Showing papers in "Economic Botany in 2021"

Hop (Humulus lupulus L.): Traditional and Present Use, and Future Potential

Abstract: Hop (Humulus lupulus L.): Traditional and Present Use, and Future Potential. Hop (Humulus lupulus) is best known for its use in beer brewing owing to its bittering flavor and floral aroma. Today, the brewing industry uses as much as 98% of the produced hop crop worldwide. However, there are many other uses, some of them known since prehistoric times. Hops, the cone–like female structures called strobili, are the most frequently used part of the hop plant, but other tissues are of interest as well. The present review compiles existing knowledge of the chemical and pharmacological properties, traditional and present uses and further use potential, genetic resources, and breeding attempts in H. lupulus, and discusses climate change challenges to hop production. It contains hundreds of phytochemicals, and some of the secondary metabolites have definite potential pharmacological and medicinal value, but further investigations are desirable. Hop substances are potential alternatives, e.g., in antimicrobial, cancer, metabolic syndrome, and hormone replacement therapy treatments, as well as insecticides, preservatives, and fragrances. There are presently a few hundred cultivated hop varieties, and new cultivars are being developed and tested. Future hop breeding efforts with different quality and adaptation targets can utilize existing genetic resources, such as wild populations and landraces present in many regions.

On-Farm Management of Rice Diversity, Varietal Preference Criteria, and Farmers’ Perceptions of the African (Oryza glaberrima Steud.) Versus Asian Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the Republic of Benin (West Africa): Implications for Breeding and Conservation

Abstract: Rice (Oryza spp.) is an important food and cash crop in the Republic of Benin. However, despite its production increase in recent years, the yield of cultivated varieties remains low, and the introduction of improved varieties threatens the rice diversity existing in traditional agriculture. Therefore, documenting the on-farm management of rice diversity, farmers’ varietal preferences, and their perceptions of the performance of cultivated varieties and species are important prerequisites for the development of on-site breeding and conservation programs. To fill these gaps in Benin, 418 rice farmers, belonging to 21 ethnic groups, were surveyed in 39 villages using participatory rural appraisal tools. Subject to synonymy, 30 improved varieties and 68 local varieties were registered and their folk nomenclature and taxonomy were documented. The north of Benin had the highest diversity of rice with the greatest number of traditional varieties, making this region the best place for an in situ conservation program. The number of rice varieties maintained per village varied from 1 to 15 (six on average). The foursquare analysis revealed that the improved variety IR 841 was by far the most popular variety. Most of NERICA varieties were abandoned in the south, while the north still hosts a wide range of local varieties. Twenty-one reasons explained varietal abandonment by farmers, varying according to geographic areas and ethnic groups. The seed system was both formal and informal in the study area. The participatory evaluation revealed the necessity to create and introduce tolerant/resistant rice varieties to drought and flooding stresses in Beninese agriculture that meet farmers’ preferences. Our results showed that north Benin would be the most suitable place for in situ conservation of local rice diversity.

Neither Wild nor Cultivated: American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) Seller Surveys Provide Insights into in situ Planting and Husbandry1

Abstract: Neither Wild nor Cultivated: American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) Seller Surveys Provide Insights into in situ Planting and Husbandry. American ginseng has been gathered commercially in eastern North America for nearly 300 years. A possible contemporary influence on wild supplies is the augmentation of wild ginseng populations by harvesters using commercially available stock from cultivation. We utilized a confidential, annual survey over eight years (2012–2019) in Pennsylvania, United States, to examine the extent to which forest planting of commercial germplasm may account for wild ginseng harvest amounts. Three in ten (28%) root sellers reported that some of the ginseng they sold as “wild” was produced using in situ production methods involving scattering seeds in the forest. One in four (26%) of planters reported using commercially available planting stock in these efforts. Moreover, there was geographic overlap between study participants and the top wild ginseng harvest counties, suggesting planting activities might contribute partially to higher harvest amounts. Respondents confided a hesitancy towards reporting ginseng planting activities on buyer paperwork, as is increasingly being requested, fearing price devaluation, theft, taxation, and disagreement over what constitutes “wild.” Our results suggest that an improved understanding of U.S. wild ginseng origins and trends, especially as influenced by in situ planting and forest farming, will require confidential reporting mechanisms to accommodate seller concerns surrounding disclosure.

Mind the Gap: Maize Phytoliths, Macroremains, and Processing Strategies in Southern New England 2500–500 BP

Abstract: Mind the Gap: Maize Phytoliths, Macroremains, and Processing Strategies in Southern New England 2500–500 BP. This study presents preliminary results from a phytolith analysis of carbonized food residues and sediment soils from sites in southern New England (Connecticut and Rhode Island) dating 2500–500 BP. Phytolith analyses of carbonized food residues from sites across northeastern North America outside of southern New England demonstrate that maize (Zea mays L.) was introduced to the region as early as 2300 BP, hundreds of years before major shifts in settlement strategies became widespread. Phytolith evidence for maize in eastern North America likewise appears hundreds of years earlier than most maize macroremains, such as kernels, cobs, and cupules, appear. This has puzzled researchers attempting to piece together how maize was first circulated and used in the Eastern Woodlands. Preliminary phytolith analysis of carbonized food residues from seven sites indicates that, consistent with research outside the study area, at least some groups in southern New England cooked maize as early as 2300 BP. The results also indicate that maize cooking practices varied in ways that likely reflect broader subsistence strategies and that may explain the temporal gap between maize phytoliths and maize macroremains.

Migrant Pharmacopoeias: An Ethnobotanical Survey of Four Caribbean Communities in Amazonia (French Guiana).

Abstract: French Guiana is an overseas French department in South America at the margin of the Amazon basin. Its population is characterized by an important number of cultural groups. Many inhabitants originate from the Caribbean (mostly Saint Lucia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic). The objectives of this study were to present an overview of the main uses of plants among the Caribbean populations in French Guiana, and how they contribute to the dynamics of plant–based practices, in order to provide insights into ethnobotanical convergences, divergences, and hybridizations (such as the importation of new species and associated practices, and the adoption of Amazonian species by Caribbean people). Interviews and botanical voucher collections were conducted throughout the coastal area of French Guiana. Sixteen Saint Lucian, nineteen Haitian, eighteen French Caribbean, and twelve Dominican informants were interviewed during the fieldwork. Altogether they use 212 botanical species. Some plants have recently been imported directly from the Caribbean, while adaptations have also taken place: some species that do not exist locally are abandoned while Amazonian species are integrated to form hybrid pharmacopoeias. The phytotherapies of these communities in French Guiana are still conserved as consistent sets of knowledge, although they tend to blend through an ongoing process of hybridization.

Qarakhanids on the Edge of the Bukhara Oasis: Archaeobotany of Medieval Paykend

Abstract: The urban center of Paykend was an exchange node just off the main corridor of the Silk Road in the Bukhara Oasis on the edge of the hyperarid Kyzyl–Kum Desert. The city was occupied from the end of 4 century B.C.E. to the mid–12 century C.E.; our study focuses on the Qarakhanid period (C.E. 999 – 1211), the last imperial phase of urban occupation at Paykend before its abandonment. In this study, we present the results of an analysis of archaeobotanical remains recovered from a multifunction rabat, which appears to have comprised a domicile, military structure, center of commerce, and/or a caravanserai, a roadside inn for travelers. We shed light on how people adapted a productive economy to the local ecological constraints. By adding these data to the limited Qarakhanid archaeobotany from across Central Asia, we provide the first glimpses into cultivation, commerce, and consumption at a Silk Road trading town along the King’s Road, the central artery of ancient Eurasia.

Socio-Cultural Significance of Yerba Maté among Syrian Residents and Diaspora.

Abstract: Socio–Cultural Significance of Yerba Mate among Syrian Residents and Diaspora. Syria is the world’s second–largest importer of the dried leaves of Ilex paraguariensis A.St.–Hil., commonly known as yerba mate. The unique story of yerba mate in the Syrian beverage culture started at the beginning of the twentieth century when Syrian migrants returning from South America brought the beverage with them. The overall aim of our study is to understand yerba mate use among Syrians and its role as an essential part of the Syrian beverage culture. We compare yerba mate consumption on spatial, gender, and religious bases through semi–structured interviews with 50 respondents, with equal participation among genders, place of residence, and cultural–religious groups (Sunni, Alawite, Christian, Druze, and Ismaili). We found that the Alawite and Druze groups have the highest yerba mate consumption, and that men drink more than women. Yerba mate was the most preferred stimulant drink among participants, followed by coffee and tea, respectively. Interviews reveal social and cultural factors, perceived addiction, perceived pleasure, and perceived health properties as the drivers behind yerba mate consumption in Syria.

More than Maize, Bananas, and Coffee: The Inter- and Intraspecific Diversity of Edible Plants of the Huastec Mayan Landscape Mosaics in Mexico1.

Abstract: More than Maize, Bananas, and Coffee: The Inter– and Intraspecific Edible Plant Diversity in Huastec Mayan Landscape Mosaics in Mexico. Global emergencies such as biodiversity loss and climate crisis urge us to identify and mainstream crop genetic resources in complex indigenous farming systems to understand their role as genetic reservoirs and identify synergies in productive landscapes between development, conservation, and food security. We aimed to characterize the inter– and intraspecific diversity of food plants of the Tenek (or Huastec) in Mexico and their distribution within and between the different land–use systems along a tropical altitudinal gradient. Tenek farmers manage a highly diverse and dynamic food biota in swidden maize fields, agroforestry systems, and home gardens. Even with a small sample size, our study provides a complete analysis of the food crop diversity in the research area. The Tenek cultivate a high number of 347 registered species and variants, most of them at medium altitude. Intraspecific diversity dominates (69%). All land–use systems of the agroecosystem complex serve as a specific pool for plant genetic resources, and there is a low similarity between and within systems and localities, especially at the intraspecific level. The proportion of rare and unique food plants is high. We recommend an agroecosystem approach and prioritization for conservation as well as other efforts related to the in situ crop genetic capital.

Commercialization of Aframomum spp. in Africa: a Systematic Review of Literature and Supporting Botanical Vouchers

Abstract: Aframomum (Zingiberaceae) is a genus of plants native to tropical Africa that are sold on African markets as spices and traditional medicine. Not all species of Aframomum are equally abundant or widespread, and no overview exists of the specific species traded or the quality of the species identifications in publications referencing the sale of Aframomum. Through a systematic literature review, we show that 14 species of Aframomum are sold in 15 African countries. The majority of the studies were done in Nigeria and Cameroon and A. melegueta was the most frequently reported species in trade. A. kayserianum was the only commercialized species with confirmed conservation issues. Our literature review shows extensive knowledge gaps regarding the commercialization of Aframomum in Africa. Most studies did not include herbarium vouchers, or only used market-sourced plant material, which impedes the possibilities for species verifications. Additionally, most East African countries were devoid of relevant research. These gaps can be bridged by future research in East Africa and voucher collection from living material. Information on the conservation status of traded Aframomum species can be obtained by population studies on wild resources and documenting local domestication efforts, as the cultivation of marketed species tends to relieve the pressure from wild resources.

Population Biology of Palm Heart (Euterpe edulis Martius–Arecaceae) in Managed Landscape Units in Southern Brazil

Abstract: Population Biology of Palm Heart (Euterpe edulis Martius–Arecaceae) in Managed Landscape Units in Southern Brazil. The use of natural areas throughout history has created landscape mosaics. The landscape units assessed in this study on Euterpe edulis populations in southern Brazil consisted of secondary forests, rural homegardens, and sites inside a protected area (PA). Our goal was to compare the level of conservation of E. edulis populations in three landscape units in order to verify the influence of management practices. Twelve homegardens, four areas in secondary forests in rural properties, and several areas in a sustainable use PA were assessed. Population structure differed among the three groups of landscape units. The population density of E. edulis was higher in smaller size classes (seedling, young I) in the PA and in larger size classes (reproductive) in homegardens, whereas both situations occurred in secondary forests. Genetic divergence varied 0.001 and 0.0023 between landscape groups. The highest variation in genetic diversity indexes was recorded in homegardens, with the presence of alleles that were not found in the protected area. Genetic diversity indexes varied less in the protected area, while the average values were higher in secondary forests. We therefore concluded that the sites assessed outside protected areas also contribute to the conservation of this palm species.

Caribbean Women’s Health and Transnational Ethnobotany

Abstract: Caribbean Women’s Health and Transnational Ethnobotany. Immigrants from the Dominican Republic (DR) and Haiti are among the top foreign–born communities in New York City (NYC). As people migrate to new countries, they bring their ethnomedical beliefs and practices, and adapt their plant pharmacopoeias. Haiti and the DR share a flora on the island of Hispaniola. In NYC, the flora is limited to what is available in the city. We selected plants for future laboratory research based on ethnobotanical data from two surveys among Dominicans in the DR and NYC, and a Haitian literature review. In both Dominican datasets, gynecological infections were the top women’s health condition treated with plants. We identified 10 species for this purpose reported by Dominicans that are also known medicines in Haitian culture, although not yet documented for women’s health. Plants for gynecological infections potentially cause dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiota, and may increase rather than prevent disease. There is a public health need to assess traditional medicines for their ability to inhibit pathogenic bacteria, while causing minimal disruption to the vaginal flora. Several species are known antibacterials, but remain to be tested for their efficacy. These results also provide a foundation for a planned ethnobotanical survey among NYC Haitian women.

Characterizing the Diversity of Hawai‘i Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.)

Abstract: Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.) is one of the most important staple crops globally with particular cultural and economic significance in the Hawaiian Islands, yet the extent to which traditional cultivars persist remains unknown. The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationships between traditional Hawaiian sweet potato varieties and cultivars that originated elsewhere in the world. We sought to characterize genetic and phenotypic diversity of sweet potatoes represented in the Hawaiian Islands. To this end, a genetic assignment analysis was conducted on a sample of 77 individuals that consisted of traditional Hawaiian, USDA NPGS accessions, and recent herbarium samples. Additionally, voucher specimens of Hawaiian cultivars from the early twentieth century were assessed for variation in leaf morphology. We identified several inconsistencies within the Hawaiian-named varieties, as identically named varieties turned out to be genetically distinct, and similarly named voucher specimens varied in leaf morphology. Our findings call attention to the value of a set of Hawaiian sweet potatoes as “heirloom.” These genetically distinct traditional cultivars have unique value in local markets and present an opportunity to increase cultivar diversity in the markets and fields, support farmer income and diversified agriculture, all while contributing to reinvigoration of Hawaiian cultural heritage.

From Tree Species to Forest Services: Ethnic Differences in Lomami, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract: From tree species to forest services: ethnic differences in Lomami, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ethnicity is well–known to affect plant species’ utilization, but how ethnicity affects the identification and importance ranking of forest ecosystem services has been less documented, particularly in the Congo Basin. This research investigates how six different ethnic groups (farmers of Bantu origin and Mbote hunter–gatherers) use and value tree species and forest ecosystem services in Lomami National Park, in central Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Data were collected through 24 focus–group discussions with village elders, four for each ethnic group studied. Considerable variation in preferred tree species was observed: of the 89 morphospecies cited in total only two were cited by all ethnic groups for the same usage. Ethnicity also affected the identification and importance ranking of forest ecosystem services. Mbote hunters–gatherers prioritized bushmeat, honey, and identity, while farmer groups prioritized bushmeat, fish, and microclimate regulation. We discuss the implications of the findings for forest management in the Buffer Zone of the national park.

What Is the Most Efficient Methodology for Gathering Ethnobotanical Data and for Participant Selection? Medicinal Plants as a Case Study in the Peruvian Andes

Abstract: What Is the Most Efficient Methodology for Gathering Ethnobotanical Data and for Participant Selection? Medicinal Plants as a Case Study in the Peruvian Andes. The loss of traditional knowledge (TK) invariably continues worldwide and there is an urgent need to document and safeguard it before it vanishes. Researchers need efficient methods to document TK, taking fieldwork time and costs into account. In this study, we focused on medicinal plants to compare (1) the information provided by 600 expert and general participants from 12 localities in northern Peruvian Andes; and (2) the information gathered in semi–structured and structured interviews with 81 informants at two localities in the same area. We found that expert informants reported 91% of medicinal species and 67% of medicinal indications in less than half the time than was required to gather information from general informants. Using structured interviews yielded an increase of 18% of medicinal species and 21% of medicinal indications, but the time spent interviewing was 100% higher than in the semi–structured interviews. Overall, since time and costs are key factors often limiting ethnobotanical research, we suggest focusing on interviews with expert informants to gain efficiency. Regarding the interview method, the most efficient use of structured interviews would be in the cases or areas where (some) ethnobotanical data have been reported previously. If a researcher starts a new project and little or no previous TK data exist for a given area, we would recommend the use of semi–structured interviews. However, the available time and budget will always be key factors to be taken into account in order to select the best methodology of any TK study. ?Cual es la metodologia mas eficiente para recopilar datos etnobotanicos y para la seleccion de participantes? Las plantas medicinales como un estudio de caso en los Andes peruanos. La perdida del conocimiento tradicional (CT) continua invariablemente en todo el mundo, por lo que hay una necesidad urgente de documentarlo y rescatarlo antes de que desaparezca. Los investigadores necesitan metodos eficientes para documentar el CT, teniendo en cuenta el tiempo y el coste del trabajo de campo. En este estudio, nos enfocamos en plantas medicinales para comparar (1) la informacion obtenida de 600 participantes expertos y generales en 12 localidades del norte de los Andes peruanos; y (2) la informacion recopilada de entrevistas semiestructuradas y estructuradas con 81 informantes de dos localidades en la misma area. Documentamos que los informantes expertos conocian el 91% de las especies medicinales y el 67% de las indicaciones medicinales, dedicando menos de la mitad del tiempo que se requirio para documentar la misma informacion con los informantes generales. Al utilizar entrevistas estructuradas, obtuvimos un aumento del 18% de las especies medicinales y del 21% de las indicaciones medicinales, pero el tiempo dedicado fue 100% mayor que con respecto a las entrevistas semiestructuradas. En conjunto, dado que el tiempo y el coste son factores clave que a menudo limitan la investigacion etnobotanica, sugerimos enfocar las entrevistas con los informantes expertos para ganar eficiencia. Respecto al metodo de entrevista, el uso mas eficiente de entrevistas estructuradas se daria en los casos o areas donde se han registrado (algunos) datos etnobotanicos previamente. Si un investigador inicia un nuevo proyecto y existen pocos o ningun dato previo de CT para un area determinada, recomendariamos el uso de entrevistas semiestructuradas. Sin embargo, el tiempo disponible y el presupuesto siempre seran factores clave a tener en cuenta para seleccionar la mejor metodologia de cualquier estudio sobre CT.

Saps and Syrups, Tinctures and Teas: An Analysis of Medicinal Plant Usage in the Coastal Region of Primorska Province, Slovenia

Abstract: Saps and Syrups, Tinctures and Teas: An Analysis of Medicinal Plant Usage in the Coastal Region of Primorska Province, Slovenia. Despite a growing body of ethnobotanical work on the use of medicinal plants in Europe’s Balkan Peninsula, very little research in this field has been carried out in Slovenia. The present research sought to analyze the usage of medicinal plants and pertinent cultural elements in the coastal region of Slovenia’s Primorska province. Thirty–one informants took part in the study, listing a total of 119 taxa from 47 families. The most prevalent families were the Lamiaceae and the Asteraceae. Overall, medicinal plants were largely used for treating mild health issues, especially those associated with the respiratory and digestive systems. Multiple views of health also emerged, showing that plants were considered medicinal for reasons beyond the simple application to alleviate symptoms. Though the usage of medicinal plants in the region seems to be in decline and to carry negative connotations among the majority of the population, there were some small indications that these traditions may be passed down to some in the younger generations. Further research is needed both in this region and others of Slovenia to ensure the survival of this important traditional knowledge and to further contextualize it. Analiza sodobne uporabe zdravilnih rastlin v Slovenskem primorju. Kljub stevilnim etnobotanicnim raziskavam o zdravilnih rastlinah na Balkanu tovrstnih raziskav v Sloveniji skoraj ni. Ta raziskava je analizirala sodobno uporabo zdravilnih rastlin ter povezane kulturne norme v Slovenskem primorju. 31 oseb je sodelovalo v raziskavi, v kateri so imenovali 119 rastlin iz 47 botanicnih družin. Najbolj uporabni družini sta bili Ustnatice (Lamiaceae) in Nebinovke (Asteraceae). Zdravilne rastline so se uporabljale za lajsanje lažjih zdravstvenih težav, se posebej v dihalnem in prebavnem sistemu. Zaznanih je bilo vec vidikov zdravja, kar je pokazalo, da rastline niso le olajsale simptomov bolezni, temvec so vidni tudi drugi pozitivni ucinki. Ceprav se zdravilne rastline v tej regiji vse manj uporabljajo in ima njihova uporaba negativne konotacije za vecinsko populacijo, smo zaznali sibke znake, da se tradicija uporabe zdravilnih rastlin prenasa na predstavnike mlajse generacije. Potrebujemo vec raziskav o tej regiji in o drugih delih Slovenije, da bomo lahko zagotovili preživetje tega pomembnega kulturnega znanja.

Urban Spaces, Plants, and People in the Nineteenth-Century Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract: Urban Spaces, Plants, and People in the Nineteenth-Century Bogota, Colombia. Despite recent efforts to understand the uses of plants in Latin American cities, we know little about ethnobotanical practices in the pre-industrial nineteenth-century urban environments of this region. In order to address this gap in the existing literature, I examined the uses of ornamental, edible, and medicinal plants alongside “non-timber forest products” (NTFPs) in daily life in Bogota (Colombia) between 1830 and 1910. Primary and secondary data were collected from textual and iconographic historical sources in libraries, archives, museums, and herbaria in Colombia and the United Kingdom. The results suggest that access to urban spaces such as patios, solares, or adjacent ecosystems broadly defined the ways that people related to and used plants, which in turn illustrates how social hierarchies influenced botanical knowledge. This study represents an initial effort to explore the heretofore neglected history of ways of using plants in Latin American cities in the period immediately prior to their modernization.