Flora of Morocco - Mediterranean or Coastal Zone

Mediterranean or Coastal Zone

Maquis and Garrique Mediterranean dry woodlands and steppe, Mediterranean woodlands and forests, lower Northern slopes of Rif and Tell Atlas.

The climax of the Mediterranean coast is a well-developed maquis commonly associated with Clematis, Smilax, Lonicera and Asparagus. Except in innaccessible or protected places the vegetation has been heavily grazed by domestic animals and this degraded maquis, called garrigue, is widespread. Poterium spinosum, various Salvia and Cistus are the dominant plants of the garrigue.A prominent feature of the coastal vegetation is the presence of a large exotic flora: Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Citrus, loquat and Opuntia ficus indica are examples. Several species of steppe Acacia are common elements. The cultivated area which is extensive is wholly artificial and imported plants dominate the landscape. The meadows, orchards and wetter places in the maquis support such plants as fennel.

Characteristic plants are Pinus halepensis, Erica arborea, Arbutus unedo, Pistacia lentiscus, Myrtus communis, Clematis cirrhosa, Asparagus acutifolius, Phlomis viscosa, Scilla autumnalis and Squilla peruviana, Narcissus tazetta, Iris palaestina, Colchicum steveni, Arisarum vulgare, Pinus halepensis, Quercus coccifera, Quercus ilex, Ceratonia siliqua, Pistacia atlantica, Pistacia terebinthus, Crataegus azorollus fr:Crataegus azarolus, Amygdalus communis, Rhamnus alaternus fr:Nerprun alaterne, Cistus spp., especially Cistus monspeliensis, Cistus laurifolius and Cistus salviifolius, Juniperinus phoenicea, Phlomis spp., Helichrysum italicum, Salvia spp., Satureia spp., Poterium spp., Arabis spp., Reseda spp., Aristolochia pallida, A. boetica, A. longa paucinervis, A. fontanesi, A.rotunda, A.pistolochia fr:Aristoloche pistoloche, Lavandula stoechas Jasminium fruticans fr:Jasmin ligneux and Brassica spp.