The Symbolic Efficacy of Plants in Rituals and Socio-Religious Ceremonies in Morocco, Northwest of Africa

Abstract Religious ceremonies and practices have long influenced human perceptions and uses of nature. Plants in particular play a prominent role in rituals and socio-religious practices and provide the cultural and historical depth of these relationships. Understanding human-floral relations is often fundamental to the cause of meaningful wildlife conservation. This research aims to investigate the cultivated and wild plant species used for rituals and religious purposes among the Moroccans, and to further understand the symbolism of these rituals. Intensive fieldwork was carried out between January 2016 and January 2020 in different parts of Morocco by an investigation approach, applying different tools such as semi-structured interviews, individual interviews, field observations, participation in the ritual activities, and published papers. The scientific name of plant species was identified using standard and relevant literature. The results revealed the Moroccan people possessed a sound knowledge of the ritual plants and the great diversity of plants used in many Morocco rituals and religious ceremonies. From the results, we identified a total of 112 plant species used for rituals and socio-religious ceremonies. These rituals and religious purposes plant species were classified into 21 categories. The most frequently mentioned families were Apiaceae (10 species), followed by Fabaceae and Lamiaceae. This study demonstrates that many plant species play an important role in rituals and socio-religious ceremonies in Morocco. However, further research is recommended for an in-depth understanding of the role of the links between traditional uses of plant resources and the conservation of biodiversity.