Abstract
BACKGROUND: Wild edible plants (WEPs) play a crucial role in rural livelihoods, food security, and cultural heritage in Ethiopia. Despite their importance, comprehensive documentation of WEP diversity, utilization, and associated indigenous knowledge in Tegedie District remains limited. This study aimed to identify WEP species, evaluate their uses, assess knowledge distribution among community members, and identify threats to their sustainability. METHODS: Ethnobotanical data were collected from 144 purposively selected informants across eight sites using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and guided field observations. Quantitative indices, including the Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Jaccard Similarity Index (JSI), were employed to assess species importance, cultural significance, and similarity with other Ethiopian districts. Preference ranking and direct matrix ranking were used to evaluate species preference, multifunctionality, and perceived threats. Data analysis was conducted using R software, and species identifications were cross-checked against the IUCN Red List. RESULTS: A total of 52 WEP species were documented, comprising trees, shrubs, herbs, and climbers. Fruit-bearing trees and shrubs were the most frequently cited, highly preferred, and culturally significant. The top-ranked WEPs included Cordia africana Lam., Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC., Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A.DC., and Tamarindus indica L. Knowledge of WEPs was significantly higher among men, older individuals, illiterate participants, and key informants (P < 0.005), reflecting the cumulative and experiential nature of indigenous knowledge. Major threats to WEPs included agricultural expansion, overgrazing, firewood collection, charcoal production, and habitat degradation. WEPs were primarily harvested from forests, grazing lands, and uncultivated areas, with knowledge transferred orally and through hands-on participation in harvesting. CONCLUSION: WEPs in Tegedie District are vital for dietary diversity, food security, and cultural practices, but they face significant anthropogenic and environmental pressures. Conservation strategies, including habitat protection, sustainable harvesting, ex situ cultivation, and systematic documentation of indigenous knowledge, are urgently needed. Promoting intergenerational knowledge transfer is essential to ensure the continued availability and sustainable use of these valuable plant resources.
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Claims 12
Claim · model-written summary
The survey documented 52 wild edible plant species spanning trees, shrubs, herbs and climbers.
Verbatim
e0“A total of 52 WEP species were documented, comprising trees, shrubs, herbs, and climbers.”
t0“Tegedie District”
Claim · model-written summary
Fruit-bearing trees and shrubs were the most frequently cited, preferred and culturally significant wild edible plants.
Verbatim
e0“Fruit-bearing trees and shrubs were the most frequently cited, highly preferred, and culturally significant.”
Claim · model-written summary
Cordia africana Lam. was among the top-ranked wild edible plants.
- Taxon
- Cordia africana Lam.
Cordia africanae0 - Outcome
- top-ranked WEPse0
- Direction
- top-rankede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The top-ranked WEPs included Cordia africana Lam., Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC., Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A.DC., and Tamarindus indica L.”
Claim · model-written summary
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. was among the top-ranked wild edible plants.
- Taxon
- Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC.
Syzygium guineensee0 - Outcome
- top-ranked WEPse0
- Direction
- top-rankede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The top-ranked WEPs included Cordia africana Lam., Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC., Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A.DC., and Tamarindus indica L.”
Claim · model-written summary
Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A.DC. was among the top-ranked wild edible plants.
- Taxon
- Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A.DC.
Diospyros mespiliformise0 - Outcome
- top-ranked WEPse0
- Direction
- top-rankede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The top-ranked WEPs included Cordia africana Lam., Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC., Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A.DC., and Tamarindus indica L.”
Claim · model-written summary
Tamarindus indica L. was among the top-ranked wild edible plants.
- Taxon
- Tamarindus indica L.
_%E0%A4%87%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80_Tree.jpg?width=60)
Tamarindus indicae0 - Outcome
- top-ranked WEPse0
- Direction
- top-rankede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_%E0%A4%87%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80_Tree.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“The top-ranked WEPs included Cordia africana Lam., Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC., Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A.DC., and Tamarindus indica L.”
Claim · model-written summary
Knowledge of wild edible plants was significantly higher among men, older individuals, illiterate participants and key informants.
Verbatim
e0“Knowledge of WEPs was significantly higher among men, older individuals, illiterate participants, and key informants (P < 0.005)”
Claim · model-written summary
Agricultural expansion, overgrazing, firewood collection, charcoal production and habitat degradation were identified as major threats to wild edible plants.
Verbatim
e0“Major threats to WEPs included agricultural expansion, overgrazing, firewood collection, charcoal production, and habitat degradation.”
Claim · model-written summary
Wild edible plants were primarily harvested from forests, grazing lands and uncultivated areas.
Verbatim
e0“WEPs were primarily harvested from forests, grazing lands, and uncultivated areas, with knowledge transferred orally and through hands-on participation in harvesting.”
Claim · model-written summary
Knowledge of wild edible plants was transferred orally and through participation in harvesting.
Verbatim
e0“WEPs were primarily harvested from forests, grazing lands, and uncultivated areas, with knowledge transferred orally and through hands-on participation in harvesting.”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend habitat protection, sustainable harvesting, ex situ cultivation and systematic documentation of indigenous knowledge.
Verbatim
e0“Conservation strategies, including habitat protection, sustainable harvesting, ex situ cultivation, and systematic documentation of indigenous knowledge, are urgently needed.”
t0“wild edible plants”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend promoting intergenerational knowledge transfer for continued availability and sustainable use of wild edible plants.
Verbatim
e0“Promoting intergenerational knowledge transfer is essential to ensure the continued availability and sustainable use of these valuable plant resources.”
t0“wild edible plants”