Inventory and social interest of medicinal, aromatic and honey-plants from Mokrisset region (NW of Morocco)

Abstract

Many peoples of developing countries use medicinal plants as main source in health cares. Most of these plants are considered as honey- and/or aromatic plants. In the beginning of summer 1997, 295 inquires have been led in 29 Locations (fields, markets or villages) of Mokrisset region (Chefchaouen, NW of Morocco), and 76 medicinal, toxic and aromatic wild species belonging to 46 families have been inventoried. Origanum vulgare and O. compactum, and Centaurium erythraea are the most commercialised (24.2 and 4.3 dirhams kg-1 of dry and wet matter respectively). Concerning honey-plants, we have listed 78 species including the cultivated and the introduced ones, belonging to 35 families. Therefore, 34.6% of identified honey-species are used in traditional medicine or in essential oil extraction.Locally, apiculture is sedentary and interests 13.4% of households of the inquired villages.Honey and wax are sold at 179 and 4 dirhams kg-1 respectively. Other characteristics of apiculture have been underlined. The inventoried species have been classified following their social importance in the region. Marketing paths of the essential products have been commented, and some economic parameters such financial product and income have been estimated.