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Rediscovery of Anthemis stiparum subsp. sabulicola in Algeria after 44 years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 September 2025

Belkacem Gordo Open the ORCID record for Belkacem Gordo [Opens in a new window]
Belkacem Gordo*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones, University Centre of Naâma, Naâma, Algeria
*
(gordo.belkacem@cuniv-naama.dz)
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Abstract

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Information

Type
Conservation News
Information
Oryx , Volume 59 , Issue 3 , May 2025 , pp. 283
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence CC BY 4.0.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International

Anthemis stiparum subsp. sabulicola (Pomel) Oberpr., of the family Asteraceae, is an annual plant endemic to Saharan Algeria (there is also an unverified record in Morocco). It was first described by Pomel in 1874. It belongs to the Anthemis stiparum Pomel complex of North Africa. Subspecies sabulicola is distinguished from subspecies intermedia and stiparum by its dense indumenta and radiating flowers with elliptical to obovate limbs 4.5–7(–8.5) cm long. Its distribution in Algeria is limited to the northern Sahara, in the regions of Aïn Sefra, Béchar, Brézina, El Goléa, Ghardaïa, Laghouat, Metlili and Ouargla, but it has not been recorded since 1981 (I obtained this information from the Récolnat database).

In February 2025, on the pre-Saharan steppes that extend to the south of the western Saharan Atlas, south of the village of Sidi Brahim in the Daira of Moghrar, Wilaya Naâma, I observed a tomentose Asteraceae with white ligules that I identified as A. stiparum subsp. sabulicola. There have been no previous botanical surveys in this area, and this is the first record of the species in 44 years. This spring-flowering therophyte (known locally in Arabic as segaat larnab) settles on superficially sandy dayas, contributing to the formation of seasonal vegetation called acheb by the local people, and much appreciated by pastoralists. This vegetation only fully develops after sufficient rainfall and with protection of these overexploited rangelands. After consulting with the local people, I realized that the maintenance of this vegetation is a result of a local prohibition of grazing, endorsed in particular by the mayor of Moghrar. This initiative needs to be encouraged, to help this fragile ecosystem become more resilient and to combat desertification.

Further botanical surveys are required in this area, to facilitate assessment of A. stiparum subsp. sabulicola for the IUCN Red List and to support official protection of the area. In addition, this endemic subspecies needs to be included on the list of protected non-cultivated plant species (Executive Decree No. 12-03 of 4 January 2012) in Algeria.

Habit and flower of Anthemis stiparum subsp. sabulicola (Pomel) Oberpr. Photo: Belkacem Gordo.