Traditional knowledge and consumption of wild edible plants in rural households, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Abstract Background Globalisation, urbanisation, and modernisation all influence traditional knowledge. More specifically, the introduction of exotic plants, historical policies, stigma attached to consuming wild edible plants (WEPs), changes in lifestyles, and environmental factors are reshaping pe...
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-025-00773-5 |
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| author | Frans Makwena Mothupi Charlie M. Shackleton |
| author_facet | Frans Makwena Mothupi Charlie M. Shackleton |
| author_sort | Frans Makwena Mothupi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Globalisation, urbanisation, and modernisation all influence traditional knowledge. More specifically, the introduction of exotic plants, historical policies, stigma attached to consuming wild edible plants (WEPs), changes in lifestyles, and environmental factors are reshaping peoples’ uses and knowledge of WEPs. This study assessed the relationship between ethnobotanical knowledge and consumption of WEPs in rural villages in the Polokwane and Aganang local municipalities, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methods This study was conducted in four villages in the Limpopo Province, South Africa, between May 2018 and June 2019. Data about WEPs were collected using a household survey questionnaire administered to a total of 120 participants stratified by age and gender. Additionally, a free list of WEP species known by participants was collected as well as data on the traditional uses of each species. Results We found that WEPs are generally well-known in the area, as participants listed an average of 17.7 ± 5.0 (8.4 ± 2.4 wild fruit species) and (9.3 ± 2.6 wild vegetable species). There was a significant difference between the number of species listed by age group, with the elderly listing a higher mean number of species (9.3 ± 2.6) compared to adults (8.1 ± 2.5) and the youth (7.8 ± 1.7). Vangueria infausta, Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra, Ximenia caffra, Amaranthus retroflexus, Citrullus lanatus, and Cleome gynandra were among the most listed species. There was a positive correlation between knowledge of WEPs and consumption rates. Most of the knowledge about WEPs was learnt from a family member (89%), own observation (86%), and a village elder (75%). This knowledge was mostly acquired from childhood through oral tradition (63%), through participation (21%), and consumption (12%). Conclusions Future preservation of WEPs knowledge could be encouraged by formalising indigenous knowledge in the education system and promoting WEPs in the media. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-749c8f96d4cc481fb4f42280c31f9aaa |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1746-4269 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-749c8f96d4cc481fb4f42280c31f9aaa2025-08-20T03:04:53ZengBMCJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine1746-42692025-04-0121111510.1186/s13002-025-00773-5Traditional knowledge and consumption of wild edible plants in rural households, Limpopo Province, South AfricaFrans Makwena Mothupi0Charlie M. Shackleton1Dept of Environmental Science, Rhodes UniversityDept of Environmental Science, Rhodes UniversityAbstract Background Globalisation, urbanisation, and modernisation all influence traditional knowledge. More specifically, the introduction of exotic plants, historical policies, stigma attached to consuming wild edible plants (WEPs), changes in lifestyles, and environmental factors are reshaping peoples’ uses and knowledge of WEPs. This study assessed the relationship between ethnobotanical knowledge and consumption of WEPs in rural villages in the Polokwane and Aganang local municipalities, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methods This study was conducted in four villages in the Limpopo Province, South Africa, between May 2018 and June 2019. Data about WEPs were collected using a household survey questionnaire administered to a total of 120 participants stratified by age and gender. Additionally, a free list of WEP species known by participants was collected as well as data on the traditional uses of each species. Results We found that WEPs are generally well-known in the area, as participants listed an average of 17.7 ± 5.0 (8.4 ± 2.4 wild fruit species) and (9.3 ± 2.6 wild vegetable species). There was a significant difference between the number of species listed by age group, with the elderly listing a higher mean number of species (9.3 ± 2.6) compared to adults (8.1 ± 2.5) and the youth (7.8 ± 1.7). Vangueria infausta, Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra, Ximenia caffra, Amaranthus retroflexus, Citrullus lanatus, and Cleome gynandra were among the most listed species. There was a positive correlation between knowledge of WEPs and consumption rates. Most of the knowledge about WEPs was learnt from a family member (89%), own observation (86%), and a village elder (75%). This knowledge was mostly acquired from childhood through oral tradition (63%), through participation (21%), and consumption (12%). Conclusions Future preservation of WEPs knowledge could be encouraged by formalising indigenous knowledge in the education system and promoting WEPs in the media.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-025-00773-5Indigenous knowledgeTraditionWild edible plantsConsumption |
| spellingShingle | Frans Makwena Mothupi Charlie M. Shackleton Traditional knowledge and consumption of wild edible plants in rural households, Limpopo Province, South Africa Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine Indigenous knowledge Tradition Wild edible plants Consumption |
| title | Traditional knowledge and consumption of wild edible plants in rural households, Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_full | Traditional knowledge and consumption of wild edible plants in rural households, Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Traditional knowledge and consumption of wild edible plants in rural households, Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Traditional knowledge and consumption of wild edible plants in rural households, Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_short | Traditional knowledge and consumption of wild edible plants in rural households, Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_sort | traditional knowledge and consumption of wild edible plants in rural households limpopo province south africa |
| topic | Indigenous knowledge Tradition Wild edible plants Consumption |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-025-00773-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fransmakwenamothupi traditionalknowledgeandconsumptionofwildedibleplantsinruralhouseholdslimpopoprovincesouthafrica AT charliemshackleton traditionalknowledgeandconsumptionofwildedibleplantsinruralhouseholdslimpopoprovincesouthafrica |