Contribution to a floristic study of the Ouezzane region (Prerif, North Atlantic Morocco-1)

Abstract

This study’s main objective was to characterize the spontaneous vascular flora of the Asjen region and Brikcha forest. It was conducted in the study area Moroccan Atlantic North-1 (Man-1) in 2021–2022. The stratified sampling method combined with the records of the surface and itinerant survey methods were used as a basis to collect floristic data. Three hundred and eighty-four taxa belonging to 270 genera and 80 families were recorded, of which five species distributed among four families were new additions to the flora of the study area: Crepis vesicaria L. subsp. stellata (Ball) Babc and Scorzonera hispanica L. subsp. Hispanica (Asteraceae), Glinus lotoides L. (Molluginaceae), Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. oxycedrus (Cupressaceae) and Quercus coccifera L. (Fagaceae). The biological spectrum indicates the dominance of therophytes (47.66%), followed by hemicryptophytes (16.93%). Dicotyledons represent the most dominant systematic group (305 taxa, 79.43%), followed by Monocotyledons (72 taxa, 18.75%). Six families are dominant and represent 46.62% of all identified species: Asteraceae (61 species, 15.89%), Fabaceae (32 species, 8.33%), Poaceae (30 species, 7.81%), Lamiaceae (26 species, 6.77%), Apiaceae (17 species, 4.43%) and Caryophyllaceae (13 species, 3.39%). The most species-rich genus is Plantago, with six species, followed by Teucrium, with five species. The rate of endemism is 6.51%, with 25 species, eight of which are strictly endemic to Morocco. Rare or threatened species represent 3.12% of total species (12 species), with seven taxa on the national red list.