Knowledge Tree
wild edible plant species
Also known as: wild edible species, wild edible plant diversity, edible wild species
Facts (41)
Sources
Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Shabelle Zone, Eastern ... link.springer.com Feb 5, 2026 13 facts
claimWild edible plant species consumed primarily during famine periods in the Shabelle Zone include A. dubius, D. elata, A. reficiens, C. edulis, B. ogadensis, C. esculentus, H. abyssinica, C. olitorius, F. vasta, and H. reptans.
referenceOjelel S and Kakudidi EK documented wild edible plant species utilized by a subsistence farming community in Obalanga sub-county, Amuria district, Uganda, in a 2015 study published in the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.
measurementIn the Shabelle Zone, 41 out of 57 (73.2%) recorded wild edible plant species are consumed under normal conditions, while 15 species (26.8%) are consumed primarily during famine periods.
referenceAn assessment of wild edible plant species was conducted in the East Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, in 2023.
measurementAmong the 57 documented wild edible plant species in the Shabelle Zone, picking is the most common collection method (applied to 37 species), followed by digging (11 species), and plucking (9 species).
claimThe Shabelle Zone of the Somali Region has not been systematically documented regarding wild edible plant (WEP) diversity, traditional uses, seasonal availability, consumption periods, or perceived threats.
measurementAlthough 413 wild edible plant (WEP) species have been reported from various parts of Ethiopia, fewer than 5% of districts have been ethnobotanically studied, resulting in significant knowledge gaps, particularly in the Somali Region.
claimIn the Shabelle Zone, the highest number of wild edible plant species are harvested and consumed during spring (September–December), followed by autumn (March–May), summer (June–August), and winter (January–February).
claimSome wild edible plant species in the Shabelle Zone, such as C. edulis and M. stenopetala, are used for multiple parts, specifically both fruits and leaves.
claimWild edible plant species commonly consumed during normal times in the Shabelle Zone include O. insignis, T. indica, B. aegyptiaca, G. penicillata, M. stenopetala, P. dactylifera, Z. mauritiana, B. discolor, D. abyssinica, and D. glabra.
claimFive wild edible plant species identified as actively marketable in the Shabelle Zone are C. olitorius, D. elata, G. penicillata, Z. mauritiana, and T. indica.
measurementA recent systematic review documented 651 wild edible plant (WEP) species in Ethiopia, with fruits being the most commonly consumed edible part.
claimWild edible plant species in the Shabelle Zone are classified into four life forms: trees, shrubs, herbs, and climbers.
Assessment of the nutritional value of a wild edible plant Scorzonera ... discovery.researcher.life Dec 1, 2025 10 facts
claimIn the Raya-Azebo District of Ethiopia, 49 wild edible plant species are consumed during the autumn season, locally known as qewei, which spans September, October, and November.
measurementBased on the Cultural Food Significance Index (CFSI), 27 of the 61 recorded wild edible plant species in Daqinggou possess characteristics of medical food.
measurementIn the Alépé, Côte d’Ivoire study, 22 wild edible plant species were shared among the three studied communities.
claimSpecies richness serves as a suitable proxy to estimate wild edible plant diversity and biomass in cities, surpassing other proxies such as phylogenetic diversity.
claimThe ethnobotanical survey in Tungareshwar Devrai documented that most of the 30 recorded wild edible plant species possess medicinal values.
measurementA study in Alépé, Côte d’Ivoire, identified 43 wild edible plant species, with Myrianthus arboreus, Dacryodes klaineana, Elaeis guineensis, Piper guineense, and Spondias mombin being the most salient.
measurementThe ethnobotanical study in the Raya-Azebo District of Ethiopia documented 59 wild edible plant species, 57.63% of which were sought for their fruits.
measurementThe dominant growth form for the 41 wild edible plant species documented in Mieso District was shrubs (30 species), followed by trees (11 species).
measurementAn ethnobotanical study conducted in Mieso District, Ethiopia, between March 2021 and May 2022, documented 41 wild edible plant species belonging to 33 genera and 21 families.
measurementRegarding seasonal availability in southern Yemen, 7 wild edible plant species are collected in the dry season, 16 species are available throughout the year, and 38 species are collected in the rainy season.
Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Goba District Southwest ... nature.com Jul 29, 2025 4 facts
claimCultivation of wild edible plant species in home gardens is a vital conservation strategy that serves as a biodiversity microcosm to protect plant species and indigenous knowledge systems.
referenceThe study 'Wild edible plant species and their role in nutrition and health in Korahe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia' was published in Tropical Medicine and Health in 2025.
measurementThe study in Goba District, Southwest Ethiopia, identified 17 wild edible plant species belonging to 15 genera and 13 families, with Solanaceae identified as the most dominant family.
claimThe ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Goba District Southwest aims to identify the diversity of wild edible plant species utilized in the district and analyze their growth forms and edible parts.
Ethnobotanical Study of Wild Edible Plants and Their Indigenous ... scirp.org 4 facts
procedureResearchers employed a free list technique to elicit information about the cultural domain of wild edible plant species from informants during focus group discussions.
measurementThe study documented a total of 33 wild edible plant species in the Sedie Muja District.
measurementThe study area contains 33 wild edible plant species, of which 24 (72.7%) are woody and 9 (27.3%) are herbaceous, representing 24 families.
claimEthiopia’s topography, climate, and biological and social diversity have fostered varied traditional knowledge and wild edible plant species that are essential for food and nutrition security, income generation, and ecosystem services.
An ethnobotanical study on wild edible plants in Taishan County ... frontiersin.org Jul 10, 2025 3 facts
measurementIn the Taishan County study, 36 wild edible plant species are classified as having 'moderate significance' (100 > CFSI ≥ 10), serving primarily as tea substitutes and wild vegetables.
measurementIn the Taishan County study, 75 wild edible plant species are classified as having 'low significance' (CFSI < 10), primarily utilized as medicinal tea substitutes.
measurementThe CFSI analysis in the Taishan County study identified 118 wild edible plant species that serve dual medicinal and nutritional purposes.
The traditional use of wild edible plants in pastoral and agro ... link.springer.com Feb 23, 2023 2 facts
referenceStudies performed in other parts of Ethiopia have also shown a relatively higher number of wild edible plant species belonging to the families Malvaceae, Fabaceae, and Rhamnaceae.
referenceMokria M, Gebretsadik Y, Birhane E, McMullin S, Ngethe E, Hadgu KM, Hagazi N, and Tewolde-Berhan S analyzed the nutritional and ecoclimatic importance of indigenous and naturalized wild edible plant species in Ethiopia, published in Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences in 2022.
Wild edible plants for food security, dietary diversity, and nutraceuticals frontiersin.org Nov 27, 2025 2 facts
claimLittle is known about the nutritional value, safety, availability, use, and consumption patterns of most wild edible plant species, nor their impact on human health and the risk of non-communicable diseases, according to Termote et al. (2014).
referenceCammerino et al. (2024) conducted a survey, collection, mapping, and ecological characterization of wild edible plant species in the 'king’s coastal wetland'.
Nutritional potential of underutilized edible plant species in coffee ... link.springer.com Apr 23, 2021 1 fact
measurementIn Ethiopia, researchers have documented over 200 wild and semi-domesticated edible plant species, as cited in studies by Fentahun and Hager (2009), Senbeta et al. (2010), and Lulekal et al. (2011).
Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in the mountainous ... link.springer.com Oct 4, 2024 1 fact
claimForests and shrublands provide 9.8% of the wild edible plant species, which are primarily appreciated for their fruits.
Ethnobotanical and Food Composition Monographs of Selected ... ouci.dntb.gov.ua 1 fact
referenceBianco, Santamaria, and Elia (1998) studied the nutritional value and nitrate content in edible wild species used in Southern Italy, published in Acta Horticulturae.