Abstract
In this work, we present a summary of an ethnobotanical research carried out in the whole Administrative Region of Apulia (southern Italy). The main topic of the investigation is the traditional knowledge about wild plants, focusing on their common names, on which parts were used in cooking and how they were used. The main aim was to establish a botanical knowledge about these culinary uses through a systematic identification of the species involved, directly in the field. In addition to this, we focused on the ecological aspects of these species and on their biological and chorological forms. Results suggest the existence of very strong ties between the local communities and this particular flora, without substantial differences between rural and urban areas or among different zones of the Apulia Region. On the other hand, in each area we found peculiar food uses, species, parts used, and recipes. The analysed wild plants still have a fundamental role in the local diet, which can predominantly be ascribed to the Mediterranean model. Moreover, we documented an increasing interest in the culinary uses of these species: in the Gargano area, for instance, more and more cultivations of SalicorniaperennansWilld.subsp.perennans are underway thanks to the demand coming from restaurants. In total, we documented 214 taxa (58 families) and at least 19 of them are enduring components of the local diet. Nineteen species represent a high number, considering that the tertiary sector is nowadays predominant in Apulia (73.5 % of the local GDP, compared to 73.2 % in Italy as a whole). Furthermore, the total amount of wild species used as food is the highest in Italy, according to the Italian ethnobotanical literature. On the same basis, we were able to draft a national checklist of 539 taxa documenting the taxonomy of the wild plants involved in traditional food use in Italy, categorized by regions. In conclusion, this work shows that the available literature regarding the Italian territory provides only a partial representation of traditional food uses, even though they are widespread throughout the country. Consequently, this tradition remains to be thoroughly investigated.
Highlights
The first major botanical work on the spontaneous Italian flora traditionally used for food purposes dates back to the 1980s (Aliotta 1987)
A major comparative study about this tradition was performed in southern Italy (Guarrera and Leporatti 2007) and some recent investigations about food use of wild plants were conducted in some areas of Basilicata (Cassandra and Pieroni 2015, Sansanelli et al 2017) and in Sicilia (Aleo et al 2013)
The species traditionally used in Apulia can be classified in 214 taxa, 201 specific and 13 subspecific (Suppl. material 1: Table S2), 42 of which are only used in this Region
Summary
The first major botanical work on the spontaneous Italian flora traditionally used for food purposes dates back to the 1980s (Aliotta 1987). The spontaneous species that still had food use were described, with a focus on used parts and culinary preparations. 1600 species reported for the whole European continent (Couplan 2009) This high number includes fruits (even cultivated species) and plant parts used for flavouring preparations or for liquors. A major comparative study about this tradition was performed in southern Italy (Guarrera and Leporatti 2007) and some recent investigations about food use of wild plants were conducted in some areas of Basilicata (Cassandra and Pieroni 2015, Sansanelli et al 2017) and in Sicilia (Aleo et al 2013). Regional data was released for Sardegna (Camarda et al 2017) and Umbria (Ranfa and Bodesmo 2017)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
