Introduction (52 species and subspecies) and 14 genera. The objective of this paper is to contribute to the renewal
1. Introduction (52 species and subspecies) and 14 genera. The objective of this paper is to contribute to the renewal
The Orchidaceae are the most beautiful plants of of the knowledge of orchids from western Algeria by nature, so much by their forms and so much by their announcing the census of Moutas orchids. distribution and their scarcity [1, 2].
In Europe and the Mediterranean, the orchids
2. Materials and Methods
inventory and the new taxa description have been a
2.1 Study Area
recent passion over the last 30 years [3-9]. In several countries close to Algeria like Tunisia [10-12], Italy
The inventories were conducted largely in the [13] or France [14, 15]; orchidologists have recently
Moutas hunting reserve, which is located in the completed major work on orchids in the east of the
northern part of Algeria about 46 km from the sea, as country. To date, only a few works [16, 17] initiated
the crow flies, and 26 km south-west of the city of this step in Algeria.
Tlemcen (very well protected area and that is what The flora of Algeria quote around 50 orchid taxa:
increased the interest in it) (Fig. 1). The reserve, Battandieri & Trabut [18] describe 10 genera and 44
belonging to the national forest of Hafir, occupies the species. Maire [19] provides for Algeria 14 genera and
highest and the most wooded zone of Tlemcen
48 species (55 taxa individualizing each subspecies). Mountains. It is located around the intersection of Finally Quézel and Santa [20] described 48 species
latitudes 34°41' to 34°49' north parallels and the longitudes 01°25' to 01°35' west meridians.
Corresponding author: Brahim Babali, Ph.D. candidate, It occupies an area of 2156 Ha in a perimeter of 15
research field: plant ecology. E-mail: km, characterized by the mountainous reliefs of [email protected].
Note on the Orchids of the Moutas Hunting Reserve—Tlemcen (Western Algeria)
Tamaksalet (Bouhlou). Altitude lies between 1303 m average temperatures range between 6.4 °C (January) at Ras Torriche and 1017 m at the region of Sidi
and 26.4 °C (July and August). It is classified in the Messaoud.
subhumid bioclimatic stage with cool winter and with The absence of a specific weather station and the
a dry season (five months) from June to October lack of data to the reserve lead us to take those of
(Fig. 2).
Hafir the nearest climatic data station. This area This zone is characterized by the presence of receives approximately 500 mm of rainfall and its
Mediterranean forest groups, such as Quercus faginea
Fig. 1 Location of the study area.
Fig. 2 Bagnouls and Gaussen [21] Ombrothermics Diagrams.
1913-1938 = old period, (Source SELTZER [22]); 1975-1996 = new period (Source: National office of meteorology—Tlemcen, 2009); P (mm): Precipitations; T (°C): Temperatures.
Note on the Orchids of the Moutas Hunting Reserve—Tlemcen (Western Algeria)
subsp. tlemcenensis (DC.) Maire et Weiller, Quercus phytosociological statements carried out during ilex L., Quercus suber L., Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl)
2010-2012 springs (Table 1). The surveys were carried Masters and Juniperus oxycedrus (Link) Deb. a
out according to Braun-Blanquet [24] method with the degraded shrub with Chamaephytes or indices of abundance-predominance and sociability. Nanaophanerophytes: Chamaerops humilis André,
The basic works, used for the identification of the Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (Poiret) Durand & collected taxa in the field, are the Flora of Algeria [20],
Schinz, Arbutus unedo L., Pistacia terebinthus L., of Morocco [25], of Andalusia [26] and of North Thymus munbyanus Boiss. and Reuter, Calicotome
Africa [19, 27]. The adopted nomenclature is that of intermedia (Salzm.) C. Presl, Rhamnus lycioides L.
the index of North Africa [27].
and Cistus salvifolius L. with undergrowth and a more