Floristic Inventory of Ethnobotanically Important Halophytes of North-Western Mediterranean Coastal Brackish Areas, Tuscany, Italy

Abstract

Plants have always been used by people for multiple purposes, but over the centuries knowledge of useful plants has largely been lost. Through ethnobotanical studies it is possible to retrieve information on the uses of plants and renew the ancient attention to plants which could be useful to apply in modern applications. In this context, the ethnobotanical use of halophytes has not been explored in depth. The present study focused on the flora of two brackish areas of the north-western Mediterranean sited in Tuscany, Italy. This research aimed to identify the halophyte species of ethnobotanical interest and create a relative map database of the study areas. The floristic list of the two areas, including 78 halophyte and non-halophyte species, was created following periodic field sampling, localization of the species by GPS, and taxonomic identification. The ethnobotanical information was acquired through a bibliographic survey. Botanical, geographic, and ethnobotanical information was filed and included in floristic maps produced using the free Open Source QGIS software. Of the total wild species surveyed, 50% were halophytes with ethnobotanical properties, with a predominance for medicinal ones. Some of them are the subject of numerous studies today such as those on antioxidants. Both investigated areas showed a high floristic and ethnobotanical value. This makes them interesting as potential germplasm banks to be used in various application contexts of ethnobotany.

Exploring the benefits of wild plants in dietary nutrition: investigating perspectives, choices, health impacts and sustainable practices

“…S. virginianum was extensively utilized by the local population in the study area. Upon reviewing previous literature, it was discovered that this plant had been traditionally employed for asthma, pain, and as a diuretic [ 43 ]. However, our current study revealed a novel use, indicating that it was employed in the treatment of liver problems in the study area .…”

Fungal and Fungal-like Diseases of Halophytes in the Mediterranean Basin: A State-of-the-Art Review

“…Other representative families are Brassicaceae, Poaceae, and Portulacaceae. They have been traditionally collected in the wild for human consumption and medicinal uses [13,14]. However, plant harvest in the wild (foraging) presents many risks due to possible microbiological and chemical contamination and appears to be incompatible with the quality and safety standards required by the current food market.…”

Wild Edible Plant Species in the ‘King’s Lagoon’ Coastal Wetland: Survey, Collection, Mapping and Ecological Characterization

“…Salicornia spp. is used as a vegetable and it is currently gaining increasing commercial interest; it is a halophyte species (i.e., it can tolerate high soil salinity concentrations) and it can be cultivated under very high soil salinity conditions [59][60][61]. Suaeda vera J. F. Gmel.…”

“…The descriptions of these plant species in the literature are in perfect agreement with what was observed in our analysis, confirming all of their ecological characteristics and properties. Suaeda vera (S6), is a perennial halophyte commonly found in high to moderate salinity conditions; it has the ability to thrive in dry to very dry soils [60,61,88]. According to Sordes et al [89], Suaeda vera can be the dominant species, is able to recolonize silty salt sediments, and, together with other species, such as Salicornia sp., is a facilitator pioneer species in salt marsh succession.…”

“…Salicornia sp. (S5) is a pioneer plant [96,97] and, being a halophyte that is frequently found in salt marshes and that grows in saline areas near the coastlines, is known as one of the most salt-tolerant and low-water-demanding plants [60,61,98]. From an ecological perspective, this plant belongs to a family of extreme halophytes, a specific plant group that can be strongly adapted to saline environments.…”