Plant · GBIF taxon 2886244
Argan Tree
Sideroxylon spinosumAlso known as Argan, Moroccan Ironwood, Ironwood of Morocco
Argan trees form the ecological spine of southwestern Morocco's arid landscape, anchoring fragile topsoil against desertification with deep roots that reach tens of meters below ground. Their heavy, low-slung branches and thorny twigs create microclimates that shelter desert fauna, while their fleshy yellow fruits attract climbing goats that browse among the canopy. Local Amazigh communities have stewarded these long-lived trees for generations, relying on them for soil stabilization, timber, and traditional oil processing.
TreeArid EcosystemThorny
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Domestic Goats
- Camels
ThreatsOvergrazing, overexploitation, land conversion, climate change
HabitatsCalcareous semi-deserts, arid woodlands, coastal scrub
Life spanUp to 200 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySapotaceae
- SpeciesSideroxylon spinosum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Wild fruits and seeds have toxic look-alikes; never ingest wild plant parts based on app identification.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by its wide umbrella canopy, thorny twigs, and hard green to yellow fruit in semi-arid zones.
- Support conservation
- Observe from a respectful distance without breaking wood or disturbing livestock in native argan groves.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look for the gnarled trunk and extremely wide, low canopy that often reaches the ground.
- Etiquette: Avoid climbing older trees or snapping branches, as recovery in arid ecosystems is exceptionally slow.
Co-occurring Succulent (c) Nadezhda Bortnikova, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nadezhda Bortnikova · cc-by
Co-occurring Tree (c) Rabah Al-Shammary, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Rabah Al-Shammary · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Nicola van Berkel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Nicola van Berkel · cc-by-sa
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