Wild food plants gathered in the upper Pisuerga river basin, Palencia, Spain

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an ethnobotanical study in the upper region of the Pisuerga River in Palencia, Spain. The study was carried out by conducting semi-structured interviews of 50 residents above the age of 52. The total number of use reports was 2,879; 839 refer to plants used in human food and 247 are related to plants used in animal feed. Forty-two wild species have been cited for human consumption: 45.2% of them are exploited for their fruit, 33.3% are eaten as vegetables, and 28.6% are used to produce liqueurs. Twenty wild species have been cited as animal feed, six of which are also used as food for human consumption and 90% as fodder or hay. Of the species, 20% are used for their fruit, whether fresh or dried. The species of the highest interest for human consumption in the region were Corylus avellana, Prunus spinosa, Fragaria vesca and Sorbus aria. The plants that were cited most often as animal feed are Asphodelus albus, Quercus petraea and Q, pyrenaica. Conopodium pyrenaeum, locally called ajuérjano in Spanish, a common name unique to the region (“pignut” in English), was cited by more than 50% of interviewees. Conopodium majus is consumed in nearby regions. Conclusion: Wild food plants gathered in the region are not the population’s main source of nutrients, but they are important resources that can be used to diversify recipes.