The phytogeographical significance of SW Morocco compared to the Canary Islands

A phytogeographical comparison of S.W. Morocco (the 'Argan area' western pa rt of the Anti-Atlas mountains) and the neighbouring Canary Islands is perf ormed in order to determine whether or not this original North-African area must be included in the Macaronesian sub-region. Patterns obtained with so me species' life attributes (growth forms, succulence, dispersal) and bioge ographical spectra show that, in spite of some similarities regarding clima te, flora (presence of succulent species and endemics common to the two are as) and landscape in the lower zones (infra- and thermo-Mediterranean 'etag es'), S.W. Morocco belongs to the Mediterranean sub-region. Characteristic features are the high percentages of Mediterranean indigenous annuals and p hanerophytes, and the low level of adaptive radiation compared to the Canar y Islands. Nevertheless, some parts of this Moroccan area have acted as maj or refugia for the Tertiary paleoflora (e.g., Aeonium arboreum, Davallia ca nariensis, Dracaena draco subsp. ajgal, Sonchus pinnatifidus), especially i n the newly described rupicolous communities. Contrasting reliefs and fog p recipitation induced by the nearby Atlantic Ocean explain the moderate impa ct, in these regions, of drastic climatic changes since the Pliocene period .