Indigenous Plant Species Research Articles

Historical and Scientific Evidence for the Origin and Cultural Importance to Australia's First-Nations Peoples of the Laboratory Accession of Nicotiana benthamiana, a Model for Plant Virology.

Nicotiana benthamiana is an indigenous plant species distributed across northern Australia. The laboratory accession (LAB) of N. benthamiana has become widely adopted as a model host for plant viruses, and it is distinct from other accessions morphologically, physiologically, and by having an attenuation-of-function mutation in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 1 (NbRdr1) gene, referred to as NbRdr1m. Recent historical evidence suggested LAB was derived from a 1936 collection by John Cleland at The Granites of the Northern Territory, although no scientific evidence was provided. We provide scientific evidence and further historical evidence supporting the origin of LAB as The Granites. Analysis of a herbarium specimen of N. benthamiana collected by Cleland in 1936 revealed that The Granites population contains plants heterozygous for the NbRdr1 locus, having both the functional NbRdr1 and the mutant NbRdr1m alleles. N. benthamiana was an important cultural asset actively utilised as the narcotic Pituri (chewing tobacco) by the Warlpiri Aboriginal people at the site, who prevented women of child-bearing age from consuming it. We propose that Aboriginal people selected some of the unique traits of LAB that have subsequently facilitated its adoption as a model plant, such as lack of seed dormancy, fast maturity, low nornicotine content, and gracility.

Potential Availability of Forage in Oil Palm Plantations in West Pasaman Regency

Abstract Forage fodder can be obtained from various sources, one of which is from oil palm plantations. Oil palm plantations have enormous potential for the development of ruminant livestock. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential of forage biomass in oil palm plantations in the West Pasaman Regency. The research was carried out in different location with different plants aged 13 and 15 years with a land area of 2 ha each. Sampling was carried out randomly, each location is taken as many as 30 samples of forage samples using a 100 cm x 100 cm quadrant, for forage plant species identification, forage production, and storage carrying capacity. The results showed that 24 types of potential forage plant species were identified, including grasses, legumes, rumba (other indigenous plant species), and oil palm leaf midribs. Potential forage biomass was 994 thousand tons year-1, which is possible to supply forage with a carrying capacity of 436,000 animal units year-1. This number enables an additional population of cattle with 413,352 AU in west pasaman regency in terms of forage biomass potency in soil palm plantation.

The effect of indigenous vegetations on the biological control of oil palm basal stem rot (BSR) disease caused by Ganoderma in peatlands

Oil palm is an important plantation commodity in Indonesia. Oil palm cultivation in Indonesia is always associated with global warming because some of its plantation’s areas are on peatlands and its management not yet environmentally friendly. A serious problem of oil palm cultivation on peatlands is the basal stem rot disease caused by the Ganoderma fungi. There is no effective method to control this disease. Biological control is an alternative method that is environmentally friendly and is the focus of current development, however, in peatland, its development was limited by the lack of information about the influence of peat environmental factors. This study aims to determine the effect of indigenous vegetation on the biological control of Ganoderma on oil palm on peat soil. The research has been conducted by examining the effect of 4 species of peat indigenous plants on the effectiveness of Ganoderma biological control on peat soil in the experimental garden. The results showed that the presence of peat indigenous plants affected the effectiveness of Ganoderma control in oil palm on West Kalimantan peat soils. The single indigenous plant Nephrolepis biserrata was able to reduce the intensity of the disease. However, the use of mixed indigenous plants N. biserrata, Asystasia intrusa, Melastoma affine, and Stenochlaena palustris actually increased the intensity of the disease. These results indicate that the management of existing peat indigenous vegetations around oil palm plantations can help reduce the Ganoderma attacks on oil palm on peat soils.

Homegarden and coffee agroforestry systems plant species diversity and composition in Yayu Biosphere Reserve, southwest Ethiopia

Agroforestry systems are among the promising land use systems that enable to address both the development and livelihood issues of the community all over the world. In southwestern Ethiopia, homegarden and coffee agroforestry systems are widely used farming systems. Despite the fact that the systems are widely used and important, there are little studies on the subject. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess homegarden and coffee agroforestry systems plant diversity and composition in Yayu Biosphere Reserve. To achieve the study's goal, data was collected through forest inventories and household surveys. A total of 101 plant species from 49 families were identified, with 74 from homegardens (37 families) and 57 from coffee agroforestry systems (34 families). In terms of dominating plants in agroforestry systems, home gardens are dominated by herbaceous plants, accounting for 51 percent, whereas coffee agroforestry systems in the study region are dominated by trees, accounting for 72 percent. About 38 percent of household gardens and 77 percent of coffee agroforestry are made up of indigenous plant species. According to the findings, both agroforestry systems at the research site have a great diversity of plant species. As a result, the systems may be able to provide a wide range of services to farmers. Farmers, professionals, and legislators must collaborate to improve the systems' components, composition, and arrangements in order to maximize and protect the systems' multiple benefits.

A Review of Air Pollution Mitigation Approach Using Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API)

Air pollution is a global environmental issue, and there is an urgent need for sustainable remediation techniques. Thus, phytoremediation has become a popular approach to air pollution remediation. This paper reviewed 28 eco-friendly indigenous plants based on both the air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API), using tolerance level and performance indices to evaluate the potential of most indigenous plant species for air pollution control. The estimated APTI ranged from 4.79 (Syzygium malaccense) to 31.75 (Psidium guajava) among the studied indigenous plants. One of the selected plants is tolerant, and seven (7) are intermediate to air pollution with their APTI in the following order: Psidium guajava (31.75) > Swietenia mahogany (28.08) > Mangifera indica L. (27.97) > Ficus infectoria L. (23.93) > Ficus religiosa L. (21.62) > Zizyphus Oenoplia Mill (20.06) > Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (19.01) > Ficus benghalensis L. (18.65). Additionally, the API value indicated that Mangifera indica L. ranges from best to good performer; Ficus religiosa L. and Azadirachta indica A. Juss. from excellent to moderate performers; and Cassia fistula L. from poor to very poor performer for air pollution remediation. The Pearson correlation shows that there is a positive correlation between API and APTI (R2 = 0.63), and this implies that an increase in APTI increases the API and vice versa. This paper shows that Mangifera indica L., Ficus religiosa L., and Azadirachta indica A. Juss. have good potential for sustainable reduction in air pollution for long-term management and green ecomanagement development.

Land use and land cover dynamics and traditional agroforestry practices in Wonchi District, Ethiopia.

BackgroundInvestigating the land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics and the status of traditional agroforestry practices provide important data for policymakers. The main objective of this study was to assess the LULC dynamics and traditional agroforestry practices among smallholder farmers across the two agro-ecological zones in Wonchi District of Ethiopia.MethodsLandsat images were acquired from Earth Explorer, and changes in LULC were quantified with three Landsat sensors in the three time-series (1985, 2001, and 2019). Supervised classification with maximum likelihood technique was employed using ERDAS Imagine and ArcGIS. A ground survey was conducted with 100 key informants who were selected from 10 sites using a purposive sampling method. The collected data were subjected to direct matrix ranking, use-value analysis of most important multipurpose plant species, and semi-structured interviews were conducted for qualitative analysis.ResultsIn total, 103 agroforestry plant species belonging to 44 families were identified in Wonchi District, of which 74 were indigenous including seven endemic and 29 exotic species. The highest species (13) were recorded in the Fabaceae family. About 61% of species were reported in the midland agro-ecological zone. A mixed farming system was the most frequently (56%) reported source of income. The results of LULC changes from 1985 to 2019 showed that the agroforestry cover increased from 31.1% to 34.9% and settlement including road construction increased from 12.5% to 31.6% of the total area with an annual rate change of 0.3% and 2.7%, respectively. These changes corresponded with a decreasing trend of the forest, cropland, water body, and shrub at a rate of 4.7%, 1.3%, 0.8%, and 0.5%, respectively. The LULC changes were more pronounced in the highlands than in the midlands of Wonchi District. Expansion of settlement and tenure policy change are the main drivers for these changes in the area. The authors recommended that protecting and planting indigenous and multipurpose plant species is essential as restoration techniques for all degraded land-use types. Therefore, strengthening agroforestry practices and land-use planning is urgently needed for achieving multiple goals.

What Kigali\u2019s open-air markets reveal about achieving food and nutrition security: the role of African indigenous crops

BackgroundHousehold dietary diversity in Rwanda remains low and significantly contributes to the double burden of malnutrition. Rwanda has one of the highest under five stunting rates globally, and malnutrition remains one of the most pressing public health issues; therefore, factors that shape food and nutrition security are of utmost concern. Globally, the variety of foods available in open-air markets has been shown to affect dietary diversity. Furthermore, the consumption of indigenous foods can contribute to a diverse diet and improve nutrition status. At present, there are limited data on foods available for purchase in open-air markets in Africa. Therefore, this study was designed to provide data on food availability in the largest open-air markets of Rwanda’s most populated city, Kigali, and to highlight which foods indigenous to Africa can be purchased.MethodsAll consumables were inventoried between October and December of 2020 in three open-air markets of Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Consumables were organized by the site of domestication and the nutritional contents of some African indigenous crops were compared to similar non-indigenous items.ResultsA variety of raw and processed consumables was available in the open-air markets inventoried; however, only 25.8% of available species are indigenous to Africa. All Rwanda’s staples, including sweet potatoes, plantains, beans, maize, banana, and cassava, are endemic to other continents. Indigenous plant species, which are often drought-resistant and more nutritious, for example, Africa’s pineapple fruits (Myrianthus holstii), could not be purchased in Kigali’s open-air markets. Pineapple fruits are richer in iron, vitamin C, protein, and vitamin A than banana, which is the most consumed fruit in Rwanda.ConclusionsGiven rapid population growth, limited arable land, and erratic climate patterns, policies to conserve and promote indigenous species, especially those already adapted to harsh environmental conditions, should be enacted in Rwanda. The cultivation of native vegetables and fruits in home gardens, and the conservation of edible wild species, can improve dietary diversity and enhance food and nutrition security across the entire country.

Pro-inflammatory enzyme inhibition and antioxidant activity of six scientifically unexplored indigenous plants traditionally used in South Africa to treat wounds

Six indigenous medicinal plants species, Agapanthus inapertus, Cheilanthes hirta, Crassula capitella, Eriospermum flagelliforme, Euphorbia clavarioides and Pelargonium alchemilloides are used traditionally in South Africa to treat wounds without scientific evidence as wound healing agents. Consequently, this study sought to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of these plants species as a first step towards their validation as wound healing agents. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and β-carotene-linoleic acid model system (β-CLAMS) assays were used to test for antioxidant activity. The inhibition of the xanthine oxidase (XO), cyclooxygenase -2 (COX-2) and 15- lipoxygenase (15-LOX) as well as the extracts’ ability to preserve the cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) enzyme activity were used as anti-inflammatory models. Furthermore, the total phenolics, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins content were quantified using standard methods. Species, C. hirta displayed high flavonoid and proanthocyanidin content whilst C. capitella displayed high phenolic content, and good activity against the four used antioxidant models compared to standards, butylated hydroxytoluene and ascorbic acid. Majority of the extracts displayed significantly higher anti-xanthine oxidase activity, outperforming standard quercetin. The acetone extracts of A. inapertus (IC50 = 57.33 ± 0.30 µg/mL), E. flagelliforme (IC50 = 52.10 ± 0.98 µg/mL), P. alchemilloides (IC50 = 58.28 ± 0.94 µg/mL) and E. clavarioides water (IC50 = 50.53 ± 0.47 µg/mL) extract displayed moderate 15-LOX inhibition compared to standard, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (IC50 = 0.45 ± 0.01 µg/mL). The acetone extracts of C. capitella (IC50 = 3.16 ± 0.06 µg/mL), E. flagelliforme (IC50 = 1.13 ± 0.09 µg/mL), E. clavarioides (IC50 = 1.84 ± 0.18 µg/mL), P. alchemilloides (IC50 = 1.13 ± 0.14 µg/mL), and the E. clavarioides water extract (IC50 = 1.18 ± 0.11 µg/mL) displayed COX-2 inhibition comparable to that of standard, aspirin (IC50 = 1.11 ± 0.03 µg/mL). At some degree, all tested extracts preserved the activity of the COX-1 enzyme with the E. clavarioides acetone extract significantly preserving the activity of COX-1 (IC50 = 96.21 ± 0.18 µg/mL), compared to standard, aspirin (IC50 = 0.98 ± 0.06 µg/mL). The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities displayed by these medicinal plants support their application and beneficial effect in wounds healing and hold promising prospects as natural alternatives to the existing conventional treatments.

Diversity of Arboreal Spermatophytes in three MPCAs of India: With Special Reference to West Bengal

Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas (MPCAs) are the patches in protected forests with rich indigenous medicinal plant species. Arboreal spermatophyte heterogeneity and floristic arrangement of three Medicinal Plant Conservation Area (MPCAs) of West Bengal were assessed with an aim to acquire a baseline data assumption for medicinally important trees and their proper in situ conservation strategies for the floristically affluent ecosystem. The study was made during the period of 2014-2020 by following standard sampling method and by random quadrates. It was observed that study areas are quite enriched with about 164 trees species representing 52 families and maximum species are found to be used to treat various ailments in Indian system of medicines. Various diversity indices were calculated to understand the community structure for the tree layer and it was found quite significant. These quantitative measures pointed the diversity of the arboreal spermatophytes of the study area in its structure, composition, function and vegetation dynamics. The present study also highlights various types of anthropogenic intervention, including NTFPs (Non Timber Forest Products) collection and artificial forest-fire causing dangerous threats for the maintenance of its original vegetation and survival of numerous threatened and endangered species in all the strata of the vegetation.

The Impact of Lantana camara on Invertebrates and Plant Species of the Groenkloof Nature Reserve, South Africa.

Invasive plant species have negative ecological impacts such as displacing indigenous plants and invertebrates. These invasive plant species affect biodiversity by impacting indigenous vegetation and the food webs associated with this vegetation. We assessed how Lantana camara affects indigenous plant species richness and invertebrates and their feeding guilds in riparian habitats inside the Groenkloof Nature Reserve in South Africa. We showed: (1) A lower abundance and morphospecies richness of invertebrates as well as lower numbers of plant species in lantana-invaded habitat as compared to indigenous bush and grass-dominated habitats. (2) A Negative association between plant species richness and L. camara above ground mass and shoot density, but no association was found between plant species richness and the size of L. camara invaded areas. This finding suggests a link between the reduction in overall invertebrate abundance and morphospecies richness and the replacement of native plant species by invasive lantana. (3). This increased biomass in natural vegetation was even more evident for detrivores as compared to other feeding guilds. Extensive invasion by L. camara is affecting the quality of riparian ecosystems especially for invertebrates that rely on decaying plants and animals as food and this will affect overall biodiversity.

Large variation in availability of Maya food plant sources during ancient droughts

Paleoclimatic evidence indicating a series of droughts in the Yucatan Peninsula during the Terminal Classic period suggests that climate change may have contributed to the disruption or collapse of Classic Maya polities. Although climate change cannot fully account for the multifaceted, political turmoil of the period, it is clear that droughts of strong magnitude could have limited food availability, potentially causing famine, migration, and societal decline. Maize was undoubtedly an important staple food of the ancient Maya, but a complete analysis of other food resources that would have been available during drought remains unresolved. Here, we assess drought resistance of all 497 indigenous food plant species documented in ethnographic, ethnobotanical, and botanical studies as having been used by the lowland Maya and classify the availability of these plant species and their edible components under various drought scenarios. Our analysis indicates availability of 83% of food plant species in short-term drought, but this percentage drops to 22% of food plant species available in moderate drought up to 1 y. During extreme drought, lasting several years, our analysis indicates availability of 11% of food plant species. Our results demonstrate a greater diversity of food sources beyond maize that would have been available to the Maya during climate disruption of the Terminal Classic period than has been previously acknowledged. While drought would have necessitated shifts in dietary patterns, the range of physiological drought responses for the available food plants would have allowed a continuing food supply under all but the most dire conditions.

Allelopathy of Knotweeds as Invasive Plants.

Perennial herbaceous Fallopia is native to East Asia, and was introduced to Europe and North America in the 19th century as an ornamental plant. Fallopia has been spreading quickly and has naturalized in many countries. It is listed in the world’s 100 worst alien species. Fallopia often forms dense monospecies stands through the interruption of the regeneration process of indigenous plant species. Allelopathy of Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), giant knotweed (Fallopia sachalinensis), and Bohemian knotweed (Fallopia x bohemica) has been reported to play an essential role in its invasion. The exudate from their roots and/or rhizomes, and their plant residues inhibited the germination and growth of some other plant species. These knotweeds, which are non-mycorrhizal plants, also suppressed the abundance and species richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the rhizosphere soil. Such suppression was critical for most territorial plants to form the mutualism with AMF, which enhances the nutrient and water uptake, and the tolerance against pathogens and stress conditions. Several allelochemicals such as flavanols, stilbenes, and quinones were identified in the extracts, residues, and rhizosphere soil of the knotweeds. The accumulated evidence suggests that some of those allelochemicals in knotweeds may be released into the rhizosphere soil through the decomposition process of their plant parts, and the exudation from their rhizomes and roots. Those allelochemicals may inhibit the germination and growth of native plants, and suppress the mycorrhizal colonization of native plants, which provides the knotweeds with a competitive advantage, and interrupts the regeneration processes of native plants. Therefore, allelopathy of knotweeds may contribute to establishing their new habitats in the introduced ranges as invasive plant species. It is the first review article focusing on the allelopathy of knotweeds.

Potential of indigenous plant species for phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated water and soil

The presence of arsenic (As) and heavy metals in soil and water resources has serious impact on ecosystem as well as human health. In India, West Bengal (W.B.) is severely contaminated by higher levels of As in water, soil and growing plants/crops. The present study was designed to examine the remediation ability of indigenous plant species, growing naturally in the As contaminated Dakshin Panchpota village of Nadia district (W.B.). Soil and water samples, collected from the site, showed higher levels of arsenic and heavy metals. For the study, total twenty eight plants (eighteen terrestrial, ten aquatic) were collected from the contaminated area and among them ten terrestrial and seven aquatic plants showed bioaccumulation factor (BCF) > 1, suggesting their role in As remediation and site restoration. Althernanthera ficoides demonstrated highest accumulation as well as translocation of As (TF > 1) among all the terrestrial plants tested, showing its suitability for remediation of As contaminated soil. More As was recorded in shoots than the roots in Phyllanthus amarus and Cyanodon dactylon, showing their feasibility for phytoextraction purpose. Among aquatic plants, Eicchornia crassipes and Marsilea quadrifolia were found most effective for As remediation. Besides As, plants have also shown potential to tolerate and accumulate Fe, Zn, Cu and Cr in their tissues. Thus, the results of this study showed that the naturally growing plant species have potential to remediate As contaminated site in the presence of elevated concentrations of heavy metals and can play an important role in ecological restoration, however, care should be taken owing to medicinal properties possessed by some of the accumulators.

Designing and managing biodiverse streetscapes: key lessons from the City of Melbourne

Underutilised public spaces such as streetscapes offer substantial opportunities to integrate habitats that increase biodiversity into existing urban landscapes and create more ecologically connected cities. Cooperation and collaboration from diverse stakeholders are paramount to achieving this because growing conditions for plants in streetscapes are often much harsher than remnant habitats or urban parks and little is known about the horticultural performance of many native understorey species in these novel urban environments. This paper describes how the City of Melbourne collaborated with researchers from the University of Melbourne to develop and test a suite of understorey plant species to increase streetscape biodiversity. To do so, we selected species using criteria from a horticultural planting guide which guided the design and creation of four streetscape plantings within the municipality. Here, we document the process and discuss lessons learnt from this project to assist other cities to design, construct and maintain streetscapes with successful, cost-effective plantings that improve urban biodiversity and aesthetic value. Key to the long-term success of these biodiverse plantings was thorough soil preparation and weed management before planting, and the implementation of a clear, ecologically sensitive management plan. To support this plan, suitably qualified and experienced landscape maintenance staff were essential, particularly those with horticultural knowledge and experience with indigenous and native plant species. Our project highlights the often conflicting needs of local authorities and ecological researchers and the necessary trade-offs needed to meet realistic goals and achieve successful project outcomes for creating more biodiverse urban landscapes.

Determinant Factor of Plant Species Diversity in the Organic Agriculture-Dominated System of Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Agricultural intensification is a major challenge for biodiversity conservation in many parts of the world. Organic agriculture is perceived as a possible solution for biodiversity conservation in agriculture dominant systems. This study aimed at investigating the current status of plant species diversity and its determinants in organic agriculture-dominated areas of Gedeo zone, Southern Ethiopia. Multistage sampling procedures were used to obtain 108 households from three agroecological zones of the study area, and plant species data were collected from the quadrants laid in farms of sampled farmers. Besides, diversity management practice data were collected using focus group discussion. A total of 234 plant species belonging to 82 plant families were identified. Most (69.2%) of species in the system were native. The mean value of richness and Shannon index evenness for the whole system was 10.36, 2.06, and 0.89 for highland midland and lowland agroecological zones, respectively, which is relatively high compared with other agriculture-dominated systems in the tropics. The diversity of overall plant species were significantly affected by both agroecological zones and the wealth status of farmers. Midland and lowland agroecological zones had the highest richness values for total plant species than highland. Similarly, highest richness was recorded among farmers of rich and medium wealth classes than poor. The diversity of tree species was significantly affected by both agroecological zone and wealth status of farmer households. The lowland agroecological zone had a significantly higher number of tree species than midland and lowland agroecological zones, while the rich farmer had higher tree diversity compared to medium and poor farmers. The study also identified that diversity of shrubs were significantly influenced by agroecological zone. The midland agroecological had a significantly higher number of shrubs diversity compared to lowland and highland agroecological zones. In this study, herbaceous species diversity was not influenced by both agroecological zone and farmer wealth class. The function of plant species and indigenous plant species maintenance practice had its own effect on plant species diversity in the study area, since the area is dominated with organic agriculture. Therefore, to maintain the current status of the system and to improve the farmer’s livelihood, development planners may need to design agroecological-based plant species conservation strategies that give due consideration for indigenous plant species conservation practices and function of plant species.

Speciation of metals in indigenous plants growing in post-mining areas: Dihydroxynicotianamine identified as the most abundant Cu and Zn ligand in Hypericum laricifolium

Ag, As, Cu, Pb and Zn were found to be the principal metallic contaminants of a post-mining area of Peru (Hualgayoc, Cajamarca). Study of metal distribution amongst roots, stems, and leaves of four indigenous hypertolerant plant species, Arenaria digyna, Puya sp., Hypericum laricifolium, Nicotiana thyrsiflora indicated significant translocation of Zn (0.6 < TF ≤ 10.0) and Cu (0.4 < TF ≤ 6.5) into aerial plant organs and substantial water-extractable fraction (20–60%) of these metals, except for A. digyna (root and stems). A study of the metal speciation by ultrahigh-performance size-exclusion (fast-SEC) and hydrophilic ion interaction (HILIC) liquid chromatography with dual ICP (inductively coupled plasma) and electrospray (ESI) Orbitrap MS detection revealed the presence of nicotianamine and deoxymugineic acid copper and zinc complexes in roots, stem and leaves of N. thyrsiflora and Puya sp., and nicotianamine alone in A. digyna. A previously unreported compound, dihydroxy-nicotianamine was identified as the most abundant Cu and Zn ligand in H. laricifolium. The presence of arsenobetaine and an arsenosugar was confirmed by ESI MS. Ag and Pb were hardly translocated to leaves and were found as high molecular species; one of the Pb-containing species co-eluted in fast-SEC-ICP MS with rhamnogalacturonan-II-Pb complex commonly found in in the walls of plants.

Ethnobotanical Study in and around Sirso Natural Forest of Melokoza District, Gamo Goffa Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Background: Melokoza district has many ethnic groups and has a long tradition of using wild plants as a means of livelihood. However, communities’ knowledge associated to plants is not fully studied. Hence, this study was conducted to document plant-based indigenous knowledge of the people in order to preserve the tapering off indigenous plant species and their associated traditional knowledge. Methods: Ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and guided field walk. A total of 72 informants were selected from four sampled Kebeles (the lowest administrative unit in Ethiopia) using stratified random sampling. Additional 24 key informants were selected purposively for exhaustive discussion. Preference ranking, paired comparison, direct matrix ranking, and informant consensus factor were calculated. Statistical tests were performed to compare the indigenous knowledge of the local communities on plants uses among different informant categories. Results: A total of 135 plant species distributed in 116 genera and 52 families were recorded. Among flowering families Asteraceae was the most dominant family (15 species), followed by Lamiaceae (12 species). Of the total species, 92 plant species were recorded as medicinal to cure 39 human and livestock ailments. Fresh leaves were the most frequently reported plant parts (36), followed by roots (27). The highest ICF value (0.91) was computed for parasite infections disease categories. Vepris dainellii and Embelia schimperi were the most popular medicinal plants with high informant consensus cited by 51 (71%) and 48 (67%) informants respectively. Cordia africana and Croton macrostachyus were shown to be the top multipurpose and the most utilized plant species in the study area. Significant difference at (P =0.003) was observed on the mean number of plant species stated by groups of respondents compared within gender and age on traditional use of plant species for different purposes. Elder people and traditional healers of the area possess vast knowledge on plant use and ethnomedicinal practices in comparison with the young generation and have a positive correlation relationship (r=0.507) between the age and their traditional medicinal knowledge. Vast knowledge on traditional uses of plant species conveyed from one generation to the next one by the word of mouth and the knowledge transfer system is quite restricted within the family members. Conclusions: The study revealed that Sirso natural forest of the district is a home for high diversity of plant species and associated indigenous knowledge. However, preservation efforts of the community are meager to assure survival of plant species and indigenous knowledge in the area. Thus, awareness creation to the youth and training to the healers is highly recommended to prevent the loss of plant species with their associated indigenous knowledge. Keywords: Ethnobotany, Indigenous knowledge, medicinal plants, Sirso natural forest

Kia Manawaroa Kia Puawai: enduring M\u0101ori livelihoods

Neoliberalism has failed us. Our waterways are contaminated, their mauri (life-force) has diminished; our economic growth is fast approaching environmental limits, almost 4000 of our indigenous plant and animal species are currently threatened with or at risk of extinction, and our biodiversity has declined significantly. Increasingly stringent regulations are being rolled out by policy makers to protect natural systems, but these are framed by Eurocentric measures and concepts. If we are to achieve our vision to improve the health of te taiao (the environment) and our people, we need to change the way that people interact with their environment from a position of extractive resource use to one of reciprocal exchange. Te Ao Māori (the Māori world view) thinking offers us a pathway forward to achieving sustainable livelihoods that enable both the natural world and humans to prosper. In this paper, we showcase the operationalisation of He Waka Taurua, a framework for collaborative partnership based on the dual elevation of both Te Ao Māori and western science knowledge systems, through a Māori agribusiness case study.

​Management Options of Mikania micrantha: A Review

The world’s problematic perennial weed Mikania micrantha hampers in crop production and causes enormous losses due to its interference. Management of M. micrantha by mechanical and chemical methods has not met with any reasonable success. So, it has become a target for classical biological control. Numerous natural indigenous plant species, fungi and insects were tried as bio-control agents for effective control of M. micrantha. However, along with bio-control, appropriate mechanical, chemical and cultural methods are required to be integrated for controlling it. Thus, integrated management approaches for control of M. micrantha should be evolved against this invasive weed in long run.

Efficiencies of indigenous South African plant biofilters for urban stormwater runoff water quality improvement with a focus on nutrients and metals

Abstract In South Africa, urban activities contribute high levels of pollution to rivers and groundwater via stormwater runoff. In reducing urban stormwater loads of engineered plant biofiltration, an effective and self-sustaining component of green infrastructure is a treatment option. The country's extensive natural biodiversity offers untapped potential of indigenous species' use in plant biofilters. This paper presents the findings of a plant biofilter column experiment, which investigated the performance of nine indigenous plant species under varied urban stormwater pollutant load strengths. Average significant loads of dissolved Cd (&amp;gt;98%), Cu (&amp;gt;84%), Pb (&amp;gt;99%) and Zn (&amp;gt;95%), as well as NH3-N (&amp;gt;93%), were removed by the plant biofilters, whereas the removal of -N (−37 to 79%) and -P (−81 to 63%) was more variable. Biofilters equipped with indigenous plant species were on average at least 11% more efficient than unvegetated soil in the removal of urban nutrient and metal pollutants. Over time, planted biofilters improved nutrient and metal removal efficiencies. The results support the inclusion of indigenous plants in biofilters within urban stormwater green infrastructure initiatives. Further research to inform plant biofilter design practicalities and assess plant biofilter performance in the field is warranted.