New analysis of the endemic vascular plants of Algeria, their diversity, distribution pattern and conservation status

In this study, we provide a new analysis on strict-endemic vascular plant taxa of Algeria and discuss their taxonomic diversity, geographical distribution and conservation status, based on a large literature review and our own field observations. Overall, 248 taxa (species, subspecies and varieties) are currently considered as Algerian endemics, from 41 families and 128 genera. They constitute about 6.3% of the total known flora of Algeria.

The northern floristic regions are richer in endemic species: K 1, K 2, AS 3, C 1+ C 2 and O 1 are by far the richest floristic regions for strict-endemic taxa, highlighting the importance of their mountain ranges. Most (59%) of the endemic plants have a narrow geographical distribution range (range-restricted). An overview of the IUCN conservation status of the Algerian endemics indicates that only 16 taxa (6.4%) are evaluated, out of which 5.6% of the taxa are threatened.

Overall, 44% of the Algerian endemics are legally protected and 43% are included in the protected areas network. Finally, we focus on the shortfalls of knowledge that could orient further research on endemism data in Algeria. They concern taxonomic, chorological or conservation figures and above all the actual presence of the endemic species.

It is, therefore, urgent to carry out targeted field expeditions in order to find and re-collect these species, most of which are strictly localized and have probably never been searched or found for 60 years to over a century.