Survey of Wild Food Plants for Human Consumption in Elazığ (Turkey)
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Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 1 (1), January 2015, pp. 69-75 Survey of wild food plants for human consumption in Elazığ (Turkey) Rıdvan Polat1*, Ugur Cakilcioglu2, Musa Denizhan Ulusan3 & Mehmet Yavuz Paksoy4 1Giresun University, Espiye Vocational School, Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Espiye, Giresun 28600, Turkey; 2Tunceli University, Pertek Sakine Genç Vocational School, Pertek, Tunceli 62500, Turkey 3Süleyman Demirel Üniversity, Faculty of Forestry, Depermant of Soil Science and Ecology, Isparta 32000, Turkey. 4Tunceli University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Enviromental Engineering, Tunceli 62100, Turkey *E-mail: [email protected] Received 23 May 2014, revised 15 July 2014 This study aims to record accumulation of knowledge on plants which are used as food by local people of Elazığ that has a rich culture and a very natural environment. Field study was carried out over a period of approximately two years (2010-2011). During this period, 92 vascular plant specimens were collected. The plants were pressed in the field and prepared for identification. A total of 62 food plants belonging to 28 families were identified in the region. There is no detailed information in the literature with regard to the use of brevipes for human nutrition. It is certained that wild plants being used for nutritional purposes by human beings are also used for medicinal purposes. Highlighting the importance of flora and ethnobotanical inventory studies in terms of the protection and use of plant sources, what is required is the cultivation of endangered plant species, establishment of seedbanks for these plants, recording of their natural habitat as well as conducting studies in order to raise public awareness. Keywords: Wild food plants, Ethnobotany, Elazığ, Turkey IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K 36/00, A47G 19/26, A47J 39/02 Humans have always made use of their native flora, Alternatively, they are stuffed. Some research has not just as a source of food but also for fuel, medicine, been conducted on some edible wild plants4. clothing, home construction, and chemical production. In other areas during years of hunger, people Traditional knowledge of plants and their properties preferred to eat cord (leather shoelaces) or beech bark, has always been transmitted from generation to rather than wild fauna or delicious wild vegetables. generation through the natural course of everyday life. Flowering plants were not even considered6. Wild However, the continuation of this knowledge is edible flora did not play a major role in the endangered when transmission between the older and population’s survival in ancient times. However, it younger generation is no longer assured¹. Documentation was crucial for survival during the recent war in of indigenous knowledge through². Therefore, Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in the cities that establishment of the local names and indigenous uses of were under siege. Wild edible plants may satisfy the plants has significant potential societal benefits³. daily human need for elementary nutrition sources, Medicinal plant studies have increased in recent particularly those of vitamins C and A, and for some years. In the Eastern Anatolia Region, most minerals, according to WHO regulations7. 4 ethnobotanic studies have been conducted in Elazığ . This study was conducted in and around Elazığ, As well as use for medicinal purposes, wild plants can which has a rich cultural heritage and natural also be used as food. In particular, wild plants growing environment in order to research and record the in spring when vegetables are rare are commonly used accumulation of knowledge of local people in our country, notably in the Aegean and Eastern concerning wild plants used as food for human 5 Anatolia Regions . Plants are used as food; eaten raw, nutrition. Another aim was to raise awareness with or boiled, drained and then rice is added. They are regard to the direct effects of these plants, many of eaten with or without eggs or with garlic yoghurt. which are also used as an economic way to feed —————— animals. This study was also conducted to serve as a *Corresponding author source for scientists for the purpose of determining 70 INDIAN J TRADIT KNOWLE, VOL. 1, NO 1, JANUARY 2015 the nutritional value of edible wild plants by Plant materials comparing information obtained in ethnobotany studies, Field study was carried out over a period of and researching the safety of the use of these plants. approximately 2 yrs (2010-2011). During this period, 92 vascular plant specimens were collected. Materials and methods The plants were pressed in the field and prepared Study area for identification. Plants were identified using Study area was located on the East of Anatolian the standard text, “Flora of Turkey and the 9 diagonal, in the skirts of South-Eastern Taurus Mountains, East Aegean Islands” . The names of plant families in the Upper Euphrates Region of the Eastern Anatolia were listed in alphabetic order. Scientific names of Region8. Elazığ (Fig. 1) belongs to the Iran-Turan Plant plant species were identified according to the Geography Region and falls within the B7 grid square International Plant Name Index (IPNI: according to the Grid classification system developed http://www.ipni.org). After the taxon names were by Davis9. Elazığ Province is bounded to the East by identified, instances of endemism and hazard 10 Bingöl, to the West by Malatya, to the South by categories were specified. We examined whether the Diyarbakır, and to the North by Tunceli. It is situated plants used in had literature records or not. between longitudes 40–38º East and latitudes 38–39º North. The county is 1067 m above sea level. Interviews with local people According to the data obtained from the website of A questionnaire was administered to the local Elazığ Province Administration (http://www.elazig.gov.tr/) people in Elazığ city center and 26 villages in the vicinity Elazığ is located in junction of roads connecting of the city center, through face-to-face interviews with Eastern Anatolia Region to West. Within provincial 212 residents of Elazığ province. Mean age of the borders, there are rivers, lakes and dams. Elazığ respondents was 53 yrs (in 30–76 yrs range). which had a continental climate in the past has now Interviews were made on the busy hours of the transitioned to a mild climate as a result of dams built common areas (especially houses and market places, in the region. History of the region goes back to etc.) visited by the citizens of Elazığ province. The ancient times. The history of Elazığ should be respondents of the questionnaire are Turkish citizens. considered in conjuction with its predecessor; Harput. As we think that young people are not suitable for an Harput and its vicinity are one of the oldest residential ethnobotanical study, the questionnaire was only areas of Anatolia. As a matter of fact, owing to the the administered to people over 30 who know about food region in which the Fırat River lies, natural shelters plants. The people who had knowledge of plants were and abundance of land and freshwater animals, the visited at least for two times; one of these visits is region has been a settlement area since Paleolithic era. particularly paid to their houses. The experiences of According to the data from Turkish Statistical Institute, the local people were recorded during the interviews. (http://tuikapp.tuik.gov.tr/adnksdagitapp/adnks.zul). During the interviews, demographic characteristics of Turkey’s population is 73.722.988 and Elazığ’s population the study participants, and local names, utilized parts is 552.646 as of the date of 31 th December 2010. 74 % and preparation methods of the plants were recorded. of the population within the borders of the province The people who participated in the study were lives in urban areas whereas the remaining 26 % lives requested to indicate the wild plants they used. These in rural areas. plants were collected from the work book. Fig. 1—Geographical location of the study area POLAT et al.: SURVEY OF WILD FOOD PLANTS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IN ELAZIG, TURKEY 71 Calculations Allium ampeloprasum L., Amygdalus communis L., Juglans The use value11, a quantitative method that regia L., Malva neglecta Wallr., Mentha sp., Morus demonstrates the relative importance of species nigra L., Portulaca oleracea L., Rheum ribes L., Rhus known locally, was also calculated according to the coriaria L., Rosa canina L., Rubus sanctus Schreber, following formula: UV = U/N, where UV refers to the Thymus sp. and Urtica dioica L., was the plants most use value of a species; U to the number of citations used by the local people. per species; and N to the number of informants. Numerous scientific research studies conducted in Knowing the use value of a kind may be useful in the last few years have revealed that a diet rich in determining the use reliability of the related plant. fiber, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and mineral salts is the diet considered to be the most ideal in Results and discussion order to maintain good health and prevent various illnesses12. Other than uses of many edible wild plants Demographic characteristics of study participants in treating illnesses as well as interesting local Demographic characteristics of the respondents elements, some of them (Crocus leichtlinii (Dewer) were determined and recorded through face-to-face Bowles, Ficus carica L., Morus nigra L., Rheum ribes L., interviews. Of the participants who took part in Rosa canina, Rubus sanctus Schreber) are also used the questionnaire, 53 were between the ages of as a source of vitamins and minerals. The studies that 30 and 40, 77 were between the ages of 41 and 50, have been conducted assert that edible wild plants 40 were between the ages of 51 and 60, 28 were resemble other vegetables; moreover those plants are between the ages of 61 and 70, and 14 were over the richer in some nutritional elements13.