ASSESSING AND MAPPING THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF Cistus ladanifer var. maculatus Dun IN EL HARCHA MASSIF (MOROCCAN CENTRAL PLATEAU)

Marked by its floristic richness, the area of El Harcha located in the Moroccan central Plateau, includes several species considered as aromatic and medicinal plants. Cistus ladanifer var. maculatus Dun. is among the most widespread plant at the area with an important real potential but not yet valued. That is why we have set the objective of developing a mapping species distribution in this region and assessing the dry biomass and essential oils yield of this plant with a view to exploring the opportunities of its valorization. The results of C. ladanifer mapping showed that this species occupies a large surface of about 390 ha. The potential production of the region in C. ladanifer dry biomass reaches 1079.41 tons, which corresponds to a total of essential oils production of about 1078.82 liters. These oils can be used as source of antioxidant, antifungal and antibacterial activities.