Casuarina species in Algeria: reviewing their identity, distribution and symbiotic status

Abstract

Since their introduction at the beginning of the 19th century, Casuarina species have become important components of the Algerian landscape, yet the numbers of species present in Algeria and their identity, distribution, and symbiotic status are still not well understood. A survey conducted on 2,304 trees in 96 Casuarina stands across Algeria indicates that they are represented exclusively by five species: Casuarina cristata Miq., C. cunninghamiana Miq., C. equisetifolia L., C. glauca Sieber ex Spreng. and C. junghuhniana Miq. Two species, C. cunninghamiana and C. glauca, were the most common – the former occurring more often in the relatively humid and temperate areas of the country while the latter is most frequent in the drier and warmer areas. Production of seedlings of C. cunninghamiana and C. glauca in 12 nurseries resulted in low rates of spontaneous mycorrhizal infection frequency and nodulation, suggesting that inoculation of seedlings with selected mycorrhizal fungi and/or Frankia strains in the nursery would be necessary to improve their establishment in the field. This study is the first survey of the geographical distribution of Casuarina species in Algeria and should lead to more efficient utilization of this widely used tree genus in Algeria.