Use of weeds as traditional vegetables in Shurugwi District, Zimbabwe

Abstract

BackgroundMost agricultural weeds are usually regarded as undesirable and targeted for eradication. However, weeds are useful to human beings as food and traditional medicines. Few studies have been done to document the uses of weeds as traditional vegetables. This study was therefore, done to document indigenous knowledge related to the diversity and use of agricultural weeds as traditional vegetables in Shurugwi District, Zimbabwe, emphasizing their role in food security and livelihoods of the local people.Materials and methodsSemi-structured interviews, observation and guided field walks with 147 participants were employed between December 2011 and January 2012 to obtain ethnobotanical data on the use of edible weeds as traditional vegetables. Based on ethnobotanical information provided by the participants, botanical specimens were collected, numbered, pressed and dried for identification.ResultsA total of 21 edible weeds belonging to 11 families and 15 genera, mostly from Amaranthaceae (19%), Asteraceae and Tiliaceae (14.3%), Capparaceae, Cucurbitaceae and Solanaceae (9.5% each) were identified. Of the documented edible weeds, 52.4% are indigenous while 47.6% are exotic to Zimbabwe; either semi-cultivated or growing naturally as agricultural weeds in farmlands, fallow land and home gardens. Among the main uses of edible weeds were leafy vegetables (81%), followed by edible fruits (19%), edible corms (9.5%), edible flowers and seeds (4.8% each). The most important edible weeds were Cleome gynandra, cited by 93.9% of the participants, Cucumis metuliferus (90.5%), Cucumis anguria (87.8%), Corchorus tridens (50.3%) and Amaranthus hybridus (39.5%). All edible weeds were available during rainy and harvest period with Cleome gynandra, Corchorus tridens, Cucumis anguria, Cucumis metuliferus and Moringa oleifera also available during the dry season, enabling households to obtain food outputs in different times of the year. The importance of edible weeds for local livelihoods was ubiquitously perceived, with all participants reporting their contribution towards food security and nutrition.ConclusionThe present study confirm findings from similar studies conducted elsewhere that rural households engage in harvesting of wild edible vegetables and other non-timber forest products (NTFPs) as a survival strategy. Based on their potential nutritional and medicinal value, edible weeds could contribute in a major way to food security, basic primary health care and balanced diets of rural households and possibly urban households as well.

Nutrient composition of cats whiskers (Cleome gynandra L.) from different agro ecological zones in Malawi

“…In addition to that, mineral and trace element content of plant leaves is a function of the environment and in leafy vegetables which is strongly influenced by the chemical composition of the soil and the climate (Modi, 2007). Iron content found in this study are higher than 14.4 mg/100 g and 6.3 mg/100 g iron content of C. gynandra reported by Maroyi (2013) and Hilger (2005), respectively. However, the calcium values found in the present study are higher than 288 mg/100 g calcium content of C. gynandra reported by Mbugua et al (2008).…”

“…Vitamin C values of C. gynandra found in this study are higher than 107 and 13 mg/100 g found by Mibei et al (2011) and Maroyi (2013), respectively. These differences were expected because the amount of vitamin C in plants varies greatly due to variety, environment grown weather and level of maturity (age) of the plants (Mibei et al, 2011).…”

The Consumption of Wild Edible Plants

“…Grivetti and Ogle (2000) highlight the importance of edible weeds within regional food security, referring to the concept of hidden harvest. Weed species are closely related to crops and agricultural farming systems, and are of nutritional relevance, as reported by several authors (Bye 1981;Maroyi 2013;Molina et al 2014).…”

“…Weeds from arable crops and disturbed environments are consumed in several African and Asian countries mainly as vegetables, according to a brief review by Maroyi (2013). Likewise, the author found in other studies that weeds used as traditional greens in Zimbabwe are frequently undervalued by research and governmental institutions, although they are an important part of daily food intake, supplementing conventional vegetables and some being preserved for later use.…”

Antimicrobial Analysis of Different Parts Extract in Different Solvent System of a Waste Weed - Calotropis Procera.

“…In such places, the weeds are the only source of green view due to nature's green view, act as vision therapy for eyes. There are some weeds used for human consumption [1] and cattle fodders. Weeds have high pharmaceutical values [2] such as Tridax procumbens have antimicrobial [3,4], antiseptic, insecticidal, parasiticidal [5], and anticancerous activity [6] as its rich in secondary metabolites.…”