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Home , Aspromonte National Park, Cestrum parqui, Ethnomedicine, Laurus nobilis

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Research Open Access Contribution to the knowledge of the veterinary science and of the in region (Southern ) Nicodemo G Passalacqua1, Giuseppe De Fine2 and Paolo Maria Guarrera*3

Address: 1Museo di Storia Naturale della Calabria ed Orto Botanico, Università della Calabria, 87030 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy, 2via Madonna delle Grazie 9, 88813, Cirò, Italy and 3Museo Nazionale Arti e Tradizioni Popolari, Piazza Marconi 8-10 00144 Rome, Italy Email: Nicodemo G Passalacqua - [email protected]; Giuseppe De Fine - [email protected]; Paolo Maria Guarrera* - [email protected] * Corresponding author

Published: 11 December 2006 Received: 26 July 2006 Accepted: 11 December 2006 Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:52 doi:10.1186/1746-4269-2-52 This article is available from: http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/52 © 2006 Passalacqua et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract Background: A series of preliminary research projects on used in Calabria (Southern Italy) in veterinary science and in other ethno-botanical fields (minor nourishment, domestic and handicraft sector) was carried out in the last twenty years. From the ethno-botanical point of view, Calabria is one of the most interesting region, since in the ancient times it was subject to the dominant cultures of several people (Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans etc.). Until some decades ago the road network was poorly developed and villages were isolated, so that the culture of the "subsistence" and some archaic customs were kept. Methods: Data were collected by means of "open" interviews to farmers, shepherds and housewives in the last twenty years. More than 100 informants were interviewed, mostly over 50 years old. Plants were identified by local informants through gathering in the area or through examination of the fresh plants collected by the researchers. The collected data were compared with pharmacobotanical papers mainly of southern Italy and with other studies, in order to highlight novelties or concordances of uses. Results: The use of 62 taxa distributed into 34 families are described. Among these, 8 are or were employed in veterinary science, 8 as anti-parasitic agents, 19 in minor nourishment, 5 as seasoning, 38 for other uses. Some toxic for cattle are also mentioned. Conclusion: Among the major findings: the use of Helleborus bocconei for bronchitis of bovines and of Scrophularia canina for lameness in veterinary science; oleander and Urginea maritima as anti-parasitic agents; Epilobium angustifolium, Centaurea napifolia L. and C. sphaerocephala L. in minor nourishment.

Background and handicraft sector) in order to preserve the historical A research was carried out in some localities of Calabria "memory" of the territory and of the local culture. region (Italy) in the last twenty years on the traditions rel- evant to the plants used in veterinary science and in other The only papers existing on the ethno-botany of Calabria ethno-botanical fields (minor nourishment, domestic region (mainly on uses in human ) are by Lepo- ratti and Pavesi [1] and by Barone [2]; some information

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is also furnished by Bernardo [3], La Sorsa [4] and Lupia tanova and S. Giorgio Morgeto ( Massif), Reg- [5]. In the food field, two recent contributions were pub- gio Calabria district. The cited villages are located into or lished by Picchi and Pieroni [6] and by Nebel et al. [7]. near important protected areas (, , Aspromonte National Park, Tarsia lake Calabria region (15080 km2) extends about 250 km north natural reserve). to south in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, bordering with Ionian Sea to east and south, with Tyrrhenian Sea to Castrovillari and Morano are starting points of interesting west, and with Basilicata region to north; the Messina excursions in the upland of the Pollino National Park Strait separates Calabria from Sicily. The region is mostly (with the rare Pinus leucodermis), or of itineraries in canoe mountainous and about 90% of the surface is occupied by along torrents. Acri, S.Stefano di Aspromonte, , two section of Apennine chain: southern Apennines, cal- S. Giorgio Morgeto are at the centre of interesting natural- careous, with Pollino Massif (Serra Dolcedorme, 2267 m istic areas where the endemic Pinus calabrica but also the a.s.l.), and Calabrian Apennines, mainly siliceous, with tropical fern Woodwardia radicans grow. Coastal Chain (M.Cocuzzo,1541 m), Sila Massif (Botte Donato,1929 m), Serre Calabre (M. Pecoraro, 1423 m) Other data were collected in coastal or hilly areas of Cro- and Aspromonte Massif (Montalto, 1956 m). Plains are tone district (Cirò), Reggio Calabria district (Scilla) and few, linked to the presence of rivers. Catanzaro district (Montauro and S.Elia).

The climate is of Mediterranean type, with maximum pre- Brief news was also collected for Crucoli, Umbriatico cipitation during the winter and minimum in the summer (Crotone), Vallefiorita (Catanzaro); Ardore (Reggio and vice versa for temperature, but strong meso-climatic Calabria); Morano and Tarsia (Cosenza) (Fig. 1). variations occur depending on altitude, topographic fea- tures and location respect to the sea. As consequence, the The colonies of the "Magna Graecia" were above all typical Mediterranean bioclimate is restricted to a belt located along the Ionian and southern coasts. The name mainly close to the coast, flowing to the European one of Scilla is associated to the sea monster that, according to going up to the top of mountains. Vegetation varies with the Odissea, terrorized the sailors of the Messina Strait bioclimate: xerophile oaks (Quercus virgiliana, Q. suber, Q. (for the strong streams that are present in the Strait). This ilex), Mediterranean maquis (Pistacia lentiscus, Rhamnus village is known for the fishing of the swordfish, but it alaternus, communis, etc.) and therophytic pastures lives also with agriculture and tourism. Cirò is the ancient dominate the coastal thermo-Mediterranean belt; mes- Ypsicron (Krimisa in the Magna Graecia), now famous for ophile oaks and mixed woods (Quercus cerris, Q. pubescens the full-bodied wine. s.l., Castanea sativa, Acer sp. pl., Ostrya carpinifolia, etc.) in the meso-Mediterranean hilly belt; beech woods (but also Several internal towns date back to the presence of the Pinus laricio and P. leucodermis woods), brooms and Normans (e.g. Montauro) or have medioeval aspect (e.g. mountain pastures in the mountain European belt. S.Giorgio Morgeto).

From the ethno-botanical point of view, Calabria is one of Methods the most interesting region, for the dominant cultures of In the "open" interviews informants (farmers, shepherds, several people in the past (Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, housewives) were asked to furnish for each : local Arabs, Normans etc.). Until some decades ago the road name, folk use (in veterinary science, as anti-parasitic network was poorly developed and villages were isolated, agent, in the nourishment, in domestic and ritual fields), so that the culture of the "subsistence" and some archaic formulation and used parts, possible recipes, possible customs were kept. Today agricultural (cereals, vegetables, association with other plants. More than 100 informants grapes, olives and citrus ), pastoral and tourist activ- were interviewed, mostly over 50 years old (near Cirò 5 ities characterize above all the way of life of people. informants were between 90 and 96 years old, others between 80 and 86 years old). Plants were identified by In order to make a first sampling of data in Calabria local informants through gathering in the area or through region, a preliminary ethnobotanical research was carried examination of the fresh plants which were showed them out both in some mountain areas and in coastal places. by the researchers. Cited voucher herbarium specimens are kept in the herbarium of the Università della Calabria In the mountain belt, data are presented for Castrovillari (acronym CLU) and in the Museo Nazionale Arti e (foothill of Pollino Massif) and for Acri (in the upland Tradizioni Popolari (Rome)(acronym Mat). Taxa are plain of the Sila), in Cosenza district, in the northern part reported according to Pignatti [8]. The collected data were of the region. Other information was collected in the compared with those quoted by Gastaldo [9], with the southern Calabria near S.Stefano di Aspromonte, Cit- pharmacobotanical literature of southern Italy and of the

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species), Labiatae (7 species) and Leguminosae (4 spe- cies).

Veterinary medicine In Calabria the breeding of animals is a very important activity and many dishes are realized e.g. with pork meat (a primary resource), or with products derived from goats, sheep and cows (pecorino, ricotta, mozzarella etc.) mainly in the hilly and mountain areas.

A particularly in-depth research was carried out near Cirò (Crotone).

The plants described in this section are mainly of clearings of oak woods, chestnut and mixed woods (Helleborus boc- conei), garrigues and maquises (Daphne gnidium), mead- ows (Inula viscosa, Malva sylvestris), gravels, sandy and stony grounds (Scrophularia canina).

Helleborus bocconei In the past, since the first years of XX century, it was the only remedy known by the cowherds in case of bronchitis of bovines. This species, toxic as fresh plant due to poison- ous substances (glycosides elleborin and elleborein, and some ), loses its toxicity after drying [29]. H. boc- conei is named "aricchja" in Cirò, "radicchia" in other localities of Calabria [4], "radicchia" or "raricchia" in Sic- ily, where the subsp. siculus is used to diagnose and cure the pneumonia of cattle [22,26]. The gathering occurred on Friday and only in those places that because of their geographical position faced either at the sea and at the mountain. People thought that this procedure exalted the curative properties of the plant. We don't know if this is MapFigure of the1 investigated areas in Calabria region true, but it is a sure thing that this species is an excellent Map of the investigated areas in Calabria region. (AC Acri; remedy, so that it still survives in the most internal rural AR Ardore; CI Cirò; CR Crùcoli; CS Castrovillari; CT Cit- areas of Calabria. Its "secret" still hands down from father tanova; MT Montauro; MR Morano; SC Scilla; SE S.Elia; SG to son. An analogous use is documented for other areas S.Giorgio Morgeto; SS S.Stefano di Aspromonte; TA Tarsia; [30]. UM Umbriatico; VA Vallefiorita). Scrophularia canina The use as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and cicatrising near Sicily [1-7,10-28], and with other studies cited in the in veterinary science of S. canina (a medicinal plant for text, in order to highlight possible novelties or concord- excellence in the Crotone district) is reported for some ances of uses. regions of central Italy [30-33]. In Calabria this practice is still now alive. Results and discussion The uses of 62 plants belonging to 34 families are reported parqui in Table 1, 2, 3: 8 taxa are employed in veterinary science This subspontaneous ornamental species is rather unusu- and 8 as anti-parasitic agents (Tab. 1), 19 in human nour- ally used as arepellent for animals; its unpleasant smell ishment (Tab. 2), 5 as seasoning and 38 for other uses probably represents probably a guard signal against more (cosmesis, illegal fishing, domestic or handicraft field, serious effects (being a toxic plant for cattle). agriculture, rituals) (Tab. 3). Plants are listed according to the families' alphabetical order, even inside them. Some Inula viscosa species (4) particularly toxic for the livestock (according It was used to eliminate the parasites of the rectum in to the effects referred by the informants) are described in asses and mules. Bernardo [3] reports the cicatrising use of Table 4. The most represented families are: Compositae (7 this .

Page 3 of 14 (page number not for citation purposes) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:52 http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/52 Table 1:Ethnoveterinaryand anti-parasitic uses of RANUNCULACEAE Juglans regia Juglans regia JUGLANDACEAE (CS) LABIATAE nobilis Ocimum basilicum Urginea marittima Ruscus aculeatus LILIACEAE Vicia faba Ficus carica MORACEAE Malva sylvestris MALVACEAE Equisetum telmateja EQUISETACEAE Sambucus nigra nigra Sambucus CAPRIFOLIACEAE Inula viscosa COMPOSITAE Matricaria chamomilla Nerium oleander APOCYNACEAE name, Family, scientific local .–fv eFde o nml ICu CI 5 animals for Fodder Se L. –fava L. – see footnote (1) CLU28 Le To increase the To increase output of Le L. –seefootnote(1) CLU28 L)Atn–suir L7A Elderly Ap Aiton–spulitruCLU7 (L.) L. – noce CLU17 Le Anti-parasitic Anti-parasitic Le CLU17 L. –noce L. CLU22 Fr Repellent for flies (veterinaryus Repellent for Fr L. CLU22 L. CLU 27 Le Gastritis Decoction (veterinary use) 2 MT, SE Unc, ru, edro Unc,ru, SE MT, 2 use) (veterinary Decoction Gastritis Le 27 CLU L. L. CLU5 Fle To attract theflies attract To Fle CLU5 L. L. – liantru – CLU2 Br The plant Theplant Br – CLU2 L. –liantru .–vucaB oke iea itneTe r ugi h oss1T Tewo TA 1 They are hung inthe houses To keep miceatadistance Br L. –vruscia L)Bkr–cpdaz L2 pRepellent and anti-parasitic agent for Ep (L.) Baker –cipuddazzu CLU26 L. – basilico CLU18 Ep Repellent for flies andmos for Repellent Ep CLU18 L. –basilico Ehrh. – stocca e ammenta CLU10 Ep To To Ep stocca eammentaCLU10 – Ehrh. Miller –ramaietto(MR),Miller spigaddossa .–glmda aoil f Repel Dfh camomilla L. –galumedda, ae(oce pcmn Use name (voucherspecimen) plantsin someareas of Calabria (Southern Italy) Le Anti-parasitic also for furnishings, for furnishings, also Anti-parasitic Le tRplet edrn flnnPicked beforethe complete flowering, Repellent, deodorant oflinen Ft atUePreparation/Adminis Use d Part garmentspieces and offurniture of the plant without ev sheep and insect and mice insects vegetables moles, well-known eaters ofroots of parasites oftherectum make cow-beds for bovines,horses for make cow-beds lent for woodworms and other woodworms andother for lent people used it to eliminate the used ittoeliminate people is considered enemy ofthe is considered (above all for bugs) Decoction (it Decoction allfor bugs) (above htwr ildLeaves were killed that were aluate thetoxicity milk Leaves were given as Leaves milk ute h ln spto h idw CCu AC 1 windows on the plantisput The quitoes )Maceratethe inoliveoilappliedonto e) Shepherds and herdsmen use it dry 5 CI Di, ed-wo, da ed-wo, Di, bugs put insmall dried and CI 5 and herdsmenuseit dry Shepherds coat oftheanimal contained broad beans of various type (containersreeds) woven that of "canizze" in all andsilos,above granaries The farmers put the wholeplant in hywr u mn h ie CC Cu, ru SC,CT 2 They were put amonglinen the still actual). ground inordertopoison the moles(use branches of oleander were stuck intothe the opinion tothefolk According houses (veterinary use forasses andmules) The whole plant was inserted inthe anus put in smallbunchesinthe put in a ordi h e)1A Wo,di AC 1 was pouredbed) inthe rto oaiyHabitat Locality N * tration fodder to cows 5 CI Ru, wa Ru, CI 5 to cows fodder 1CI M Tewo3MT Cu SC CS, MT,SE,CT, MR, 6 C Sl 5CI C To,3CI he 5 CI Unc, ru, caso Unc, ru, di,to Ru, CI 5 CS 1

Page 4 of 14 (page number not for citation purposes) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:52 http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/52 Table Ethnoveterinary 1: and anti-parasitic uses of L3 pSome fishermen use ittocapture ellsof Ep CLU38 URTICACEAE Cestrum parqui parqui Cestrum Verbascum thapsus Daphne gnidium THYMELAEACEAE Scrophularia canina canina Scrophularia SCROPHULARIA-CEAE (1) In Cirò the first ripe figs are named 'botta', those ripening in summer 'fichi'. summer in ripening those 'botta', named are figs ripe thefirst Cirò In (1) Tewote clearings; Sucl sunny woods; Gr gravels;Hehedges; Mowomountain woods;Rorocks;Ru Helleborus bocconei Localities * =citations Habitat Plant partsused : Bebeachs;Casocalcareoussoils : AC Acri; CI Cirò; CR Crùcoli; CS Castrovillari; CT Cittanova; CTCittanova; Castrovillari; Crùcoli; CS CR CICirò; : ACAcri; L. – ortica CLU40 Ap Once a mash with bread amash Once Ap L. –orticaCLU40 L'Hér – erva fetusa CLU36 Ep Repellent for anim for Repellent Ep –ervafetusaCLU36 L'Hér .–jnsrm aaia(pènasr" pUsedagainstinvasions the of water Ep L. –junastrum, paparina("ppè ntassari") : Ap aerial part;Ba bark; Br branches;dry Dfh heads; Ep .–lnu oj L3 eAanttelmns "eàn" fcw o omnctd5C Drme CI 5 Notcommunicated Against the lameness ("pedàina") ofcows Le L. –lingua evoijuCLU35 .–ev uaaCU4A Totreat the lameness ("pedàina") ofthe Ap –lupara ervaL. CLU34 e.–aicj L3 For the bron CLU32 Ten. –aricchja rmophile woods; To along torrents; Unc woods;Toalongtorrents; rmophile near to the water; Cla clayey grounds; Cucult grounds; clayey the water;Cla to near plants insomeareasof aTo treat "papillomas" Ba ruins; Sa sandy places (grounds);slopes Sl with rocks andsilt uncultivated areas; Wawalls; Wowoods. areas; uncultivated snakes. use) streams. sheep. the 3pieces ofthe stalk, then expelled. occurred atrophy ofthecontaining hole was inadvancedstage;thiscase it existed inthecase remedy. Nopossibility recovery of become immune fromdiseases, afterthis Then, itseemsthatwouldhave recognizable theho for was would berecoveredinshort,andit MT Montauro; MR Morano; SCSci MRMorano; Montauro; MT entireplant;fresh leaves; Fle Calabria (Southern Italy) Calabria (Southern chitis of bovines. The animal ivated speciesorcultiva l Cowherds plantedatitedges the of the als in which the disease (veterinary-magical (veterinary-magical le remainedonit. was made By boiling (it was the only fodder for fodder only the (itwas boiling By made was (Continued) lla; SE S.Elia; TA Tarsia; UM Umb SE S.Elia;TATarsia; lla; Fr ; Ft flowery tops; Le Ftflowery fruit; Fr tions; Dadamp areas; drink afterthetranshumance lakesPut in where domestic animals honi h ae CI 5 inThrown the water time. the animal would bere ar knot was it then A plaitingwith themade barkwas and speak about this plant aremany. veterinary science. The breederswhom problem, both in hu notwho usedwhichever thisplant for Veterinary use.breeder There isnota gives off abadsmell (poisonousplant). entrance of other animals, because it bushes inordertodiscourage the chicks ofTurkey) small cavity(ontheneck). provoking asmallhole onthe ear,ora approximately1cm, of diameter the stem,with anecrotic areaofthe surrounding region developed around way" tothisgraft, positive the animalreacted "in neck. If or under the furof the lateral part ofthe animal (from here the vernacular name), onpractised theback oftheear ofthe inahole 3 parts;itwasinserted into thebasalof leaves,divided petiole long ofCalabria cowherds the According anancienttradition, , areas with areas sand , andsiltfacing Ststony West; sunny grounds;Su grounds; a swelling of the ound the papilloma; papilloma; ound the Di ditches; Drme dry meadows; Ed manin medicineand region letdrythe covered in a short leaves; Ro root; Se seeds riatico 5 CI To, ro,cla,sa To, CI 5 5CI C To,3CI he, Sa, be5CI gr, st C Ru 5CI I MHe,mo-wo CI, UM 4 ro edges of roads; Edwo edges of of edges Edwo roads; of edges ro (su-cl)

Page 5 of 14 (page number not for citation purposes) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:52 http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/52 Table 2:Fooduses of plantsin someareas of Calabria (Southern Italy) Borago officinalis BORAGINACEAE retroflexus Amaranthus AMARANTHACEAE name, Family, scientific local Sambucus nigra nigra Sambucus CAPRIFOLIACEAE L. – zimurroL. Mat2 napifolia Centaurea COMPOSITAE Silybum marianum marianum Silybum Taraxacum officinale Castanea sativa FAGACEAE unedo Arbutus ERICACEAE Juglans regia Juglans regia JUGLANDACEAE Rosmarinus officinalis heracleoticum Origanum spicata LABIATAE Laurus nobilis LAURACEAE L. – noce CLU17 Hu To makealiqueur To Hu CLU17 L. –noce .CU2L To obtain the "panicottu", bread seasoned Le L. CLU22 .F odueAtign a T STema SS CT, 2 Astringent jam Fooduse Fr L. .–sri L2 eFlavour Le CLU21 L. –sarbia .–aet a4L esnn osao ihs1V Dame VA 1 To season dishes Seasoning Le – amentaL. Mat4 Miller – castagno CLU12 Fr Fruits were Fruits Fr CLU12 Miller –castagno L. CLU 5 Fl Used in cookery in Flowers Used incookery Fl 5 CLU L. .–braiaCU eFo s In sala Fooduse Le CLU3 – borragina L. L)Gete ad ain Yle –cardumarianu Gaertner (L.) L. – zimurro Mat1, Mat1, zimurro – L. ee iotda ioin eFo s In mixedsa Food use Le cicorione –ricottedda, Weber .–rsmrn L2 eSaoigO et ISa,tema CI 5 On meats Seasoning Le rosimarinuL. – CLU20 .Y oduePce eoetefoeig1C Cu,ru CR 1 the flowering before Picked Fooduse Ys L. .–rgn L1 eTo season the sa Le L. –rigunu CLU19 ae(oce pcmn Use name (voucherspecimen) C. sphaerocephala C. sphaerocephala lDefraoai ieas1A co AC 1 Plants, peeled fromthorns, wereeaten Fooduse Ap vinegars aromatic Dyefor Fl Ro, fh Food use Boiled with other vegetables 2 MT, SE MT, 2 vegetables Boiled withother Fooduse Ro, fh atUePreparation/Adminis Use d Part Food use In salad 2 MT, SE Fi, unc,ru Fi, SE MT, 2 In salad Food use famine for people that for people famine with oil ing in cookery 5 CI Drme, ru Drme, CI 5 cookery ing in the main foodinperiodsof the a twscletdi umr5C Drme CI 5 It wascollectedinsummer lad ("nocino") Macerate in Macerate ("nocino") carried out heavy jobs outheavy carried ("pitte ccu majiu") cooked okdfut IOawo* CI 5 Cooked fruits children) As basisoffor the"panicottu" broth (given to fnl icdlae)1A Unc,pig, AC 1 leaves) minced d (finely oil to make the classic fritters make theclassicfritters to oil lad or as boiled vegetable 3 CS, MT,SE Unc, ru, me Unc, ru, MT,SE CS, 3 lad orasboiledvegetable achl5C Wo,di CI 5 alcohol rto oaiyHabitat Locality * N tration 5 CI Ru, di,to Ru, 1AR Be CI 5 5CI

Page 6 of 14 (page number not for citation purposes) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:52 http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/52 Table 2:Fooduses of plantsin someareas of Calabria (Southern Italy) Clematis vitalba RANUNCULA-CEAE oleracea Portulaca PORTULACACEAE CLU29 communis Myrtus MYRTACEAE Ranunculus ficaria Urtica dioica URTICACEAE Plantago major PLANTAGINACEAE Epilobium angustifolium ONAGRACEAE (1)The small unripe fruit is named 'cuzzummeru areas; Wawalls; Wo woods. Habitat Localities citations * = meadows; Oawo* oak woodsincluded Plant partsused Spartium junceum vulgaris Phaseolus LEGUMINOSAE Ficus carica MORACEAE : Bebeachs; Bewobeech woods;Cleclearing : AC Acri; AR Ardore; CI Cirò; CRCrùcoli; Cirò; ARArdore;CI Acri; : AC .–sefont 1 L2 rFood use("fichi'mbo Fr (1) CLU28 L. –seefootnote .–adcl L4 pFood use Ap L. –ardicela CLU40 .–sml eFo s Tender leavesare Fooduse Le – simula L. .–gabnieY odueBoiled Food use Ys grambuntine – L. L. – Murzìla (CS), murtidda (MR) murtidda(MR) (CS), – Murzìla L. .–fgul eSbttt ftecfe ose ed CCu AC 1 Roastedseeds Substitute ofthecoffee Se – fagiuoli L. auel l odueI aa T EDame SE MT, 2 In salad Food use Yle L –favucello .CU3FuFo s Eaten after preserving invinegar (above allin Food use Fbu CLU23 L. L. – purchiacchia – CL – purchiacchia – L. : Ap aerial part; Br branches; Fl flowers; Fr fruit; Hu husk; Le husk; Hu fruit; Fr flowers; Fl branches; Br part; aerial : Ap .–grfnn s tFo s nsld1M Dame, cle(be-wo) MT 1 In salad Food use Ys,st L. –garofanino Q. cerris Q. 3 l odueI aa rbie T ECu,ru SE MT, 2 boiled In salador Fooduse Yle U31 woods; Pigaroundpigsties; theRo rocks; ', and wheninMay-Juneit ', s; Co cowsheds; Cu cultivated species or cu Cu cultivatedspecies s; Cocowsheds; CS Castrovillari; CT Cittanova CSCastrovillari;CT Br To obtain the "tortaniddi" White dried figs are run through partly partly through run are figs dried White "tortaniddi" the obtain To Br pFo s savgtbe(op,ohrdse)2CT,SS 2 As avegetable (, other dishes) Food use Ap eA pc ncoeyO et,aogdidfg t.5CI 5 Onamong meats, driedfigsetc. Asspice in cookery Le treatment) become ripe, it isnamed 'botta'. In August other 'cu (Continued) leaves; Roroot; Seseeds;St for children in growth (tonic in growth for children ; MR Morano; MT Montauro; SE S.Elia ;SSS.Stefanodi MTMontauro; ; MRMorano; Roa roads; Ruruins; Sasandy places(grounds); Tema termophile maquises; Toalong to ttiti") Dried figs are cut and filled with almonds, Driedfigsarecutandfilled ttiti") ltivations;damp Dadampareas;Dame me = stem; Yleyoungleaves;Ys browned in oven in browned walnuts, chocolate, ;then they are ybiigadsaoigwt i IRu CI 5 By boilingandseasoningwithoil branches pruned the past) the nsuso noeet RHe, wo MR 1 in soupsoromelette zzummeri' (the truefigs)mature (CS). good ingredient for soups 1 AC Ro, ru, da Ro,ru, AC 1 soups good ingredientfor Aspromonte; VAVallefiorita sprouts. adows; Di ditches; Drme dry meadows; Fi fields; He hedges; Me fields; Hehedges; meadows; Fi dry ditches; Drme Di adows; 2CS, MRTema1CS Ru,wa SS,CT 2 rrents; Unc Unc uncultivated rrents;

Page 7 of 14 (page number not for citation purposes) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:52 http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/52 Table 3:Domestic,handicraft Acer Acer ACERACEAE Pistacia lentiscus Pistacia lentiscus ANACARDIACEAE Pteridium aquilinum HYPOLEPIDACEAE Lupinus albus LEGUMINOSAE Salvia officinalis LABIATAE Juglans regia JUGLANDACEAE Phaseolus vulgaris Phaseolus vulgaris Spartium junceum specimen) name(voucher name,local scientific Family, Cornus sanguinea sanguinea Cornus CORNACEAE Matricaria chamomilla Inula viscosa Cynara cardunculus cardunculus Cynara COMPOSITAE oleracea Spinacia CHENOPODIACEAE Saponaria officinalis CARIOPHYLLA-CEAE Hedera helix ARALIACEAE oleander Nerium APOCYNACEAE Euphorbia amygdaloides amygdaloides Euphorbia EUPHORBIACEAE Castanea sativa sativa Castanea FAGACEAE Arundo donax GRAMINEAE sp. – occhjiajnu W To makespoons To W sp. –occhjiajnu L)Atn–suir L7A omk rosI a olce yedrypol IUnc, rucaso CI 5 It was collected by elderly people To make brooms Ap (L.) Aiton –spulitru CLU7 .–nc L1 uT y ar nuino eoto IWo,di CI 5 or decoction Infusion dyehairs To Hu CLU17 –noce L. .–Leia(I eT ahhis(hybcm hnn)Ifso TWo, wa CT 1 Infusion To wash hairs (they become shining) Le L. –L'edira (CI) L. – lupino Ep Fertilizer It's It's Fertilizer Ep – lupino L. .–cnaCU4S Stake inkitchen gardens/vineyards St L. –canna CLU14 .CU1L It was used toobtain white teet Le L. CLU21 ilr–csan L1 r To wash Frb Miller – castagno CLU12 .–siuCU rA itetOlfrlms5CI 5 lamps for Oil Ointment Fr,Ap CLU1 –scinu L. .B omk h ln bte ihoiete)1A To, he AR 1 To make the sling(better with olive-) Br L. .–siaiA To make the garm Ap L. –spinaci L. – russula, sanguinella W To make make To W sanguinella –russula, L. .–fgul eTo wash woollen and cotton coloured Se L. –fagiuoli .CU3B Domestic andagricultural us Br L. CLU23 L. subsp. (L.) Kuhn – filici CLU16 Ap It was itsaroma bytheherdsmento was used for It Ap CLU16 filici – Kuhn (L.) .–spnraL,r eegn ln at eeue ytefresisedo h op2M,S Da,ru MT, SE 2 Plant partswereused byfarmers the instead ofthe Detergent Le, ro L. –saponaria L. – galumedda, camomilla Fh To wash blond hairs Decoction 1 CS Cu, ru Cu, CS 1 Decoction hairs blond wash To Fh camomilla –galumedda, L. L. – tutumagghu – CLU11 La Child practi Child La L. – tutumagghu – CLU11 scolymus and miscellaneous uses ofplantsin L)HykL omk hnn akcohsDccin1A Cu AC 1 Decoction To make shining darkclothes Le (L.) Hayek rDmsi s To makebrooms, hides Domestic use Br sdPr s Preparation/Admin Use Part Used pItwas used tomake brooms and during the Ap tTo make baskets(see St oleaster wrap dairy products clothes funeralsthe in past etc.) and collars for goats and bright ) h ar eoto T EOawo* MT, SE 2 Decoction the hairs toolsfor kitchen (spoons, goblets some areas ofCalabr eChildren used tospread with la ce ents ofblackwool shining Olea europaea omk rosadlcsfrvns5CI 5 To makebrooms andlaces for vines e evswr ubdo h et IDrme, ru CI 5 Leaves were rubbed on theteeth h ia (SouthernItaly) subsp. strengthen" the grapevines colours the fix to and up brighten to beans shelled and pods with Decoction ornetegret ihcoigwtr1AC 1 To rinsethe garments with cooking water preserved for along time coffin and the deadmen inorder to For the useinfunerals the leafy branches were putbetween the latex provokes swelling of the sex maleorgan, with persistent pain only towidenthatpart and aste buried underground inthevi n hlesfrctl SC, CT, 5 and sheltersfor cattle tex wounds or mucous membranes, neyards because it "would it"would neyards because st ofendurance ofthepain. The allow that the corpse could be be could corpse the that allow srto oaiyHabitat Locality N * istration 1CI Ma, Mewo 5 CI Di, edwa Di, CI 1CI5 1AC 1AC Cu, Cle,da, edro CI ru5 5CI Tema 5CI Oawo*1CI Wo, edwo SS, SG

Page 8 of 14 (page number not for citation purposes) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:52 http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/52 Table 3:Domestic,handicraft edges of woods; He hedges; Ma maquises; Mewo Mamaquises; Hehedges; woods; edges of uncultivated areas; Wa walls; Wowoods. areas; Wawalls; uncultivated tree) Pyrus communis ROSACEAE Populus SALICACEAE Salix Verbascum thapsus thapsus Verbascum SCROPHULARIA-CEAE Localities * =citations Habitat Plant parts used Ficus carica carica Ficus MORACEAE Link) Negodi – u ghjastru –u Negodi Link) Clematis vitalba vitalba Clematis RANUNCULACEAE Phillyrea latifolia Ferula communis UMBELLIFERAE erba vetriola Vitex agnus castus castus agnus Vitex VERBENACEAE dioica Urtica Olea europaea OLEACEAE Olea europaea Parietaria officinalis Parietaria officinalis URTICACEAE anisum Pimpinella vinifera Vitis VITACEAE sp. W To make collars for cows (if poplar not was was not (ifpoplar cows for collars make To W sp. sp. W To make collars for cows for collars make To W sp. : Caso calcareous soils near to the water; Cle clearings; Cu cult clearings; Cu Cle water; the nearto soils calcareous : Caso : AC Acri; AR Ardore; CI Cirò; CS Castrovillari; CT Cittanova; Cittanova; CT CSCastrovillari; Cirò; Ardore; CI ACAcri;AR : .CU8Fr ('pas-si- CLU28 L. L. – vite Br Branches ("sarmienti") to soothe the pain pain the soothe to ("sarmienti") Branches Br –vite L. .–adcl L4 pT ahcohsadwosDccin2MT,SE 2 Decoction To wash clothes andwools Ap L. –ardicela CLU40 .B Tomake the slingand spoons Br L. L. subsp. .–vtrv tTo make baskets(see St L. –viteriva L. –pero; pirajnu (the wildpear .WT aeclasfraias odfe e rvrsi h et5C Ma CI 5 Seeproverbs inthetext To make collarsanimals; for good fuel W L. .–fduaz L3 tTo make bungs for barrels, flasks and St feddurazzuL. – CLU39 .–aieF hycnb sda atFo o ihs1A Cu AC 1 Food for fishes They can beused as bait Fr L. –anice .–vin aiaCU1B Farmers Br L. –vrignamarinaCLU41 : Apaerialpart; Ep entireplant; Fh flow L., L., L. V. phlomoides V. phlomoides P. diffusa P. diffusa oleaster oleaster Mert. et Koch. – – Koch. Mert. et (Hoffmans & and miscellaneous uses ofplantsin L. – tassu Le To make wicks for oil lamps oil for makewicks To Le tassu – L. mesophile woods; Oawo woods; mesophile To make the dish ("coppa") of thepoor men. W Br Textile use In the first post-war period, not having available enough clothes, the the clothes, enough available having not period, post-war first the In use Textile Br Br Baskets for bread, desserts, clothes for for clothes desserts, bread, for Baskets Br tThey were usedto light the firein oldovens St pTo clean glasses, bottles anddemijohns put Ap luni'), er heads; Frfruit; Frb fruit bark;Huhusk; Lalatex; Le leaves; Ro root; Seseeds; Also thewood of wildpear tree wasused. oleaster found) indispensable trousseau of brides "panàri", baskets togather fruit, once washing; "sporte", containers for vintage; artisans to makech the by used also itwas once sculptures; for thebread in pulping the case,snakes would not bitten Ifin year. entire foran snakes with contact in come sure not forbeing use: Magical baskets ("sporteddi") (magical ritual) ) ivated species or cultivations; Da damp areas; Di ditches; Drm Diditches; Dadampareas; or cultivations; species ivated utilized them to make peculiar make peculiar to them utilized some areas ofCalabr * oak woods included included woods * oak MT Montauro; SC Scilla; SE S.Elia; SG S.Giorgio Morgeto; SSS.St Morgeto; S.Giorgio SES.Elia;SG SCScilla; Montauro; MT airs andbaskets Olea europaea Q. cerris ia (SouthernItaly) subsp. woods; Ro rocks; Ru ruins; Sasa ruins; Ru rocks; Ro woods; was very hard. wood This and"martelletta"). ("gajru" tools some with wascarved it A bigtrunk waschosen, itwasdivide were made with it. that theelder women wove for their family.Alsobags and carpets ex to wascombed it Successively on the stonesof these streams, andwas dried in the sun. torrents of water running in the kept branchesof theweaved. broomwere after gathering, The was plant, Basketsmade are together with orbteara atwt ae MT,SE 4 Tothe rub aerialpartwithwater assured what exposed in 'use') in exposed what assured grandmothers and given toeatin Fruits gathered onthe ground or dried to the sun were kept by edges ofthe basketsaremade with higher The 2days. waterfor in put and collected are ("vrinchi") month this In August. vitalba the elderlyin the localhandicraft thefarmers. by iscut drystem The Dry branches 5 CI Da, sa,to Da, CI 5 Dry branches the stomach ofthepatient An odd number of trimmed shoots (ortheir decoction) to put on stems. Reeds are gatheredin January andcuttostrips in (Continued) C. vitalba vitalba C. e dry meadows;e Edro edges of roads; Edwaedges of water-courses; Edwo ndy places (grounds); Tema termoph Tema (grounds); places ndy St stem; Wwood. St stem; efano diAspromonte and wildolive-tree young branches Arundo donax donax Arundo tract anexcellent fibre,theone May 1° rigorously (this practice It is employed still today from today still employed Itis the branches ofwildolive-tree. ("fiumare"); then itwas beaten d inhalf alongitsaxis and then slices and and slices Clematis Clematis ile maquises; To along torrents; Unc alongtorrents; To ile maquises; 1CI Edwa1CI Cu 1CI Wo, ma 2MT,1CI Edwa SEDrme 5CI 1CI Ma 2MT,SE 5CI Ru, wa 1AR Cu 2CI Ru, ro, unc 1AC Cu CT, SS CT,

Page 9 of 14 (page number not for citation purposes) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:52 http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/52 Table 4: Toxic plants for animals in the folk folk the in animals for plants Toxic 4: Table Ferula communis UMBELLIFERAE etu aqiLHr–ev euaC6Cases CestrumL'Hér –ervafetusa parqui C46 SOLANACEAE * =citations °modernname °°oldname telmateja Equisetum EQUISETACEAE name,loca scientific Family, Habitat Localities torrents; Unc uncultivated areas. Uncuncultivated torrents; Oxalis pes-caprae Oxalis pes-caprae OXALIDACEAE delle tortore° ; erba vis ; erba delle tortore° : Be beachs; Cla clayey grounds;Cucultiva : Bebeachs;Claclayey : CI Cirò : CI L. – feddurazzu C47 Plant toxic for gr toxicfor Plant C47 L. –feddurazzu L. – campanedda; ca L. –campanedda; Ehrh – stocca e ammenta Plant wi Plant eammenta Ehrh –stocca cida, visciola °° – C45 – cida, visciola°° l name (voucher specimen l name(voucher mpanelle, trifoglio mpanelle, trifoglio knowledges of Cirò, Ca knowledges Cirò, of ted species orcultivations;damp DaDi ditches; areas; Edwoedges ofwoods;Hehedg oiiyN*Lclt Habitat Locality N * Toxicity ) innocuous for bovines and horses The herbisharmfu thelimbs,coma. paralysis for plant inflowerain percentage of 80%), diedor that, sheep of cases referred People plant) of mortality of bovines due ofmortalitybovines tothe ingest th high toxicity for animals, ab th hightoxicityfor labria (Southern Italy) azing animals. The stem, if dried, Thestem,ifdried, animals. azing aftereating amount agreat ofthisplant (infieldsinfested bythe ove all for bovinesandsheep(t ove allfor o ftepathv enrfre ITo, CI 3 ion of the plant havebeen referred aborted.Thesickanimals l above allforsheepgoats), (sometimes for but oe t oiiy2C Ru,to,roa, unc CI 2 its toxicity loses hese animalsusuallyrefuse this showed: colic, tympanitis, showed: colic, es; Roa roads; Ru ruins; Si siltgrounds; Roaroads;ruins; Rusunny Si Su es; grounds; Toalong

5 CI Ru, cu (cla,si,su in hill) (cla,si,su cu Ru, CI 5 5 CI To, da,di,edwo To, CI 5 he (in low hill), be low hill), he (in

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Daphne gnidium Calabrian people resorts in the nourishment to a lot of The use for papillomas seems to be more a magic remedy vegetables like the aubergine, with properties useful to than a medical one. reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood [35]. Like in other regions, several species are eaten, e.g, Borago offic- Anti-parasitic uses inalis, Taraxacum officinale, Urtica dioica. Flowers of Sambu- The reported plants are cultivated (Juglans regia), or spe- cus nigra ("maju") are fried to make classic fritters ("pitte cies growing in the Mediterranean maquis (Laurus nobilis, ccu majiu"). The young leaves of Ranunculus ficaria, the Nerium oleander) and garrigues (Daphne gnidium, Urginea only edible plant of the Ranunculaceae family (apart from maritima). Some species are still now employed. Clematis vitalba cooked buds), are eaten in salad, but also in soups. Among the less common food uses we cite that Nerium oleander is a plant dear to the farmers and very of Amaranthus retroflexus young buds [15,26], a ruderal requested, since considered enemy of the moles, known species gathered in Cirò. This use is cited for Calabria eaters of roots and vegetables. In Cirò, planting branches region also by Picchi and Pieroni [6],that reported of this plant is still now a means to kept out holes. This another species of Amaranthus, A. lividus, as food plant. fact could perhaps be explained through the branches Uncommon is also the food use of Plantago major (tender eated by these animals, which after die because of the poi- leaves in soups), described in the upland of Sila near Acri. son. The use is not cited for other regions, but in Sicily the flowers are spread on the ground of areas infested with Some thorny plants (Carduae, e.g. Silybum marianum) are cockroaches [22]. eaten also in the near Basilicata region [15,26], while the food use of Centaurea napifolia, C. sphaerocephala and Spar- Lavandula angustifolia tium junceum pickled buds, not cited elsewhere, is proba- The presence of this plant in the Pollino Mountain and bly linked with the extreme poverty of past periods. S. other areas of the region can account for its common use junceum should have some toxicity for the presence of car- as repellent agent. dioactive principles. The use of young buds and pith of Epilobium angustifolium in salad is also new. Among other repellent agents: Juglans regia leaves for bugs, Ocimum basilicum for mosquitos and Laurus nobilis Contributions on wild food plants of Calabria region fruits (macerate in olive oil) for flies, put on the coat of were made by Bernardo [3], by Picchi and Pieroni [6] and cattle [34]. Sambucus nigra branches were hung in rooms by Nebel et al. [7]. Bernardo [3] reports the use of Asphode- to attract flies, then captured. lus fistulosus roots, Leopoldia comosa bulbs, "qepez", and Tordylium apulum leaves, in addition to Asparagus acutifo- A particular still practised use is that of Urginea maritima lius, Chenopodium bonus-henricus, Cichorium intybus, Clem- bulb, as a repellent for insects and mice in granaries, silos atis vitalba. Picchi and Pieroni [6] highlight particularly and containers of broad beans [13]. In Sicily this bulb is the food use of Allium triquetrum (kept in olive oil after analogously used as a repellent for mice [21] or as rat poi- boiling in water and vinegar), of Lythrum salicaria (young son [22]. buds in salad, stem without cortex boiled in vinegar or in olive oil), of Hypochoeris glabra, Lotus edulis (leaves and The memory of the anti-parasitic use of Delphinium consol- fruits), Chrysanthemum segetum (the more gathered species ida is kept in the vernacular name of Cirò: "erba ppè in Aspromonte), Reseda alba and other wild . pidocchi" (herb for louses). Among the seasoning herbs, we cite Myrtus communis Human nourishment whose branches are utilized to make small spits to which The plants reported in this section grow above all in figs are skewered for a winter eating (see also [3]). An meadows (Borago officinalis, Origanum heracleoticum, Plan- analogous unpublished use was described in the Tyrrhe- tago major), ruderal areas (Amaranthus retroflexus), edges of nian area of Basilicata [36]. Also Mentha spicata, Laurus roads (Silybum marianum), woods (Castanea sativa), clear- nobilis and Origanum heracleoticum are used as seasoning, ings of wood (Epilobium angustifolium), open environ- together with Salvia officinalis (this last species in Calabria ments (Spartium junceum) and in the Mediterranean is subspontaneous in dry meadows and ruderal areas). maquis (Myrtus communis). Even some species are gath- The dye properties of Borago officinalis flowers are ered on beachs (Centaurea napifolia, C. sphaerocephala). exploited for aromatic vinegars. Some practices cited in Some cultivated species were used for peculiar purposes other Calabrian papers (e.g. that one of Ficus carica cinder (e.g. roasted seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris as a substitute of in order to preserve seasoned salami)[5] have not been the coffee in Acri, upland of Sila). Almost all the described found by us. species are still employed nowadays in Calabria, except for the more thorny species (Centaurea sp. pl.).

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Domestic and handicraft uses reports that the priestesses of Cerere slept on pallets inter- In Cirò the use of Spartium junceum to make clothes, sacks woven with its branches. and carpets dates back to the first decade of XIX century, as testified by some elderly men born in the first years of Also Ferula communis is still used for this purpose and to the XX century, whose parents were devoted to this work. make rustic chairs, as it happen in Sicily [23,24]. Other In the Graecanic area the textile use of this broom was par- species are employed for brooms (Pistacia lentiscus, Inula ticularly practised in Aspromonte, e.g. in Bova [37] and viscosa,etc.), while there are some memories of wicks for near some Albanian minorities. At the present, it survives oil lamps made with Verbascum phlomoides and V. Thapsus. in few Calabrian countries (e.g. Serrastretta) [38] and An oil for lamps was obtained from P. lentiscus [5]. Cerzeto [39] and in some folkloristic events [40]. It is also well documented in the Museum of. S.Paolo Albanese Two furnished the matter of various Calabrian arte- (Basilicata region) [3]. Several fabrics (knapsacks, blan- facts (from the inventories of the Museum of Arts and kets, towels, napkins etc.) from Calabria made with Spar- Folks Traditions, Rome): Fagus sylvatica (chests for storag- tium junceum are kept in the Museum of Arts and Folks ing bread, baskets, cradles) and Citrus bergamia (snuff- Traditions (Rome); they were collected at the beginning of boxes)[50]. The very original Calabrian craft is art of the the XX century. shepherds" (that engrave the wood) of the Serre and Sila Greca should be described from an ethnobotanical point In Calabria the basketry is now particularly practised in of view. Hand looms with Fagus sylvatica wood are still San Giorgio Morgeto, , San Roberto and Cru- made in Cariati (Cosenza) and Castelsilano (Crotone) coli, but above all in Soriano Calabro [41]. From the [51]. Some plants are used in Cirò to make collars for ani- inventories of the Museum of Arts and Folks Traditions mals (Phyllirea latifolia, Populus sp., Salix sp., Cornus san- (Rome) result that some Calabrian baskets were made guinea) and tools for kitchen (Cornus sanguinea). Elderly with Fagus sylvatica, Ulmus minor and Abies alba, Arundo people says in Cirò with regard to Phyllirea latifolia wood: sp.pl., Salix sp., straw, but also small containers ("fis- "Liternu lignu eternu", that is "P. latifolia wood is eternal celle") were made with brooms and other baskets due to its hardness when it is dried". Another proverb ("nasse") with reeds and Juncus sp. The use of Salix caprea says: "Liternu ppe focu e ppe mprnu", that is "P. latifolia branches is documented for the Mt. Pollino area [3]. wood to make a fire and for the hell", since it burns much.

Moreover, in this paper we report the use of the branches In the Calabrian economy of subsistence, a discreet of Vitex agnus castus – typical plant of riverbeds and edges number of plants were used in decoction to brighten up of torrents ("fiumàre") – to make baskets ("sporteddi") the colour of clothes: Spinacia oleracea, Cynara scolymus near Cirò. This use is known since ancient times: in fact, and Urtica dioica (leaves), in addition to Phaseolus vulgaris. the first term of the scientific binomial Vitex agnus castus Hanging the thorny Ruscus aculeatus in the houses, in (Vitex) means flexible shoot to bend, from the Latin order to keep the rats away, is perhaps magical; or it could "vieo" [42] (= to bend, to interwoven). This last word cor- be a residual of the use to wrap cheeses or ropes (these last responds to the Greek "lìgos" (used also by Omero = Ital- ones employed to hang cheeses to the ceiling). ian agnocasto) [8], with its verb "ligòo"(= to bend, to interwoven) [43] because – according to Dioscoride – the Other uses branches of this plant are long and pliable [44]. Rocci [43] A few plants are used in the cosmetic field: e.g. Hedera writes that Vitex agnus castus (also called αγνος) is named helix and Matricaria chamomilla in order to hair dye, and in Italian "agnocasto" but also "vetrice". This term "vet- Abies alba, whose twigs are used in decoction to prepare rice" is attributed to Vitex agnus castus by Palazzi [45] too, deodorant footbaths. A limited number of plants is while Zingarelli [46] calls it "a willow for baskets". In the described also in agriculture: Arundo donax as a 'stake', dialects of central-southern Italy the word "vetrice" corre- Lupinus albus as a fertilizer for ground, Spartium junceum sponds to some species of Salix [15,31,32]. Therefore Vitex for laces in vineyards and vegetable gardens. agnus castus and Salix sp. pl. are called with the same term since their branches are used to bend. Toxic plants Among these we can cite Daphne gnidium, called "junas- The use for baskets of Vitex agnus castus is undescribed in trum" (ginestraccio, that is bad broom) but also "papa- the current Italian ethnobotanical papers, included the rina ppè ntassari" (that is a plant that sleeps in order to enormous work of Atzei [47]. Lieutaghi [48] writes that poison) – 10 fruits can kill a men [52]. The fishes caught the Latins interwove its branches as those of a willow and with this system (illegal fishing) are always more or less that the plant is used in southern areas (of the France, toxic for men [53]. Toxic plants for cattle are cited in Table where the willows are rare) to make baskets. Pirone [49] 4 (the information was collected near Cirò). Among these, Oxalis pes-caprae introduced from South-Africa. The exces-

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sive consumption of this plant provokes intestinal inflam- tourist sector. The preservation of mations, blood in the urines and often death by collapse e.g. in the food or artisan fields may be source of some in ovines, bovines and horses [54], due to the high income in local enterprises. amount of calcium oxalate. Milk cows were infected in 1818 by the "Morbo Ignoto" (unknown disease), also This research is also offered as a contribute to the knowl- named "Pinzanese". It was treated with vinegar, salt and edge of the ethno-biological roots of the investigated rubbing human dung [55]. region.

Other toxic plants for animals are Ferula communis (ole- Competing interests oresins, resins)[56], Cestrum parqui (parquine, solaso- The author(s) declare that they have no competing inter- nine), Equisetum telmateja (silica and thiaminase). The ests. folk name of this last plant is "stocca e ammenta" (that is you divide and unite) because the different parts of the Authors' contributions plant can be detached and again inserted on the stem. The field work for data collection was carried out above all by GDF and in a limited way by the other authors. Data Plants and vernacular names analysis and manuscript preparation were conducted by Some vernacular names derive from the culture of the all authors, but above all by PMG. Scientific coordination "Magna Graecia" or from the following Bizantine rule. Pis- was carried out by NGP. tacia lentiscus is named "scinu", "scine", which comes from the Greek "schinus". This last word comes from "to Acknowledgements cut through, to carve", because the bark of the tree We thank Dr. M.L. Leporatti, Dr. Ameruso P., Malarico V., Iamello A, is cut throughout to bleed the mastex [44]. Plantago major Capalbo M., Mannella G. and Mascianà B.A. for the useful information, and is called "peltinervia". This vernacular name results from all the people interviewed. Our thanks to Virginia Filippelli and to Luciana "pentinervia" (from the Greek "pentà" = 5), whereas in Mariotti for the English language review. several regions of Italy it is called "cinquenervia". Regard- References ing the shape of the leaves, Verbascum thapsus is called 1. Leporatti ML, Pavesi A: Usi nuovi, rari o interessanti di piante "lingua 'e voiju" (that is tongue of ox), while Adonis annua officinali di alcune zone della Calabria. Webbia 1989, "eriva bedda" (erba bella, that is beautiful herb) for the 43:269-289. 2. 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