Multiple wild edible herbs coexist in paddy fields under the agricultural practices used for growing rice. Paddy field vegetation was surveyed and the rural population's perceptions and use of wild edible herbs were investigated in the northern Lao People's Democratic Republic. A total of 115 wild herbaceous species were observed in the paddy fields of two villages; 52 species grew in fields, 95 on levees, and 63 on banks. Of these, 25 species were locally used, and 22 were sold as a mixture at the Xamneua market, with species composition varying by availability and season. The total number of edible greens increased during the summer season when available vegetables were scarce. Marsilea quadrifolia L. (Marsileaceae), the most abundant in the field and in the market, as well as Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. (Apiaceae), Eryngium foetidum L. (Apiaceae), Spilanthes oleracea L. (Asteraceae), and Monochoria hastata (L.) Solms (Pontederiaceae) were the most popular wild herbs sold. Wild edible herbs are called "phak", which is also used to indicate cultivated vegetables, and clearly distinguishes them from the inedible herbs referred to as "nya". Two methods are employed to gather wild edible herbs: some plants are uprooted as a way of thinning individuals, and other plants have only their young leaves picked so that they can be harvested repeatedly. Gathering and selling wild edible herbs was mainly conducted by women and children 2 for whom it was a source of cash income. Thus, the relationships that exist between people and the wild plants they maintain as part of their farming activities can be considered an indicator of paddy field agrodiversity.
The paper aims to examine plant species diversity, density, and distribution in different altitudinal zones of Bolikhamxay Province, Central Lao PDR. We conducted an inventory to collect the data from a total of 10 sampling plots from five villages of four districts of Bolikhamxay Province situated at different geographical locations with different above mean sea level. The analysis revealed that the Shannon diversity index was diverse in all sites. We found approximately 55 plant species with circumference of greater than 94 cm in the sampling plot 40x40m and 43 plant species with circumference of 32-93 cm in the sampling plot 20x20 m. We also found 40 different plant species in the sampling plot 10x10m when tree species has circumference of 4-31 cm. In small sampling plots 2x2m, we found 43 plant species which are plant species with circumference of less than 3 cm (height of 0.3-1.5m) and non-timber forest products (NTFPs). Overall, there were high variations in relative density, density, species richness, litter decomposition, and soil hardness in the study area and it can be concluded that the study area has diverse plants species and different geographical habitats of trees.
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