Showing papers in "Economic Botany in 2019"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify all traded species from Nepal, analyze their distribution patterns, and assess their vulnerability, none of which has been done before, and record 300 species in trade, double that of previous estimates.
Abstract: Trade in Nepalese medicinal plants, fungi, and lichens is huge, yet there is no overview of traded species, impeding the development of targeted and appropriate conservation interventions. This study intends to identify all traded species from Nepal, analyze their distribution patterns, and assess their vulnerability, none of which has been done before. Contemporary data on traded species were obtained from 113 sub-local traders, 105 local traders, and 75 central wholesalers for case year 2014–2015, and historical data from a review of trade-related publications. We recorded 300 species in trade, double that of previous estimates, distributed across 97 families and 197 genera. Most species are concentrated in subtropical and lower temperate regions indicating an economic potential for increased cultivation and domestication at middle altitudes. About 39% of commercial species are formally protected, including through bans on collection and trade of certain species. But this approach does not appear to protect species from commercial harvesting, driven by increasing demand and higher prices. The high-altitude species Nardostachys jatamansi, Rheum australe, and Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora are the most vulnerable traded species, warranting the development of alternative protection mechanisms, e.g., transferring management rights to local communities.
32 citations
TL;DR: It was found that UV was higher in cultivated plants than wild plants in both the Caucasus datasets and the 17 studies overall, and seems subject to some obscured biases which are important to consider in the context of each study.
Abstract: The Use of “Use Value”: Quantifying Importance in Ethnobotany. Use value (UV) is an index widely used to quantify the relative importance of useful plants. It combines the frequency with which a species is mentioned with the number of uses mentioned per species, and is often used to highlight prominent species of interest. However, high-UV species are often disproportionately cultivated species, with wild-collected plants ranking lower. To better understand this pattern, and to determine if it is present in the broader ethnobotanical literature, we reviewed an array of papers with results on UV and cultivation status, and we analyzed in depth data from two large ethnobotanical studies in the Republic of Georgia in the Caucasus. In addition to looking for differences in UV by cultivation status, we compared the two best-populated categories of use (medicinal and food uses) and the components of UV (relative frequency of citation and number of uses mentioned per species). We found that UV was higher in cultivated plants than wild plants in both the Caucasus datasets and the 17 studies overall. Medicinal plants did not exhibit this trend, as medicinal wild plants had marginally higher UV than medicinal cultivated plants. Relative frequency of citation had a substantial effect on UV, in contrast to number of uses mentioned for a given plant. In sum, UV seems subject to some obscured biases which are important to consider in the context of each study.
27 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the use of medicinal plants among Thai ethnic groups was compared using the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and clustering analysis and found that villages inhabited by the same ethnic group often used different plant species while villages in same region had higher similarity of used species for treatments in the same use category, irrespective of which ethnic group that inhabited them.
Abstract: Use of Medicinal Plants Among Thai Ethnic Groups: A Comparison. Thailand has a large rural population that uses traditional medicinal plants extensively. The country is also the home of many groups of ethnic minorities. But even if much ethnobotanical research has been done in many parts of the country, most studies focused on a single village or a few; only a few of the studies were concerned with comparing the ethnobotanical information among groups or regions of the country. This makes it relevant to compare ethnobotanical knowledge among different ethnic groups in Thailand, including both the rural Thai majority and the various minorities. For our comparison, we collected data about the use of medicinal plants from 64 books, journal articles, scientific reports, and theses published from 1990 to 2014. The data covered 16,789 use reports from 2187 plant species used in 121 villages inhabited by 26 ethnic groups, including rural Thais living in all regions of Thailand. The data were compared using the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and clustering analysis. We found that villages inhabited by the same ethnic group often used different plant species while villages in same region had higher similarity of used species for treatments in the same use category, irrespective of which ethnic group that inhabited them. Clustering diagrams showed that similarity in the use of plants was not larger for villages inhabited by the same ethnic groups or from the same regions. So, it appeared that each village had, at least in part, developed its own ethnomedicinal knowledge.
23 citations
TL;DR: The results indicate that the plant families of Chile with greater species richness are more likely to have a higher number of useful plants, but some families tend to be overrepresented and others underrepresented within the different use categories, suggesting a non-random taxonomic distribution pattern of flora use.
Abstract: Native Useful Plants of Chile: A Review and Use Patterns. We compiled an inventory of the uses of the native flora of Chile by extracting uses cited in the literature until 2015. The inventory reported use citations for a total of 995 species of useful vascular plants (23% of Chile’s flora). These data were used to test the hypothesis that some plant families are overrepresented (overused) for some use categories. We used two statistical approaches: a Bayesian and an imprecise Dirichlet model (IDM). Families with a higher number of useful species are Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae. However, according to both the Bayesian and IDM approaches, the Grossulariaceae, Myrtaceae, Lamiaceae, Nothofagaceae, Salicaceae, Rosaceae, and Bromeliaceae are overrepresented. We found 501 species with medicinal uses, 228 with edible uses, 341 used for animal fodder, 300 considered ornamental, 102 used as dyes, 89 for ritual purposes, 75 for timber, and 51 species as a source of fiber. Over 43% of the useful species are endemic to Chile, and 4.7% are threatened. Our results indicate that the plant families of Chile with greater species richness are more likely to have a higher number of useful plants. However, some families tend to be overrepresented and others underrepresented within the different use categories, suggesting a non-random taxonomic distribution pattern of flora use.
17 citations
TL;DR: A large-scale synthesis of indigenous knowledge on New Guinea's useful plants based on a quantitative review of 488 references and 854 herbarium specimens is presented in this article.
Abstract: We present the first large-scale synthesis of indigenous knowledge (IK) on New Guinea’s useful plants based on a quantitative review of 488 references and 854 herbarium specimens. Specifically, we assessed (i) spatiotemporal trends in the documentation of IK, (ii) which are New Guinea’s most useful ecosystems and plant taxa, (iii) what use categories have been better studied, and (iv) which are the best studied indigenous groups. Overall, our review integrates 40,376 use reports and 19,948 plant uses for 3434 plant species. We find that despite a significant increase in ethnobotanical studies since the first reports of 1885, all islands still remain under-investigated. Lowland and montane rainforests are the best studied habitats; legumes, palms, and figs are the most cited plant families; and Ficus, Pandanus, and Syzygium are the most useful genera. Medicinal uses have received the greatest attention and non-native species have the highest cross-cultural consensus for medicine, underscoring the culturally enriching role of non-native taxa to New Guinea’s pharmacopeia. Of New Guinea’s approximately 1100 indigenous groups, 217 are mentioned in the literature, and non-endangered groups remain better studied. We conclude that IK can contribute significantly to meet rising demands to make New Guinea’s landscapes “multifunctional” and boost the green economy, but ambitious strategies will still be needed to mainstream IK and improve its documentation.
16 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluate whether socioeconomic factors influence the knowledge, use, preference, and consumption of firewood in a rural community in Northeast Brazil and find that wood consumption was influenced by income, schooling, and number of residents.
Abstract: We aim to evaluate whether socioeconomic factors influence the knowledge, use, preference, and consumption of firewood in a rural community in Northeast Brazil. We conducted semi-structured interviews with heads of households to obtain socioeconomic data and measured daily consumption of firewood using in situ inventories during two distinct periods of the year. We performed GLM analyses to determine if the socioeconomic variables influence the knowledge, use, preference, and consumption of firewood per capita, per residence, and for the community over daily, monthly, and annual periods. The interviewees cited a total of 87 ethnospecies as known, 47 as used, and 29 as preferred for firewood. Age was the only variable that influenced species richness, whereas wood consumption was influenced by income, schooling, and number of residents. Although there is uniformity within the community in relation to cognitive aspects of richness known, used, and preferred, the consumption of firewood was influenced by socioeconomic factors.
15 citations
TL;DR: The Historia Naturalis Brasiliae (HNB, 1648) is the most complete treatise on Brazilian flora and fauna created in the seventeenth century as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The Historia Naturalis Brasiliae (HNB, 1648) is the most complete treatise on Brazilian flora and fauna created in the seventeenth century. Scientists Marcgrave and Piso depicted hundreds of plants and described uses, vernacular names, and diseases in Dutch Brazil. We aimed to verify whether these plants are still used similarly, using herbarium vouchers and taxonomic literature to identify the species described in the HNB and reviewing historical and modern ethnobotanical literature to analyze whether the HNB documented specific plants and uses for the northeast region. We highlighted Old World species, as they indicate plant introduction before and during the trans-Atlantic slave trade and exchange of African ethnobotanical knowledge. Of the 378 species found in the HNB, 256 (68%) were useful, mostly used for healing and food in a similar way (80%) both in the seventeenth century and in modern Brazil. Only one species (Swartzia pickelii) is endemic to northeast Brazil, while the others are more widely distributed. The HNB includes one of the first reports on African crops in Brazil, such as sesame, okra, and spider plant. This study brings insights on indigenous and African plant knowledge retentions since the creation of the HNB and acknowledges its non-European contributors.
14 citations
TL;DR: This study tests whether genetic diversity is changing over time and investigates a possible cause—a shift from direct seed planting by tree owners to purchasing seed-propagated saplings from nurseries, a method that has increased in popularity since the 1980s.
Abstract: Crop genetic diversity is important, but may be lost due to intentional or non-intentional selection processes. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is the national fruit of Bangladesh, where it displays great morphological diversity, but recent work suggests diversity may be declining. This study tests whether genetic diversity is changing over time and investigates a possible cause—a shift from direct seed planting by tree owners to purchasing seed-propagated saplings from nurseries, a method that has increased in popularity since the 1980s. We measure genetic diversity over time (across both reported tree age and tree size classes) using 13 microsatellite loci for 361 jackfruit individuals collected throughout Bangladesh. We find downward trends in diversity over time (regardless of seedling source), and no change in diversity between owner seed-propagated and nursery seed-propagated sapling trees that were planted since the early 1980s. Jackfruit, long an important crop in South and Southeast Asia, is gaining global popularity. Because it is a long-lived, out-crossing crop, changes in genetic diversity may occur gradually, and locally adapted alleles could be lost in transitioning to commercialized uniform cultivars. It is important to measure and conserve diversity baselines before selection bottlenecks occur in underutilized crops, like jackfruit, on the verge of increased industrialization.
13 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the use of wild food plants in the Monti Picentini Regional Park (Italy) was investigated. But the authors focused on the food uses of wild plants in an area of the regional park.
Abstract: When the Local Cuisine Still Incorporates Wild Food Plants: The Unknown Traditions of the Monti Picentini Regional Park (Southern Italy). Wild food plants are still part of the culinary traditions of many rural areas in the Mediterranean. This study aims to document these traditions and the food uses of wild plants in an area of the Monti Picentini Regional Park. We performed an ethnobotanical survey between 2013 and 2015 using standard ethnographic methods. We analyzed the gathered data using ethnobotanical indices, and we compared our results with relevant literature pertaining to uses of wild food plants in Central and Southern Italy. We interviewed 64 key informants, whose ages ranged between 40 and 93 years, and we gathered about 1900 use citations about the traditional food uses of 84 wild plant species. Many of these species are still incorporated into traditional dishes. We recorded the previously unknown food use of four plant species (Rubus hirtus Waldst. & Kit.; Petasites hybridus [L.] G. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb.; Asphodelus macrocarpus Parl.; and Oenanthe fistulosa L.). We also highlighted several rare food uses as well as many other uses that are common across Central and Southern Italy. Knowledge concerning the uses of wild food plants is part of Italy’s history and culture, and it should be preserved before modernization of lifestyles and homogenization of food habits extinguish this realm of food and culinary knowledge.
12 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors carried out a 1-year survey on the most popular online market platform in China, i.e., Taobao.com, and determined the extent and nature of the Chinese virtual wild-orchid trade.
Abstract: Wild-Orchid Trade in a Chinese E-Commerce Market. Globally, the unsustainable trade in wildlife has been recognized as a major factor of biodiversity loss. Monitoring and regulating wildlife trade has not been an easy task, and new challenges have been encountered as some of the trade moves onto virtual markets on the Internet. In this study, we carried out a 1-year survey on the most popular online market platform in China, i.e., Taobao.com, and determined the extent and nature of the Chinese virtual wild-orchid trade. This is among the first online studies of richness in the wild-orchid trade. We found that a total of 97 wild-sourced orchid species were offered by 53 online vendors. When the sales data were available and with all species pooled, a total of 90,714 individual plants were sold over the initial 7-month period. Four Cymbidium species were the top-traded species in terms of volume, which reflects the high demand on Cymbidium spp., a group with significance in Chinese culture. During our surveys, we encountered clear indications that the website has developed an algorithm to identify buyers’ location (in this case, the U.S.A.) and disabled the potential cross-border transactions, perhaps in an effort to enforce the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species regulations. However, this enforcement on Taobao.com was applied to only a few species and five genera. The high volume and the potential for cross-border trade occurring on Taobao.com call for stronger collaboration among government agencies, NGOs, and national and international industries. It also calls for more consistent law enforcement measures and the promotion of a voluntary code of conducts among different stakeholders to effectively curb the wild-orchid trade online as well as in physical markets in China and beyond. Domestically, China needs to strengthen its legal protection of wild orchids and effective promotion of modern propagation technique among orchid growers.
12 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated lusala collection, consumption, and trade through interviews with rural households (four districts) and market traders (three towns), and supplementary focus group discussions.
Abstract: Dioscorea hirtiflora Benth. is an indigenous wild edible tuberous climbing plant native to Zambia. Known as lusala, the tubers are sold in markets across southern Zambia. Lusala collection, consumption, and trade were investigated through interviews with rural households (four districts) and market traders (three towns), and supplementary focus group discussions. Of 278 households interviewed, high proportions collected (83%), consumed (96%), and sold (59%) lusala, not varying amongst district or wealth category. Lusala populations were perceived to be declining in the wild by 79% of households. Tuber collection, largely by females and mainly from March to September, peaked in April when households engaged in each activity and collected 27.9 kg, consumed 12.0 kg, and sold 35.7 kg (from 129, 108, and 69 reporting households, respectively) that month, regardless of district, wealth category, or gender. Those sales provided an average household income of USD 16 in April 2017. In August 2017, each market trader purchased an average of 899 kg for USD 383. Local knowledge of D. hirtiflora was considerable. Lusala collected from forests is an important edible wild tuber in the local economy of the Southern Province of Zambia; it provides a seasonally important food supply and income to rural households and supplies demand for urban populations.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented the results of a study conducted by Pintaud et al. at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, with the aim of identifying the root cause of plant diseases in the Amazonia.
Abstract: Laboratorio de Botánica Aplicada Jean-Christophe Pintaud, Programa de Investigación en Biodiversidad Amazónica (PIBA), Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP), Jirón Belén Torres de Tello, Tarapoto, San Martín, Peru Instituto de Medicina Tradicional, Seguro Social de Salud, Pasaje San Lorenzo 205, San Juan Bautista, Iquitos, Loreto, Peru Universidad Peruana del Oriente, Avenida Abelardo Quiñones 2725, San Juan Bautista, Iquitos, Loreto, Peru Dirección Regional de Agricultura, Gobierno Regional de San Martín, Jirón Angel Delgado Morey 435, Tarapoto, San Martín, Peru Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg, Denmark *Corresponding author; e-mail: nk@plen.ku.dk
TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied the knowledge and usage of Ouricuri palm (Syagrus coronata), cultural change variables, and socioeconomic profiles of artisans of the Fulni-o indigenous community of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil.
Abstract: Socioeconomic Factors and Cultural Changes Explain the Knowledge and Use of Ouricuri Palm (Syagrus coronata) by the Fulni–o Indigenous People of Northeast Brazil. The contact of indigenous people with non–indigenous societies has provoked socioeconomic and cultural change. One of the main consequences of these changes is the deviation of cultural traits, which may be related to a decrease in traditional knowledge of natural resources. We collected data on the knowledge and usage of the Ouricuri palm (Syagrus coronata), cultural change variables, and socioeconomic profiles of artisans of the Fulni–o indigenous community of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. We found that diversity of resources for craft production and higher levels of education were related to a higher knowledge of Ouricuri palms. The practice of collecting Ouricuri leaves is maintained by younger artisans, those who diversify the resources for craft production, and those who diversify their income-generating activities. However, Fulni–o who used leaves from such species had lower levels of education compared with those who did not use them, demonstrating that higher educational levels contribute to the maintenance of Ouricuri knowledge, but not to the Ouricuri leaf usage.
TL;DR: The genetic diversity and structure of wetland purple rice landraces is shaped by farmer utilization and cultivation through local cultural practices, and that conservation should focus on ex situ conservation across its cultivation range, along with on-farm, in situ conservation based on farmers’ seed-saving practices.
Abstract: Purple or black rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a culturally important germplasm in Asia with a long history of cultivation in northern Thailand. Purple rice is identified by the color of the rice pericarp, which varies from purple to black with the accumulation of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. In the present study, we assessed molecular variation within and between wetland purple rice landraces germplasm from northern and northeastern Thailand using 12 microsatellite loci. All purple rice varieties surveyed showed high levels of homozygosity within varieties and strong genetic differentiation among varieties, indicating the fixation of genetic differences among them. This pattern is consistent with purple rice farming practices in northern Thailand, where a small portion of harvested seed is selected and replanted based on farmers’ preferences. The reduced genetic diversity and high homozygosity observed for purple rice is also consistent with patterns expected for this inbreeding crop. Genetic differentiation among the varieties showed some degree of structuring based on their geographical origin. Taken together, these data highlight that the genetic diversity and structure of wetland purple rice landraces is shaped by farmer utilization and cultivation through local cultural practices, and that conservation should focus on ex situ conservation across its cultivation range, along with on-farm, in situ conservation based on farmers’ seed-saving practices. In situ conservation may prove especially valuable for preserving the genetic identity of local varieties and promote adaptation to local environments.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors attempted to characterize the total edible plant diversity of the milpas, or polyculture maize-based fields, managed by Tenek communities in Mexico and found that only 8.4% of the diversity is shared among the localities and, on average, 61.2% of total richness is managed by single farmers.
Abstract: Traditional land use systems are often rich in crop diversity. However, complete inter- and intraspecific data are scarce, limiting our understanding and underestimating the diversity of plant genetic reservoirs. This study attempted to characterize the total edible plant diversity of the milpas, or polyculture maize-based fields, managed by Tenek communities in Mexico. In 41 milpas belonging to 33 farmers in three localities at different altitudes, 191 edible plant types were inventoried, comprising 84 species that include 140 variants and 51 species with no variants. Diversity varies between and within localities. Only 8.4% of the diversity is shared among the localities and, on average, 61.2% of the total richness is managed by single farmers. The intermediate altitude has higher diversity, including 67.5% of the total richness. Crop population numbers are low and highly variable. To contribute to the interpretation and application of results, a proposed method to identify priority crops, sites, and farmers is presented. This study shows, once again, that indigenous farming communities are key actors for the use and conservation of crop genetic diversity. More detailed studies such as this may evidence much larger managed crop diversity than currently is acknowledged.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed household strategies for NTFP collection at ST village and KC village in the Bago Mountains of Myanmar, and found that the number and percentage of harvesters of both species were greater at KC village than at St village.
Abstract: Swiddeners in the Bago Mountains, Myanmar collect two economically important non-timber forest products (NTFPs)—Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz (Apocynaceae) roots and Amorphophallus bulbifer (Roxb.) Blume (Araceae) corms. We analyzed household strategies for NTFP collection at ST village located on a paved road with direct access to middlemen, and KC village connected to a paved road by 10 km of a non-paved foot path. The number and percentage of harvesters of both species was greater at KC village than at ST village. Males contributed more (79.5%) than females (20.5%) to the R. serpentina harvest at KC village but not at ST village. Women could collect A. bulbifer within the limited time they had available from undertaking household tasks at both villages. The average amount of both species per harvest was higher at KC village than at ST village. The total production amounts of R. serpentina were 441.2 kg and 626.6 kg (valued at USD 529.5 and USD 751.9), and those of A. bulbifer were 1175.8 kg and 2254.6 kg (USD 117.6 and USD 225.5) per year at ST village and KC village, respectively. The NTFPs provided supplementary income for household members in the pre-harvest season of the swidden livelihood.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the relationship between the market integration of production areas, farmers' agricultural practices, and the distribution of local varieties of the Dacryodes edulis.
Abstract: Highly valued for its edible fruits, the safou tree, Dacryodes edulis, is a major component of farming systems in Central Africa. In Cameroon, the species has drawn much attention since the 1990s because of its market potential. Among other fruit tree species, safou trees are integrated within cocoa-coffee agroforests as a means of diversification. In Western Cameroon, farmers’ strategies for safou production and commercialization are influenced by a gradient of the species’ market integration. Based on semi-structured interviews with farmers and inventories of trees on their farms, this ethnoecological study addresses the relationship between the market integration of production areas, farmers’ agricultural practices, and the distribution of local varieties. Interviews revealed that farmers in high-cultivation areas use more diversified planting techniques, but select and use similar planting material. At the local scale, we found a wide range of varieties, defined according to a combination of selected fruit traits. Varieties appearing at multiple sites were also the ones with the most desirable sets of characteristics. The agricultural strategies depicted help us to understand the specificities of the ongoing market integration of indigenous species in the tropics.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focused on changes in ethnomedicinal knowledge in the rural mountains of Prespa National Park, Albania, and identified 80 adults and 20 young community members through snowball sampling based on knowledgeability of medicinal plants.
Abstract: Ethnobotanical studies have highlighted the need to address temporal dynamics of local knowledge in response to socio-economic changes. The southwestern Balkans are a hotspot of folk botanical knowledge and represent a unique region to study such dynamics. The present study focused on changes in ethnomedicinal knowledge in the rural mountains of Prespa National Park, Albania. The resident ethnic Macedonian minority was fairly isolated under communism (1946–1991), with a long tradition of wild medicinal plant collection. We identified 80 adults and 20 young community members through snowball sampling based on knowledgeability of medicinal plants. In-depth open and semi-structured interviews, free-listing, and participant observation elicited ethnomedicinal knowledge on past and present uses. We recorded 82 botanical taxa belonging to 39 families. Cultural importance analyses showed that Sideritis raeseri Boiss. & Heldr. was by far the culturally most salient species. Informants perceived a steep increase in home consumption of medicinal plants compared to the communist period, despite increased globalization and market liberalization. Trade had significantly decreased but remained an important fallback option in times of economic uncertainty. We observed the phenomenon of knowledge hybridization through access to “modern” knowledge and homogenization through political influences, pointing towards a both resilient and dynamic body of knowledge.
TL;DR: In this article, the economic potential of 12 native Angolan plant species was examined in the province of Cuanza Norte and Luanda by conducting field trips and market analyses.
Abstract: This study examines the economic potential of 12 native Angolan plant species. In October/November 2016, field trips and market analyses were conducted in the province of Cuanza Norte and Luanda. The data were supplemented with global market information obtained in 2017. We conducted interviews in 48 different locations in Cuanza Norte (105 informants), complemented by 96 merchants. The informant consensus factor was calculated for 786 use reports from Cuanza Norte, classified into five different use categories by applying a scoring system. Adapting and comparing the cultural with the economic value of each species, five plant species proved to be profitable for the province (Adansonia digitata, Aframomum melegueta, Cochlospermum angolense, Cola acuminata, Xylopia aethiopica). These species are promising for a more detailed economic and ecological analysis due to their high local importance and national and/or international demand. Additional research is needed to acquire detailed information regarding plant distribution and numbers, specific growth conditions, sustainable harvesting methods, and processing of the raw plant material.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the uses, knowledge, and management of the threatened pepper-bark tree (Warburgia salutaris) in Southern Mozambique, and identified cultural and social drivers of use, compared knowledge distribution, determined management practices, and explored local ecological knowledge related to the species in the Lebombo Mountains, Tembe River, and Futi Corridor areas in southern Africa.
Abstract: Uses, Knowledge, and Management of the Threatened Pepper-Bark Tree (Warburgia salutaris) in Southern Mozambique.Warburgia salutaris, the pepper-bark tree, is one of the most highly valued medicinal plant species in southern Africa. Due to its popularity in folk medicine, it is overexploited in many regions and is deemed threatened throughout its range. We identified cultural and social drivers of use, compared knowledge distribution, determined management practices, and explored local ecological knowledge related to the species in the Lebombo Mountains, Tembe River, and Futi Corridor areas in southern Mozambique. Stratified random, semistructured interviews were conducted (182), complemented by 17 focus group discussions in the three study areas. W. salutaris was used medicinally to treat 12 health concerns, with the bark being the most commonly used part. Knowledge of the species varied between the three areas, but not with respondent gender or age. Harvesting was mostly through vertical bark stripping (71% of informants). To promote sustainable use of the species, we suggest multiple conservation approaches, including the use of alternative species with the same application, substitution of bark by leaves, and increases in alternative sources of plant material through cultivation. Additional information on species demography, harvest impact, and post-harvest bark recovery rate area is required. Information obtained in this work can contribute to management guidelines and plans for the species in Mozambique.
TL;DR: It is shown that early cultivators had incentives for selecting long awns before and even after the fixation of the non-shattering trait, which implies that their presence improved yield and labor efficiency.
Abstract: Awn Reduction and the Domestication of Asian Rice: A Syndrome or Crop Improvement Trait? Although wild progenitors of Asian cultivated rice have long awns, they are shorter or absent in domesticated landraces and cultivars. Thus, one may wonder when and why such transition from awned to awnless has occurred, i.e., is the reduction of awns a domestication syndrome trait or a trait that emerged during crop improvement? The proponents of an evolutionary model of rice domestication consider the loss/reduction of seed dispersal aids as a key domestication syndrome trait, apart from the fixation of seed retention. We challenge this view by showing that early cultivators had incentives for selecting long awns before and even after the fixation of the non-shattering trait. This is because long awns prevented seed predation by animals and facilitated harvest by means of the basket-beating method, which implies that their presence improved yield and labor efficiency. Our arguments also reveal that awns perhaps have persisted long after domestication and even after the introduction of sickles. Taken together, the reduction of awns may not fit into a domestication syndrome trait, but it can most plausibly be considered as a crop improvement trait.
TL;DR: Ruiz et al. as mentioned in this paper found that mauka is more widely distributed in Peru than previously thought, and a total of 21 germplasm specimens were collected for ex situ conservation, including one landrace from Puno that had not been previously described.
Abstract: Unearthing the “Lost” Andean Root Crop “Mauka” (Mirabilis expansa[Ruiz & Pav.] Standl.). Although recognized as part of the vibrant array of native roots and tubers that support farmers’ livelihoods in the Andean region, the root vegetable “mauka” (Mirabilis expansa (Ruiz & Pav.) Standl.) is little known outside the scattering of communities where it is cultivated and is considered at risk of disappearance. Based on fieldwork carried out in Peru in 2016, this study documents ethnobotanical knowledge of mauka through interviews with 40 farmers across the regions of Ancash, Huanuco, Puno, and Amazonas. Further, it re-evaluates the distribution of the crop and explores opportunities for conservation. Mauka was found to be more widely distributed in Peru than previously thought, and a total of 21 germplasm specimens were collected for ex situ conservation, including one landrace from Puno that had not been previously described. Farmers reported a substantial decline in mauka cultivation in their communities 20–50 years ago, with its lack of commercial value cited as a major reason for abandonment. Promisingly, through facilitating an encounter between several of these farmers and chefs at the renowned Peruvian restaurant Central, we demonstrate that revaluing mauka as a gastronomic ingredient could incentivize ongoing cultivation.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper collected Yi names of 322 plant taxa from 109 families and analyzed the Liangshan Yi's indigenous botanical nomenclature, finding that traditional Yi plant naming methods are at risk of gradually being replaced by Han Chinese methods.
Abstract: With increasing outside cultural influences and economic development among the Yi people of Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan, China, we sought to document traditional Yi language plant names and classification methods. Over 15 consecutive years (2003–2017), we used ethnobotanical surveys and interviews to investigate local knowledge of common plants in Liangshan. We collected Yi names of 322 plant taxa from 109 families and analyzed the Liangshan Yi’s indigenous botanical nomenclature. Many Yi language plant names include a suffix bbo, meaning “plant,” or syr meaning “tree.” Plants foundational to Yi culture, such as buckwheat, hemp, and bamboo, have monosyllabic names on which other plant names, compound words, and place names are built. The Liangshan Yi have a binomial nomenclature system used especially for crops, with “folk generics” based on plant life form or economic use, and “folk species/varieties” based on plant characteristics or habitat. Liangshan Yi generally name introduced plants by borrowing names from Mandarin Chinese in two ways: (1) borrowed sound (transliteration) or (2) borrowed sound combined with Yi morphemes (loan blends). With increased introduction of non-native plants into Liangshan, and greater market interactions between Han and Yi communities in Liangshan, traditional Yi plant naming methods are at risk of gradually being replaced by Han Chinese methods. Standardized education in Mandarin Chinese, increased Han migration to Liangshan, and changing lifestyles also contribute to decrease in knowledge and usage of Liangshan Yi plant names.
TL;DR: The use of dye plants is part of the cultural inheritance of Santa Rosa de Lima, Mexico as discussed by the authors and women mainly use indigo and cochineal to dye wool for making traditional clothing.
Abstract: The use of dye plants is part of the cultural inheritance of Santa Rosa de Lima, Mexico. Numerous dye plants are present in the region, but women mainly use indigo and cochineal to dye wool for making traditional clothing. A comparative study was conducted to identify changes in the use of natural dyes between 1995 and 2017. A bibliographic review identified 29 potential dye species in the region. A catalog of 149 samples of dyed wool was created using these species and was presented to 11 local women to evaluate their willingness to use different natural dyes. Despite the existence of various dye species in the region, the women preferred indigo and cochineal because these dyes form part of their cultural identity. The women were aware of only five regional dye species, dodder, dahlia, Mexican marigold, sunflower, and bush sunflower, which are used to create yellow, orange, and green colors. The collection of wild dye plants has decreased over time, and these plants have been increasingly substituted by Mexican marigold. However, the women showed interest in using nine of the 29 species in the catalog and in selling handmade textiles, even though this artisanal activity has not been developed up to the present date.
TL;DR: New plant uses that were shared within the same ethnic group are reported for the first time with considerable agreement among informants and should be given high priority in bioscreening for new antimicrobial drugs.
Abstract: Drug resistance in pathogenic microorganisms threatens both human and animal health. This has prompted the search for new antimicrobial drugs, including the ones from plant-derived medicines. Some researchers have suggested that medicinal plants used by multiple cultures are more likely to be pharmacologically active. We interviewed 808 informants across seven ethnic groups in northern Thailand about their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants. Plants used to treat infections were compared and agreement about a particular use of a plant was evaluated using the “frequency of citation.” When agreements were found between two or more informants, we searched for confirmation in other studies for medicinal uses and biological activities reported for that particular plant species. Of the 808 informants, 103 mentioned 199 distinct plant uses of 143 plant species to treat 21 different “infection” disorders. Of the 199 plant uses, 114 were mentioned by two or more informants; 15 plant uses were shared between different ethnic groups and 55 plant uses were shared within the same ethnic group and had identical or similar uses mentioned in other studies, sometimes in distantly located cultures. The convergent information suggests the bioactivity of a certain plant that may have been discovered independently. However, the remaining 44 plant uses that were shared within the same ethnic group are here reported for the first time with considerable agreement among informants. These new plant uses should be given high priority in bioscreening for new antimicrobial drugs.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors documented the extraction volumes for illicitly traded orchids, the status of the populations affected by this activity, the socioeconomic profiles of the vendors, or the factors determining income, which are essential for designing strategies to conserve this resource.
Abstract: The orchid trade is an informal activity in Mexico traditionally performed by indigenous people; however, this activity, based on the extraction of wild specimens without a management plan, is sanctioned by environmental laws. Few studies have documented the extraction volumes for illicitly traded orchids, the status of the populations affected by this activity, the socioeconomic profiles of the vendors, or the factors determining income, which are essential for designing strategies to conserve this resource. We documented species richness, abundance, and prices for orchids traded during December in traditional markets in Chiapas, Mexico. The relationships among price, species showiness, and some variables determining income were evaluated. We recorded 28 traded species, all of which were extracted from neighboring, protected, and high-biodiversity forests. The most income was generated from three species, which were also the most abundant in the markets. This trade affects the conservation of two threatened Mexican orchids, but at a state level, it also impacts populations of other species that are not considered at risk. A significant relationship was found between the price of an orchid and its flower size and between the vendor’s income and the quantity of orchids traded by him. The income obtained by a vendor was significantly explained by orchid inflorescence abundance, vendor’s age, and a biodiversity index estimated here.
TL;DR: Using a quantitative ethnobotanical methodology, 107 plant species belonging to 49 families used by Q’eqchi’ Maya healers in the treatment of symptoms from 14 usage categories related to inflammation are identified.
Abstract: Using a quantitative ethnobotanical methodology, we identified 107 plant species belonging to 49 families used by Q’eqchi’ Maya healers in the treatment of symptoms from 14 usage categories related to inflammation. The families with the largest number of medicinal species were Piperaceae, Araceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Adiantaceae with five or more medicinal species. Healer consensus for plant species was high, with 56 species (52%) being used by all the healers, and consensus for usage categories was also high, as informant consensus factor (FIC) values for each category were greater than 0.4.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented a method for the identification of the most economically significant species through a compound index, which proved to be a useful tool not only to discover which species are the most relevant, but also to provide explanations for the reasons behind their significance.
Abstract: Local Knowledge and Economical Significance of Commercialized Wild Edible Mushrooms in the Markets of Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico. Wild edible mushrooms are a non-timber forest product of great importance because of their edibility, their cultural and ecological roles, and particularly their economic relevance as merchandise. This study presents a method for the identification of the most economically significant species through a compound index. Fieldwork was carried out in seven markets in the city of Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico. We recorded the sale of 16 species that constitute 10 local ethnotaxa. Aspects of traditional mycological knowledge regarding systematics, ethnoecology, uses, and collection practices were also obtained. The most significant taxa were Hypomyces lactifluorum, Amanita complex. caesarea, Ramaria spp., and Lyophyllum decastes. We can suggest that the most economically significant species of mushrooms sold in this region are those with the highest supply in markets and correspondingly high profit for collectors. The compound index proved to be a useful tool not only to discover which species are the most relevant, but also to provide explanations for the reasons behind their significance.
TL;DR: This research furthers understanding of and capacity to engage community value during urgent local transitions from ecological protection to prioritization and introduces the concept of “folk biological value”—the value of the more-than-human living world to cultural cohesion and survival.
Abstract: Folk Biological Value and Chestnut Conservation in Turkey. An ethnobotany dedicated to biocultural survival must advance research methods that perceive and support the biological basis of cultural survival in tandem with the cultural basis of biodiversity maintenance. To help address this challenge, we introduce the concept of “folk biological value”—the value of the more-than-human living world to cultural cohesion and survival—as well as a method to investigate and apply it to an ongoing biological conservation endeavor. In Turkey, the sweet chestnut tree population (Castanea sativa Mill.) is threatened by multiple exotic pathogens. In order to engage and study the collective value motivating continued chestnut presence and association, we sampled communities along the legible value structure of the value chain. We conducted 162 group interviews with 12 chestnut value chain groups across Turkey. Our results show how botanical knowledge of the tree transforms significantly in correspondence to the flow of the value chain. Further, we demonstrate that while the Black Sea region and western Turkey represent distinct human geographic zones of chestnut engagement, the most substantial countervailing forces defining nationwide conservation priorities are commercial and local maintenance value. This research furthers understanding of and capacity to engage community value during urgent local transitions from ecological protection to prioritization.
TL;DR: The Seikei Zusetsu agricultural catalog is a valuable repository of traditional Japanese knowledge on crops, agricultural practices, and food processing methods and could stimulate efforts to create more agrobiodiverse farming systems and the marketing of high value crops to ensure the survival of distinctive food cultures.
Abstract: Historic illustrations represent interesting source material for the study of traditional crop varieties that have not been described in the literature or safeguarded in germplasm institutes or botanic gardens. Here, we present the crop diversity depicted on 143 illustrated pages of the 30-volume Seikei Zusetsu agricultural catalog, compiled in Japan around 1800 and gifted to the Dutch East India Company physician and naturalist Philipp Franz Von Siebold (1796–1866). We identified 109 different species of crops and wild edible plants in the catalog, in which cereals were represented with 35 different varieties and Brassicaceae with 29 varieties of turnips, cabbages, and radishes. We published all images online, with translations of the historic Kanji and Katakana names, of which 103 included ancient Dutch crop names. Less than half of these early nineteenth-century crop species are still grown in substantial quantities in Japan today, although some may have survived in home gardens. The Seikei Zusetsu catalog is a valuable repository of traditional Japanese knowledge on crops, agricultural practices, and food processing methods and could stimulate efforts to create more agrobiodiverse farming systems and the marketing of high-value crops to ensure the survival of distinctive food cultures.