Version 1
: Received: 30 January 2024 / Approved: 30 January 2024 / Online: 30 January 2024 (14:28:07 CET)
How to cite:
MOKGANYA, M. G.; TSHISIKHAWE, M. P. Study of Use Patterns of Some Indispensable Wild Edible Plant Species Resources. Preprints2024, 2024012117. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.2117.v1
MOKGANYA, M. G.; TSHISIKHAWE, M. P. Study of Use Patterns of Some Indispensable Wild Edible Plant Species Resources. Preprints 2024, 2024012117. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.2117.v1
MOKGANYA, M. G.; TSHISIKHAWE, M. P. Study of Use Patterns of Some Indispensable Wild Edible Plant Species Resources. Preprints2024, 2024012117. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.2117.v1
APA Style
MOKGANYA, M. G., & TSHISIKHAWE, M. P. (2024). Study of Use Patterns of Some Indispensable Wild Edible Plant Species Resources. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.2117.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
MOKGANYA, M. G. and MILINGONI PETER TSHISIKHAWE. 2024 "Study of Use Patterns of Some Indispensable Wild Edible Plant Species Resources" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.2117.v1
Abstract
Limited quantitative studies exist on wild edible plants of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. This has important implications for the livelihood sustainability of rural communities, retention of indigenous knowledge, domestication of such plants, and environmental conservation efforts. The current study focused on the use pattern of wild edible plant diversity from four municipalities in the Vhembe District Municipality. One hundred and sixty participants were interviewed to solicit information on the diversity of plants, growth forms, and their uses. Eighty-seven wild edible plants distributed amongst 34 plant families were documented. The botanical family Malvaceae was the most used, followed by the Cucurbitaceae. Plant parts such as the leaves and fruits were typically used. Due to seasonality, plant parts were normally preserved through a cook and dry, or collect and dry process. Flowers of other wild vegetables (viz. Cleome gynandra, Cucurbita pepo, and Sonchus asper) are edible. Noteworthy, the leaves of Morus alba var alba are used as a leafy vegetable. The results of this research will play a crucial role in the encouragement of continuous utilization of these plants and hence work towards shaping the creation of rural livelihood strategies. Furthermore, the outcomes of this research will enlighten the agricultural-reliant societies of the study area with the domestication of wild edible plants as a way of introducing new crop species.
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
