Folk Nomenclature Research Articles

Diversity of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Cultivars in the Traditional Agriculture of Togo

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one of the major root and tuber crops contributing to food security and poverty alleviation in Togo. Unfortunately, its cultivars diversity is still not known and has even never been assessed and documented countrywide for use in breeding and development programs. To fill this gap of knowledge, 40 villages randomly selected within cassava production zones in Togo were surveyed using participatory rural appraisal. A total of 168 farmer-named cultivars were recorded. Their number varied from 1 to 15 (7 on average) per village. The highest diversity in the surveyed area was found at M'poti (15 cultivars) in Centrale region while the lowest diversity was found at Awounadjassi (1 cultivar) in plateaux region. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H) was estimated at 3.59 bits.The folk nomenclature was analysed and understood. The distribution and extent analysis revealed that per village few cultivars (0 to 4) are produced by many houses on large areas. The rates of cultivars abandonment risk varying from 14% to 86% (44.87% on average) depending on the village. Low productivity, late maturity and toxicity were the main abandonment reasons reported by farmer. Subject to synonymy, the participatory evaluation of the 168 cultivars inventoried yielded 37 tolerant to poor soils, 29 tolerant to high soil moisture (adaptability to lowlands), 58 tolerant to drought and 57 tolerant to weeds.The majority (132 cultivars) of cultivars were well adapted to all type of soil, 119 were able to make good quality of chips whereas 123 cultivars were non-toxic. As cassava is a vegetative propagated crop and cultivars vernacular names vary across ethnic groups, it was recommended that the diversity be collected and fully characterized and synonymies clearly established. The results were found as of high importance for research and development actions including ex situ and in situ on farm conservation.

Folk botanical nomenclature – between structured and non-structured lexis

This article aims to investigate the status of folk botanical nomenclature from the perspective of the lexematic theory, a theory developed by Eugeniu Coseriu. The linguist believes that terminologies (folk and scientific) represent objective and conventional classifications that fall under the order of reality. They are a part of the non-structured lexis and not a part of the structured one. The features that situate this nomenclature in the non-structured lexis and ones that situate it in the structured lexis are established on the basis of the material made available by various sources (dictionaries, encyclopædias, different works containing plant names form our country). After the consultation of the sources, the conclusion is that folk plant names are situated at the border line between common language and scientific terminology.

Black benniseed (Sesamum radiatum Schum. et Thonn.) cultivated as leafy vegetable in Benin

Sesamum radiatum is a nutraceutical traditional leafy vegetable highly consumed in Benin. In spite of its importance for food security, nutrition and income generation, very little is known about in the scientific community and it falls into the group of so-called neglected and underutilised species. In order to document the diversity and the various traditional cultural practices associated with the production of this species and assess its “bringing into cultivation” levels across zones, a survey was conducted in 10 villages randomly selected from different agroecological and ethnic zones of both northern and central Benin. Data were collected in the different sites through application of Participatory Research Appraisal tools and techniques and analysed using both simple descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis. The study revealed a rich folk nomenclature essentially centred on the slimy texture of the sauce. No apparent intraspecific diversity was reported within S. radiatum at village level but the agromorphological characterisation of 18 accessions collected from different regions of the country revealed the existence of clear and well-structured intraspecific diversity exploitable in breeding for the development of new varieties with the potential to attract premium prices in local markets. In most of the households surveyed S. radiatum was found at the steps 1–4 in the “bringing into cultivation process”. The production of S. radiatum is still traditional and biologic (no fertilisers, no pesticides). The cultural practices used vary with the producers and are grouped into four categories. Further agricultural experiments are needed to identify appropriate cultural practices for the large production of this species for food, nutrition and income generation. Strengthening the existing germplasm of this species with additional collection from more agroecological zones is proposed for thorough genetic characterisation.

Diversity of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) cultivars and its management in the department of Bouenza in the Republic of Congo

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one of the most produced and consumed food crops in the Republic of Congo. To assess the diversity and understand the traditional management of its cultivars in the department of Bouenza, twenty-one villages randomly selected from nine ethnic zones were surveyed using participatory rural appraisal. Altogether, 86 land races cultivars were recorded and further grouped into 36 types based on their agronomic and culinary characteristics. The number of cultivars accessed varied from 6 to 21 per village (13 on average) and from 1 to 11 (4 on average) per household. Their distribution and extent analysis revealed some worrying rates of cultivar loss in the range of 7.41–66.67% (32.06% on average) per village. The reasons of cultivars abandonment, the folk nomenclature and the traditional cutting supply system and planting techniques were documented and their importance in terms of genetic resources conservation and utilisation are discussed. Twenty farmers’ cultivar preference criteria were identified and prioritised. Their relative importances were examined across ethnic groups. Among them, the most important were yield, taste, cossette quality and root size which account for 72.39% of the total responses. The study revealed that most of the farmers did not consider the importance of the sexual reproduction in the cultivar diversification and the impact of cassava mosaic disease on the productivity of the infested plants. Awareness efforts and extension of the study to other cassava production zones were recommended for food security needs in Congo. To clarify synonym, morphological classification and molecular analysis were also suggested.

Selection of sites for the <i>in situ</i> conservation of four traditional leafy vegetables consumed in Benin

Acmella uliginosa, Ceratotheca sesamoides, Justicia tenella and Sesamum radiatum are four traditional leafy vegetables which are widely consumed in Benin. In order to document their origin, folk nomenclature, geographical distribution and ecology and to select adequate zones for in situ conservation of their genetic resources, 118 villages were randomly selected and surveyed throughout the country using a participatory research approach. All the species apart from Ceratotheca sesamoides were reported by farmers as introduced in Benin at different periods. The folk nomenclature comprising 93 different names is based on nine key criteria of variable frequencies according to the species. The geographical distribution maps revealed that the species under study are unequally distributed. Indeed, A. uliginosa is found exclusively in the northwest, J. tenella in the northeast and partially in the centre while S. radiatum and Ceratotheca sesamoides were found almost everywhere in Benin. Results from multivariate analysis combined with geographical distribution maps of the species and the soil and climate maps of Benin, leaded to the selection of the Northwest and of the Northeast regions as the appropriate conservation zones for the four species. Molecular analysis was recommended as it can help in describing genetic diversity and consequently in identifying additional sites for the widely spread species Sesamum radiatum and Ceratotheca sesamoides. Keywords: Folk nomenclature, biodiversity, geographical distribution, site selection, in situ conservation, Benin.

Traditional leafy vegetables in Benin: folk nomenclature, species under threat and domestication

Using participatory research appraisal, 29 ethnic areas were surveyed to document the folk nomenclature, identify the species under threat and understand the domestication process for the traditional leafy vegetables (TLV) consumed in Benin. It exists a rich folk nomenclature mainly characterised by synonymy and homonymy, 24 species under threat and 17 species under domestication. Factors threatening these TLV listed by farmers include forest destruction, bush fires, destructive harvesting methods and lack of knowledge about the plants. We emphasize the necessity of combining folk and formal nomenclature in all biodiversity research programmes on TLV and recommend the development of integrated conservation through utilisation strategies for the sustainable preservation and promotion of TLV in Benin.

Species Composition, Distribution, Life Forms and Folk Nomenclature of Forest and Common Land Plants of Western Chitwan, Nepal

This paper enumerates 349 plant species belonging to 77 families of vascular plants collected in the winter seasons of 1996 and 2000 by the flora teams of the Population and Ecology Research Laboratory, Nepal. Of the total species, 249 species belong to dicotyledons, 87 species to monocotyledons and 13 species to pteridophytes. Among the families, dicotyledons contributed the highest number of families (55 in number) followed by monocotyledons and pteridophytes. In the study areas, species composition varies with the type of habitats in the study plots. Some species are unique in distribution. The highest unique species are contributed by common lands (87 spp.), followed by the Chitwan National Park forest (36 spp.) and Tikauli forest (32 spp.). Ageratum houstonianum Mill., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv., Rungia parviflora (Retz.) Nees, Saccharum spontaneum L. and Thelypteris auriculata (J. Sm.) K. Iwats are the most common species across all the research blocks. Of the listed plants, many plants have local names either in Nepalese or other tribal languages. Plants are named in different ways on the basis of habit, habitat, smell, taste, and morphological characters of the plants, which are also the basis of nomenclature in plant taxonomy.

Nomenclatura popular de <i>Quercus</i> (Fagaceae): en los valles meridionales de Cantabria (España)

A survey of the Ethnotaxonomy and Ethnonomenclature of southern Cantabria Quercus (Q- faginea subsp. faginea, Q. ilex subsp. ilex, Q. petraea, Q. pyrenaica, Q. robur) is presented. An extensive vocabulary associated with these popular species has been compiled. The analysis of this lexicon shows the richness and complexity of folk plant taxonomy and nomenclature. In total 28 vernacular names, which are different forms of 12 principal lexemes, have been compiled. Maps with the geographical distribution of the names let us delimit linguistical areas. An analysis of this rich lexicon is also presented. The meaning of the names, often polisemic, theiretymologies and geographical distribution is studied.

Ethnobotany and domestication in Xoconochtli,Stenocereus stellatus (Cactaceae), in the Tehuacán Valley and La Mixteca Baja, México

Ethnobotanical information is presented on use, management, folk nomenclature and classification of the “xoconochtli” (Stenocereus stellatus) as well as on the role of this plant in subsistence of the Nahua, Mixtec and Popoloca peoples from the Tehuacan Valley and La Mixteca Baja in Central Mexico. Among all three groups, S. stellatus was used for various purposes but mainly for its edible fruits. Different variants of this species were distinguished, named and classified by indigenous people according to characteristics of the fruit; particularly size, color and flavor of the pulp, spininess and thickness of the peel. Wild plants characteristically had small red sour fruits with many spines and thick peel, while individuals selected for cultivation usually differed in one or more of these characters. Three general forms of interaction between people and this species were found: 1) gathering of useful products from the wild; 2) management of wild populations in situ which involves the sparing and enhancing of individuals with more desirable characteristics and the removal of others during clearance of the land for agriculture; and 3) cultivation, mainly in home gardens, by propagation of vegetative parts from desirable individuals. Fruit yields per individual and per population were measured and compared in wild, managed in situ and cultivated populations from the Tehuacan Valley and La Mixteca Baja. Wild and cultivated individuals from La Mixteca Baja yielded more than wild and cultivated individuals from the Tehuacan Valley. Within each region, fruit yields were similar in wild and managed in situ populations but significantly larger in cultivated populations. Forms of management of this plant species are discussed in terms of availability of products and demand for them in the local economy.

The Tenejapa Tzeltal Version of the Animal Kingdom

A summary description is presented of the structure and content of the folk zoological classification system of the Tzeltal-speaking Mayan Indians of Tenejapa, highland Chiapas, Mexico. The system is examined in the light of certain general principles of folk biological classification and nomenclature suggested by Berlin and his collaborators. The Tzeltal folk zoological system described is shown to accord with those general principles.

Folk use of plant resource at Madi valley of Chitwan District, Nepal

The purpose of this study was to compare the use of the forest plant resources and folk nomenclature in the two communities of the Madi valley a Chitwan District. The information was collected during 2001 from 83 households in Chirauli and 57 households in Dhikurbari using semi-structured questionnaires. The folk nomenclature and relative importance of the plant species for medicine, firewood, fodder and timber differ in the two communities were recorded. A total of 128 species were reported in use by both communities, out of which 64 were common to both communities. The plant species used only in Chirauli accounted for 44 and that in Dhikurbari are 20. Tharu community of Chirauli reported higher number of plant species for medicinal, fodder and forage, fuel wood and timber than that of migrated people of Dhikurbari. 
 
 Banko Janakari Vol.15(2) 2005 pp28-33

Ethnoecology of natural environment in trans-himalayan region of west Nepal

The present study was conducted during a period of two years from 2001 to 2003 in trans-Himalayan region from Mustang to Dolpa region of west Nepal. The indigenous people were found to be rich in ethnoecological knowledge regarding environment and plant resources. The locals catagorised six types of ecological land patterns such as Nakri (forest land), Penhri or pangri or Thakri or dakri (land pattern), Sim (marshy place or wetland), Lung (agricultural land) and Khangri (Snowy land). The people also had the knowledge of plants in population level and species level and had their own way of classifying them on the basis of different criteria like presence or absence of flower, habit, habitat, morphology, etc. 
 
 Key Words: Ethnobotany; Indigenous knowledge; Folk nomenclature; Folk classification 
 
 Banko Janakari Vol.15(2) 2005 pp13-18