EPPO Global Database

Present knowledge on invasive plants in Morocco

A survey of the adventive flora in Morocco shows that 2/3 of its exotic species were introduced between 1970 and 1997. Solanaceae and Poaceae are the main families represented (50% of the total number of adventive species):

Latin name	Family	Bayer Code (EPPT Database)	Probable year of introduction
Nicotiana glauca Ricinus communis Oxalis pes-caprae Kochia scoparia Salpichroa origanifolia Solanum elaeagnifolium (EPPO List of Invasive Alien plants) Abutilon theophrasti Ammannia coccinea Echinochloa phyllopogon Cyperus difformis Dactyloctenium aegyptiacum Euphorbia heterophylla Solanum cornuuim Brachiaria eruciformis Corchorus olitorius Panicum capillare Verbesina encelioides	Solanaceae Euphorbiaceae Oxalidaceae Chenopodiaceae Solanaceae Solanaceae Malvaceae Lythraceae Poaceae Poaceae Poaceae Euphorbiaceae Solanaceae Poaceae Tiliaceae Poaceae Asteraceae	NIOGL RIICO OXAPC KCHSC SAPOR SOLEL ABUTH AMMCO ECHPH CYPDI DTTAE EPHHL SOLCU BRAER CRGOL PANCA VEEEN	Before 1931 Before 1931 Before 1931 1948 1949 1949 1980 1980 1980 1980 1980 1980 1986 1970 1990 1990 1997

Since 1984, only Solanum elaeagnifolium, Oxalis pes-caprae and Verbesina encelioides have been studied and monitored.

Verbesina encelioides originates from the eastern United States. It is recorded in Australia, India, Argentina, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Saudi Arabia, Israel (South-West) and doubtfully in Europe (unconfirmed records in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden, Tutin et al., 1964-1980). It is described as very invasive where it has established, especially in India. In Morocco, it colonizes wastelands, roadsides, and starts to invade crops.  Due to its rapid growth and huge production of seeds, it rapidly outcompetes cultivated or indigenous plants. It is very toxic when ingested by cattle.

Oxalis pes-caprae is a well known invasive plant in the whole Mediterranean Basin. It comes from South Africa and mainly colonizes anthropised sites (e.g. roadsides, in the vicinity of human habitation) and crops (e.g. orchards, vineyards, cereals, vegetables). The plant forms monospecific stands, smothering the rest of the vegetation. An allelopathic effect on cereals has also been identified: it can reduce the germinability of cereal seeds to 63 %.

Moreover, Molero and Montserrat (2006) report that recent field investigations in the middle and low Moulouya Valley (East Morocco) have revealed the presence of new Chenopodiaceae in the flora of Morocco. These species are: Suaeda aegyptiaca, Atriplex suberecta, Atriplex semibaccata and Bassia scoparia. The latter three are clearly neophytes, escaped from cultivation in many cases, while the former is a native species in all countries eastward from Libya to Pakistan. Suaeda aegyptiaca is an invasive therophyte that grows on fields which were damaged after badly planned irrigation practices and is a regular component of wadis and naturally disturbed places. S. aegyptiaca is here reported for the first time for the Maghreb countries, but it is not known whether it is native or introduced.

The two species of Atriplex, both native from South Australia, are nowadays expanding invasive plants. A. semibaccata is widespread in South Australia where it is usually found in heavy soils, sometimes slightly saline, and is frequently an invader of disturbed areas. Many localities with similar conditions exist in North-East Morocco, where this species seems to be quite common, although few records of this plant have been made in recent floras. Atriplex suberecta appears to be much rarer and has been reported for Morocco for the first time. Bassia scoparia has been included as an invader in almost all recent floras but very few localities could be identified in practice.

Sources

Molero J, Montserrat JM (2006) Some new neophytes for the North East of Morocco. In: Invasive plants in Mediterranean Type Regions of the World (Ed. by S Brunel). Council of Europe publishing. Strasbourg. p. 333.

Taleb A, Bouhache M (2006) Etat actuel de nos connaissances sur les plantes envahissantes au Maroc. In: Invasive plants in Mediterranean Type Regions of the World (Ed. by S Brunel). Council of Europe publishing. Strasbourg. p. 99-107.

Information on Verbesina encelioides:
http://www.hear.org/hnis/reports/verbesina_encelioides_hnis.pdf

Tutin et al. (1964-1980) Flora Europaea. 5 Vol. Cambridge University Press.