Contribution to the study of vegetation in the Zarifet forest (Algeria)

Tamazouzt Zennouche, Mohamed Amara, Frédéric Bioret, Sidi Mohamed Merioua, Maamar Meghraoui & Mohamed Regagba

with 11 figures and 8 tables

Key words: Phytosociology, forest vegetation, Quercetea ilicis, mapping, Zarifet, Tlemcen, Algeria.

Summary
Zennouche T., Amara M., Bioret F., Merioua S. M., Meghraoui M. & Regagba M. 2026. Contribution to the study of vegetation in the Zarifet forest (Algeria). – Phyton (Horn, Austria) 64–65: 139–168, with 11 figures and 8 tables.
This study provides a phytosociological characterization of the forest and pre-forest communities of the Zarifet forest (Tlemcen), using the sigmatist approach. The vegetation is dominated by Quercus suber, Quercus rotundifolia, and their specific associations. Seven plant associations have been identified and mapped, the majority of which are linked to five alliances and two orders of the Quercetea ilicis. – Quercus suber formations can be divided into three main types: (I) Quercus suber forests assigned to Cytiso villosi-Quercetum suberis Braun-Blanquet 1953; (II) high scrubland dominated by Quercus suber, Erica arborea, and Quercus coccifera, linked to Erico arboreae-Quercetum cocciferae Quézel, Barbero, Benabid & Rivas-Martínez 1992; (III) degraded scrubland with Cistus ladanifer, corresponding to Cisto ladaniferi-Quercetum suberis Bouzahar 2022. – Quercus rotundifolia is represented by two distinct communities: one linked to Festuco triflori-Quercetum rotundifoliae Dahmani-Megrerouche 1984, the other to Calicotomo intermediae-Quercetum rotundifoliae Dahmani-Megrerouche & Loisel ex Meddour & Mucina 2021. – Tetraclinis articulata appears in heavily degraded formations, belonging to Calycotomo intermediae-Tetraclinetum articulatae Barbero, Quézel & Rivas-Martínez 1981 and Ampelodesmo mauritanicae-Chamaeropetum humilis Quézel, Barbero, Benabid & Rivas-Martínez 1992. – These results highlight a complex mosaic of vascular plants, reflecting the regressive dynamics and anthropogenic pressures weighing on these Mediterranean ecosystems.