Two Euro-Mediterranean Plant Bioinformatic Initiatives Sisyphus and MEDUSA <B>Two Euro-Mediterranean Plant Bioinformatic Initiatives Sisyphus and MEDUSA</B><P> <B>Vernon Heywood</B> <BR> School of Plant Sciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG66AS, UK <P> The close biogeographical and floristic affinities between Europe and adjacent Mediterranean territories have been recognised in two projects that are currently under development. The first is the Euro-Mediterranean Initiative in Plant Systematics (project Sisyphus) whose principle aim is to organise, co-ordinate and make available in a collaborative electronic mode, information on the plants of the Euro-Mediterranean region and provide this against an "evaluated consensual taxonomic core" that is periodically reviewed, thuse providing a single source and system for obtaining through linked databases information for a wide variety of users, such as: planners, conservationists, ecologists, protected area managers, genetic resources managers, agronomists, horticulturists, industrialists, developers, environmental legislators and economists. A decentralised, federal structure, throughout the area, of a large number of Taxonomic centres and Regional centres is envisaged and several have already agreed to participate in the project. In addition, a number of Associated centres ("satellite" data sets) is envisaged. The second project is the MEDUSA Network of the Mediterranean Region that was established by CIHEAM-MAICH, with the support of the European Union Directorate General, I for the identification, conservation and sustainable use of the wild plants of the Mediterranean Region. The Network comprises National Focla Point Co-ordinators from the countries of the region and also includes representatives of international organisations (CIHEAM-MAICH, IUBS, FAO, IPGRI) that form the Steering Committee. One of its objectives is the creation of a Regional Information System (MEDUSA IRIS) that will include: scientific plant name and authority, vernacular names, plant description, chemical data, distribution, habitat description, uses, conservation status, present and past ways of trading, marketing and dispensing, and indigenous knowledge (ethnobiology and ethnopharmacology), including references to literature sources (data formats, protocols, etc.). The IRIS will be developed on an internet webserver and based on a client/server technology.<P>