Gathering “tea” – from necessity to connectedness with nature. Local knowledge about wild plant gathering in the Biosphere Reserve Grosses Walsertal (Austria)

Grasser, Susanne; Schunko, Christoph; Vogl, Christian R

doi:10.1186/1746-4269-8-31

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Table 2 Plant species gathered in the wild and their uses in the Biosphere Reserve Grosses Walsertal (free lists, n=36, frequency of mentions >2, sorted by frequency f and rank R

From: Gathering “tea” – from necessity to connectedness with nature. Local knowledge about wild plant gathering in the Biosphere Reserve Grosses Walsertal (Austria)

f	Scientific name	German name (local)	Family	Organ used	Use category	Application	Preparation	MED/VET uses and efficacy (if VET and if specific animals mentioned, animal in brackets)
30	Alchemilla alpina	Silbermäntele	Rosaceae	aerial parts	MED	drink	tea	for women*, incontinence
30	Alchemilla vulgaris L. agg.	Frauenmäntele	Rosaceae	aerial parts	MED	drink	tea	for women*, algomenorrhea, regulative, kidney and bladder trouble, incontinence
29	Calendula officinalis L.	Ringelblume	Asteraceae	flower	MED/VET	grease	ointment	wounds, varicose veins, afterbirth (cows)
					MED	rubbing in	schnapps
					MED	bathing	tea	veins
					MED/NUT	drink	tea	blood circulation in feet, stomach and intestine, cancer
					NUT	food	biscuit
					DEC	decoration	salad
29	Sambucus nigra L.	Holder, Holunder	Caprifoliaceae	flower	MED	application	heated in linen bag over steam	bronchial catarrh, breast inflammation in nursing mothers
					MED/NUT	drink	tea	calmative, diaphoretic, perspiration, cough
					NUT	drink	syrup
					NUT	food	omelette
					NUT	food	biscuit
				leaf	MED/NUT	drink	tea	calmative, diaphoretic, perspiration, cough
				fruit	MED/NUT	drink	juice	strengthening the body’s defences
					MED/NUT	food	jam	cold, cough
					MED/NUT	food	dried	diarrhoea
					NUT	drink	wine
				bark	MED	grease	ointment	rheumatism
				twig	OTH	instrument	whistle
				tree	OTH	planting	n.s.	protection against lightning
28	Achillea millefolium agg.	Schafgarbe	Asteraceae	aerial parts	MED	bathing	tea	rheumatism
					MED/NUT	drink	tea	anti-inflammatory, for women*, menopause, stomach, circulation, neuritis and pain, cold, blood purification, kidney and bladder trouble
					NUT	drink	liqueur
					VET	food	tea	anti-inflammatory, antibacterial (bees)
				leaf	NUT	food	“spinach”	(together with Urtica dioica)
					NUT	food	salad
28	Hypericum perforatum L.	Johanniskraut	Hyperiaceae	aerial parts	MED	drink	tea	diaphoretic, indigestion, calmative, anti-depressive
					MED/VET	grease	oil	abrasion of vertical column, inflammation, abscess, wounds, erythema, actinodermatitis, earache, wounds (sows); earache (cats)
					MED	grease	ointment
					OTH	fragrance	herb pillow	calmative
26	Rhododendron sp.	Alpenrose	Ericaceae	flower	MED	drink	tea	cough, croakiness, bronchitis, cold, blood purifying
					NUT	food	jam
23	Urtica dioica L.	Brennnessel	Urticaceae	aerial parts	MED/NUT	drink	tea	(blood) purifying
					MED/NUT	food	“spinach”	spring tiredness, iron deficiency
					NUT	food	onion cake
					NUT	food	herb salt
					OTH	washing	tea	hair
					OTH	fertiliser	tea
					OTH	insecticide	tea
				root	MED	bathing	tea	calmative
					MED	washing	tea	hair
					MED	washing	schnapps	hair
				seed	NUT	food	biscuit
					NUT	food	bread
22	Rubus idaeus L.	Himbeere	Rosaceae	leaf	MED/NUT	drink	tea	for women*, blood purifying, diuretic
				fruit	MED/NUT	drink	liqueur	circulation, stomach upset
					MED/NUT	drink	schnapps	stomach and intestine
					NUT	food	raw
					NUT	food	jam
					NUT	food	cake
21	Mentha sp.	Pfefferminze	Lamiaceae	aerial parts	MED/NUT	drink	tea	stimulating, intensive taste, stomach ache, cooling, cough
20	Plantago lanceolata L.	Spitzwegerich	Plantaginaceae	leaf (leaf fibres)	MED	application	raw	earache
					MED	application	raw	wounds, insect bite
					MED/VET	rub in	schnapps	sprain, muscles, rheumatism, venous turgor, joints, back (cows)
					MED/NUT	drink	syrup	cough, lung
					NUT	drink	tea
20	Arnica montana L.	Arnika	Asteraceae	flower	MED	grease	oil
					MED	grease	ointment
20	Primula veris L./Primula elatior (L.) L.	Schlüsselblume, Himmelschlüssel	Primulaceae	flower	MED	drink	tea	calmative, diuretic, cough
					MED/NUT	food	syrup	cough
19	Abies alba MILL./Picea abies (L.) H. KARST.	Tanne	Pinaceae	twig	MED	grease	ointment	blistering ointment
					MED	grease	heated	blistering ointment, drawing salve
					DEC	decoration	decoration of herder’s hat and cattle for “Alpabtrieb”
				leaf	NUT	drink	tea
				resin	MED/NUT	drink	schnapps	allergic coryza
				cone	MED	drink	schnapps	allergic coryza
19	Matricaria chamomilla L.	Kamille, Opflblümli	Asteraceae	flower	MED/NUT/VET	drink	tea	stomach ache, flatulence, diarrhoea (calves)
					MED	grease	ointment	drawing salve
					OTH	fragrance	herb pillow	calmative
18	Thymus serpyllum L. agg.	Thymian, Quendel	Lamiaceae	aerial parts	MED	bathing	tea	cold
					MED/NUT	drink	tea	cold, diabetes, blood purification
					NUT	food	spice
18	Salvia officinalis L.	Salbei	Lamiaceae	leaf	MED	gurgling	tea	sore throat, angina
					MED	food	raw	sore throat
					MED/NUT	drink	tea	stomach, pyelitis
					OTH	fragrance	herb pillow	calmative
					OTH	fumigation	incense
17	Trifolium pratense L.	(Rot)klee	Fabaceae	flower	MED/NUT	drink	tea	cancer
					NUT	food	raw
16	Taraxacum officinale agg.	Schwiblume, Löwenzahn	Asteraceae	leaf	NUT	food	salad	(with potatoes)
					NUT	food	“spinach”	(with Urtica dioica)
					NUT	food	onion cake
				flower	NUT	food	syrup (“honey”)
					NUT	drink	syrup
				root	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.
16	Vaccinium myrtillus L.	Heidelbeere	Ericaceae	fruit	MED/NUT/VET	food	raw	costiveness, diarrhoea
					MED/NUT/VET	food	dried	costiveness, diarrhoea
					MED/NUT/VET	food	jam	costiveness, diarrhoea
				leaf	NUT	drink	tea
15	Melissa officinalis L.	Zitronen-Melisse	Lamiaceae	aerial parts	NUT	drink	syrup
					NUT	drink	tea
					OTH	fragrance	herb pillow	calmative
				leaf	NUT	food	omelette
					NUT	drink	punch
					DEC	decoration	raw
15	Fragaria vesca L.	Erdbeere	Rosaceae	leaf	MED/NUT	drink	tea	blood purifying, diuretic, for women*
				fruit	NUT	food	raw
15	Malva neglecta WALLR.	Käspappel	Malvaceae	leaf	MED	application	raw	suppurative spots
					MED/VET	bathing	tea	suppurative spots, wounds, healing of fractures, supports perfusion, infantile eczema, neurodermatitis, swollen foot (cows)
14	Tussilago farfara L.	Huflattich	Asteraceae	leaf	MED	application	raw	wounds
				flowers	MED/NUT	drink	tea	cough
14	Juniperus communis L.	Räckholder, Wacholder	Cupressaceae	leaf	MED/NUT	drink	tea	(“Alptee” with Rhododendron sp.), diuretic
14	Equisetum arvense L.	Acker-Schachtelhalm	Equisetaceae	aerial parts	MED	bathing	tea	back pain, articular gout, kidney and bladder trouble, for women*
					OTH	fertiliser	tea	(with Urtica dioica)
14	Tilia sp.	Linde	Tiliaceae	flowers	MED/NUT	drink	tea	calmative, diaphoretic, cough, fever
13	Bellis perennis L.	Gänseblümchen	Asteraceae	flowers	NUT	decoration	salad
12	Rubus fruticosus agg.	Brombeere	Rosaceae	fruit	NUT	food	raw
					NUT	food	jam
11	Ribes nigrum L.	Schwarze Johannisbeere	Grossulariaceae	leaf	MED/NUT	drink	schnapps	stomach and intestine
					MED/NUT	drink	juice	vitamins
					NUT	drink	liqueur
					NUT	drink	tea
				fruit	NUT	food	jam
10	Peucedanum ostruthium (L.) W.D.J.KOCH	Meisterwurz	Apiaceae	root	MED	grease	ointment	wounds, anti-inflammatory
					MED	chewing	raw or dried	toothache
					MED/NUT	drink	schnapps	circulation
					MED/VET	fumigation	incense	disinfection, navel infection of calves
					VET	grease	ointment	sick foot (cows)
					OTH	carrying in pocket	raw	protection from disease
				root and/or leaf	MED/VET	bath	tea	wounds, claws
					VET	application	raw (crushed)	claw disease (“der Wilder”)
10	Artemisa absinthium L.	Wermut	Asteraceae	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.
9	Trifolium repens L.	Weißklee	Fabaceae	flower	MED/NUT	drink	tea	for women*
8	Origanum vulgare L.	Majoran	Lamiaceae	aerial parts	MED	grease	ointment	cough
					NUT	food	spice
					NUT	drink	tea
8	Sambucus racemosa L.	Roter Holunder	Caprifoliaceae	fruit	MED/NUT	drink	juice	cold, cough
					MED/NUT	food	jelly	cough
8	Pinus mugo TURRA	Latsche	Pinaceae	leaf	MED/NUT	food	syrup (“honey”)	cold, cough
					NUT	drink	liqueur
					NUT	drink	tea
					OTH	fumigation	incense
8	Euphrasia officinalis L.p.p.	Augentrost	Scrophulariaceae	flowers	MED	application	raw (with dew)	eyes
				aerial parts	MED	bathing	tea	ophthalmitis
					NUT	drink	tea
8	Rosmarinus officinalis	Rosmarin	Lamiaceae	aerial parts	MED	grease	ointment	(with Peucedanum osthrutium)
					MED/NUT	drink	tea	stomach
					NUT	drink	liqueur
					NUT	food	omelette
					DEC	decoration	decoration of herder’s hat for “Alpabtrieb”
7	Rosa sp.	Rose	Rosaceae	flower	MED/NUT	drink	tea	for women*
					OTH	grease	ointment
				fruit	NUT	drink	tea
7	Monarda didyma	Gold-Melisse	Lamiaceae	flower	MED/NUT	drink	tea	heart strengthening
					NUT	drink	syrup
7	Symphytum officinale L.	Beinwell	Boraginaceae	leaf	MED	application	raw (smashed)	bursitis
					NUT	food	salad
					NUT	food	omelette
					NUT	drink	tea
				root	MED/VET	grease	ointment	bursitis, feet, joints, violent pressure, wounds
					MED/VET	bathing	tea	wounds
7	Lavandula officinalis Chaix, L. spica L., L. vera	Lavendel	Lamiaceae	flower	MED	bathing	tea	brain strengthening
					OTH	fragrance	herb pillow	calmative
					OTH	hanging up	bunch	moths
					OTH	fumigation	incense
6	Betula pendula ROTH	Birke	Betulaceae	leaf	MED	washing	tea	hair
					MED/NUT	drink	tea	for women*
					NUT	food	salad
				juice	MED/NUT	drink	raw	spring cure
6	Verbascum densiflorum BERTOL.	Königskerze	Scorphulariaceae	flowers	MED	grease	ointment	otitis media, bronchitis, mucous obstruction
					MED	drink	tincture
					NUT	drink	tea
6	Potentilla erecta (L.) RAEUSCH.	Blutwurz	Rosaceae	root	MED	application	raw	haemostatic
					MED/NUT	drink	schnapps	stomach
					MED/NUT/VET	drink	tea	stomach, diarrhoea
6	Allium ursinum L.	Bärlauch	Alliaceae	leaf	NUT	food	soup
					NUT	food	“spinach”
					NUT	food	“pesto”
5	Lotus corniculatus L.	Hornklee	Fabaceae	flower	NUT	drink	tea
5	Glechoma hederaceae L.	Gundelrebe	Lamiaceae	aerial parts	NUT	food	soup
					NUT	food	salad
					NUT	food	spread
4	Anthyllis vulneraria L.	Wundklee	Fabaceae	flower	NUT	drink	tea
4	Chenopodium bonus-henricus L.	Guter Heinrich	Chenopodiaceae	leaf	NUT	food	“spinach”
4	Vaccinium vitis-idaeae L.	Preiselbeere	Ericaceae	fruit	NUT	food	jam
4	Gentiana lutea L.	Gelber Enzian	Gentianaceae	root	MED/NUT	drink	schnapps	stomach and intestine
4	Valeriana officinalis agg.	Baldrian	Valerianaceae	root	MED	drink	tincture	cardiotonic
4	Sorbus aucuparia L.	Eberesche	Rosaceae	fruit	NUT	drink	schnapps
					NUT	food	jam
4	Galium odoratum (L.) SCOP.	Echter Waldmeister	Rubiaceae	aerial parts	MED/NUT	drink	tea	for women*, anti-depressive
					NUT	drink	punch
4	Plantago major L.	Breitwegerich	Plantaginaceae	leaf (leaf fibres)	MED	application	raw	earache
				leaf	MED	application	raw	purulence
4	Tropaeolum majus	Kapuzinerkresse	Tropaeolaceae	flower	NUT	food	herb salt
					NUT	food	salad
				leaf	NUT	food	salad
					VET	food	raw	immune system
3	Carum carvi L.	Kümmel	Apiaceae	seed	MED/NUT	drink	tea	stomach, flatulence
3	Verbena officinalis L.	Eisenkraut	Verbeneceae	aerial parts	MED	drink	tea	wounds
3	Levisticum officinale W.D.J.KOCH	Liebstöckl	Apiaceae	aerial parts	NUT	food	spice
					MED/VET	bathing	tea	open wounds, purulent wounds
					MED/VET	application	raw	open wounds, purulent wounds
3	Geranium robertianum L.	Storchschnabel	Geraniaceae	aerial parts	MED	drink	tea	women to become pregnant
					VET	food	raw	animals to become pregnant
				flower	OTH	grease	ointment
3	Centaurea cyanus L.	Kornblume	Asteraceae	flower	NUT	drink	tea
3	Primula elatior (L.) L.	Wald Schlüsselblume	Primulaceae	flower	NUT	drink	tea
3	Malus domestica BORKH.	Apfel	Rosaceae	pod of the fruit	NUT	drink	tea
3	Viola tricolor agg.	Veilchen	Violoceae	flower	NUT	drink	punch
					OTH	grease	ointment	lips, hands
3	Allium schoenophrasum subsp. Alpinum L.	Wilder Schnittlauch	Alliaceae	leaf	NUT	food	raw
					NUT	food	omelette
3	Humulus lupulus L.	Hopfen	Cannabaceae	fruit	MED/NUT	drink	tea	for women*, cold
					OTH	fragrance	herb pillow	calmative
3	Satureja hortensis L.	Bohnenkraut	Lamiaceae	aerial parts	NUT	food	spice
3	Petroselinum crispum (MILL.) FUSS	Petersilie	Apiaceae	aerial parts	MED/NUT	drink	wine	cardiotonic, circulation
3	Cetraria islandica	Isländisch Moos		aerial parts	MED	drink	syrup	added to syrup of Plantago lanceolata
3	Pimpinella major (L.) HUDS.	Bibernell	Apiaceae	root	MED	application	raw (sliced)	between teeth
					MED/VET	bathing	tea	muscles, wounds; claws
				flower	NUT	drink	tea
3	Rosa canina agg.	Hagebutte	Rosaceae	fruit	NUT	drink	tea
3	Sedum sp.	Fette Henne	Crassulaceae	leaf	NUT	food	salad
					NUT	food	cooked
3	Tanacetum vulgare L.	Rainfarn	Asteraceae	aerial parts	VET	fumigation	incense	disinfection (bee-house)
3	Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) MEDIK.	Hirtentäschel	Brassicaceae	aerial parts	MED	grease	tincture	fracture, inguinal hernia, tissue strengthening
					NUT	drink	tea
3	Viscum album L.	Mistel	Loranthaceae	aerial parts	MED/NUT	drink	tea	regulating blood pressure

In total, the 892 mentions refer to 140 plant species.) MED = medicinal, NUT = nutritional, VET = veterinary, DEC = decoration, OTH = others. n.s. = no statement. Table 2: Plant species gathered in the wild and their uses in the Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal (free lists, n = 36, frequency of mentions >2, sorted by frequency f and rank R. In total, the 892 mentions refer to 140 plant species.) MED = medicinal, NUT = nutritional, VET = veterinary, DEC = decoration, OTH = others. n.s. = no statement.
* Respondents often generally said that a plant “is good for women”. This refers to issues such as algomenorrhea, regulation of menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.

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ISSN: 1746-4269

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