Additional records on the occurrence of two alien Leguminosae in Algeria

Abstract

During field surveys, carried out between 2021 and 2022 in northeastern Algeria, two populations of Tipuana tipu (Benth.) Kuntze were discovered. One population was located in the middle of a quite natural habitat in the Filfilla region (wilaya of Skikda). This population seems more or less established and can be considered to be at the beginning of the naturalization process, a degree of naturalization not previously reported in Algeria and mainland North Africa. The surveys also revealed several populations of Paraserianthes lophantha (Vent.) I.C. Nielsen, a species that was recently reported as naturalized in Algeria but for which details on its naturalization were lacking. Details about the localities in which the two species were observed are given, including a present map of their distribution and field photographs. A key for the identification of both genera is also provided.