Some Edible Wild Herbs in Isparta Region

Abstract

The using of edible weeds in the diet of the people living in rural areas of Anatolia is quite common. Due to the awareness of natural and organic nutrition, the using of wild herbs has tended to increase in cities in recent years. In this study, it was aimed to determine the wild herbs consumed as edible food by the people in Isparta region, which has an important place in terms of plant diversity, and the consumption patterns of these herbs. This study, which was carried out in 2022 and 2023, was conducted face-to-face interviews with 100 local people in order to determine the plants consumed as traditional food by the people of Isparta. Wild plants consumed by the people of Isparta were collected and identified. In accordance with the data obtained, 23 wild edible plant taxa belonging to 15 families were determined. Questionnaire forms were analyzed using the SPSS 25.0 program. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that individuals and women between the ages of 45-65 were mainly interested in and knowledge about wild herbs and that the majority of the local people knew naturally growing plants. It has been also determined that they have knowledge about edible and non-edible wild herbs, in which period and which parts of wild herbs should be collected (flowers, leaves, roots, stems, etc.) and they had esperience how to consume it (boiling, roasting, drying, tea, etc.).