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An ethnobotanical study of (semi-)wild food plants in Konso, Ethiopia with special emphasis on the use of pakanna (Amorphophallus spp.)
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DOI：10.1186/s13002-026-00897-2.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
In Konso (Ethiopia), people use their ethnobotanical knowledge to gather (semi-)wild food plants ((S)WFPs). This study provides a comprehensive list of (S)WFPs and crop parts that are only consumed when food is scarce, based on free-listings by 220 informants and botanical surveys, provides an overview of the habitats in which they occur, and of their cultural salience. Moreover, we provide information on occurrence, abundance, species diversity, seasonal availability, methods of processing, parts consumed, and marketability of (S)WFPs. We highlight pakanna (Amorphophallus spp.), an abundant, perennial tuber-bearing SWFP, playing a crucial role in times of food shortage in Konso. We used free-listing supplemented with semi-structured interviews, field observations, focus group discussions, interviews with key informants based on local names and botanical surveys in 15 habitats, identified during a reconnaissance mission, based on scientific names of plants collected for identification by a taxonomist. We calculated the cultural salience index per species, species richness, and the Shannon–Wiener index, documented abundance, and seasonal availability, and surveyed the presence of (S)WFPs in local markets. The study recorded 152 (S)WFPs, crop parts that are only consumed under food stress, crop residues, and recycled food items. Sixty-six plant species or plant types occurred in the 15 habitats. Only five species occurred in all habitats, while 28% of the (S)WFPs occurred only in one of the habitats. The cultural salience analysis highlighted pakanna (Amorphophallus spp.), karsata (Dobera glabra (Forssk.) Juss. ex Poir.), and maraeta (Portulaca spp.) as most salient. Thirty-two (S)WFPs were sold in local markets. (S)WFP densities were highest for the yellas (fertile, wet plots in small depressions), but were also high in other crop plots before weeding. Pakanna (Amorphophallus spp.) was the most abundant species, especially in springs, crop plots, and yellas. Abundance and diversity of (S)WFPs was large and varied among habitats. Many species are unique for specific habitats. Pakanna (Amorphophallus spp.), however, occurred everywhere, was most abundant, and most culturally salient. While the sustainable availability and use of the (S)WFPs are threatened, conservation strategies should consider the importance of specific habitats of (S)WFPs.
Keywords:
Abundance
Cropping systems
Cultural salience
Ethiopia
Ethnobotany
Famine
Food situation assessment
Indigenous knowledge
Konso
Microenvironments
Semi-wild food plants
Species diversity
Unusual food plants
Wild food plants
Complementary & Alternative Medicine
Biodiversity
Ecology
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