Ethnobotanical study on wild edible plants used by three trans-boundary ethnic groups in Jiangcheng County, Pu’er, Southwest China

Abstract

Background Dai, Hani, and Yao people, in the trans-boundary region between China, Laos, and Vietnam, have gathered plentiful traditional knowledge about wild edible plants during their long history of understanding and using natural resources. The ecologically rich environment and the multi-ethnic integration provide a valuable foundation and driving force for high biodiversity and cultural diversity in this region. However, little study has uncovered this unique and attractive culture to the world. Methods We conducted ethnobotanical survey in 20 villages of Jiangcheng County from 2016 to 2020. Altogether 109 local Dai, Hani, and Yao people were interviewed, and their traditional knowledge about wild edible plants was recorded. Voucher specimens were identified by the authors and deposited in the herbarium of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences (HITBC). The use value was used as a quantitative index to evaluate the consumption frequency and relative importance of the wild edible plants. The Jaccard index was calculated to assess the usage similarity of different areas. The relationship of age and recognized wild edible plants by different ethnic people was performed by R. Results A total of 211 wild edible plants, belonging to 71 families and 151 genera, were recorded. These plants were consumed as wild edible vegetables, seasonal fruits, salads, spices, sour condiments, tonic soups, tea substitutes, liquor brewing, or dyeing materials. The use value (UV), current cultivation, market availability, and the quantitative traditional knowledge inheritance situation of these wild edible plants among different generations, were analyzed. Based on the data from the threatened species list of China’s higher plants and the IUCN Red List, the food plant list for Asia Elephant, the Subject Database of China Plant, and the calculated UV score, the top 30 most important wild edible plants were selected for further cultivation in some local villages. Conclusion Traditional knowledge of wild edible plants, owned by Dai, Hani, and Yao people in Jiangcheng County, is rich but at risk of being lost among the young generation. Diversified cultivation of wild edible plants by the local communities could be a solution for the sustainable use of natural resources and to conserve the endangered species in this trans-boundary region.

Ethnobotanical study of wild edible fruits in eastern Bhutan

“…In this regard, we found high indigenous knowledge among middle-aged people in their 40s and 50s compared to younger and older age groups, which are consistent with studies done in Pakistan and Nepal [ 39 , 62 ]. However, it contradicts the findings of Uprety et al [ 21 ] where younger people were more knowledgeable than the older population, and some studies in China where the oldest generation had more traditional knowledge than others [ 55 , 63 ]. Based on our field observation, there are three possible explanations for this tendency: firstly, people in their 40’s and 50’s were more knowledgeable due to first-hand experience; secondly, the less knowledge in younger generations, particularly from 20 to 30 years, would likely stem from their low interest in WEFs, and less exposure to the wild environment since the majority of the youngsters spend more time at schools or in town nowadays; thirdly, the declining knowledge exhibited by the senior citizens could be because they have less direct involvement in the forest.…”

Chemical Composition and Antifungal, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiviral, and Larvicidal Activities of the Essential Oils of Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC. from China and Myanmar

“…Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC., mainly distributed in China, Myanmar, India, and Nepal, is used as a medicine to cure many diseases and as a spice in cooking by local people [1]. Ethnobotanical research revealed that it was called "ge ma ga", "mo zi la", or "za bu ga biu" by local Dai, Hani, and Yao people, and its roots and fruit were used to treat cold, stomach pain, bruising and injury in Yunnan and Guizhou, China [8][9][10][11][12][13]. In Myanmar, local Chin people name it "Dan bung hling" and use its crushed fruits to cure toothache, mosquito, and leech bites, or boil its fruits and leaves and then apply them as warm baths [14].…”

Collection calendar: the diversity and local knowledge of wild edible plants used by Chenthang Sherpa people to treat seasonal food shortages in Tibet, China

“…Local people could earn extra income by selling some of the economic WEPs [10]. Local people often sell WEPs to urban residents and tourists in the market to increase their income [75]. Because of economic and social development, Chenthang Town welcomes tourists from all over the world with an open attitude.…”