Comparative analysis of plant use in peri-urban domestic gardens of the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

BackgroundRelatively little has been researched or published on the importance of peri-urban domestic gardens as part of a household livelihood strategy in South Africa. Due to lack of comprehensive data on peri-urban domestic gardens, their potential value as luxury green space, provision of food, income and ecosystem services to the fast growing urban population in South Africa is not clearly known. The aim of this study was to document differences and similarities in plant use and diversity in domestic gardens of two peri-urban communities in the Limpopo Province that differ in proximity to an urban area.MethodsData on plant use categories of 62 domestic gardens in the peri-urban areas of the Limpopo Province were collected in Seshego and Lebowakgomo. Semi-structured interviews, observation and guided field walks with 62 participants were employed between May and October 2012.ResultsA total of 126 plant species were recorded for both Seshego and Lebowakgomo. Domestic gardens in the more remote areas of Lebowakgomo were characterized by higher percentage of food plants (47 species, 83.8% of the total food plants recorded) and medicinal plants (31 species, 83.7%). Lebowakgomo domestic gardens were also characterized by higher numbers of indigenous plants (76.7%) showing similarities to the natural surrounding vegetation in terms of plant species. On the contrary, domestic gardens of Seshego on the periphery of the city centre were characterized by higher percentage of exotic species (81.8%) and ornamental plants (73%), with food plants playing a supplementary role. Comparison of the two areas demonstrated a remarkable difference in plant use and composition.ConclusionsThis study revealed that there are differences in utilization of plant resources between households on the edge of an urban centre and those in the more remote areas. Food and medicinal plants play an important role in remote areas; while ornamental plants play an important role in urban domestic gardens. But the collective desire for food, medicinal and ornamental plants by both communities on the edge of an urban centre and those in the more remote areas highlight the importance of plant resources in domestic gardens.

Agrobiodiversity and in situ conservation in quilombola home gardens with different intensities of urbanization

“…Differences in floristic and structural composition among conditions of rurality can suggest different uses for home gardens, where rural home gardens tend to maintain a function of subsistence, possessing species used for diverse needs, such as food and medicine (Arifin et al 1998;Kehlenbeck et al 2007;Cilliers et al 2013;Mosina 2014;Poot-Pool et al 2015;), and peri-urban home gardens tend to accentuate services related to ornamental species (Kumar & Nair 2004;Cilliers et al 2013;Poot-Pool et al 2015). This occurs, in part, because residents earn a relatively high income from various non-agricultural economic activities, which allows them to favor the hedonic and esthetic contributions of home gardens (Arifin et al 1998;Kehlenbeck et al 2007;Cilliers et al 2013;Mosina 2014).…”

Establishment of an in vitro culture of Pelargonium × domesticum cultivars characterized by different growth requirements

“…Their leaves come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some Pelargonium species, and their derived cultivars with beautiful five-petalled flowers -widely known as rose-scented geraniums or regal geraniums -are eagerly cultivated as popular indoor or outdoor ornamental plants (Mosina et al, 2014;Darras et al, 2015). Several other species from this genus are also valued as medicinally important plant materials (Saraswathi et al, 2011;Moyo and Van Staden, 2014).…”

Useful Plants Grown and Maintained in Domestic Gardens of the Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

“…From literature, domestic gardens are not only important as sources of food, medicines and income for households involved in their management, but are also important for in-situ conservation of genetic resources for food and agriculture (Agnihotri et al 2004). The importance of domestic gardens is evident across several countries and societies (Blanckaert et al 2004;Eichemberg et al 2009;Molebatsi et al 2010;Nemudzudzanyi et al 2010;Maroyi 2013b;Linger 2014;Maroyi and Mosina 2014;Mekonnen et al 2014;Mosina et al 2014;Whitney and Gebauer 2014), but there is dearth of information on the importance of urban domestic gardens in South Africa. Thus, the current study was undertaken to investigate plant diversity and uses in urban domestic gardens of the Limpopo Province, South Africa.…”

“…This agro forestry system is believed to be more diverse and, therefore, provide multiple environmental services for households than other monocropping agricultural systems. Other literature on domestic gardens, including Blanckaert et al (2004), Eichemberg et al (2009), Maroyi 2013b, Molebatsi et al (2010), Mosina et al (2014), and Nemudzudzanyi et al (2010) documented aspects such as food security, income generation, medicinal uses and ecosystem services that are associated with domestic gardens. From literature, domestic gardens are not only important as sources of food, medicines and income for households involved in their management, but are also important for in-situ conservation of genetic resources for food and agriculture (Agnihotri et al 2004).…”

“…All these studies emphasise the potentially significant contribution urban domestic garden flora has to human well-being and urban biodiversity in South Africa. This investigation is part of a larger study (see Mosina et al 2014) aimed at documenting the ethno botanical knowledge held by local people residing in under-developed areas of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. The current study, therefore, attempts to fill this gap on the knowledge of domestic urban garden flora in the Limpopo Province, South Africa.…”