Introduction: The present study falls within the framework of valorization of medical plants and traditional knowledge's in the Northeastern part of Dahra Mountain, Algeria. Methods: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted between 2016 and 2018 in order to study the traditional and therapeutic use of medical plants amongst the local population. Data collected was analyzed using quantitative indices such as the fidelity level (FL) and Informant Consensus Factor (FIC). Results:The results revealed 70 medicinal species belonging to 38 botanical families, among which, five families were the most commonly used by the local population, especially the families Lamiaceae and Asteraceae. In term of species, the highest frequencies of medicinal use were shown respectively by Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Mast. (6.49%), Pistacia lentiscus L. (6.11%), Myrtus communis L. (5.34%) and Thymus vulgaris L. (4.96%). Among the various parts of the plant, leaves were the most used part and decoction was the most frequent form of use. Finally, the gastro-intestinal system disorders were the most treated diseases with a percentage of 28.24%. Conclusion: This first ethnobotanical study conducted in the region of Bissa revealed a very rich local knowledge in term of traditional herbal medicine; this fact was reflected by the high diversity of species used in the treatment of several diseases. In light of this, it is therefore very important to subject some of the major species to further phytochemical and pharmacological studies in order to validate their traditional use and to probably discover new bioactive molecules. This paper documented the results of ethnobotanical study carried out in the northeastern Dahra Mountains, Algeria. A total of 70 species belonging to 38 families. Lamiaceae and Asteraceae were the most used plant family by the local population. Leaves were the most used part, the majority of remedies were prepared as a decoction and gastro-intestinal system disorders were the most treated diseases. This first ethnobotanical study conducted in the region of Bissa revealed a very rich local knowledge in term of traditional herbal medicine.

The forest of Bissa is a Mediterranean ecosystem, characterized by a high floristic diversity. In order to assess the floristic diversity in this forest, 133 floristic readings were conducted in this area between 2013 and 2017. As a result, it was possible to identify 151 species, 125 genus and 54 botanical families, with a clear dominance of Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae.  Biologically, this ecosystem was mainly dominated by therophytes (37%). Physiognomically, the phanerophytes were the most dominant types, whereas in term of phytogeography this forest was dominated by the Mediterranean type (50%). According to Shannon-Winner index, this area was characterized by a relatively low diversity (1.3 bit / ind), with a clear dominance of a few species. Finally this forest was relatively disturbed (42%) and under a strong anthropozoic influence.

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The main objectives of this study were to identify the edaphic factors that could be related to vegetation distribution in the lower-Cheliff plain (35.750° - 36.125°N, 0.5° - 1°E) one the largest salted plains of northwestern Algeria and to establish the relationships between these soil factors and the main plant communities. Soil and vegetation data were obtained from 133 relevés. Species in Chenopodiaceae and Asteraceae were dominant in the salted plain. Soil variables measured included electrical conductivity, elevation, soil texture, soil structure, organic matter, CaCO3, pH, Ca++, Na+, Cl-, CaMg and color of soil. Multivariate analyses including detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) were performed to analyze the collected data. The results showed that the vegetation distribution pattern was mainly related to conductivity and elevation. Separation of relevés into groups according to the first two axes of RDA provided four vegetation units, each one composed of several diagnostic species with highly significant fidelity value according to Fisher’s test. The theoretical maps produced by kriging revealed a close relationship between these vegetation units and conductivity.

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