A preliminary checklist of the Alien Flora of Morocco: introduction, naturalization, and invasion dynamics

In Morocco, research on alien plant taxa is limited, with no comprehensive inventory of alien taxa available. This study is the first checklist of non-native plant species hitherto known to occur in Morocco. Data were obtained from botanical field surveys, a critical review of floristic literature, and significant global meta-databases. A total of 337 alien taxa were identified, belonging to 205 genera and 62 families. The most represented families are Asteraceae (45 infrageneric taxa), Poaceae (35), Fabaceae (33), Amaranthaceae (30), and Solanaceae (30). The genus Amaranthus L. (15), Solanum L. (10), and Euphorbia L. (8) are the most species-rich genera. Most taxa originate from the Americas (32.03%) and Asia (27.27%). In terms of life forms, 50.41% are therophytes, followed by phanerophytes (18.43%). Naturalised species are the most represented (222, 65.88%). Among the latter, 66 are invasive, seven are emergent, and four are transformative. These results highlight the growing impact of alien species on Moroccan flora. However, their ecological impacts remain poorly understood, underlining the need for further research to assess their effects on native ecosystems.