Study of the Floristic Diversity of the Moulay Driss Zerhoun Region in the Prerif Range, Morocco

Abstract

The floristic diversity data of the Zerhoun region of Morocco are old and fragmentary. This study sets out to document the region’s floristic composition and update the list of wild plants present. In total, 57 stands of 400 m2(20 m x 20 m) were surveyed to assess their floristic composition, which represents the vegetation diversity in the study area. In total, 407 taxa (species and subspecies) of vascular plants were recorded, representing 257 genera in 67 families, of which 16 species distributed among 10 families were considered new additions to the flora of Zerhoun. The most common families were Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Rubiaceae, Brassicaceae, Geraniaceae, and Asparagaceae. Of the 257 total genera, the highest number of speciesbelonged to Trifolium and Teucrium. Therophytes, hemicryptophytes, and phanerophytes were the most common biological types. The updated list of Zerhoun’s flora will serve as the foundation for future research and a general baseline for establishing conservation action plans appropriate to the environmental sustainability of the region.