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BackgroundTraditional alcoholic beverages (TABs) have only received marginal attention from researchers and ethnobotanists so far, especially in Italy. This work is focused on plant-based TABs in the Alta Valle del Reno, a mountainous area on the border between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna regions. The aims of our study were to document local knowledge about TABs and to analyze and discuss the distribution of related knowledge within the investigated communities.MethodsField data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The relative importance of each plant species used to prepare TABs was assessed by calculating a general Use Value Index (UVgeneral), a current UV (UVcurrent) and a past UV (UVpast). We also assessed personal experience of use by calculating effective and potential UV (UVeffective,UVpotential). A multivariate analysis was performed to compare ingredients in recipes recorded in the Alta Valle del Reno with those reported for neighboring areas.ResultsForty-six plant species, belonging to 20 families, were recorded. Rosaceae was the most significant family (98 citations, 19 species), followed by Rutaceae (15, 3) and Lamiaceae (12, 4). The most important species was Prunus cerasus L. (UVgeneral = 0.44), followed by Juglans regia L. (0.38), Rubus idaeus L. (0.27) and Prunus spinosa L. (0.22). Species with the highest UVcurrent were Juglans regia (0.254), Prunus cerasus (0.238) and Citrus limon L. (0.159). The highest UVeffective values were obtained by Prunus cerasus (0.413), Juglans regia (0.254), Rubus idaeus (0.222) and Citrus limon (0.206). We also discuss the results of the multivariate analysis.ConclusionsTABs proved to occupy an important place in the traditional culture and social life of the studied communities. Moreover, data highlight the local specificity and richness of this kind of tradition in the Alta Valle del Reno, compared to other Italian areas. Some plant ingredients used for TABs have potential nutraceutical and even therapeutic properties that are well known by local people. These properties could constitute an additional economic value for TABs' commercialization, which in turn could promote the local rural economy.

The main purpose of this study was, first, to analyse the morphology of seeds of Phoenix spp. and relevant cultivars and to assess the taxonomic value of the information generated as a means of studying the systematics and evolutionary history of the genus Phoenix. We then analysed seed morphological diversity in P. dactylifera, supported by morphotypes shared with fossil and/or archaeological materials, to advance the knowledge of the origins, history and biogeography of one of the most important cultivated palm species. The other objective was to develop a methodology for assigning different commercial seed samples and archaeological materials to determined morphotypes as a tool for their identification at the species level. Three hundred and sixty‐four seed samples (3920 seeds) were analysed: 304 samples of modern Phoenix spp. (including five herbarium type specimens and eight type icons), 51 archaeological samples and nine fossil seed samples and subsamples. Information was systematized in a crude matrix with 364 units representing seed samples and 67 descriptors. Descriptors are frequencies, in percentage, for each of the 41 qualitative states and of the 26 classes that were recognized for the quantitative parameters. Analyses proceeded sequentially, starting with modern samples consisting of type specimens and botanically verified specimens. Eight species show characteristic seeds and are clearly assigned to morphotypes [P. acaulis, P. canariensis s.s., P. paludosa, P. reclinata, P. roebelenii, P. rupicola, P. sylvestris and P. theophrasti (excluding populations from Datça, Turkey)]; the other taxa are not clearly separated on the basis of the seed morphology alone. In parallel, fossil and archaeobotanical samples were analysed. There is no clear separation between fossil and archaeological samples, between different periods of the archaeological samples or geographical origins. Combination of modern, fossil and archaeological seed results in the same analysis revealed that it is possible to allocate archaeological and fossil materials to morphotypes shared with modern living Phoenix spp. All archaeobotanical samples could be classified in groups with modern seed samples. The assignment of archaeobotanical samples was made, mainly, to morphotypes of P. dactylifera. However, some samples were assigned to morphotypes of P. reclinata, P. caespitosa, P. atlantica, P. theophrasti, P. pusilla and P. canariensis. Archaeological seeds were not allocated to group 19, containing the samples of P. sylvestris, P. iberica and the Miocene fossil P. bohemica. It appears that species such as P. theophrasti, P. canariensis, P. caespitosa and P. reclinata formerly had a much wider area of distribution. The morphology of two of the three Eocene samples (Phoenicites occidentalis and Phoenix hercynica) is that of P. dactylifera. Attribution and dating of these samples need to be carefully reviewed. Apparently the great diversity of P. dactylifera date morphotypes during the Neolithic was followed, during the Chalcolithic and th...