Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine最新文献

Background: Wild edible plants (WEPs) remain essential components of indigenous food systems, contributing to nutrition, healthcare, and cultural identity. This study explored the uses, cultural significance, and indigenous knowledge associated with WEPs among the Setswana-speaking people in Ngaka Modiri Molema and Bojanala Platinum districts of North West Province, South Africa.

Methods: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted using semi-structured interview guide. We applied snowball technique to purposefully recruit 96 participants across 10 villages. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) was used to quantify and rank the WEPs utilised by Setswana-speaking communities.

Results: A total of 103 WEPs from 86 genera and 48 families were generated, which were dominated by Fabaceae (9 species), Asteraceae (7 species), Asparagaceae (6 species), Euphorbiaceae (6 species), Solanaceae (5 species) and Rubiaceae (5 species). Based on RFC values, Hypoxis obtusa Burch. ex Ker Gawl. (0.59), Amaranthus viridis L. (0.52), Ziziphus mucronata Willd. (0.46), Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng. (0.44), and Dicoma anomala Sond. (0.43) were the most consumed WEPs. In terms of uses, the recorded plants were catogrised as wild fruits (34 plants), wild vegetables (13 plants), beverage (7 plants), and healthcare food (50 plants). Roots (25%), leaves (24%) and fruit (23%), were the dominant plant parts. Preparation methods included decoction (58%), cooking (10%), pounding (9%), roasting and burning (4%), chewing (3%), fermentation and maceration (2%), and poultice (1%), while 7% of the plants were consumed fresh. Administration mode mentioned by the participants were categorised as oral (91%), topical (6%), snuffing (2%), and steaming (1%). Most of the WEPs are currently not under any conservation strains and generally abundant in the study areas.

Conclusion: This study highlighted the vital role of WEPs and indigenous knowledge in supporting the cultural identity, food systems, and nutritional security among Setswana-speakers. Preserving this knowledge through their integration into food security, conservation, and rural development strategies, while engaging youth and promoting commercialisation, remains a key toward strengthening livelihoods, cultural heritage, and resilience.

Background: Plant dyes represent a valuable heritage of traditional natural colorants, renowned for their sustainability and health benefits. Although Guangxi has a rich variety of dyeing plants and their traditional knowledge, these have not yet been fully explored and studied. This study aims to systematically document the dye plant resources in Guangxi, including their species distribution, traditional uses and residents' preferences. In response to the challenges of resources and techniques, it proposes to enhance protection and innovation in order to promote the inheritance of traditional knowledge and the development of industries.

Methods: This study carried out ethnobotanical surveys across 26 villages and 10 traditional markets in Guangxi between March 2021 and October 2024. Data on dye plants were collected through semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, and structured questionnaires, involving a total of 262 participants. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) was employed to identify the most culturally significant dye plant species.

Results: This study documented 166 species of traditional dye plants belonging to 69 families and 141 genera. The most commonly used parts for dyeing were leaves (28.77%) and flowers (12.74%). Traditional dyeing processes mainly use pulverizing and sometimes decocting. The most common uses of traditional dye plants were for dyeing textiles (59.36%) and food (21.93%). Based on the RFC values of each species, the most frequently used dye plants were Liquidambar formosana, Buddleja officinalis, Impatiens balsamina, Strobilanthes cusia, and Curcuma longa.

Conclusion: Guangxi's abundant dye plant resources not only meet the color demands for traditional clothing and food but also offer health benefits. This aligns with society's focus on sustainability and health. These dyeing methods are practical and culturally significant. They support the production of eco-friendly dyes, boost the local economy, preserve ethnic culture, and protect biodiversity.

Background: Traditional markets are places where edible plants and animals are bought and sold for commercial purposes and/or for human animal consumption. Studies on food biodiversity in markets in the Yucatán Peninsula (YP) are limited or non-existent. Therefore, the principle objectives of this study has been to compile a taxonomically verified inventory of edible plant taxa traded in traditional markets of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, and classify them by culinary category and origin (native vs. exotic); and quantify how product richness and availability are structured across market stalls and states of YP.

Methods: Semi-structured surveys were conducted among vendors in 10 YP markets to identify, based on culinary classification, the fruits, vegetables, roots, or tubers sold there.

Results: A total of 117 taxa (76 species, two subspecies, five varieties, and three hybrids) belonging to 61 genera and 33 botanical families were reported. The botanical origin of these taxa, 14 native and 103 exotic. The culinary classification identified 51 fruits, 44 vegetables, 10 legumes, seven roots or tubers, and five aromatic plants.

Conclusion: Fruits and vegetables were the most important part of the commercial offering in the YP, due to the population's dietary preferences. However, a low demand for roots, tubers, legumes, and aromatic plants were observed, most possibly due to the changes in eating habits, the industrialization of consumption, and/or limited access to these products; demonstrating a supply focused on everyday products needs and a high local demand.

Background: Wild edible plants (WEPs) are essential for sustaining food security, nutrition, and cultural heritage, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In Shabelle Zone, Eastern Ethiopia, Somali communities depend heavily on natural vegetation for their daily sustenance. Despite their importance, detailed ethnobotanical documentation of these plants remains limited. This study therefore aimed to explore the diversity of WEPs, examine their patterns of use, document traditional knowledge associated with them, and assess their conservation status.

Methods: Ethnobotanical data were collected from 120 purposively selected informants across five districts using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and guided field observations. Quantitative indices, including the Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index (BEI), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and Jaccard Similarity Index (JSI), were employed to evaluate species importance and knowledge patterns. Preference ranking, direct matrix ranking and priority ranking were used to determine species preference, multifunctionality, and perceived threats. Data analysis was performed using R software, and species were cross-checked against the IUCN Red List.

Results: A total of 57 WEP species representing 22 families were documented, with shrubs and trees predominating. Fruits were the most commonly consumed plant parts, while roots, tubers, leaves, stems, and resins were mainly used during periods of food scarcity. Traditional knowledge varied significantly across informant groups, with older, male, and less formally educated individuals exhibiting greater familiarity with WEPs. Cordeauxia edulis Hemsl., Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell., and Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod. emerged as highly preferred and multipurpose species. Key threats included overharvesting, habitat degradation, climate variability, intensive grazing, and invasive species. Notably, Boswellia ogadensis Vollesen (Critically Endangered), Cordeauxia edulis Hemsl., and Commiphora cyclophylla Chiov. (Vulnerable) were identified as threatened species, highlighting the urgent need for targeted conservation interventions to safeguard their survival.

Conclusion: WEPs are integral to local diets, food security, and cultural heritage in Shabelle Zone. Promoting the sustainable use and cultivation of high-value species, while integrating indigenous knowledge with in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies, is essential to safeguard these resources for future generations.

Background: Wild edible plants are critical for local nutrition, cultural heritage, and livelihoods, yet their diversity and traditional uses are underexplored in Pakistan. Swat Valley, a biologically and culturally rich region, relies on wild plants for food security, particularly among economically vulnerable households.

Methods: Field surveys were conducted from 2018 to 2022 across 20 villages in six tehsils of Swat District. A total of 160 informants (100 males, 60 females; aged 20-90 years) were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and personal observations. The quantitative ethnobotanical indices, including (UV), (RFC), and (UR), were calculated to assess cultural importance and usage patterns.

Results: A total of 175 wild edible plant species from 72 families were documented. Herbs dominated (62.3%), followed by shrubs (20.6%), trees (16%), and climbers (1.1%). Young shoots (41.7%), fruits (30.6%), and leaves (13.9%) were most commonly used. Plants were used as vegetables (37%), fruits (39%), raw foods (14%), teas/flavoring agents (5%), sauces/chutneys (2%), and oils (2%).Berberis lycium showed the highest cultural importance (UV = 0.813, RFC = 0.75), followed by Chenopodium album (UV = 0.68, RFC = 0.63) and Berberis vulgaris (UV = 0.65, RFC = 0.63). Novel use analysis of 115 species revealed High Level (22%), Moderate Level (23%), and Low Level (55%) novelty. Twenty-seven species were marketed locally, generating income ranging from (0.09 to 1.74 $) per Kg. Conservation assessment highlighted Endangered species (Abies pindrow, Mentha royleana, Zanthoxylum armatum) and Vulnerable species (Thymus linearis, Mentha longifolia, Morus alba).

Conclusion: Wild edible plants in Swat Valley provide essential nutrition, support local livelihoods, and sustain cultural traditions. Quantitative indices demonstrate the most culturally significant species and highlight gaps for conservation. Sustainable management, cultivation, and policy interventions are recommended to preserve these vital resources, ensuring biodiversity conservation and continued food security in mountainous regions.

In the context of human displacement, it is essential to study how local knowledge is reshaped, eroded, or transformed. This study sheds light on how wild plant reports are articulated after migration, retained, and kept; the research explores specifically the ethnobotanical knowledge linked to wild food plants of five ethnic communities, namely the Bettani, Ormur, Mehsud, and Miani populations living in the Gomal area of NW Pakistan, of which three are displaced communities. The study aims to record the knowledge of wild food plants and their use among generations in these communities. To better determine the impact of displacement, we have analysed the data along two trajectories: (a) cross-geographically comparing the recorded wild food plant reports with the available published literature in NW Pakistan and (b) conducting a cross-cultural comparison of the local plant knowledge among the considered groups (displaced ones: Mehsud, Ormur, and Powanda; autochthonous: Bettani and Miani) residing in the Gomal area. Via semi-structured interviews with a hundred study participants (twenty for each ethic group), the study revealed the use of 69 wild food taxa, showing a remarkable diversity of food uses, with Ormur and Powanda exhibiting several idiosyncratic reports. The research highlights that displacement may have disrupted potential pathways of knowledge transmission among the Mehsud, Ormur, and Powanda; however, local plant knowledge about their past environment remains part of the collective memory of these communities. Moreover, post-migration exposure to a new ecological system has become a challenge for the newcomers, necessitating adaptation to rearticulate their relationship with nature and plants. The broken paths have a profound impact on plant knowledge transmission to youngsters, as social structures and gatherings have been significantly altered or disrupted; these were the primary means of interaction between youngsters and their elders. The exposure to urbanisation compounds the issue of displacement, and the erosion of knowledge systems has come at the expense of hands-on experiences among the selected groups. Notably, the local plant nomenclature of Ormur is also highly threatened. We advocate incorporating local plant knowledge into local educational curricula, which may be crucial for the sustainability of natural knowledge and have profound impacts on mitigating the effects of socioecological change.

Background: Medicinal plants constitute a vital component of healthcare systems, cultural identity, and community resilience in many rural societies, particularly in northeastern Thailand. However, ethnomedicinal knowledge in borderland regions-where cultural exchange and environmental pressures intersect-remains insufficiently documented. This study presents the first systematic and quantitative ethnobotanical assessment of medicinal plant use in Dan Sub-district, Kap Choeng District, Surin Province, a Thai-Cambodian borderland, with an emphasis on locally distinctive practices and implications for biocultural conservation.

Methods: Ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 40 local informants. Medicinal plant uses were categorized by therapeutic application, life form, plant parts used, sources (wild or cultivated), and routes of administration. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices, including Fidelity Level (FL) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), were applied to evaluate cultural importance and agreement among informants. Jaccard's similarity index was used to compare ethnomedicinal knowledge with surrounding regions. Community-based conservation practices and perceived threats were documented through local consultations.

Results: A total of 73 medicinal plant species belonging to 65 genera and 41 families were recorded, including 39 species newly documented for Surin Province. Herbs were the dominant life form (50.68%), and leaves were the most frequently used plant part (24.02%). Oral administration was the primary route of application (78.21%). High FL values were observed for Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex Lecomte (87.50%), Piper nigrum L. (82.50%), and Ficus hispida L.f. (80.00%). ICF analysis revealed strong agreement among informants for treatments related to gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and reproductive ailments. Comparative analysis indicated both shared regional knowledge and locally specific adaptations characteristic of the borderland context. While community-based conservation practices persist, wild plant populations remain vulnerable to habitat loss and overharvesting.

Conclusion: By documenting new provincial records and elucidating how cross-border cultural interaction shapes ethnomedicinal knowledge, this study addresses a significant geographic and cultural gap in Thailand's ethnobotanical literature. The findings underscore the importance of integrating quantitative ethnobotanical approaches with community-based conservation strategies to sustain ethnomedicinal knowledge and plant resources within rapidly transforming borderland agroecosystems.

Background: Insects have long been an integral part of Malagasy cuisine; however, their role in children's lives outside traditional household contexts remains overlooked. This study examined the non-familial collection and consumption of edible insects among Malagasy children aged 6 to 15 years in rural communities of the Analamanga region in central Madagascar.

Methods: Using two different assessment methods, direct questioning with adults and a game-based approach with children, we investigated children's activities with edible insects during play. The findings revealed important differences between the two methods. Ethical compliance was confirmed by the institutional committee, which reviewed and approved the study design prior to data collection.

Results: Adults identified eight insect species consumed by children while playing, whereas children themselves reported consuming eleven species, suggesting that direct questioning may overlook certain aspects of children's diets. The game-based approach proved to be a more effective tool in revealing hidden consumption patterns, as it allowed children to naturally show their interactions with insects. Overall, 35% of children's games involved insects, with 71% of these games leading to consumption. On average, children consumed insects while playing three times a week, in addition to any insect intake during household meals, indicating a separate pathway of entomophagy. The most commonly consumed species include beetles such as Voangory (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) and Voanosy (Curculionidae: Polycleis Marshall, 1916), which are often collected during the rainy season, a period of food scarcity.

Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of alternative, child-centered methods for studying food consumption practices. Game-based observation can reveal informal eating practices that are invisible to adult-reported surveys. These results confirm the nutritional and cultural significance of edible insects in Madagascar, highlight the surprisingly frequent consumption of insects outside formal meal contexts by children, and reveal overlooked pathways relevant to food security.

This paper explores the erosion of foraging-related ethnobotanical knowledge in three coastal Mediterranean areas: Gozo Island (Malta), Kasos Island (Greece), and the Castagniccia region of Corsica Island (France). Based on recent ethnobotanical fieldwork between the summer of 2023 and the spring of 2025 in the three study areas, we document the few remaining wild vegetable uses in each region and contextualise the absence of robust LEK linked to plant foraging within broader socio-environmental changes. Our findings show that land abandonment, mass migration, desertification, and the rise of seasonal tourism have contributed to the disintegration of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK). These forces have severed communities from everyday land-based practices, transforming vibrant ethnobotanical traditions into fragmented memories. We argue that LEK, particularly foraging knowledge, cannot survive in the absence of continuous interaction with the landscape, and that the revival of such practices requires more than nostalgic return, demanding a reconnection with local agro-ecological systems.