The first objective of the MEDUSA Network is the identification of native and naturalized plants of the Mediterranean Region, currently being used in some way.

The classes of use include; food, food additives, animal food, bee plants, food for useful invertebrates, materials, fuels, social uses, vertebrate poisons, non-vertebrate poisons, medicines, environmental uses, gene sources.

The information is being used to build up an up-to-date on-line database covering the whole region. This database is being developed with the participation of representatives from almost all the Mediterranean countries, and includes a detailed evaluation of the current utilisation of these plants together with information concerning their conservation status, geography of use and the chemistry of the compounds involved, supported with bibliographical references, where available.

The countries currently involved in the MEDUSA project are;
Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Malta, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy.

On this map the countries which currently participate in MEDUSA are shown in pink. The Mediterranean countries shown in grey are not members at present.

From the information accumulating in the database we are examining the sustainable potential for utilisation of these plants, for example in agriculture as alternative minor crops.

Harvesting Salvia blancoana for its essential oil, in the high Atlas mountains of Morocco. Photo: V. H. Heywood