A Study on the Utilization of Wild Plants for Food in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture

Authors Wang Jing; Wang TaoFen; Qiu Cheng; Fu LiQiu

Journal Plant Diversity and Resourcues , 2013,4:35

Abstract The ethnobotanical 5W+1H method plus market and field investigations were used to study traditional knowledge of wild edible plants in Mianning County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. The results showed that 1) there are 110 species of wild edible plant occurring in Mianning County, belonging to 45 different families and 91 genera. Of these, 4 species are used as grain, 53 as vegetables, 37 as fresh fruits, 6 as condiments, 4 in brewing bean butter and bean paste, 16 as medicinal food, and 15 as substitutes for tea. 2) The characteristics of using wild plants in the food culture of the Yi and Han ethnogroups are almost the same, although each group maintains and develops their own particular food culture. 3) The status and reasons for using wild plants in the Yi and Han food culture were analyzed. Furthermore, how to protect traditional knowledge is discussed, together with proposals for the sustainable use of wild edible plants in this region.