Alien lianas in Tunisia: First reports for the Mediterranean area and North Africa with additional distributional data for the country
Alien lianas in Tunisia: First reports for the Mediterranean area and North Africa with additional distributional data for the country
Chorology, Floristics, new records, Campsis, Lablab, Momordica, Solandra, Tinospora
During botanical surveys undertaken from northern to southern Tunisian territory, mostly within the last two decades, new occurrences of alien vascular plants (lianas) were detected. These records include: Campsis grandiflora, Lablab purpureus subsp. uncinatus and Tinospora cordifolia new to the Mediterranean area; Solandra maxima new to the African inland and Ipomoea pes-caprae new to North Africa. In addition, new national distributional data for Ipomoea batatas, Lablab purpureus subsp. purpureus and Momordica balsamina, already known from Tunisia, are here reported. All taxa are considered casual or naturalized aliens where the horticultural trade remains the most likely pathway for their introduction. General macromorphological characteristics together with original photographs are provided. Actual distribution, ecological notes (habitat, phenology) as well as the degree of naturalization in Tunisia are presented.
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