Biodiversity-productivity relationship in urban vascular flora: a comparison between wild edible and non-edible plants

Background: Wild edible plants are species that are not cultivated but can be consumed as food. These plants may exhibit the highest taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity within urban floras, since they have a longer history of use associated with humans than non-edible plants. Also, because biodiversity is strongly associated with biomass, edible plants plant might show higher productivity (biomass per site) than non-edible plants. Questions: Is taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of wild edible plants higher than non-edibles within urban areas? Is the alpha-biodiversity of wild edible plants positively related to biomass productivity in urban areas? Study sites and years of study: Cities of the coastal Mediterranean-type ecosystem, central Chile, 2015 and 2016. Methods: We characterized the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of urban flora differentiating wild edible and non-edible plants. Then, we assessed whether alpha-diversity of assemblages is related to their biomass productivity. Results: Both taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity were higher for edibles than non-edible plants. For edible plants, biomass was positively related to species richness and negatively with the mean phylogenetic diversity (MPD, a measure of evolutionary relationship among plants within an assemblage). Conclusions: Species richness is a suitable proxy to estimate wild edible plant diversity and their biomass in cities surpassing other proxies, such as phylogenetic diversity. Negative effect of MPD on biomass suggests that only a subgroup of related plants, possibly highly adapted to urban conditions, contribute to edible plant production. The distinction between wild edible and non-edible plants offers a better understanding of the assembly rules and biodiversity-biomass relationship within urban floras.

Wild Edible Plants of Dhankuta, Eastern Nepal

The Dhankuta district, situated in the Eastern part of the country, is a hot spot for floral diversity. The vegetation zone ranges from sub tropical Sal forest to cool temperate alpine forest. The study of wild edible plant of this area was an attempt to highlight the types of wild edible plants found and their mode of use in local people. Present study records 132 species of wild edible plants belonging to 63 families and 103 genera. Fruits are the most common edible parts of the wild edible plants followed by leaves, young shoot, root or tuber, seeds, flower, whole plants, bark, nectar, nuts, inflorescence and buds.

From trend to threat? Assessing the sustainability of wild edible plant foraging by linking local perception to ecological inference

Wild edible plants as culturally-appropriate sources of nutrition and for food security are now well-recognised. In Europe, the use of wild edible plants is shifting from a subsistence activity to an emerging trend in high-end gastronomy. The environmental impacts of this shift are poorly known. Foraging is increasingly popular for personal consumption and commercially, not least in the Nordic countries where popularity is fuelled by the New Nordic Food movement. Here, we evaluate if this trend entails biodiversity conservation risks in Norway. In collaboration with the Norwegian Association for Mycology and Foraging, we conducted 18 face-to-face interviews with key stakeholders and we published an online questionnaire filled by 219 recreational and professional foragers. We enquired on what species are harvested, by whom and how, where do foragers learn and what are their perspectives on the sustainability of foraging. We combined these data with an assessment of foraging impact based on foraging pressure, ecological traits and conservation assessments. Our results show that 272 different wild edible plants are foraged and that this is mostly sustainable.However, some risks arise from the harvest of threatened plants, the potential spread of invasive species, and the overharvesting of extremely popular or ‘fashionable’ species. Foraging fosters a strong connection with the natural environment and the majority of foragers report to forage as part of a sustainable lifestyle. We suggest that careful encouragement to forage and the participatory development of local guidelines for sustainable foraging in Norway can enhance people-nature relationships while safeguarding foraged plant populations.

Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants used by Meinit Ethnic Community at Bench-Maji Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Background Meinit sociocultural community have a long tradition of using wild edible plants (WEPs) for food, spice, medicine and income generation. These locally collected wild edibles are consumed during food scarcity and as supplement to staple food. WEPs also provide cheaper source of dietary energy, vitamins and micronutrients for rural subsistence farmers. However, the utilization and management of WEPs have been declining due to dietary shift, climatic and anthropogenic factors. Despite the rich botanical diversity and ample traditional knowledge on the use of WEPs by the Meinit sociocultural community, the ethnobotanical documentation of WEPs is very scant. Therefore, the study aimed to record an ethnobotanical investigation of WEPs used by the Meinit sociocultural community. Methods Focused group discussion(FGD), key informants’(KI) interview using semi-structured interview questions, guided field walk, preference ranking and pairwise comparisons were applied during ethnobotanical study of WEPs. Descriptive statistics were used for data analyses. Results A total of 66 WEPs species from 34 families were recorded. Asteraceae (seven species) contributed to the highest number of species followed by Fabaceae (six species), Amaranthaceae and Moraceae (five species each); among which 28 species were herbs ,14 were shrubs, 13 were climbers and 11 were trees. The WEPs are gathered from farm, fallow land, woodland, grassland and forest. The WEPs were consumed as raw, boiled, stewed, baked and local beverage. Boiling was frequently used in traditional cooking practice for leafy vegetables, roots and tubers. Soup or local dish prepared from wild edible vegetables and accompanied with porridge or flatten bread is relished by the community. Conclusion The study districts have rich resource of WEPs and untapped traditional knowledge associated with the use of these plants for food, medicine and income generation. However, the availability of the WEPs and their traditional knowledge have been declining from time to time.

A Systematic Review on the Antimicrobial Properties of Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants: We Still Know Too Little about Them, but What We Do Know Makes Persistent Investigation Worthwhile

(1) Introduction: Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is estimated to be the cause of a major number of deaths by 2050 if we do not find strategies to slow down the rise of drug resistance. Reviews on Mediterranean wild edible plants (MWEPs) with antimicrobial properties are scarce in the main databases (PubMed, Scopus, and WoS). Hence, we proceeded to conduct a new review of the studies on MWEPs. (2) Methods: We used ‘wild edible plant’ and ‘antimicrobial’ as keywords. Within this group, exclusion criteria were reviews, studies concerning non-Mediterranean plants or non-edible plants, studies on topics other than plants or containing no description of antimicrobial properties, or off-topic studies. (3) Results: Finally, out of the one hundred and ninety-two studies we had started with, we reviewed thirty-eight (19.8%) studies concerning the antimicrobial properties of seventy-four MWEPs species belonging to twenty-five Families. Fifty-seven (77%) species out of seventy-four proved to be antimicrobial, with a stringent threshold selection. (4) Conclusions: Studies are still very heterogeneous. We still know too little about MWEPs’ properties; however, what we already know strongly recommends carrying on investigation.

Étude Ethnobotanique Des Plantes Spontanées Comestibles Dans Le Département De Zuénoula (Centre-Ouest De La Côte D’ivoire)

Cette étude a été conduite à Zuénoula, dans le but d’évaluer la disponibilité et le niveau de connaissance des plantes sauvages comestibles pouvant servir d’alternatives aux populations locales et contribuer ainsi à leur valorisation. Pour cela, des investigations ethnobotaniques ont été réalisées à l’aide de fiches d’enquête dans 5 localités auprès de 368 individus. Les plantes et les organes comestibles récoltés ont été identifiés au Centre National de Floristique (CNF) d’Abidjan. Ainsi, les 76 espèces récensées appartiennent à 36 familles et 62 genres et représentent 32,34 % des plantes sauvages comestibles recensées en Côte d’Ivoire. Les Fabaceae (33,34 %) et les Malvaceae (22,23 %) sont les familles les plus rencontrées et sont majoritairement sous forme d‘arbres (38,16 %) et d‘herbes (26,32 %). Concernant les parties utilisées, ce sont les feuilles (38,85 %) et les graines (07,45 %) qui sont plus consommées en repas contrairement aux fruits (40,43 %) souvent consommés comme friandise au lieu de cueillette. Les populations (62,23 %) qui ont une bonne connaissance de la flore locale comestible sont aujourd’hui confrontées à la disparition progressive d‘espèces autrefois prisées comme Glyphaea brevis, Irvingia gabonensis et Telfairia occidentalis. Enfin, la consommation de Bixa orellana et de Gymnema sylvestre, espèces très utilisées dans l’alimentation humaine et la médecine en Asie, a pour la première fois été révélée en Côte d‘Ivoire. La poursuite de cette étude par des analyses des valeurs nutritives des espèces les plus sollicitées est vivement souhaitée en vue de leur valorisation au plan nutritionnel. This study was conducted in Zuénoula with the aim of assessing the local people’s level of knowledge on wild edible plants and the availability of these plants to serve as alternatives for the local population and thus contribute to their development. To achieve this, botanical surveys were carried out in 5 localities involving 368 persons. Plants and edible organs collected were identified at the Centre National de Floristique (CNF) in Abidjan. All 76 species recorded belong to 36 families and 62 genera, and they represent 32.34% of wild edible plants identified in Côte d'Ivoire. Fabaceae (33.34%) and Malvaceae (22.23%) were the most common families and are mainly trees (38.16%) and herbs (26.32%). Concerning the part of the plants used, leaves (38.85%) and seeds (07.45%) were the most consumed in meals, which is contrary to fruits (40.43%) often consumed as sweets at the harvesting sites. The majority of the population (62.23%), which has a good knowledge of the local edible flora, is today confronted with the progressive disparition of species once sought after such as Glyphaea brevis, Irvingia gabonensis, and Telfairia occidentalis. This study reveals for the first time the consumption in Côte d'Ivoire of two plants' species, Bixa orellana and Gymnema sylvestre, widely used in human food and medicine in Asia, highlighting the great diversity of the local flora. Since the nutritional potential of these species has never been studied in Côte d'Ivoire, additional research on the most sought-after species is highly recommended for their nutritional valorization.

Ethnobotanical profiles of wild edible plants recorded from Mongolia by Yunatov during 1940–1951

Mongolian traditional botanical knowledge has been rarely researched concerning the ethnobotany theory and methodology in the last six decades (Pei in Acta Botanica Yunnanica 135–144, 1988, as reported (Martin in Ethnobotany: A methods manual, Chapman and Hall, 1995)). However, most of the known literature of indigenous knowledge and information regarding the use of local wild plants among Mongolian herders was first documented by several botanical research of Russian researchers in Mongolia through the 1940s and 1950s. One of the most comprehensive works was completed by A. A. Yunatov (1909–1967), which is known as “Fodder Plants of Pastures and Hayfields of the People’s Republic of Mongolia” (FPM). Yunatov’s research sampled forage plants in Mongolia from 1940 to 1951 and subsequently published a study in 1954. The original transcript of FPM was later translated into Chinese and Mongolian (Cyrillic alphabet) during 1958 and 1968. In addition to morphological characteristics, distribution, habitat, phenology, palatability, and nutrition of forage plants, Yunatov`s record collected local names, the folk understanding and evaluation of the forage, as well as other relevant cultural meanings and the use of local wild plants (collected from the wild as opposed to cultivated plants) in FPM through interviews. The book contains the most precious records created in the 1940s and 1950s on folk knowledge of the Mongolians' wild plants in Mongolia. It was composed of 8 chapters and 351 pages in total. The fifth chapter of FPM, entitled “The systematic overview of forage plants,” making up 272 pages (77.49% of the total page counts). The order and content of the book-oriented along with profiles of specific plants. Yunatov collected detailed information on plants, such as the local name, morphology, distribution, habitats, ecological characteristics, and phenology. He also discussed the palatability of livestock, particular forage use, other usages, and chemical composition. Through careful reading and understanding of all three versions of the book (in Russian, Chinese, and Mongolian (Cyrillic alphabet)), the FPM-listed information of edible plants was categorized using ethnobotanical dependent analysis. The list of edible plants was ranked based on purposes and ethnobotanical inventories as per methodology and analysis used in the ethnobotany research. FPM listed 35 species are part of 15 families and 25 genera of wild edible plants. Most species belong to Liliaceae and Allium. Naturally grown grain and some food substitutes (plants that could be used as substitutions for typical food) come from the starchy organs, such as seeds, bulbs, roots, and rhizomes of 12, accounting for 34.28% of all species. Wild vegetables come from the parts of a young plant, tender leaves, young fruits, lower leg of stems, and bulbs of 9 species, accounting for 25.71% of all species. There are only three species of wild fruits, accounting for 8.57% of all edible plant species. Tea substitutes consist of leaves, roots, follicle, and aboveground parts of 8 wild plant species, accounting for 22.85% of all species. Seasonings from the wild were made of the elements such as seeds, rhizomes, tender leaves of 7 species, accounting for 20.00% of all species (Fig,8). Similarities and differences are noticeable in utilizing wild edible plants among Mongolian populations living in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia. Six species of wild edible plants listed in FPM have been proven to be collected and consumed by Mongolians from the Genghis Khan era in the twelfth century to the present day. This proved that the Mongolians have a tradition of recognizing and utilizing wild plants, demonstrating historical and theoretical value. Seven species of plants mentioned in this book were closely correlated to the locals' processing of traditional dairy products, meat, and milk food. Yunatov was not an ethnobotanist, but his accurate documentation of interviews and surveys with Mongolians represents valuable information about the collection and consumption of local wild plants during 1940–1951 in Mongolia. His research mission meant to focus on forage grass, the feed plant that sustained livestock, while he also recorded plants consumed by humans. His records on the edible parts and intake methods of some plants are incomplete. Still, it provided ethnobotanical materials of a remarkable scientific value and a living history of ethnobotany in Mongolian regions. Even by today`s standards, it will be challenging to obtain first-hand information of the richness and to the extent of Yunatov’s research.