Article

As a result of field surveys with special emphasis on weeds occurring in Moroccan farmlands, two recently introduced weed species (Ambrosia psilostachya and Datura ferox) have been found in several locations. A. psilostachya (Asteraceae) has been discovered in 2000 growing along roadsides. It is a perennial species that survives essentially through rhizomes and rootstocks, resulting in the establishment of clonal populations that form dense colonies on roadsides. It has been observed in March 2023 in 16 sites along national roads and highways. Datura ferox (Solanaceae) has been found in irrigated corn fields in 2022 and in a carrot field in 2023. Both species are unpalatable to livestock and will probably spread to other areas of Morocco. They are considered new naturalized weeds, which indicate that the country needs more botanical explorations. Herbariu specimens of both species were deposited at the national herbarium of the Institut Scientifique in Rabat.