Ethnobotanical survey of wild food plants by rural communities surrounding the PARNASI, Sergipe, Brazil

Abstract

This study was carried out in the four rural communities (Pedrinhas, Ladeira, Caroba and Cajueiro) surrounding the National Park of Serra de Itabaiana - PARNASI, in order to assess which botanical species are recognized by local specialists as wild food plants. The methodology was based on stages of observation, questionnaires, performance-guided tours, and a floristic inventory. There were 31 specialties divided into three categories of emic wild food plants, those being for human consumption, for domestic animals and for wildlife animals as food. We totaled 86 species, 67% being native and 33% exotic. They were made up of the following families: Myrtaceae (16 spp.), Anacardiaceae (8 spp.), Arecaceae (8 spp.), Fabaceae (7 spp.), Annonaceae (5 spp.), and Malpighiaceae (5 spp.). 59 wild food species were identified for human use. The most cited were: cashew (Anacardium ocidentale L.), murici (Byrsonima sericea DC.), and jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.). In the category of species for domestic animals, 22 species were cited, those being jackfruit (A. heterophyllus), ingá (Inga sp.), and mimosa (Mimosa sp.). In the category for wildlife animals, 26 species were cited, including angelim (Andira nitida Mart. ex Benth.), murici (B. sericea) and embaúba (Cecropia pachystachya Trécul). It was observed that specialists from the surrounding communities to PARNASI have a vast knowledge of wild food plant resources used for different purposes. As far as human consumption was concerned, the majority of species mentioned were wild flora, because these are the species cultivated and appreciated by specialists.