Ethnobotanical Study of Edible Wild Plants in Some Selected Districts of Ethiopia

Abstract

The ethnobotanical study on edible wild plants was carried out from May to December, 2001, in four districts of Ethiopia. The study areas included the rural and semiurban settings of Alamata, Cheha, Goma, and Yilmana Denssa districts of Tigray, Southern Peoples, Oromiya, and Amhara regional states, respectively. Voucher plant specimens were collected along with ethnobotanical information, and scientific names were determined. One hundred and fifty two plant parts from 130 species were recognized and consumed in these districts. Children consumed more wild plants during seasons of food availability (sufficient crop stock) than adults. There was marked increase in quantity and number of wild plant species consumed during food shortage and famine. A few of the reportedly edible species caused health problems that sometimes lead to fatality. Research into the safety and nutritional composition of edible wild plants and fungi is warranted. Selected edible wild plant species should be promoted as supplements to dietary variety and/or bridging the hungry periods of food shortage.

Edible Wild Fruit Trees and Shrubs and Their Socioeconomic Significance in Central Ethiopia

“…In such a condition, it is conceivable that youngsters would have less opportunity of recognizing different plant types. The vulnerability of traditional knowledge with the loss of vegetation has been well-appreciated in ethnobotanical studies (Addis et al 2005, Balemie & Kebebew 2006, Teketay et al 2010. The fact that traditional knowledge is more often transferred orally than through archived documents (Awas & Demissew 2009, Getahun 1974, Teketay & Eshete 2004 exacerbates the impact of vegetation loss on traditional knowledge of Ethiopia.…”

“…The role of edible wild plants in bridging the gap in food and energy supply, particularly to resource-poor members of the community, is significant (Asfaw & Tadesse 2001, Addis et al 2005, Teketay et al 2010). The present results provide evidence on the remarkable contribution of EWFTSs for the livelihood of the community in Arsi Zone, consumed as regular and supplementary food.…”

“…In agreement with our observation, consumption of wild plants as supplementary food and as ingredients of common meals, including in developed countries, has been reported (Bonet & Valles 2002, Neudeck et al 2012. Among many other reasons, rural people consume EWFTSs for their acceptable taste, satisfying hunger during famine, moistening mouth in the absence of drinking water, and as chewing gum (Addis et al 2005, Neudeck et al 2012, Teketay et al 2010. Earlier ethnobotanical studies indicated that consumption of wild plants is widespread in Ethiopia and used at a higher extent in food insecure areas (Addis et al 2005, Asfaw & Tadesse 2001, Getahun 1974, Teketay et al 2010 and during times of civil unrest (Asfaw & Tadesse 2001, Teketay et al 2010.…”

“…Among many other reasons, rural people consume EWFTSs for their acceptable taste, satisfying hunger during famine, moistening mouth in the absence of drinking water, and as chewing gum (Addis et al 2005, Neudeck et al 2012, Teketay et al 2010. Earlier ethnobotanical studies indicated that consumption of wild plants is widespread in Ethiopia and used at a higher extent in food insecure areas (Addis et al 2005, Asfaw & Tadesse 2001, Getahun 1974, Teketay et al 2010 and during times of civil unrest (Asfaw & Tadesse 2001, Teketay et al 2010. Thus, conservation and development of EWFTSs should be considered as an integral element of the farming system to avert food insecurity problems and improve the livelihoods of the rural community in Arsi Zone.…”

Wild and semi-domesticated food plant consumption in seven circum-Mediterranean areas

“…During the past 25 years, the collection and consumption of non-cultivated food plants have been the focus of an increasing number of field studies aimed at documenting traditional knowledge (TK) in an anthropological and ethnoecological/ ethnobotanical context: in Africa (Etkin and Ross 1982;Ogle and Grivetti 1985a,b,c,d;Johns and Kokwaro 1991;Johns et al 1996aJohns et al , 1996bSchackleton et al 1998;Lockett et al 2000;Asfaw and Tadesse 2001;Marshall 2001;Mertz et al 2001;Ogoye-Ndegwa and Aagaard-Hansen 2003;Addis et al 2005), in the Americas (Bye 1981;Lepofski et al 1985;Kuhnlein 1992;Turner 1995Turner , 1997Ladio and Lozada 2000;Ladio 2001;Vierya-Odilon and Vibrans 2001), and in Asia (MorenoBlack et al 1996;Pemberton and Lee 1996;Leimar Price 1997;Tukan et al 1998;Ertug 2000;Khasbagan et al 2000;Johnson and Grivetti 2002;Ogle et al 2003).…”