Use of non-crop food vascular plants in Montseny biosphere reserve (Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula)

Abstract

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the massif of Montseny (Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula), a mountainous UNESCO's biosphere reserve that summarizes the main European (from Mediterranean to subalpine) climates and landscapes. This article presents the results concerning the use of non-crop vascular food plants, numbering 132. Edible plants (75), as well as those involved in drink preparation (84) are considered. The study shows the different ways of preparation, preservation and consumption of plants. Most food plants also have uses as folk medicines in the region considered, and the relationships between foods and medicines are discussed. The presence and usage of wild relatives of cultivated plants in the territory studied are also commented upon.

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

“…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.…”

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

“…The data of this study confirm that people tend to use preferably the plants that are easily available to them, excluding of course those that are toxic or noxious. As Bonet and Vallès (2002), Bonet et al (1999), Johns et al (1990) and Stepp and Moerman (2001) affirm, the more common a plant (family or species) is in an area, the greater is the probability of its popular use. Most of the times the wild food plants gathering at a local level depends mainly on the plant diversity of an area.…”

“…The young shoots of Asparagus acutifolius (Cyprus, Spain, Italy), Asparagus stipularis (Cyprus) and the young leaves of Silene vulgaris (Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Italy), which are some examples in the sites studied, are cut, fried and mixed with eggs to make an omelette. A. acutifolius is prepared in the same way in some parts of Italy (Pieroni 1999), the Iberian Peninsula (Bonet and Vallès 2002) and in the Bodrum area of Turkey (Ertug 2004). A number of wild edibles are used in traditional recipes.…”

“…Within the Mediterranean in the past decade, few studies have systematically analysed in sufficient detail the consumption of non-cultivated botanicals in specific regions of the Mediterranean area (Forbes 1976;Meilleur 1982Meilleur , 1986Paelotti et al 1995;Pieroni 1999;Pieroni et al 2002, Bonet andVallès 2002;Tardio et al 2002;Guarrena 2003;Pieroni et al 2005;Della et al 2006). At a circum-Mediterranean level, most ethobotanical and ethnopharmacological studies conducted have primarily addressed medicinal (Moerman et al 1999) or ethnoveterinary (Pieroni et al 2006) plants and have ignored food plants, while Rivera et al (2006) analysed in a comprehensive publication the gathered Mediterranean food plants.…”

The Consumption of Wild Edible Plants

“…Research projects and studies in the Iberian peninsula, particularly in Spain (Alarcón et al 2015;Bonet et al 2002;Carvalho 2010;González et al 2011;Menendez-Baceta et al 2012;Molina et al 2014;Parada et al 2011;Pardo de Santayana et al 2007;Tardío et al 2006), have reemphasized the cultural and dietary importance of wild edible plants, also strengthening their nutraceutical value, interest as functional foods, and contribution to a healthy diet (Leonti et al 2006;Morales et al 2013Morales et al , 2014Sánchez-Mata et al 2012).…”