Using the At-Risk Tool to Assess the Vulnerability of Native Edible to Over Harvest Zella Classen and Lisa Castle Southwestern Oklahoma State University ABSTRACT Department of Biological Sciences Five edible species native to the United States were scored using the United Plant Savers’ At-Risk Tool. This tool is used to quantify and compare vulnerability to overharvest for wild collected medicinal plants. The species chosen, longifolia, Persimmon Diospyros virginiana, Pawpaw Asimina triloba, Chokecherry Prunus virginiana, and Prairie Turnip, Pediomelum esculentum all have traditional uses as both food and medicine. These species have been the subject of recent investigations into their promising chemical compounds and medicinal properties. Scores from the At-Risk Tool will help determine if wild harvest can be sustained if one of these species becomes the next “anti-cancer super-food”.

INTRODUCTION

THE RATIONALE THE TOOL “Super Foods,” “Anti-oxidant Rich,” “Natural Secret of Youth,” “ Eat your way to health!” – interest in the healthful The United Plant Savers is a non-profit organization dedicated to protect native medicinal plants of the United States and Canada and compounds of plant foods is everywhere and seems to be growing. Meanwhile, concern about the ability of the their native habitats. They have created an adaptable tool used to quantify and compare vulnerability to overharvest for wild environment to sustain plant populations is also growing. Prompted by interest in the intersection of these areas – wild collected medicinal plants. The at-risk tool asks a series of questions about the species in five categories: life history, effects of harvest harvested medicinal foods, we set out to determine if the United Plant Savers At-Risk Assessment tool could be used to on the plant, abundance and range, habitat, and demand. assess vulnerability to over-harvest of five native, edible, and medicinal plant species.

CHOKECHERRY RESULTS The Chokecherry Prunus virginiana is a perennial, deciduous shrub or small green. It has been known to grow in almost every state of the U.S. This species is disturbance tolerant (Geyer et al 2013). It can grow in a variety The “vulnerability score” of all five of different habitats like moist woods, stream banks, prairie hillsides, fence rows, rocky bluffs, or roadsides. The SCORE plants assessed was lower than Chokecherry produces fruits. Chokecherry bark, roots, and fruits was traditionally used by Native PLANT ginseng, an “at-risk” medicinal High Vulnerability American tribes to treat cough, laryngitis, diarrhea, and open wounds to name a few. In the nineteenth century, species and higher than yarrow, a medical doctors began to use the bark and leaves to treat many aliments (Plant Life). Today, this species is being weedy species (Table 1). Prairie researched for its hydrocyanic acid which in small doses can help stimulate respiration and digestion. Some 63 Ginseng Panax quinquefolius Turnips’ relatively high vulnerability cancer research is also being conducted involving the hydrocyanic acid in this plant (Plants For a Future). could be largely attributed to root use http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/fruit/images/chokecherries.jpg 50 Prairie Turnip Pediomelum esculentum and destructive harvest of a long- 42 Echinacea Echinacea augustifolia lived perennial. Differences among the other edible species, all of which PERSIMMON 24 Pawpaw Asimina triloba rank as less vulnerable than The Persimmon Diospyros virginiana is a deciduous tree native from Kansas to Connecticut to Florida. This species 20 Persimmon Diospyros virginiana Echinacea, are due mostly to size of is in the ebony family for its wood. The wood has been known to be used to make golf club heads and textile range and habitat specificity. Scores shuttles. The unripe fruit and bark have been traditionally used to treat fever, diarrhea, and hemorrhage (Nesom 17 Tomatillo Physalis longifolia of all of these species would be higher 2013). Besides the fruit tasting delicious when ripe, it is known to have polyphenols especially tannins which are 16 Chokecherry Prunus virginiana if alternative bark or root uses were very good antioxidants. Persimmons also possess a high composition of dietary fiber and minerals; all three are considered rather than fruit 5 known to help fight heart disease (Nutrition-and-you). Yarrow Achillea millefolium consumption. Low Vulnerability

http://www.treetrail.net/diospyros.html

TOMATILLO CONCLUSIONS Physalis longifolia also commonly known as “groundcherry” is a small perennial herb native to the Great Plains region. It Our experience suggests that the United Plant Savers At-Risk Assessment Tool can be used to for setting conservation is very tolerant and actually thrives in disturbed areas. It has fruit that is similar to the tomatillo one can purchase in priorities with edible plants as well as with more traditional medicines. While interest in food medicine and wild harvest grocery stores. The fruit is tart when eating fresh but becomes sweeter when dried. Physalis species are known to contain continues to grow, we encourage harvesters and product promoters to use the tool and consider issues of sustainability carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, vitamins, and phytosterols.(Puente et al. 2011). They are now being investigated for their before suggesting something is the next wild-harvested super-food. withanolide structures. “Withanolides have attracted substantial recent interest due to their exhibition of significant biological activities, specifically antimicrobial, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and insect-anti-feedant activities” (Kindscher et al. 2012).

http://nativeplants.ku.edu/wp-content/gallery/physalis-longifolia- longleaf-groundcherry/show-garden-046.jpg

PRAIRIE TURNIP REFERENCES The Prairie Turnip Pediomelum esculentum is an herbaceous perennial. It is native to the plains of central North Castle, L.M. 2006 The Prairie Turnip Paradox. Doctoral Dissertation. University of Kansas, USA Geyer, W. A., Broyles, P.J., Row, J.M. 2013. Chokecherry Plant Fact Sheet. USDA NCRS Plants Database. America. The tuberous root of this species is harvested and eaten. Native Americans of many tribes were among the Hernandez, D. 2005. “Got tradition? American Indians use native food to fight diabetes and revive Indian Culture.” Colorlines Magazine: Race, Action, Culture Summer 2005. first to use the prairie turnip as food medicine. They would use the root to treat sore throat, gas related pains, and to Immel, D.L. and Anderson, M.k. 2013. Pawpaw Plant Fact Sheet. USDA NCRS Plants Database. help soothe sprains and fractures. The Prairie Turnip root is high in protein, fibers, and unusual complex Kindscher, K., Long, Q., Corbett, S., Bosnak, K., Loring, H., Cohen M., and Timmermann, B. N. “The Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology of Wild , Physalis longifolia Nutt., and Related Physalis Species: A Review.Economic Botany. 2012. carbohydrates (Castle 2006). Crow Elder Alma Snell used prairie turnips to treat irritable bowel syndrome and Kobayashi, H., Wang, C., Pomper, K.W. 2008. Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Pawpaw Fruit (Asimina tiloba L.) at Different Ripening Stages. HortScience 43(1): intestinal distress (Snell 2006) and it is under investigation as part of a diet to prevent diabetes (Hernandez 2005). 268-270. Nesom, G. and Moore, L. 2013. Persimmon Plant Fact Sheet. USDA NCRS Plants Database L. Castle Nutrition-and-you. 2009-13. Persimmon fruit nutrition facts. www.nutrition-and-you.com accessed May 9, 2013 Photo credit: Dr. Lisa Castle Plant Life. 2013. Chokecherry. Montana.plant-life.org. Plants For a Future. 1998-2012. Prunus Virginiana L. www.pfaf.org accessed May 10, 2013. PAWPAW Puente, L. A., Pinto-Munoz, C.A., Castro, E.S., and Cortes, M.. 2011. Physalis peruviana L., the Multiple Properties of a Highly Functional Fruit: a Review. Food Research The Pawpaw Asimina triloba is a temperate tree that produces the largest edible fruit in North America with a International 44:1733–1740. ton of seeds inside. Some Native American tribes cultivated the pawpaw for fruit and are responsible for its Snell, A.H. and Castle, L.M., Ed. 2006. A Taste of Crow Heritage. Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press. wide range of habitat. It is well known in the mid-west to eastern parts of the U.S. (Immel 2013). The fruit tastes like the mix of a banana, mango, and pineapple. This fruit is high in amino acids, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, protein, and vitamin C. The Pawpaw has been recently studied for its high anti-oxidant levels, particularly the phenolic compound in the fruit (Kobayashi 2012). Anti-oxidants protect the body by ACKNOWLEDGMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS scavenging for free radicals in the body. These radicals can damage cells thus plays a role in cancer. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant- United Plant Savers Project Completion Grant and SWOSU Arts and Sciences Student Enhancement details/kc/b500/asimina-triloba.aspx