Documenting the wild edible plant’s resources used by Pushtoons, Balochis and Brahvis as survival strategy in the arid Province of Balochistan, NW Pakistan

Abstract

AbstractThe current paper elaborates the wild edible plants’ (WEPs) diversity, and associated traditional knowledge among three ethnic groups of Balochistan Province, Pakistan. The field trips were carried out in 2018-2020 employing purposive sampling techniques for respondents. We used open ended semi-structured interviews for data collection. A total of 195 interviews reported 140 plant species in 44 families and 105 genera. Family Brassicaceae (10.17%) showed maximum representation along with Asteraceae (10%), and Apiaceae (6.42%). Eight (8) used categories were determined i.e. eaten fresh (47 spp. 33.57%), as vegetable (46 spp., 32.85%), vegetable and salad (15 spp, 10.71%), salad (14 spp, 10%), beverages only (8 spp, 5.71%), and flavor (7 spp, 5%). Leaves (54 spp., 38.57%) were the most used part followed by fruits (44 spp, 31.42%), tubers (13, 9.28%), bulb (11, 7.8% species), whole plant (8, 5.7%), flowers (4, 2.8%), seeds (4, 2.8), shoots (3, 2.14) young stem (2, 1.42). Seventy five (75) species (53.57%) were cited for mutual utilization and the rest 65 (46.42%) were used differently. Pashtuns hold comparatively significant traditional knowledge and exclusively utilize 44 (31.42%) plant species. Similarly, the Pushtoons and Balochis were sharing considerable species i.e. 13 (9.28%). Jaccard index (JI) discovered that 92 plant species were reported for the first time from the province as WEPs for instanceFerula costata, F.oopoda, Ferula assa-foetida, Allium zhobicum, Asphodelus tenuifolius,andMenoicus linifolius etc.Effect of age, gender and was observed in addition to inter-cultural knowledge heterogeneity. Several geo-climatic changes and anthropogenic factors are causing the fragmentation of existing knowledge. The promotion of these WEPs as crops would underpin the food security and socioeconomic development in the region.