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The propagation of exotic species is a complex process influenced by taxa-specific factors, in addition to climate and anthropozoogenic activities. However, the introduction of plants outside their native range does not always lead to their naturalization and/or the invasion of native ecosystems. Once non-native species have become established, they become extremely difficult to eradicate or control. Moroccan wetlands are crucial to the conservation of biodiversity, but they are susceptible to invasive hygrophilous plants. The invasive potential of introduced hygrophytes in Morocco was assessed through an extensive documentation review on their distribution, biology, ecology, uses, considering both their updated scientific names and their synonymy. Three groups of hygrophytes with varying invasive potential have been identified, based on their bioclimatic distribution, intrinsic propagation ability and use. The high invasiveness group (species with high invasiveness in other countries) includes Populus nigra L., P. alba L., Cotula coronopifolia L., Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) W.T. Aiton, and Arundo donax L. With the exception of Cotula coronopifolia, which is naturalized in Morocco, none of other highly invasive in other countries species has reached naturalized and/or invasive status. The status of these introduced hygrophytes in Morocco, as well as those with moderate (Heliotropium curassavicum L., Cotula anthemoides L., Pistia stratiotes L., Cyperus eragrostis Lam., and Paspalum distichum L.) or low invasive potential [Azolla filiculoides Lam., Modiola caroliniana (L.) G. Don, Salix babylonica L., Asclepias curassavica L., Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., Triglochin striata Ruiz & Pav., and Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms], is compared with that of other regions of the world. Although Pistia stratiotes has invaded wetlands in several regions, its invasion is currently limited in Morocco due to environmental and management factors. As a result, more botanical studies of Moroccan wetlands are needed, as many introduced species are currently poorly known and their status may change, while new introduced hygrophytes may also be encountered. Assessing the invasive potential of introduced hygrophytes will enable in part the implementation of proactive measures to better protect local wetlands against invasive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical agricultural landscapes often consist of a mosaic of different land uses, yet little is known about the spectrum of ecosystem service bundles and materials they provide to rural households. We interviewed 320 households on the different benefits received from prevalent land-use types in north-eastern Madagascar (old-growth forests, forest fragments, vanilla agroforests, woody fallows, herbaceous fallows, and rice paddies) in terms of ecosystem services and plant uses. Old-growth forests and forest fragments were reported as important for regulating services (e.g. water regulation), whilst fallow lands and vanilla agroforests as important for provisioning services (food, medicine, fodder). Households reported the usage of 285 plant species (56% non-endemics) and collected plants from woody fallows for varying purposes, whilst plants from forest fragments, predominantly endemics, were used for construction and weaving. Multiple land-use types are thus complementary for providing ecosystem services, with fallow lands being particularly important. Hence, balancing societal needs and conservation goals should be based on diversified and comprehensive land management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are essential for our lives because they provide food, medicine, fuel, shelter, and immaterial resources. Understanding patterns of plant uses through large-scale plant use analysis may contribute to the development of a biocultural conservation approach. We conducted a systematic review to assess current knowledge of the ethnoflora of Argentina, as well as to identify taxonomic and geographic patterns of ethnobotanical uses of native plants at the large scale. We analyzed 124 articles reporting the use of 1706 species. We found that the most widely studied region and use category were Chaco and medicine, respectively. The number of useful native species within a family was positively related to the total native species in each family at the country level. In general, species of greatest cultural importance at the country level had a wide distribution. Almost 70% of native plants used in one phytogeographic province were exclusive to it, and species with the highest importance were characteristic elements of its vegetation. We found that southern Argentina has an exclusive ethnoflora that differs from that in a large area of central and northern Argentina. Our review highlights that plants used by people are intimately associated with the local environment, and that species with great cultural importance across phytogeographic provinces are frequent in the landscape. We provide the first analysis of ethnobotanical studies and a database of useful native plants across Argentina. This information highlights strengths and gaps in knowledge of useful native species, which is crucial for conservation, sustainability and human well-being.

The aim of this article is to find, scientifically define, and locate the most frequent occurrences of the gardens of Transylvania in the Late Renaissance period (17–18th centuries), and to collect and prepare a comprehensive plant list of these gardens. During our investigation, based on archival and literary sources, as well as field studies carried out, we identified 81 Late Renaissance residency gardens located in Transylvania. We defined the most typical garden types for the region and we delineated the most characteristic ornamental, fruit, and vegetable plants, including fodder plants, used at that time in residential gardens. Meanwhile, the article intends to give a general overview of the first decisive time period in the Carpathian Basin, represented by the Late Renaissance garden art, from a garden and landscape architectural point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home gardens are traditional agricultural systems, particularly common in the tropics, characterized by high plant diversity and play an important role for local residents' livelihoods. Home gardens are reservoirs of biological diversity. This study aims to analyze the diversity and utilization of plants in the traditional home garden. The study was conducted in Bangkalan District, Madura Island, East Java Province, Indonesia. Data was collected in three sub-districts based on the different sea-level surfaces from June 2019 to February 2020. The techniques used were plant inventory, participatory observations, and individual interviews. A total of 30 home gardens were observed in this study. Plant diversity was calculated using the Shannon diversity index (H). The results of the Shannon index indicate that there is medium species diversity in the home gardens in the Bangkalan district (the diversity ranged from 0.48 to 1.81). Plants grown for fruit, vegetables, ornamentals, medicine, food crops, and other purposes. Traditional communities utilize their home gardens mostly for subsistence purposes.

The cemeteries are one of the most important green areas in cities. Their woody plant compositions can give important information on plant use and diversity in the cities. The purpose of the study is to determine the woody plant compositions and plant use in the cemeteries of Istanbul. An inventory of trees, shrubs, and woody vines was taken in six cemeteries of the European side of Istanbul. Sorensen similarity index and richness, and Shannon and Simpson diversity indices were used in the analysis. A total of 195 taxa was identified, 60% of these were exotic and 40% were native taxa. Regarding the life forms, 98 of them were trees, 82 of them shrubs, 4 of them tree-shrubs, and 11 of them were woody vine. Rosaceae family has the highest number of members (35 taxa). The number of the woody plant taxa ranges from 45 to 101 in the cemeteries. Eight percent of the total number of species were present in all six cemeteries. The results indicated that the similarity of the woody species composition of the Istanbul cemeteries is moderate and slightly higher. Cupressus sempervirens L. is used as the main species in the cemeteries from Ottoman Empire to the present and the others are Cedrus libani A. Rich., Cercis siliquastrum L., and Celtis australis L. for the sustainable management of Istanbul urban green areas. The woody vegetation of cemeteries should be preserved but native species should be more preferred for future cemetery plantings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Folk songs reflect a deep interrelationship between man and nature that developed over centuries and can be viewed as biocultural heritage. This study aims to present the most important plant and landscape elements in the traditional songs of Slovakia. In this study, 4,341 Slovak folk songs were analyzed. Songs carrying information about vascular plant species were analyzed according to the song type and the fragment of the song where plant species or landscape elements appeared. This information was used to create a dataset of all the mentioned vascular plants and their use. Plants were mentioned in 31% of Slovak folk songs, which corresponded to 1,354 songs. A total of 121 plant taxa were identified, of which 56 were wild, 50 were cultivated, 13 were exotic, and two were unidentified, corresponding to 50 plant families. The most cited from all mentioned plants (including both identified, or unidentified taxa) were rose (9%), grapevine (5.7%), rosemary (5.1%), rye (4.1%), maple (3.9%), and apple (3.9%). Landscape elements were mentioned in 26.4%, corresponding to 1,148 songs. The folk songs reflected the mainly mountainous character of Slovakia. Forests were the most mentioned, corresponding to 30.6% of landscape element citations. Folk songs contribute to the preservation of traditional ecological knowledge and help to better understand past relationship of our ancestors to land and nature.

This paper explores how two very different "heritage" gardens on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent hold a mirror to the rich and complex socio-cultural and botanical history of the wider Caribbean region, reflecting the different approaches to the historic cultivation and exploitation of indigenous and imported plant resources for culinary and medicinal ends. We start with a consideration of a small-scale gardening project in the village of Greiggs undertaken by John Nero, a Garifuna ("Black Carib"). This venture acts as a focus of a local community heritage and educational initiative, and attempts to reflect an emic view on the authenticity of Garifuna culinary and medicinal plant use. The second case, the botanical garden in Kingstown (one of the oldest botanical gardens in the New World and associated with the Scottish botanist Dr. Alexander Anderson d.1811) offers a distinct contrast, and is considered as a modernist, colonialist, and etic project, reflecting the botanical heritage of the Caribbean in the context of a global imperialist crossroads, and as a tool for a formalized scientific research. The two gardens differ in terms of scale, history, and cultural background but both are intimately connected to the themes of migration, colonization, resistance, and post-colonial socio-economic development seen through an ethnobotanical lens on this small and under-researched Caribbean island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to find, scientifically define, and locate the most frequent occurrences of the gardens of Transylvania in the Late Renaissance period (17–18th centuries), and to collect and prepare a comprehensive plant list of these gardens. During our investigation, based on archival and literary sources, as well as field studies carried out, we identified 81 Late Renaissance residency gardens located in Transylvania. We defined the most typical garden types for the region and we delineated the most characteristic ornamental, fruit, and vegetable plants, including fodder plants, used at that time in residential gardens. Meanwhile, the article intends to give a general overview of the first decisive time period in the Carpathian Basin, represented by the Late Renaissance garden art, from a garden and landscape architectural point of view.

Folk songs reflect a deep interrelationship between man and nature that developed over centuries and can be viewed as biocultural heritage. This study aims to present the most important plant and landscape elements in the traditional songs of Slovakia. In this study, 4,341 Slovak folk songs were analyzed. Songs carrying information about vascular plant species were analyzed according to the song type and the fragment of the song where plant species or landscape elements appeared. This information was used to create a dataset of all the mentioned vascular plants and their use. Plants were mentioned in 31% of Slovak folk songs, which corresponded to 1,354 songs. A total of 121 plant taxa were identified, of which 56 were wild, 50 were cultivated, 13 were exotic, and two were unidentified, corresponding to 50 plant families. The most cited from all mentioned plants (including both identified, or unidentified taxa) were rose (9%), grapevine (5.7%), rosemary (5.1%), rye (4.1%), maple (3.9%), and apple (3.9%). Landscape elements were mentioned in 26.4%, corresponding to 1,148 songs. The folk songs reflected the mainly mountainous character of Slovakia. Forests were the most mentioned, corresponding to 30.6% of landscape element citations. Folk songs contribute to the preservation of traditional ecological knowledge and help to better understand past relationship of our ancestors to land and nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaves are valuable, but very rare, remains in archaeological contexts, as they can provide precise information on the landscape vegetation composition, the past climatic conditions and the use of plant resources in a settlement. La Draga (Spain) is an early Neolithic site partially waterlogged, which has allowed the preservation of organic material. During the excavation of the oldest level (7300–7000 cal BP), we recovered 29 leaf samples in an optimal state of preservation. Here we explore the potential of these leaves as indicators both of the use of vegetation at the settlement and of past climatic conditions. Firstly, we determined the species identity by comparing the leaf morphological and microanatomical traits with those of contemporary individuals. Secondly, we analyzed the leaf stomatal patterning (stomatal density, index, and size) as proxies of paleoclimate during the Neolithic, when lower atmospheric CO2 and wetter conditions are documented. The leaves of La Draga were identified as Laurus nobilis and Buxus sempervirens, two evergreen species well documented at the site from other archaeobotanical records, such as charcoal and wooden implements. We found no differences in stomatal traits between the archaeological and the contemporary leaves of L. nobilis and B. sempervirens, which shows the limitation of stomatal frequency as proxies for CO2. The presence of these species at the site provides good complementary data for past woodland vegetation composition and the production of wood implements. The wide distribution of L. nobilis leaves across the site suggests that this taxon was present in the riparian forest at the site surroundings. In contrast, leaves of B. sempervirens were grouped together, which might indicate that they belonged to the same branch, probably transported as raw material from nearby forests to the settlement. This study illustrates the value of archaeological leaves to provide a better understanding on the past vegetation and human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burnt offering sites reflect the physical and spiritual aspects of human life in the inner Alps during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Burnt offerings were made in ceremonies with various parts including fire rites, from which the carbonised macro-remains testify to a significant use of plants. The individual finds and records provide information about diet, firewood supply, economic and social behaviour, faith, skills, crafts, and trade. In this study, the focus was on plant uses and in rites at 25 Bronze and Iron Age burnt offering sites in the Eastern Alps. Wood was the basis for the burnt offering rite, similar to the cremation rite, which was also beginning in the Bronze Age. The most consistently found fuel remains were charcoal from coniferous wood, especially Picea/Larix-type (most probably Picea, spruce), probably due to its burning qualities and easy availability during this period. Corylus avellana (hazel) was the commonest deciduous wood. All identified wood taxa correspond with the local natural vegetation types of the time. Overall, they suggest low-density woodland stands and more or less sustainable human land use near the burnt offering sites, in the hill and mountain vegetation zone. The wood for the pyre was collected near the offering sites, so there are variations in firewood taxa resulting from the differences in the local natural landscape, (micro)climate, geology and edaphic conditions. The charred wood, crops and wild fruit and nut remains were ritually deposited in pits after the fire rite, which is another link to cremation. Food plant remains were usually present in low quantities due to the nature of burnt offerings, but their consistent records at the burnt offering sites point to a deep spiritual connection to nature and a high appreciation for plants as sources of food, raw materials and energy. They show that essentials were central elements of the burnt offering rite and that everyday matters overlapped with spiritual or religious concerns. Altogether, the finds of 15 different crops and 15 different edible plant taxa demonstrate a fairly high food plant diversity at the sites during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Hordeum vulgare (barley), Triticum dicoccum (emmer), Panicum miliaceum (broomcorn millet) and Vicia faba (broad bean) were the most consistent and important crops. They reflect a common food trend, which most probably resulted from climate extremes and deterioration. Plants naturally growing outside the Eastern Alpine vegetational zones were nearly absent, showing a lack of trade in food at the time, while native fruits and nuts were often used as ritual plants and played an important role as food plants. They are an argument for local agriculture and economy. Of the wild plants, Corylus avellana (hazel) was the most often found by far, followed by Fragaria vesca (strawberry), Rubus idaeus (raspberry), R. fruticosus (blackberry) and Sambucus nigra (elder). Like the wood taxa, the fruits and nuts indicate a human influenced environment and point to woodland edges, margins and clearings. Some of the firewood and food plants may also have been elements of the offering rite due to their medicinal and psychedelic effects, burning characteristics and symbolic background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutamba is a thirteenth-century settlement located on the Soutpansberg Mountains in northern South Africa with links to the regionally important Mapungubwe polity. This paper provides a detailed report of the range and utilisation of archaeobotanical taxa found at Mutamba. This research provides base-line evidence on the little understood, but significant role of plants in southern African Iron Age society. The analysis of 100 randomly selected samples from domestic features yielded 11 identifiable species and two genera. The results provide evidence for a potential crop package made up of finger millet (Eleusine coracana), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) and mung beans (Vigna radiata). Mutamba also contains the first documented example of Vigna radiata as a crop component in South Africa, the first tangible indication for the occurrence of malted grains used in beer brewing and the first archaeological links between Gossypium herbaceum and cotton spinning, previously based only on ethnographic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation phase of the present study was conducted in 3 stages. In the first stage, the plant material used in the open green spaces in the urban center of Trabzon province was analyzed and plant inventory was investigated in these spaces to determine the species, characteristics and intended use of the plants. Thus, it was determined that 129 plant taxa were used in Trabzon public open green spaces. Forty-two taxa were indigenous to Turkey and 87 were exotic. It was identified that 34 were in the gymnosperm plant group and 95 were in angiosperm plant group. It was identified that 21 taxa were highly prevalent (5) in urban open green areas, 24 taxa were very prevalent (4), 35 taxa were moderately prevalent (3), 22 taxa were less prevalent (2), and 27 taxa were not prevalent (1). In the second stage, the objectives of planting and planting designs were investigated. It was determined that the plants were used for both aesthetic and functional purposes in these areas, but their aesthetic use was more common. In the third stage, the occupant satisfaction levels for the planting designs in these urban open green spaces were determined using a survey conducted with the occupants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The South Aisikexiaer Cemetery, located in the Hami Basin of Xinjiang, northwest China, has been dated to around 2700 to 2400 BP. The arid conditions of the Hami region allow for the preservation through desiccation of a large amount of botanical materials, with 14 different taxa identified by systematic archaeobotanical study. Naked barley (Hordeum vulgare var. coeleste) was the only cereal type identified. Barley may be cultivated in the oases around the cemetery and threshed to obtain grains for foodstuff. Broken stems of barley were by-products of threshing and possibly consumed as binder for wall construction. Woody plants mainly include Populus euphratica, Tamarix sp. and Salix sp. Timbers of P. euphratica were the most important wooden materials for local inhabitants, used in the construction of tombs and fabrication of wooden articles. The remaining wild herbaceous plants are dominated by Aristida grandiglumis. Culms of A. grandiglumis may have been specially collected for livestock fodder and used as filling material of roof thatch on tomb. Stems of Phragmites australis were used in mat weaving. The diversity of plant remains, and their uses give insight into the adaptive strategies of the South Aisikexiaer population to arid environment in the Hami Basin during the early Iron Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ‘pollen washes’ technique, based on the analysis of the pollen embedded in the porous surface of archaeological artefacts, is developed for investigating past plant usage and consumption and to characterize the functionality of artefacts related to plant processing, gathering and storage. The research presented results in relevant methodological improvements of this technique, which has never previously been applied on materials from European contexts. The improvements allow: (1) faster analysis of a broad series of artefacts or those with large use‐surface areas likely to retain more pollen; and (2) a more thorough, deeper and precise cleaning method, allowing the study of smoother artefacts. Finally, the recovery of Trifolium‐group pollen from a macro‐lithic tool from Xicotó rock shelter (Montsec ranges, Spain) demonstrates that the pollen washes technique can reveal new insights into both the use and consumption of wild and domestic plants by prehistoric societies, and the functionality of archaeological objects whose interpretation is still problematic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gumugou Cemetery is located in the Lop Nor region of the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, northwest China. Radiocarbon dating found the site to be 3800 years BP. Due to the exceptionally arid conditions, most of the plant remains are well-preserved. Morphological and anatomical studies suggest that the plant remains consist of: Triticum cf. aestivum, Phragmites australis, Populus euphratica, Ephedra sp., as well as Typha sp. These ancient plants imply that the indigenous people lived in oases surrounded by extensive desert. Caryopses of T. cf. aestivum might have been used as funeral objects of the mummies as well as a subsidiary food source of the inhabitants, while the wild plants were used in other aspects of daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document contains excerpts from a work in progress focusing on the ethnobotany of the Pawnee Native Americans. The effort being made is to consolidate research findings to provide a written record specifically addressing plant use by the Pawnee. The majority of the information gained was through literature reviews which provided a historic perspective. However, living among the Pawnee for twenty-two years has provided some insight into modern uses of some plants. A priority at the onset was to identify and describe the broad-ranging application of plants within their culture. All the ethnobotanical examples here are based on plants that have been documented in Oklahoma. Each plant is related to its currently known biogeography in Kansas and Nebraska which was regionally part of their historic homeland until their removal to Oklahoma beginning in 1875.

Palms (Arecaceae) are one of the most important families of useful plants, and indigenous societies have developed very distinct ways of utilizing this resource. The clonal Euterpe oleracea Mart. has long been used for the preparation of frothy beverages in the eastern Amazon, in particular by colonists and caboclos, but to a much lesser extent by the indigenous population. Euterpe precatoria Mart., which grows in the western Amazon, is traditionally reported as resource for construction and thatch, but not as important species in alimentation. Our recent work indicates that the use of both species has dramatically shifted in the recent past. Prices for Euterpe products have increased dramatically due to the global commodization first of palm hearts and “Açaí berry juice” as nutritional supplement. This is especially evident in western Amazonia: In Bolivia and Peru, where older indigenous informants mostly reported thatch and houseposts as regular use for E. precatoria and did not know E. oleracea. Younger informants most commonly reported to a large extent on E. precatoria being used for the production of palm hearts, but less for other, while the youngest informants in many cases only knew E. precatoria fruits as source of beverages, as commercial fruit, and as source for handicrafts, and indicated that E. oleracea was being introduced because the species yielded higher harvests. In addition, many mid-age and younger informants reported Euterpe sp. as medicinal species, a less frequently mentioned by older informants. The local mestizo population in contrast had a broader distributed knowledge with regard to “food” uses of Euterpe sp., and mentioned the species as source of construction material less frequently.

Understanding cultural preferences toward different ecosystem services is of great importance for conservation and development planning. While cultural preferences toward plant species have been long studied in the field of plant utilisation, the effects of ethnicity on ecosystem services identification and valuation has received little attention. We assessed the effects of ethnicity toward different ecosystem services at three similar forest islands in northern Kenya inhabited by Samburu and Boran pastoralists. Twelve focus groups were organised in each mountain, to evaluate the ecosystem services provided by the forest, and assess which plant species are most important for provisioning different ecosystem services. While water was always identified as the most important ecosystem service, the second most important differed; and some were only mentioned by one ethnic group or in one location. Preferred plant species for food, fodder, medicine resources, poles and firewood followed the same pattern. Our results showed that ethnicity and location affect ecosystem services’ identification and importance ranking. This should be taken into account by decision-makers, e.g. as restricted access and regulated extraction is likely to affect people differently. Conservation and development projects would be more effective if they were initiated with an understanding of how people already use and value their forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to cope with uncertainty, human populations living in drylands have developed social-risk management strategies (SRMS) and own extended ecological knowledge (LEK), which contributes to their resilience and adaptive capacity. The aim of this study was to address LEK distribution and variability and to discuss LEK adaptation to drylands. Through ethnobotanical interviews and vegetation surveys in a Saharan Moroccan village, we tested the hypothesis that LEK is shaped by plant apparency and by SRMS. Out of 164 plants, 68 were useful for 126 distinct uses. Plant cultural value obtained from free-lists was positively correlated with plant use value. Plant apparency was positively correlated with plant cultural value, which corroborated the ecological apparency hypothesis. No effect of age or gender on LEK was observed. In contrast, permanently-settled people had a lower level of knowledge than former nomads. The relative intracultural homogeneity of LEK suggests a reciprocal exchange network system strategy at the village scale, which may contribute to human adaptation and resilience to arid environments and to global changes. Nevertheless, LEK seemed interlocked with subsistence activities and with a mobile lifestyle. Conserving this lifestyle may thus be crucial for people's resilience in a context of an uncertain future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Comanches have argued that their dependence on bison posed a serious nutritional challenge in the form of a dangerously imbalanced high-protein diet. They contend that this specialization required Comanches to obtain carbohydrates in the form of maize from Spanish-ruled New Mexico and Texas or Native American horticulturalists. This in turn is claimed to have been crucial in structuring Comanche economic and political ties with their neighbors. This article argues instead that the documentary evidence used to support a trade in foodstuffs is weak and that Comanches employed alternative nutritional strategies, including consuming and storing a wide range of wild plants. Prestige and utilitarian goods such as metal tools and weapons, firearms, and items of personal adornment--not food--were the primary motivation for Comanche trade with Europeans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is evidence that hunter-gatherer societies of both the Middle and the Later Stone Ages in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) used many plant species, particularly those with underground storage organs (USOs), as sources of carbohydrate. In the CFR, USOs – mostly monocotoledon geophytes – are particularly diverse and abundant. However, little is known about which species were targeted by hunter-gatherers. Here we use, for the first time in the CFR, ethnobotanical methods to survey the use of indigenous edible plant species amongst contemporary people of Khoe-San descent, in an attempt to gain insight on hunter-gatherer resource use. Specifically we surveyed 18 participants living in rural areas around Still Bay. They identified 58 indigenous edible plant species (from a potential list of over 140). The identified species had 69 uses, almost half of which were for fruit and a quarter for vegetable foodstuffs. Plants bearing USOs comprised only 12% of uses. As a group, species that produced fruit had the highest popularity, followed by nectar producing species and lastly plants with USOs. The popularity of this last-mentioned group was largely underpinned by the strong preference for the tubers from two Cyphia species. Knowledge of edible geophytes belonging to the Iridaceae was low, despite that these species were widely documented as important carbohydrate sources in the ethnographic, historical and archaeological literature. Shrubs were the most frequent growth form 34% of edible plant species identified by the survey group. Geophytes and trees both comprised 21% of species identified. Species of Thicket Biome affinity dominated the sample (52%) followed by the Fynbos Biome (38%); wetlands contributed the remainder at 10%. The diverse array of different biomes, each with their own suite of edible plant resources, would have been important for sustaining hunter-gatherer communities on the Cape south coast. With the exception of the edible apical meristems of palmiet ( Prionium serratum ), which occurs rarely in the study area, the survey failed to identify species that could have formed a staple source of carbohydrate for the pre-colonial Khoe-San peoples of the Cape south coast. This is almost certainly due to the loss of hunter-gatherer lifestyles after colonisation in the 1700s and the concomitant introduction of cereal crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The genus Aloe is renowned for its medicinal and cosmetic properties and long history of use. Sixty-three Aloe species occur in Kenya, of which around 50 % are endemic. Several species of aloes are threatened with extinction and knowledge about their use is of major importance for sound conservation strategies. The main aims of this study were to assess the biocultural value of Aloe in Kenya by documenting local uses of aloes and evaluating how the vernacular names reflect the relative importance in different ethnic groups. Methods: Ethnobotanical and ethnotaxonomical data were collected using field observations and semi-structured interviews. Information was collected by interviewing 63 respondents from nine different ethnic groups, representing different ages, gender and occupations. Statistical analyses were performed using R version 3.1.2. Results: A total of 19 species of Aloe were found in the study area, of which 16 were used. On the generic level Aloe was easily distinguished. At species level, the local and scientific delimitation were almost identical for frequently used taxa. Aloe secundiflora, with 57 unique use records was the most important species. The two most frequently mentioned Aloe treatments, were malaria and poultry diseases. In our study area neither age nor gender had a significant influence on the level of knowledge of Aloe use. Finally, no correlation was found between extent of use and people's perception of decrease in local aloe populations. The aloes are highly appreciated and are therefore propagated and transported over large areas when people relocate. Conclusion: Biocultural value is reflected in the ethnotaxonomy of Aloe in Kenya. Different ethnic groups recognise their most-valued Aloe at the genus level as "the aloe" and add explanatory names for the other species, such as the "spotted aloe" and the "one-legged aloe". Widespread species of Aloe have the highest number of uses. There is no obvious correlation with high use and decrease in abundance of aloes locally, and we found no compelling evidence for local uses causing devastating damage to populations of the 19 species in use, whereas habitat loss and commercial harvesting appear to be of urgent concern for these important plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations of hunter-gatherer subsistence, early food production, and the development of agroforestry systems during the Later Stone Age (LSA) of West Africa have proven challenging because of limited recovery and analysis of archaeological evidence relating directly to subsistence. This paper examines changes in the use of plant resources over a 10,000 year period at Bosumpra Cave, southern Ghana. Large quantities of recovered Canarium schweinfurthii (incense tree) and Elaeis guineensis (oil palm) endocarp preserved at the site allow for the assessment of previous observations about changes in the relative importance of tree fruit resources over time. Results point to the possibility that C. schweinfurthii was a managed resource and may be useful as a marker of forager subsistence in tropical forest regions. The exploitation of C. schweinfurthii persisted in the early and middle Holocene, but was eventually overshadowed in the late Holocene by Kintampo food-producing economies based on Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet), Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) and E. guineensis. The Bosumpra deposits also yielded domesticated pearl millet and cowpea, allowing for the comparison of LSA hunter-gatherer and early food producer subsistence practices and cultural interactions in southern Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of plant macro-remain and charcoal analyses from a fortified settlement of the Sintashta archaeological culture in the southern Trans-Urals, Russia. The work was carried out within the scope of a German/Russian research project and represents the first systematic studies on Bronze Age plant material in the region. Previous archaeological and archaeozoological investigations have revealed that the Sintashta economy was mainly based on livestock herding of cattle, small cattle and horses. There is additional evidence for fishing as well as some copper metallurgy, while the role of agriculture is still being discussed. Archaeobotanical studies therefore focused on the question whether the Bronze Age settlers cultivated, processed or stored crop plants. All cultural layers and important settlement features were systematically sampled, wet-sieved and subjected to plant macro-remain analysis. Anthracological (charcoal) samples were taken from burnt structures and charcoal concentrations. As no evidence for either cultivated plants or agricultural practices was found in the settlement, it can be concluded that farming was not practised at Kamennyi Ambar, and that the Sintashta economy was exclusively based on animal husbandry and fishing in that steppe region. The charred plant remains found in the settlement represent a broad spectrum of wild plants which can be attributed to vegetation units like small woodlands, steppe, ruderal steppe, meadow steppe and the riparian zone. As supported by palynological studies, Bronze Age vegetation patterns are largely comparable with those of the modern steppe environment. Since some of the recorded taxa have the potential to serve as food, fodder or for craft purposes, the use of wild plants at Kamennyi Ambar must be considered. The charcoal analysis reveals the dominance of Pinus sylvestris and Betula sp., representing a typical tree taxa spectrum from the steppe region during the Bronze Age as well as present times. It can be concluded that wood was readily available for construction material and fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological excavations in Florence (Italy) offered the opportunity of collecting archaeobotanical data along stratigraphic sequences and pits from late Roman to Middle Ages; until now, no archaeobotanical data of this range of time were available for Florence. To achieve a more comprehensive reconstruction of the antique landscape and of the plant uses in the city, the results of plant micro- and macro-remain analyses were compared. During the late Roman Period, mixed oak forests covered the surrounding hills, while only scattered riverine thickets grew in the Arno river plain, which was mostly open. In the city, the increase in richness of cultivated plants, weeds and ruderals follows the advancement of urbanization from the late Roman to the Middle Ages when the abundance of remains of cereals, figs, grapevines and other fruits showed that cultivation and/or food processing were performed close to and even within the town wall. Peaks of heather (Ericaspp.) pollen suggested that its flowering branches were introduced in the site and possibly used as building material or for the maintenance of the Arno river bank. Thus, this integrated archaeobotanical approach provided new insights into the environmental and ethnobotanical history of Florence, highlighting the occurrence of horticulture within the city wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch grains, phytoliths and plant tissue fragments from Upper Paleolithic stone artifacts provide direct evidence of plant use activities in Northwest China during late MIS 3. These results demonstrate the considerable role of edible plants during the last glacial epoch. The chosen plant species can also help us understand the development of human plant exploitation, for which we have limited knowledge for the Paleolithic. This research also suggests the survival and adaptation patterns of ancient occupants in this cold and dry highland area of East Asia during the Upper Paleolithic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Bapedi traditional healers play a vital role in the primary health care of rural inhabitants in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. However, literature profiling their social and demographic variables, as well as their traditional healing practices is lacking. Methods Convenience sampling were used to identify and select two traditional healers from 17 municipalities (resulting in 34 healers being used in this pilot survey) of the Limpopo Province in South Africa. Information on the social and demographic variables, and traditional healing practices of these healers was gathered from January 2013 to July 2013, using a semi-structured questionnaire, supplemented by field surveys for plant identification and collection used in the preparation of remedies. Results Males constituted nearly two-thirds of the participants. Forty eight percent of them became healers through mentoring of another healer, while 38% acquired their traditional healing knowledge from parents and 14% from grandparents. In contrast to this, 62% of the females obtained theirs from their parents, 30% from fellow traditional healers, and 8% from grandparents. A total of 154 plant species were used by healers in the treatment of 52 healthrelated problems. A vast majority (89%) of these practitioners reported that prepared herbal remedies do expire, which is a temperature-dependent process. Determinations of the efficacy of remedies by most healers (67%) were via consultation with ancestors (90%). This study also found that none of the interviewees had any knowledge of provincial or national environmental legislation. Conclusions The current study has shown that Bapedi traditional healers could play a leading role in both the preservation of indigenous knowledge and the use of medicinal plants. However, of concern is the traditional methods (via consulting ancestors) employed by most of these healers in determining efficacy of remedies, thus indicating a need for a scientific investigations to establish their safety and effectiveness. Equally, there is a need to educate traditional practitioners' regarding the significant of various conservation legislations in their traditional healing. By addressing these, the national and provincial legislators, medical fraternity as well as environmental agencies will be able to better integrate them in primary health care systems and environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the floristic and ecological diversity of plants traditionally used in the Arribes del Duero Natural Park (Central Western Spain, Iberian Peninsula). We identified all plant species used by the local people and classified them in 10 general use-categories. All the ethnobotanical data used derive from global ethnobotanical research carried out from 2005 to 2009. The results are analyzed with respect to the total flora of the area and to the ecological diversity of the species in their habitats. The conservation and management of these taxa are also analyzed. We discuss the implications of their harvesting for the development and conservation of their natural populations and habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Palms (Arecaceae) are one of the most important families of useful plants, and indigenous societies have developed very distinct ways of utilizing this resource. The clonal Euterpe oleracea Mart. has long been used for the preparation of frothy beverages in the eastern Amazon, in particular by colonists and caboclos, but to a much lesser extent by the indigenous population. Euterpe precatoria Mart., which grows in the western Amazon, is traditionally reported as resource for construction and thatch, but not as important species in alimentation. Our recent work indicates that the use of both species has dramatically shifted in the recent past. Prices for Euterpe products have increased dramatically due to the global commodization first of palm hearts and "Açaí berry juice" as nutritional supplement. This is especially evident in western Amazonia: In Bolivia and Peru, where older indigenous informants mostly reported thatch and houseposts as regular use for E. precatoria and did not know E. oleracea. Younger informants most commonly reported to a large extent on E. precatoria being used for the production of palm hearts, but less for other, while the youngest informants in many cases only knew E. precatoria fruits as source of beverages, as commercial fruit, and as source for handicrafts, and indicated that E. oleracea was being introduced because the species yielded higher harvests. In addition, many mid-age and younger informants reported Euterpe sp. as medicinal species, a less frequently mentioned by older informants. The local mestizo population in contrast had a broader distributed knowledge with regard to "food" uses of Euterpe sp., and mentioned the species as source of construction material less frequently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This ethnobotanical study was conducted to identify which wild plants were used for fuel by a rural population of the Patagonian steppe. We studied the species used, gathering patterns, socio-economic factors, preference criteria, and alternative fuel sources. Semi-structured and open interviews were conducted with one member of each family unit. It was found that firewood is a vital resource, since it is the main fuel used for heating. The gathering of firewood is performed mainly on foot and is gender-independent. The inhabitants reported a decrease in the availability of firewood because each year they have to travel greater distances to find dead wood and preferred species. This study recorded 27 species used for fuel, of which 22 were wild native bushes and 5 were exotic trees planted by inhabitants. The four preferred species for firewood were: Schinus jhonstonii, Schinus marchandii (Anacardiaceae), Prosopis denudans (Fabaceae) and Monttea aphylla (Scrophulariaceae). Resources used as alternative energy were: Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), cow dung, and to a lesser degree, horse dung. The findings indicated that 64% of inhabitants depended solely on the gathering of firewood, 32% on gathering and purchasing, and 4% on purchasing alone. Purchased firewood consisted of local bush species from the neighboring Patagonian region, and also species from the northern and central areas of the country. The inhabitants'' capacity to adapt to this harsh environment seems to be based on their intensive use of local flora, which is at the same time controlled by their protectionist worldview and care of the plants and environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article is based on a study that was carried out in Nhema communal area in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, with the main objective of documenting local plant use and traditional conservation practices. Data collected through household semi-structured and open interviews showed that 46 plant species in 40 genera and 24 families were mainly used for firewood, construction wood, food and traditional medicine. Other minor uses included using plant species for making mats, rope and shading. Firewood and construction wood ranked as the most important tree products used. The preferred plant species included: Julbernardia globiflora (Mutondo); Brachystegia spiciformis (Musasa); Terminalia sericea (Mususu); Brachystegia boehmii (Mupfuti); Combretum imberbe (Mutsviri); Combretum molle (Mubondo) and Burkea africana (Mukarati). Some of the highly preferred species, considered to be declining in the local environment, included Adenium obesum (Chisvosve); Azanza garckeana (Mutohwe); Brachystegia boehmii (Mupfuti); Brachystegia spiciformis (Musasa); Burkea africana (Mukarati); Combretum imberbe (Mutsviri); Combretum molle (Mubondo); Dalbergia melanoxylon (Mukonashanhu); Diospyros mespiliformis (Musuma); Elephantorrhiza goetzei (Ntorani); Julbernardia globiflora (Mutondo); Phragmites australis (Shanga; Poulzozia hypoleuca (Munanzwa); Pterocarpus angolensis (Mubvamaropa); Terminalia sericea (Mususu) and Uapaca kirkiana (Muzhanje). Highly preferred and declining species were characteristically large trees and shrubs. Local people are aware of the need to conserve plant resources in order to protect the environment and avoid the extinction of these rare species.Traditional conservation practices have substantially contributed to the conservation of plant species in Nhema communal area. The protection of indigenous timber, fruit trees, trees with social and cultural significance, the use of deadwood for firewood, the use of eucalyptus trees as construction wood and the occurrence of sacred woodland areas represented some of the traditional conservation techniques employed in Nhema communal area. These local practices demonstrate the dynamism and significance of African indigenous knowledge systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firewood is the basic fuel source in rural Bolivia. A study was conducted in an Andean village of subsistence farmers to investigate human impact on wild firewood species. A total of 114 different fuel species was inventoried during fieldtrips and transect sampling. Specific data on abundance and growth height of wild firewood species were collected in thirty-six transects of 50 ×2 m. Information on fuel uses of plants was obtained from 13 local Quechua key participants. To appraise the impact of fuel harvest, the extraction impact value (EIV) index was developed. This index takes into account local participants' appreciation of (1) decreasing plant abundance; (2) regeneration capacity of plants; (3) impact of root harvesting; and (4) quality of firewood. Results suggest that several (sub-)woody plant species are negatively affected by firewood harvesting. We found that anthropogenic pressure, expressed as EIV, covaried with density of firewood species, which could entail higher human pressure on more abundant and/or more accessible species. The apparent negative impact of anthropogenic pressure on populations of wild fuel species is corroborated by our finding that, in addition to altitude, several anthropogenic variables (i.e. site accessibility, cultivation of exotics and burning practices) explain part of the variation in height of firewood species in the surroundings of Apillapampa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation dynamics during the Pleistocene–Holocene transition and the beginning of farming are major topics for palaeoenvironmental sciences, especially interesting in ecologically sensitive areas, such as in North Africa. However, there are still important geographic and chronological gaps of environmental information in this region. Archaeobotanical record from Gueldaman GLD 1 deals with these issues, as it presents the longest archaeobotanical sequence available nowadays for Algeria, which includes these moments of major changes in landscapes. This topic has been approached from an interdisciplinary point of view, focused on the analysis of various types of plant remains that result in the reconstruction of both environment and use of plant resources. Results reveal the existence of a postglacial phase of plant colonization with Cupressaceae formations, which are gradually integrating some elements of sclerophyllous vegetation, such as several species of Pistacia , well documented both in charcoal and seed records. Neolithic levels show a shift in vegetation composition, as Olea europaea dominates the spectra, accompanied by strawberry tree and evergreen Quercus , among others. The presence of Olea in earlier chronologies has resulted from intrusions from the Neolithic levels: a set of radiocarbon dates has made it possible to evidence this process and detect the extent of the intrusions, which are inherent to cave records. • North Africa is a key region to know the dynamics of postglacial vegetation in the Mediterranean. • Gueldaman has provided archeobotanical information for a long sequence in Algeria. • Postglacial plant colonization and a later spread of sclerophyllous vegetation have been documented. • A taphonomic analysis has shown that the pre-Neolithic presence of Olea has resulted from intrusions from upper levels. • During Neolithic, Olea is a species of great economic relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ethnobotanical study was carried out with caboclos from the village of Caicubi, Roraima State, Brazil. This village is located between the Rio Negro and Rio Branco. The data were collected in 1 ha of terra firme forest and involved caboclo knowledge of the tree species with individuals dbh ≥ 10 cm. A total of 11 informants between 34 to 74 years of age were interviewed. The caboclos used 185 (98%) of the 189 species analyzed. The family with the highest use value for the community was Arecaceae. The species with the highest use value was Bertholletia excelsa. Arecaceae, Lecythidaceae, and Sapotaceae showed a wide variety of uses. The uses were grouped into eight categories; those with the highest use values were firewood, technology, and construction. The mean use value for species was 1.6. The most intensely used resources in the forest were wood, leaves, spines, and exudates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabis is grown and processed for a wide variety of uses. Many plant parts are used as medicine for humans and livestock; whole seeds and seed oil are eaten by humans; seeds and leaves are fed to animals, seed oil and stalks are burned for fuel. Whole plants, leaves and wood have environmental uses and bark, fiber and seeds are also of ritual importance. This paper introduces an interview schedule and questionnaire for investigating Cannabis use. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]