Electronic commerce of the endemic plants of northern Morocco (Mediterranean coast-Rif) and Tunisia over the internet

Background: Internet trade popularize the ornamental interest of plants but can also threaten species’ wild populations, if this activity is performed in uncontrolled and unauthorised ways.
 Questions: What endemic Morocco Tunisia are traded over by whom at what prices?
 Studied species: 94 northern 83 Tunisia.
 Study site dates: (Mediterranean coast Rif region); internet survey between September 2018 December 2019.
 Methods: To understand extent new form trade, We recorded type plant material sold for studied taxa, their prices suppliers using online platforms.
 Results: Four Moroccan taxa (4.25 % total local endemics) were found as marketed 18 nurseries Europe, North America, Australia New Zealand, while no marketing was detected Tunisian plants. The involved offer sale distribution living individuals Abies marocana €12.00-259.50, Rhodanthemum hosmariense €0.35-19.5, Salvia interrupta subsp. paui €6.23-8.90, bulbs Acis tangitana €1.05-3.95. Although these classified endangered, they worldwide without permit authorities. source origin not clearly indicated, only some report that comes from own cultivated stocks.
 Conclusions: implementation protection laws/regulations monitoring nurseries’ websites recommended to control illegal material.