Ficus Botanical Tour 0.Pdf

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Ficus Botanical Tour 0.Pdf 10 Sweet Sandpaper Fig 13 Shiny Sandpaper Fig Ficus opposita Ficus fraseri Found throughout Malesia and in This smaller-sized tree grows near eastern Australia, this small, yet creeks and in rain forest scrublands resilient plant can grow in many in Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and environments and even survive Australia. The leaves can take on occasional wildfires. Its common many forms, including having name comes from the sweet figs it lobed indentations on the margins. produces and the sandpaper-like texture of its leaves. Figs are a favorite food for a host of fruit bats. For Malesia, a region encompassing islands from Indonesia to example, this fig species is sought-after food by gray- FUN Papua New Guinea, is an area of incredible biodiversity. FUN FACT FACT headed flying foxes. 11 Riverine Fig 14 Figwood Ficus adenosperma Ficus virgata An odd rheophyte found growing Spanning Asia, Malesia, and tropical along creeks and riverbanks from northern Australia, this medium- New Guinea to Australia. These sized tree is useful to humans and trees look delicate, but they are animals alike. The bright-orange very strong and are able to survive figs are eaten by metallic starlings, yearly floods and strong currents. a threatened bird from New Guinea and Australia. A rheophyte is a type of plant that grows in fast- The sap has been used to protect against insect bites moving water. Its widespread system of strong roots and, in the past, leaves were boiled with goat milk to FUN FUN FACT keep it anchored. FACT help soften the arteries in people. 12 Red-leaf Fig Ficus congesta The figs of this small tree dangle from the trunk, not the branches. Native to forest edges and clearings throughout New Guinea and tropical Australia, this small tree’s new leaf growth is an eye-catching red. Made possible through the generosity of The Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation In Australia, fig trees provide many birds with a food FUN source. Cassowaries, in particular, favor red-leaf fig fruit. FACT sandiegozoo.org Ficus the numbers to the plant ID signs. The tour Matchbegins by Rio 4-D Theater in Discovery Outpost, 4 Banyan 7 Lava Fig continues behind the Reptile House then along Ficus benghalensis Ficus petiolaris Front Street past Map Locators 4 to 8. One of the largest-growing trees in This species from the Pacific the world. It is said that Alexander Coast of Mexico is one of the most Velvet Fig 1 the Great rested his army of 7,000 spectacular and odd-looking ficus Ficus velutina soldiers under a single banyan in trees on Earth. They are almost India. In its native, tropical climate, always found growing on rocks, A large-growing tree of moist, upland the tree produces many aerial roots with their roots hugging the regions from Mexico to Brazil. In its that reach the ground. boulders, looking like flowing lava. native environment, orchids, mosses, and other epiphytic plants cover the branches, creating a whole ecosystem on the tree. The genus Ficus represents over 850 species of trees, The word banyan comes from banias, the word used for shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and lithophytes around the FUN Indian vendors who set up markets under these trees. FUN This species name comes from the velvety FACT FACT world, mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. FUN hairs covering its leaves. FACT 2 Red-leaved Fig 5 Malagasy Rock Fig 8 Green-leaved Moreton Bay Fig Ficus ingens Ficus menabeensis Ficus watkinsiana A sprawling rock fig from many This variable ficus from This large strangler fig from the regions of Africa. It grows on Madagascar can be a shrub, tree, rain forests of eastern Australia can rocks or cliff faces in drier regions, or small rock fig depending on reach heights of up to 135 feet and becoming a forest tree in higher what environment it grows in. forms massive buttress roots. The rainfall areas. It goes through a It is nearly always associated figs are a main food source brief deciduous period, followed with rocks in the arid regions of for catbirds. by a flush of bright-red foliage. Madagascar. Many species of ficus are good for bonsai—including A lithophyte is a type of plant that grows on rocks. Ficus ingens, due to its attractive form and ease There are many lithophytic ficus, commonly called Many ripe figs on a Ficus watkinsiana turn purple and fall to FUN FUN FUN the ground where they are eaten by cassowaries. FACT of growing. FACT rock figs. FACT 3 Blueberry Fig 6 Socotran Fig 9 Highland Breadfruit Tree Ficus vacciniodes Ficus vasta Ficus dammaropsis Not all fig trees are big. In fact, Once thought to only be found This tree from the highlands many types grow as vines, shrubs, on the islands of Socotra, this of New Guinea produces giant or small plants. This sprawling, spectacular tree is native to many leaves and softball-size figs. vine-like species comes from parts of the Horn of Africa as well. It They are very hard to propagate, southern Taiwan where it grows requires very little care and minimal leading it to be a very uncommon, among boulders near the coastline. water, making it a perfect tree for spectacular plant. San Diego! Socotra, off the coast of Yemen, is often called the In Papua New Guinea, people cook the young When the figs of this species are ripe, they look like ‘Galápagos of the Indian Ocean’ because of the incredible leaves of this tree as a vegetable and serve the FUN blueberries—hence the name! FUN FUN FACT FACT biodiversity found there. FACT dish with pig meat. 10 Sweet Sandpaper Fig 13 Shiny Sandpaper Fig Ficus opposita Ficus fraseri Found throughout Malesia and in This smaller-sized tree grows near eastern Australia, this small, yet creeks and in rain forest scrublands resilient plant can grow in many in Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and environments and even survive Australia. The leaves can take on occasional wildfires. Its common many forms, including having name comes from the sweet figs it lobed indentations on the margins. produces and the sandpaper-like texture of its leaves. Figs are a favorite food for a host of fruit bats. For Malesia, a region encompassing islands from Indonesia to example, this fig species is sought-after food by gray- FUN Papua New Guinea, is an area of incredible biodiversity. FUN FACT FACT headed flying foxes. 11 Riverine Fig 14 Figwood Ficus adenosperma Ficus virgata An odd rheophyte found growing Spanning Asia, Malesia, and tropical along creeks and riverbanks from northern Australia, this medium- New Guinea to Australia. These sized tree is useful to humans and trees look delicate, but they are animals alike. The bright-orange very strong and are able to survive figs are eaten by metallic starlings, yearly floods and strong currents. a threatened bird from New Guinea and Australia. A rheophyte is a type of plant that grows in fast- The sap has been used to protect against insect bites moving water. Its widespread system of strong roots and, in the past, leaves were boiled with goat milk to FUN FUN FACT keep it anchored. FACT help soften the arteries in people. 12 Red-leaf Fig Ficus congesta The figs of this small tree dangle from the trunk, not the branches. Native to forest edges and clearings throughout New Guinea and tropical Australia, this small tree’s new leaf growth is an eye-catching red. Made possible through the generosity of The Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation In Australia, fig trees provide many birds with a food FUN source. Cassowaries, in particular, favor red-leaf fig fruit. FACT sandiegozoo.org Ficus.
Recommended publications
  • The Diversity and Composition of Woody Plants in Chebera Churcura National Park (CCNP), Southern Ethiopia
    Open Journal of Forestry, 2018, 8, 439-458 http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojf ISSN Online: 2163-0437 ISSN Print: 2163-0429 The Diversity and Composition of Woody Plants in Chebera Churcura National Park (CCNP), Southern Ethiopia Mezmir Girma1, Melesse Maryo2 1Shashemene Botanical Garden, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI), Shashemene, Ethiopia 2Dilla University, Department of Biology (DU), Dilla, Ethiopia How to cite this paper: Girma, M., & Abstract Maryo, M. (2018). The Diversity and Com- position of Woody Plants in Chebera Chur- National parks harbor the most valuable biological diversities of national and cura National Park (CCNP), Southern Ethi- global significance. The study of these diversities assists for the proper re- opia. Open Journal of Forestry, 8, 439-458. source management. This study was carried out to determine woody species https://doi.org/10.4236/ojf.2018.84028 diversity and composition in CCNP. Systematic sampling was used to collect Received: January 2, 2018 vegetation data from 67 plots (400 m2 each), which were laid following altitu- Accepted: August 18, 2018 dinal gradient. From each plot presence/absence of woody species, abundance Published: August 21, 2018 and structural data were recorded. R Program, Sorensen’s similarity, Shannon Copyright © 2018 by authors and diversity index were used for vegetation analysis. Our result indicated that a Scientific Research Publishing Inc. total of 106 plant specimens belonging to 42 families and 90 genera were iden- This work is licensed under the Creative tified, of which 57.6% were trees, followed by 18.8% shrubs, 7.6% liana and Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0).
    [Show full text]
  • Plant Collections from Ethiopia Desalegn Desissa & Pierre Binggeli
    Miscellaneous Notes & Reports in Natural History, No 001 Ecology, Conservation and Resources Management 2003 Plant collections from Ethiopia Desalegn Desissa & Pierre Binggeli List of plants collected by Desalegn Desissa and Pierre Binggeli as part of the biodiversity assessment of church and monastery vegetation in Ethiopia in 2001-2002. The information presented is a slightly edited version of what appears on the herbarium labels (an asci-delimited version of the information is available from [email protected]). Sheets are held at the Addis Ababa and Geneva herberia. Abutilon longicuspe Hochst. ex A. Rich Malvaceae Acacia etbaica Schweinf. Fabaceae Desalgen Desissa & Pierre Binggeli DD416 Desalegn Desissa & Pierre Binggeli DD432 Date: 02-01-2002 Date: 25-01-2002 Location: Ethiopia, Shewa, Zena Markos Location: Ethiopia, Tigray, Mekele Map: 0939A1 Grid reference: EA091905 Map: 1339C2 Grid reference: Lat. 09º52’ N Long. 39º04’ E Alt. 2560 m Lat. 13º29' N Long. 39º29' E Alt. 2150 m Site: Debir and Dey Promontary is situated 8 km to the West of Site: Debre Genet Medihane Alem is situated at the edge of Mekele Inewari Town. The Zena Markos Monastery is located just below Town at the base of a small escarpment. The site is dissected by a the ridge and overlooks the Derek Wenz Canyon River by 1200 m. stream that was dry at the time of the visit. For site details go to: The woodland is right below the cliff on a scree slope. Growing on a http://members.lycos.co.uk/ethiopianplants/sacredgrove/woodland.html large rock. For site details go to: Vegetation: Secondary scrubby vegetation dominated by Hibiscus, http://members.lycos.co.uk/ethiopianplants/sacredgrove/woodland.html Opuntia, Justicia, Rumex, Euphorbia.
    [Show full text]
  • Root Colonization and Spore Abundance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Along Altitudinal Gradients in Fragmented Church Natural Forest Remnants in Northern Ethiopia
    Microbial Ecology https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-021-01744-5 FUNGAL MICROBIOLOGY Root Colonization and Spore Abundance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Along Altitudinal Gradients in Fragmented Church Natural Forest Remnants in Northern Ethiopia Emiru Birhane1 & Teklemariam Gebregergs2 & Mengisteab Hailemariam1 & Lindsey Norgrove3 & Ermias Aynekulu4 Received: 30 September 2020 /Accepted: 20 March 2021 # The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021 Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spore density and root colonization are considered sensitive to host species and abiotic factors such as climate and soil. However, there is a knowledge gap about how fragmented native forest remnants might contribute to AMF conservation, what is the AMF spore density and root colonization, and to what extent climate change, particularly warming, might impact AMF. The aim of the study was to quantify the AMF spore density and root colonization along altitudinal gradients in three agro-ecological zones of nine church forests in northern Ethiopia. Data were collected from 45 plots. All the surveyed church forest species were colonized by AMF. However, we found a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in root colonization and AMF abundance in forests at high elevation. The topsoil had significantly (p < 0.05) higher root colonization and AMF abundance than subsurface soil. We found strong negative correlations between altitude and both spore density and root colonization and soil fertility. While we cannot separate whether spore density was temperature or soil limited, we can demonstrate the importance of conserving certain tree species, particularly Ficus species, which harbor high spore densities, in both lowland and midland church forests.
    [Show full text]
  • Study of Smallholder Farms Livestock Feed Sourcing
    STUDY OF SMALLHOLDER FARMS LIVESTOCK FEED SOURCING AND FEEDING STRATEGIES AND THEIR IMPLICATION ON LIVESTOCK WATER PRODUCTIVITY IN MIXED CROP-LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS IN THE HIGHLANDS OF THE BLUE NILE BASIN, ETHIOPIA M.Sc. Thesis BEDASA EBA TEBEJE October 2012 Haramaya University STUDY OF SMALLHOLDER FARMS LIVESTOCK FEED SOURCING AND FEEDING STRATEGIES AND THEIR IMPLICATION ON LIVESTOCK WATER PRODUCTIVITY IN MIXED CROP-LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS IN THE HIGHLANDS OF THE BLUE NILE BASIN, ETHIOPIA A Thesis Submitted to the School of Animal and Range Sciences, School of Graduate Studies HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE (RANGE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT) By Bedasa Eba Tebeje October 2012 Haramaya University i SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY As Thesis research advisors, we hereby certify that we have read and evaluated this Thesis, prepared under our guidance, by Bedasa Eba, entitled ‘‘Study of Smallholder Farms Livestock Feed Sourcing and Feeding Strategies and Their Implication on Livestock water productivity in Mixed-crop Livestock Systems in the Highlands of the Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia’’ and recommend that it be submitted as fulfilling the Thesis requirement. Amare Haileslassie (PhD) ___________ __________ Name of Major advisor Signature Date Getachew Animut (PhD) ___________ __________ Name of Co-advisor Signature Date As members of the Examining Board of the Final MSc. thesis Open Defense, we certify that we have read and evaluated the thesis prepared by Bedasa Eba and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Agriculture (Range Ecology and Management).
    [Show full text]
  • Full Length Research Article DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
    Available online at http://www.journalijdr.com International Journal of DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH ISSN: 2230-9926 International Journal of Development Research Vol. 06, Issue, 11, pp.10150-10156, November, 2016 Full Length Research Article WOODY SPECIES COMPOSITION AND SOIL PROPERTIES UNDER SOME SELECTED TREES IN PARKLAND AGROFORESTRY IN CENTRAL RIFT VALLEY OF ETHIOPIA *Zebene Asfaw Wando Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, P.O. Box, 128, Shashemane, Ethiopia ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History: Different parkland agroforestry practices conserve diverse woody species in different Received 14th August, 2016 agroecologies. Despite variation in the extent most multipurpose agroforestry tree species have a Received in revised form positive influence on soil nutrient accumulation. A study was carried out in Shashemene district 22nd September, 2016 of central rift valley of Ethiopia to assess the status of woody species composition and topsoil Accepted 11th October, 2016 properties beneath canopies of some selected tree species scattered on crop land and open fields, th Published online 30 November, 2016 without any tree canopy effect. Woody species composition in the parkland agroforestry inventory was conducted by employing line transect survey method. A total of 36 sample Key Words: plots/quadrates of 50m by 100m were laid along transect lines with 200m difference between consecutive plots and 1000 m distance between transect lines. On each plot all woody species Native tree, Ficus vasta, were counted and recorded. Soil sample were collected from under canopy of Ficus vasta Forssk Albizia gummifera, and Albizia gummifera (J.F.Gmel.) CA. Smith tree and in open field at 30m away from tree trunk.
    [Show full text]
  • Cultivation of Pleurotus Ostreatus Mushroom on Ficus Vasta Leaves (Solid Waste of Plant) at Dilla University, Ethiopia
    International Journal of Applied Science www.ijas.org.uk Original Article Cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus Mushroom on Ficus vasta Leaves (Solid Waste of Plant) at Dilla University, Ethiopia Fekadu Alemu*1 and Melaku Fisseha 2 1Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Dilla University, P.O. Box. 419, Dilla, Ethiopia 2Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Dilla University, P.O. Box. 419, Dilla, Ethiopia A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T Received 01 Jan. 2015 Received in revised form 26 Jan. 2015 Background: Mushroom cultivation is a relatively new applied Accepted 31 Jan. 2015 technology and the mushroom industry is still small compared to many plant crops. In addition, the investment on mushroom production in Keywords : Ethiopia is low. Solid waste materials are useful in the cultivation of Ficus vasta , mushrooms used as substrate. Mushroom cultivation is an excellent Mushroom cultivation, Oyster mushroom, method of increasing the profitability of an agricultural disposal waste. Pleurotus ostreatus , Objective of this study: The present study was designed to use Ficus Spawn, vasta leaves of agricultural waste disposal as substrate for cultivation of Sorghum. the oyster mushroom ( Pleurotus ostreatus ) in order to effective utilization of solid waste residue through bioconversion into food. Method of this study: Ficus vasta leaves used as substrate for composting was collected from Dilla University at Main Campus from 2013 October-2014 June. In order to prepare, aerobic composted substrate, about 80% of Ficus vasta leaves were thrashed manually into small pieces through using mortar and pestle.
    [Show full text]
  • Revision of the Genus Ficus L. (Moraceae) in Ethiopia (Primitiae Africanae Xi)
    582.635.34(63) MEDEDELINGEN LANDBOUWHOGESCHOOL WAGENINGEN • NEDERLAND • 79-3 (1979) REVISION OF THE GENUS FICUS L. (MORACEAE) IN ETHIOPIA (PRIMITIAE AFRICANAE XI) G. AWEKE Laboratory of Plant Taxonomy and Plant Geography, Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands Received l-IX-1978 Date of publication 27-4-1979 H. VEENMAN & ZONEN B.V.-WAGENINGEN-1979 BIBLIOTHEEK T)V'. CONTENTS page INTRODUCTION 1 General remarks 1 Uses, actual andpossible , of Ficus 1 Method andarrangemen t ofth e revision 2 FICUS L 4 KEY TOTH E FICUS SPECIES IN ETHIOPIA 6 ALPHABETICAL TREATMENT OFETHIOPIA N FICUS SPECIES 9 Ficus abutilifolia (MIQUEL)MIQUEL 9 capreaefolia DELILE 11 carica LINNAEUS 15 dicranostyla MILDBRAED ' 18 exasperata VAHL 21 glumosu DELILE 25 gnaphalocarpa (MIQUEL) A. RICHARD 29 hochstetteri (MIQUEL) A. RICHARD 33 lutea VAHL 37 mallotocarpa WARBURG 41 ovata VAHL 45 palmata FORSKÀL 48 platyphylla DELILE 54 populifolia VAHL 56 ruspolii WARBURG 60 salicifolia VAHL 62 sur FORSKÂL 66 sycomorus LINNAEUS 72 thonningi BLUME 78 vallis-choudae DELILE 84 vasta FORSKÂL 88 vogelii (MIQ.) MIQ 93 SOME NOTES ON FIGS AND FIG-WASPS IN ETHIOPIA 97 Infrageneric classification of Hewsaccordin gt o HUTCHINSON, related to wasp-genera ... 99 Fig-wasp species collected from Ethiopian figs (Agaonid associations known from extra- limitalsample sadde d inparentheses ) 99 REJECTED NAMES ORTAX A 103 SUMMARY 105 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 106 LITERATURE REFERENCES 108 INDEX 112 INTRODUCTION GENERAL REMARKS Ethiopia is as regards its wild and cultivated plants, a recognized centre of genetically important taxa. Among its economic resources, agriculture takes first place. For this reason, a thorough knowledge of the Ethiopian plant cover - its constituent taxa, their morphology, life-cycle, cytogenetics etc.
    [Show full text]
  • Ethiopia: the State of the World's Forest Genetic Resources
    ETHIOPIA This country report is prepared as a contribution to the FAO publication, The Report on the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources. The content and the structure are in accordance with the recommendations and guidelines given by FAO in the document Guidelines for Preparation of Country Reports for the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources (2010). These guidelines set out recommendations for the objective, scope and structure of the country reports. Countries were requested to consider the current state of knowledge of forest genetic diversity, including: Between and within species diversity List of priority species; their roles and values and importance List of threatened/endangered species Threats, opportunities and challenges for the conservation, use and development of forest genetic resources These reports were submitted to FAO as official government documents. The report is presented on www. fao.org/documents as supportive and contextual information to be used in conjunction with other documentation on world forest genetic resources. The content and the views expressed in this report are the responsibility of the entity submitting the report to FAO. FAO may not be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained in this report. THE STATE OF FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES OF ETHIOPIA INSTITUTE OF BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION (IBC) COUNTRY REPORT SUBMITTED TO FAO ON THE STATE OF FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES OF ETHIOPIA AUGUST 2012 ADDIS ABABA IBC © Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (IBC)
    [Show full text]
  • Floral Establishment of Major Honey Plants in North Western Zone of Tigray,Ethiopia Haftom Kebedea and Samuel Gebrechirstosb
    International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 7, Issue 9, September-2016 543 ISSN 2229-5518 Floral establishment of major honey plants in north western zone of Tigray,Ethiopia Haftom Kebedea and Samuel Gebrechirstosb Abstract: Identification of flowering calendar of honey plants is critical in improving yields of hive products. This study was carried out to survey plants foraged by honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) and to identify them in one wereda (Tahtay koraro) of North Western zone of Tigray. Species identification with their flowering and characterization was made using direct observation, questionnaires, interview and focus group discussion. The result was analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 51 species belonging to 37 families with 16 major species, 13 secondary and 8 minor plants foraged by honey bees was identified. The species Cordia africana, Bidens species, Trifolium species, Carthamus tinctoriu, Parkinsonia aculeate, Zizipus Spina-christi, Carrisa edulis, Mimusops kummel, Diosypros mespiliformis, Acacia sieberiana,Terminalia glauceslcens, Grewia ferruginea, Opuntia ficus-indica, Syzygium guineense, Carica papaya L.and Buddleja polystachya were classified as major honey plants. The months ranging from December to June were identified as scarcity period. Majority of the flowering plants such as Cordia africana, Dodonaea angustifolia,Pterolobium stellatum, Carica papaya L.,Citrus sinensis pers, Psidium guajava, Zea mays, Otostegia integrifolia, Bidens species, Trifolium species, Bidens pachyloma, Carthamus tinctorius, Guizotia abyssinica, Brassica napus, Parkinsonia aculeate, Zizipus Spina-christi, Jasminum floriban, Cirsium vulgare, Capparis erythrocarpus, Acacia pilispina, Capsicum annum, Calpurnia aurea, Persea Americana, Mimusops kummel, Agave sisalana, Datura stramonium, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Vicia faba, Ficus vasta and Diosypros mespiliformis bloom between the months of August and November.
    [Show full text]
  • Ethiopia's Wild Flowers & Archaeology
    Ethiopia's Wild Flowers & Archaeology Naturetrek Tour Report 26 October - 12 November 2014 Report compiled by John Shipton Naturetrek Cheriton Mill Cheriton Alresford Hampshire SO24 0NG England T: +44 (0)1962 733051 F: +44 (0)1962 736426 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report Ethiopia's Wild Flowers & Archaeology Tour Leader: John Shipton Naturetrek Getachew Esheta Local Guide Participants: John Allen Anne Allen John Wilkinson Angela Wilkinson Pat Millner Polly Thompson Day 1 Sunday 26th October Heathrow The group met at Heathrow and left on the flight to Addis, which was on time. Day 2 Monday 27th October Addis Ababa We were met by our guide Getachew, and transferred to the Ghion Hotel in the middle of the city next to Meskel Square, site of the annual Finding of the Cross festival. We had a few hours to recuperate from our flight and to wander in the gardens around the hotel, to take in the new environment a little, with its array of subtropical exotic trees abounding with sunbirds, and the ubiquitous black kites whirling overhead. Getachew picked us up at midday, and we drove through the city to have our first lunch at Lucy Restaurant, next to the National Museum. Some of us indulged in Ethiopian food with our first Injera with shiro and tibs. Getchew then gave us an exhaustive museum tour, the main thing of course being Lucy, the Australopithecus afarensis specimen which radically modified our understanding of human evolution. Still tired from our journey, we returned to the somewhat faded luxuries of the Ghion Hotel, after a short drive tour of the city.
    [Show full text]
  • 1. Background Deficiencies of Micronutrients Are a Major Global
    Micronutrient and Phytic acid Contents of Wild Edible Fruits Collected from Temcha Watershed of Amhara Region (Ethiopia) to Combat Hidden Hunger Haimanot Terefe Reta ( [email protected] ) Debre Markos University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2613-5803 Sebsebe Demissew Addis Ababa University College of Law and Governance Studies Zemede Asfaw Addis Ababa University Ashagrie Zewdu Addis Ababa University College of Law and Governance Studies Research article Keywords: Micronutrients, temcha watershed, wild edible fruits Posted Date: August 31st, 2019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.2.13723/v1 License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Read Full License Page 1/18 Abstract Abstracts Background: Locally available and easily accessible, underused complementary foods including wild edible fruit species are affordable and potentially more acceptable than other options to address the problem of ‘hidden hunger’ or micronutrient deciency. Study aimed to collect and determine the nutritional composition of wild edible fruits with its bioavailability collected from Temcha watershed. Methods: Semi structured interviews were administered to collect all wild edible plants and its associated knowledge through the participation of informants systematically selected from six sub districts in the study area. Mineral and pyhtate content and molar ratio of phytate to mineral ratio were determined using standard methods. Results: Based on the total use value of all wild edible plants, the top 18 wild edible fruits were selected for dietary analysis. The zinc contents of the analyzed fruits were ranged in between 0.06 ± 0.02 mg/100g -88.89 ± 0.42 mg/100g. The iron content of the analyzed fruits were ranged in between 5.84 ±0.00 mg/100 g – 148 ± 0.93 mg/100g and the calcium contents were in between 53.25 ± 0.45 mg/100g – 1280 ± 0.77 mg/100g.
    [Show full text]
  • Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-Wild Edible Fruit Species Used by Maale and Ari Ethnic Communities in Southern Ethiopia Berhane Kidane, L.J.G
    Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-Wild Edible Fruit Species used by Maale and Ari Ethnic Communities in Southern Ethiopia Berhane Kidane, L.J.G. van der Maesen, Tinde van Andel, Zemede Asfaw, and M.S.M. Sosef Research Abstract Wild and semi-wild tree fruit species are important re- sumption, and most come under the broad category of sources in combating food insecurity and providing sup- wild or semi-wild edible plants (Asfaw & Tadesse 2001). plementary diet to rural people. We studied wild and semi- Edible fruit species refer to a subset of this broad category wild fruit species used by the Maale and Ari communities to pinpoint the plants in which the fleshy parts of the fruit in southern Ethiopia and the conservation status of these (and sometimes seeds) are eaten raw, boiled, or roast- resources. We used focus group discussions (n = 18) and ed. There have been several attempts to define the term individual interviews (n = 144) in three rural kebeles. In “wild” (e.g., FAO 1999, Mengistu 2008). The term “wild” in total, the two communities used 52 species of wild and this paper, however, refers to indigenous plants that are semi-wild fruit species which were especially important growing only in natural environments, while “semi-wild” for their diet in times of food shortage. The most impor- applies to those plants that are indigenous or introduced tant species were, for the Maale community, Balanites and naturalized to the region while nurtured also through rotundifolia (Tiegh.) Blatt. and Dobera glabra (Forssk.) encouragement or tolerance by people in their crop fields, home gardens, or borders.
    [Show full text]