Abstract
Background: The order Boraginales comprises numerous species known for their medicinal properties, but their role as food sources remains understudied and largely confined to local traditions. This review aims to systematically document edible species within this order, highlighting their nutritional, cultural and economic significance and advocating for their broader integration into global food systems. Methods: This study compiles data from diverse botanical and ethnobotanical sources, identifying 107 edible species whitin Boraginales. The analysis includes taxonomic distribution, with the Boraginaceae family contributing the most species (50), followed by Cordiaceae (32), Hydrophyllaceae (10), Ehretiaceae (9), Heliotropiaceae (3), Lennoaceae (2), and Namaceae (1). Preliminary fieldwork in Iran supplements literature-based research to assess local availability and traditional uses. Results: The findings reveal that edible Boraginales species are widely consumed in various regions, yet their potential remains undervalued in mainstream agriculture and nutrition. Many of these plants play crucial roles in local diets but lack comprehensive scientific evaluation of their cultivation and nutritional benefits. Conclusions: In addition to identifying edible Boraginales species that are consumed only in a specific region, this review reveals a biogeographic split in organ use: temperate regions favor leafy herbaceous taxa, whereas seasonally dry and wet tropical regions emphasize fleshy fruits, especially within Cordia and Ehretia. Representative records illustrate this contrast: leafy parts are used in Europe/Turkey/Iran and North America, and fruit are used in Africa, the Neotropics, and South/Southeast Asia. Keywords: Ethnobotany, Edible plants, Boraginales, Culinary traditions, Traditional knowledge
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Claims 12
Claim · model-written summary
The review identifies 107 edible species within Boraginales.
- Taxon
- BoraginalesBoraginalese0
- Outcome
- edible speciese1
- Value
- 107e1
Verbatim
e0“The order Boraginales comprises numerous species known for their medicinal properties”
e1“identifying 107 edible species whitin Boraginales”
Claim · model-written summary
Boraginaceae contributes the most edible species, with 50 species.
- Taxon
- BoraginaceaeBoraginaceaee2
- Outcome
- speciese2
- Value
- 50e2
- Qualifier
- contributing the most speciese2
Verbatim
e2“The analysis includes taxonomic distribution, with the Boraginaceae family contributing the most species (50), followed by Cordiaceae (32), Hydrophyllaceae (10), Ehretiaceae (9), Heliotropiaceae (3), Lennoaceae (2), and Namaceae (1)”
Claim · model-written summary
Cordiaceae contributes 32 edible species.
- Taxon
- CordiaceaeCordiaceaee2
- Outcome
- speciese2
- Value
- 32e2
Verbatim
e2“The analysis includes taxonomic distribution, with the Boraginaceae family contributing the most species (50), followed by Cordiaceae (32), Hydrophyllaceae (10), Ehretiaceae (9), Heliotropiaceae (3), Lennoaceae (2), and Namaceae (1)”
Claim · model-written summary
Hydrophyllaceae contributes 10 edible species.
- Taxon
- HydrophyllaceaeHydrophyllaceaee2
- Outcome
- speciese2
- Value
- 10e2
Verbatim
e2“The analysis includes taxonomic distribution, with the Boraginaceae family contributing the most species (50), followed by Cordiaceae (32), Hydrophyllaceae (10), Ehretiaceae (9), Heliotropiaceae (3), Lennoaceae (2), and Namaceae (1)”
Claim · model-written summary
Ehretiaceae contributes 9 edible species.
- Taxon
- EhretiaceaeEhretiaceaee2
- Outcome
- speciese2
- Value
- 9e2
Verbatim
e2“The analysis includes taxonomic distribution, with the Boraginaceae family contributing the most species (50), followed by Cordiaceae (32), Hydrophyllaceae (10), Ehretiaceae (9), Heliotropiaceae (3), Lennoaceae (2), and Namaceae (1)”
Claim · model-written summary
Heliotropiaceae contributes 3 edible species.
- Taxon
- HeliotropiaceaeHeliotropiaceaee2
- Outcome
- speciese2
- Value
- 3e2
Verbatim
e2“The analysis includes taxonomic distribution, with the Boraginaceae family contributing the most species (50), followed by Cordiaceae (32), Hydrophyllaceae (10), Ehretiaceae (9), Heliotropiaceae (3), Lennoaceae (2), and Namaceae (1)”
Claim · model-written summary
Lennoaceae contributes 2 edible species.
- Taxon
- LennoaceaeLennoaceaee2
- Outcome
- speciese2
- Value
- 2e2
Verbatim
e2“The analysis includes taxonomic distribution, with the Boraginaceae family contributing the most species (50), followed by Cordiaceae (32), Hydrophyllaceae (10), Ehretiaceae (9), Heliotropiaceae (3), Lennoaceae (2), and Namaceae (1)”
Claim · model-written summary
Namaceae contributes 1 edible species.
Verbatim
e2“The analysis includes taxonomic distribution, with the Boraginaceae family contributing the most species (50), followed by Cordiaceae (32), Hydrophyllaceae (10), Ehretiaceae (9), Heliotropiaceae (3), Lennoaceae (2), and Namaceae (1)”
Claim · model-written summary
Temperate regions favour leafy herbaceous taxa for use as food.
- Taxon
- BoraginalesBoraginalese0
- Outcome
- organ usee3
- Qualifier
- leafy herbaceous taxae3
- Setting
- temperate regionse3
Verbatim
e0“The order Boraginales comprises numerous species known for their medicinal properties”
e3“a biogeographic split in organ use: temperate regions favor leafy herbaceous taxa, whereas seasonally dry and wet tropical regions emphasize fleshy fruits, especially within Cordia and Ehretia”
Claim · model-written summary
Seasonally dry and wet tropical regions emphasize fleshy fruits as food, especially within Cordia and Ehretia.
- Taxon
- BoraginalesBoraginalese0
- Outcome
- organ usee3
- Qualifier
- fleshy fruitse3
- Setting
- seasonally dry and wet tropical regionse3
Verbatim
e0“The order Boraginales comprises numerous species known for their medicinal properties”
e3“a biogeographic split in organ use: temperate regions favor leafy herbaceous taxa, whereas seasonally dry and wet tropical regions emphasize fleshy fruits, especially within Cordia and Ehretia”
Claim · model-written summary
Leafy parts are used as food in Europe, Turkey, Iran and North America.
- Taxon
- BoraginalesBoraginalese0
- Outcome
- leafy partse4
- Setting
- Europe/Turkey/Iran and North Americae4
Verbatim
e0“The order Boraginales comprises numerous species known for their medicinal properties”
e4“leafy parts are used in Europe/Turkey/Iran and North America, and fruit are used in Africa, the Neotropics, and South/Southeast Asia”
Claim · model-written summary
Fruit is used as food in Africa, the Neotropics, and South/Southeast Asia.
- Taxon
- BoraginalesBoraginalese0
- Outcome
- fruite4
- Setting
- Africa, the Neotropics, and South/Southeast Asiae4
Verbatim
e0“The order Boraginales comprises numerous species known for their medicinal properties”
e4“leafy parts are used in Europe/Turkey/Iran and North America, and fruit are used in Africa, the Neotropics, and South/Southeast Asia”