Early botanical exploration of the Maghreb
The Maghreb is considered as the North African territories covered by Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, an area which almost coincides with what it was named “The Barbary” by Europeans from the XVI to the XIX centuries. The period included in this paper ranges from the first botanical visit to Algiers by John Tradescant the Elder at the beginning of the XVII century to the end of the XVIII. It includes information on Tradescant, Balaam, Spotswood, Shaw, Vahl, Desfontaines, Broussonet, Durand, Jackson and Schousboe.