Chorological and conservation status of the endemic cypress, Cupressus atlantica Gaussen, in the High Atlas (Morocco)

We present a study of the distribution, ecology and conservation status of Cupressus atlantica, an endemic tree of the High Atlas (Morocco). The main populations of this species grow in a reduced area along the N’Fiss valley in the Central High Atlas and are gradually receding. Particular populations are increasingly fragmented and the total area covered by the cypress woodland has decreased to less than a third of the surface occupied in the 1930s. Overgrazing reduces the woodlands’ regenerative capacity, and the exploitation of the wood, linked to traditional uses by the rural society of the N’Fiss valley, directly reduces the number of trees. Great efforts being made to protect the species by the Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts are having some effect in recent years

Influence of initial light intensity and deer browsing on Taxus baccata saplings: a six years field study

European yew (Taxus baccata L.) is a rare species, but is the focus of great interest because of the species recovery attempts and its use in medicine. The aim of this study was to determine the optimum conditions for the development of the young generation of this species. Four-year old yew seedlings were grown under artificial light reduction: 2, 8, and 30%, as well as in full light. The seedlings were then planted in natural conditions in fenced and unfenced areas. The results of six years field studies indicated that the greatest impact on survival was shown by the light conditions from the period before planting under the canopy of trees. Seedlings from the 2 and 8% of light showed the greatest mortality. The reason was the sudden change in light conditions, because at the time of planting (early spring), there was no reduction of light under deciduous trees. Almost all of the unfenced yew seedlings were grazed by deer, but yew survival in the unfenced group was surprisingly high despite the permanent grazing. This was explained by the high resistance of yew to cutting and the protection of seedlings by a dense layer of Rubus. The results indicated that yew trees require protection against animals for normal development, even if animals have not previously had contact with Taxus and that yew seedlings are very sensitive to sudden changes in light. Both conclusions can be applied in the development of natural and artificial regeneration of European yew and other endangered plants

Relationships among Abies nebrodensis, A. alba and A. cephalonica in the morphological and anatomical needle characteristics

We used 39 morphological and anatomical needle traits in the biometric comparisons Abies nebrodensis with A. alba and A. cephalonica. The multivariate analyses were utilised and a closer relationship of A. nebrodensis to A. cephalonica than to A. alba was detected, in contrast to what has been shown for cone characteristics