxalidaceae | Africa | Contaminant of bulbils |
Oxybasis glauca | Amaranthaceae | Australia | Grain contaminant |
Panicum miliaceum | Poaceae | Asia | Grain contaminant |
Paspalum dilatatum | Poaceae | South America | Grain contaminant |
Phalaris canariensis | Poaceae | North Africa | Bird feed |
Ricinus communis | Euphorbiaceae | Africa | Ornamental |
Robinia pseudoacacia* | Fabaceae | Americas | Ornamental |
Rubia tinctorum | Rubiaceae | Asia | Agriculture |
Sesamum indicum | Pedaliaceae | Asia | Agriculture |
Solanum bonariense | Solanaceae | South America | Grain contaminant |
Solanum elaeagnifolium*** | Solanaceae | Americas | Seed contaminant |
Solanum rostratum | Solanaceae | North & Central America | Grain contaminant |
Symphyotrichum squamatum | Asteraceae | South America | Grain contaminant |
Vachellia farnesiana | Fabaceae | South America | Ornamental |
Xanthium spinosum | Asteraceae | Americas | Ornamental |
Where * = EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants, ** EPPO Observation List of Invasive Alien Plants and *** is EPPO A2 List
Sources
Gordo B, Khamar H, Laguna E, Verloove F (2025) An update and catalogue of alien vascular plant species in the Naâma region of Algeria. Botanica 31 115-128.