North Africa

The Mediterranean climate zone in the Mediterranean Basin region covers an area of some 2,300,000 km2 around the Mediterranean Sea. There are around 19,000 species in this region, 21% of them endemic.

The climate is characterised by very dry summers due to the influence of the powerful Azores anti-cyclone, and by damp winters due to the passing of cyclones. A markedly continental nature results in summer storms and intense cold in winter, with frequent freezing temperatures that may restrict plant development.

Generally speaking, the vegetation of the Mediterranean Basin has been subject to intense changes caused by human activity over thousands of years. Many Mediterranean forests have become smaller or have been replaced by shrub communities known variously as “maquia, “maleza” or “matorral”.

The vegetation of the Mediterranean Basin is extensively represented in the Botanical Garden, subdivided into three zones: the Eastern Mediterranean, the Western Mediterranean and North Africa.

THE FORESTS OF NORTH AFRICA

Atlas Mountain Cedar Forest Forest from the mountainous regions of North Africa. The predominant tree here is the Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica), though there also exist mixed areas with conifers such as certain firs (Abies maroccana and A. numidica) and deciduous trees such as the Mediterranean oak (Quercus canariensis) and the Pyrenean oak (Q. pyrenaica). The undergrowth is formed by such shrubs as the incense juniper (Juniperus thurifera) and the endemic species Genista osmariensis.

African cork and holm oak forests Arboreal communities predominant throughout the Mediterranean Basin region, where the trees that form them are always holm oak (Quercus ilex) and cork oak (Quercus suber). The brush species found in them are endemic vicariants of European species pertaining, amongst others, to the Adenocarpus, Genista and Ulex genera.

Palm and wadi community Forest communities inhabiting permanently wet places. Here we find plants from two very different plant formations: communities from rivers and river beds in northern Morocco, and communities from the wadis and oases in the south of the country. What the two have in common is an abundance of red-flowered oleander (Nerium oleander) and tamarinds.

Argan forest Transitional community between formations influenced by the ocean and the Sahara Desert, found in southwest Morocco. The predominant tree is the argan (Argania spinosa), whose growth has expanded in this area due to its intensive cultivation to extract oil, used for cooking and in cosmetics. The community contains many desert species.

SHRUB FORMATIONS IN NORTH AFRICA

Oleaster and fan palm scrub Community of tall shrubs, dominated by oleaster or wild olive tree (Olea europaea var. sylvestris) and European fan palm (Chamaerops humilis). Amongst the trees are many bulbous plants such as garlic (Allium chamaemoly and A. nigrum) and species of the Iris genus (I. filifolia and I. tingitana).

Rif siliceous scrub A low, dense community dominated by prickly plants from the Leguminosae and Cistacea families, with yellow blooms in spring. In Morocco, such communities are common in the Rif Mountains and in the large cork oak forests of the western plains.