Abstract
In this study, 121 wild edible plants used as food in Anatolia were surveyed to determine the plant parts used and their detailed preparation methods. The results of this study show that the plants may be boiled, fried in fat, and eaten raw or as rolled vegetables. They may also be consumed as pickles, fruits, sweets and spices, and drunk as cold and hot drinks. Thirty species (8 genera) were identified as belonging to the Lamiaceae family, 15 species (15 genera) belong to the Asteraceae family, 13 species (5 genera) belong to the Rosaceae family, 8 species (7 genera) belong to the Brassicaceae family, 6 species (3 genera) belong to the Orchidaceae family and 5 species (5 genera) belong to the Apiaceae family. The genera represented by the highest number of species in the study are as follows:Sideritis L. is represented by 13 species, Origanum L. by 7 species,Rubus L. by 5 species,Thymus L. by 4 species andRumex L. by 4 species.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Arnason, T., R. J. Hedba, and T. Johns. 1981. Use of plants for food and medicine by native peoples of Eastern Canada. Canadian Journal of Botany 59: 2189–2325.
Becker, B. 1983. The contribution of wild plants to human nutrition in the Ferio (Northern Senegal). Agroforestry Systems l(3):257–267.
Bonet M. A., and J. Vallés. 2002. Use of non-crop food vascular plants in Montseny biosphere reserve (Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula). International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition 53:225–248.
Bryce, M. 1979. The encyclopedia of spices. Marshall Cavendish, London.
Cook, J. A., D. J. Vanderjagt, A. Dasgupta, G. Mounkaila, R. S. Glew, W. Blackwell, and R. H. Glew. 1998. Use of trolox assay to estimate the antioxidant content of seventeen edible wild plants of Niger. Life Science 63(2): 105–110.
Couplan, F. 1995. Les plantes sauvages comestibles. 2d ed. Sang de la Tere, Paris.
Davis, P. H. 1965–1988. Flora of Turkey and East Aegean Islands. I-X, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.
Doughty, J. 1979. Dangers of reducing the range of food choice in developing countries. Ecological Food Nutrition 8:275–283.
Etkin, N. 1994. The cull of the wild. Pages 1–21 in N. L. Etkin, ed., Eating on the wild side: The pharmacologie ecologie, and social implications of using noncultigens. University of Arizona Press, Tucson.
— 1996. Medicinal cuisines: Diet and ethno pharmacology. International Journal of Pharmacology 34(5):313–326.
Gunaidi, M. J. 1992. The natural plants of the Arab Middle East and their economic importance. Dar Al-Ibda, Amman.
Guner, A., N. Ozhatay, and T. Ekim. 2001. Flora of Turkey and East Aegean Islands. XI, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.
Kim, T. R., A. Pastuszyn, D. J. Vanderjagt, R. S. Glew, M. Millson, and R. H. Glew. 1997. The nutritional composition ofBoscia senegalensis (Anza, Dilo) in the Republic of Niger. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 10:73–81.
Lockett, C. T., C. C. Calvert, and L. E. Grivetti. 2000. Energy and micronutrient composition of dietary and medicinal wild plants consumed during drought. International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition 51:195–208.
Ottogalli, G., and G. Testolin. 1991. Dairy products in the Mediterranean diets in health and disease. Pages 135–159 in G. A. Spiller, ed., The Mediterranean diets in health and disease. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.
Packard, D. P., and M. McWilliams. 1993. Cultural foods heritage of Middle Eastern immigrants. Nutrition Today 28:6–12.
Pellet, P. L., and S. Shadarevian. 1970. Food composition tables for use in the Middle East. American University of Beirut, Beirut.
Pieroni, A. 2000. Medicinal plants and food medicines in the folk traditions of the upper Lucca Province, Italy. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 70:235–273.
Pieroni, A., S. Nebel, C. Quave, H. Müand M. Heinrich. 2002. Ethnopharmacology of Liakra: Traditional weedy vegetables of the Arbereshe of the Vulture area in Southern Italy. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 81:165–185
Qubaisi, H. 1993. The guide of herbs and medicinal plants. Dar al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyab, Beirut.
Qudama, A. 1985. Dictionary of food medicinal plants. Darul-Nafaes, Beirut.
Ranhotra G. S., J. A. Gelroth, S. D. Leinen, M. A. Viñ and M. A. Lorenz. 1998. Nutritional profile of some edible plants from Mexico. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 11:298–304.
Salih, O. M., A. M. Nour, and D. B. Harper. 1991. Chemical and nutritional composition of two famine food sources used in Sudan, Mukheit(Boscia senegalensis) and Maikah(Dobera roxburghi). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 57: 367–377.
Smith, G. C, M. S. Clegg, C. L. Keen, and L. E. Grivett. 1996. Mineral values of selected plant foods common to Burkina Faso and to Niamev, Niger West Africa. International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition 47:41–53.
Takruri, H. R. 1995. The contents of oxalic acid, ascorbic acid and calcium in some wild edible plants in Jordan. Arab University Journal of Agriculture Science 3:139–149.
Testoln, G., A. Alberio, andE. Casiraghi. 1991. Vegetables and fruits in the Mediterranean diets in health and disease. Pages 110–134 in G. A. Spiller, ed., The Mediterranean diets in health and disease. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.
Tukan S. K., H. R. Takruri, and D. M. AI-Eisawi. 1998. The use of wild edible plants in the Jordanian diet. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition 49:225–235.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dogan, Y., Baslar, S., Ay, G. et al. The use of wild edible plants in western and central Anatolia (Turkey). Econ Bot 58, 684–690 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2004)058[0684:TUOWEP]2.0.CO;2
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2004)058[0684:TUOWEP]2.0.CO;2