Resilience at the border: traditional botanical knowledge among Macedonians and Albanians living in Gollobordo, Eastern Albania

Pieroni, Andrea; Cianfaglione, Kevin; Nedelcheva, Anely; Hajdari, Avni; Mustafa, Behxhet; Quave, Cassandra L

doi:10.1186/1746-4269-10-31

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Table 2 Medicinal local plant uses recorded in the study area

From: Resilience at the border: traditional botanical knowledge among Macedonians and Albanians living in Gollobordo, Eastern Albania

Taxon, family and voucher specimen code	Folk name(s) recorded among Albanians	Folk name(s) recorded among Macedonians	Status	Plant part(s) used	Recorded modalities of medicinal uses(s) and treated pathologies	Alb	Mac
Achillea collina (Becker ex Rchb.f.) Heimerl		Бело цвеkе	W	Fl	Decoction: cicatrizing on wounds		+
Asteraceae
Achillea millefolium L.
Asteraceae
CAME 26294
Allium cepa L.	#	#	C	J	Instilled in the ear for treating earaches		+
Amaryllidaceae	#	#	C	J	Instilled in the ear for treating earaches		+
Allium porrum L.	#	#	C	AP	Heated, mixed with water and salt, to externally treat chilblains		+
Amaryllidaceae	#	#	C	AP			+
				J	Instilled in the ear for treating earaches	+
Allium sativum L.	#	#	C	Bu	Consumed as an anti-hypertensive	+	+
Amaryllidaceae	#	#	C	Bu	Consumed as an anti-hypertensive	+	+
					To be worn as amulet against the evil-eye in the or in necklaces (sysh, naok)	+	+
Arum italicum Mill.	Shakulliza		W	Fr	Infusion: arthritis	+
Araceae	Shakulliza		W	Fr	Infusion: arthritis	+
Asplenium trichomanes L.	Fier guri		W	L	Infusion: diuretic	+	+
Aspleniaceae
CAME 26293
Bovista sp.	Fenë arrushe, Fushkaica	Пуша	W	DFB	Externally applied on wounds	+	+
Agaricaceae	Fenë arrushe, Fushkaica	Пуша	W	DFB	Externally applied on wounds	+	+
Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.		Овцец	W	AP	Fodder		+
Asteraceae		Овцец	W	AP	Fodder		+
Cornus mas L.	#	#	W	Fr	Consumed as snack for strengthening the heart		+
Cornaceae
CAME 26279
					Fermented into vinegar, applied on the breast: anti-fever	+
					Fermented and distilled in raki, drunk: anti-asthmatic; believed to able to treat “seven” diseases		+
				FB	As part of the lule ditvere (“flower of the summer”) bunch, which is hang in March on the churn and on the stable doors, as a good omen for the diary production	+	+
Corylus avellana L.	#	#	W	FB	As part of the lule ditvere (“flower of the summer”) bunch, which is hung in March on the churn, as a good omen for the dairy production		+
Betulaceae
CAME 26242
Crataegus monogyna Jacq.	#	#	W	Th	Externally applied: for treating snake bites	+
Rosaceae
CAME 26280
Crataegus sericea Dzekov^§
Rosaceae
CAME 26278
				L; F	Infusion: for treating headaches, insomnia, hypertension, anti-rheumatic, anti-cancer		+
				Fr	Decoction: cardiotonic, stomachaches, anti-fever, anti-rheumatic		+
				FB	As part of the lule ditvere (“flower of the summer”) bunch, which is hung in March on the churn and on the stable doors, as a good omen for the dairy production; same at St. George’s day (May 6^th )		+
Cruciata laevipes Opiz	Gjak edhe qumësht		W	AP	Crushed, mixed with salt, and given as fodder to the sheep at St. George’s Day (May 6^th): considered propitiatory for the good health of the animals	+
Rubiaceae
CAME 26276
Cydonia oblonga Mill.	#	#	C	L	Infusion: stomachache	+	+
Rosaceae
CAME 26290
Euphorbia characias L.	Rrydh, Shpengull	Лишај	W	R	As part of the lule ditvere (“flower of the summer”) bunch, which is hang on the churn, as a good omen for the diary production	+	+
Euphorbiaceae
CAME 2628
Fraxinus excelsior L.		Jасика	W	L	Infusion: diuretic		+
Oleaceae
CAME 26304
Helleborus odorus Waldst. et Kit. ex Willd.	Kukurek, Lule ditvere	Кукурек	W	R	Inserted on the horse ear: panacea	+
Ranunculaceae
CAME 26282
				F	As part of the lule ditvere (“flower of the summer”) bunch, which is hang on the churn, as a good omen for the dairy production	+	+
Helichrysum plicatum DC. and other Helichrysum species	Borsillok i verdhë	Свилен	W	FAP	Infusion: appetizing, stomachaches, as a digestive, anti-diarrheal, cardiotonic, diuretic, anti-moths		+
Asteraceae
CAME 26274
					Infusion: hepatitis	+
Hypericum perforatum L.		Балсам	W	FAP	Infusion: stomachache		+
Hypericaceae
CAME 26270
Juglans regia L.	#	#	SD	UF	Infusion: for treating hyperthyroidism		+
Juglandaceae
CAME 26238
					Crushed, externally applied on the hair as dyeing agent	+	+
Juniperus communis L.	#	#	W	Fr	Infusion: diuretic, stomach-aches, anti-cold, bechic		+
Cupressaceae
CAME 26253
					Fermented and distilled into raki, which is drunk for treating asthma		+
Juniperus oxycedrus L.		Смрека	W	Fr	Infusion: bechic	+
Cupressaceae
CAME 26267
Malus domestica Borkh.	#	#	C	Fr	Sliced and dried; consumed boiled for treating stomachache		+
Rosaceae
CAME 26236
Malva sylvestris L.		Леблебија	W	Fr	Snack		+
Malvaceae
CAME 26295
Matricaria chamomilla L.	Kamomill		W	FT	Infusion: recreational	+
Asteraceae	Kamomill		W	FT	Infusion: recreational	+
Melissa officinalis L.	Bosillek Micël		C	AP	Infusion: headaches		+
Lamiaceae
CAME 26235
					Infusion in external washes for newlyweds, as a good omen	+
					High dosage to be avoided by males, who could lose their libido		+
Nicotiana tabacum L.	Duhan		C	L	Dried and ground (tobacco), externally applied on wounds	+
Solanaceae	Duhan		C	L	Dried and ground (tobacco), externally applied on wounds	+
Orchis spp.	Salep	Салеп	W	R	Dried, powdered, then in decoction: panacea, reconstituent (often consumed with bread); to improve fertility in males	+	+
Orchidaceae	Salep	Салеп	W	R		+	+
					Dried, powdered, then in decoction: hepatitis		+
Origanum vulgare L.	Bozillek i malit, Çaj i malit, Çaj i zi, Çaj veni	Планински чај	W	FT	Infusion: recreational, anti-flu, bechic	+	+
Lamiaceae
CAME 26233
					Infusion: anti-hepatitis	+
					Infusion: for treating stomachaches, panacea	+
Phaseolus vulgaris L.	#	#	C	Se	Half beans are applied on the skin affected by a dog bite; when the beans fall off, the wound is healed	+
Fabaceae	#	#	C	Se		+
Plantago lanceolata L.	Bar prenash, Dell, Lulë dheli, Premie	Жилавец	W	L	Crushed and topically applied on wounds: haemostatic	+	+
Plantaginaceae
CAME 26284
Plantago major L.
CAME 26261
Plantaginaceae
					Infusion: for treating stomachaches		+
Primula veris L.	Lulë aguliçe, Lula dasht, Sgarifet	Гороцвеке	W	FAP	Infusion: panacea, cough		+
Primulaceae
CAME 26317
					Infusion: intestinal troubles in kids		+
					Infusion: externally applied on eye inflammations		+
Prunus domestica L.	#	#	C	Fr	Fermented and distilled in raki, topically applied, especially for wounds	+	+
Rosaceae
CAME 26239
					Fermented and distilled into raki, which is drunk hot with sugar for treating cold		+
					Fermented and distilled into raki, externally applied with salt for treating toothache		+
Prunus spinosa L.		#	W	Fr	Infusion: anti-rheumatic and anti-fever		+
Rosaceae
CAME 26260
					Infusion: stomachache anti-diarrheal	+
Pyrus pyraster (L.) Burgsd.	#	#	W	Fr	Decoction of the dried fruits with sugar: stomachaches		+
Rosaceae
CAME 26244
Pyrus amygdaliformis Vill.
Rosaceae
CAME 26316
Ribes multiflorum Kit. ex Roem. et Schult.		#	W	Fr	Consumed as snack and for treating digestive discomfort		+
Grossulariaceae
CAME 26263
Rosa canina L. s.l.	Karametha, Kroc, Kroza	Шипинка	W	Fr	Infusion: panacea	+	+
Rosaceae
CAME 26237
					Infusion: anti-diarrheal, stomachaches		+
					Infusion: sore throats, bechic, flu	+	+
					Infusion: to treat “seven diseases”, blood depurative, diuretic, cardiotonic, anti-fever		+
Rubus hirtus Waldst. et Kit.	#	#	W	Fr	Oleolite in topical application: anti-haemorrhoidal	+
Rosaceae
CAME 26258
Rubus ulmifolius Schott
Rosaceae
CAME 26310
Rubus caesius L.
Rosaceae
CAME 26245
					Fermented and distilled into raki, which is considered cardiotonic		+
				L	Infusion: for treating stomachaches, anti-diarrheal, esp. in children	+
				Sh	Externally applied on skin for treating infections	+
Sambucus ebulus L.		Див боз	W	Fr	Externally for treating herpes		+
Adoxaceae
CAME 26254
Sideritis raeseri Boiss. et Heldr.	Çai i bardhë, Çai mali		W	FAP	Infusion: flu	+
Lamiaceae
CAME 26281
Solanum tuberosum L.	#	#	C	T	Externally applied (in slices) for treating eye inflammations or head-aches*		+
Solanaceae	#	#	C	T			+
Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F.H. Wigg.	#	#	W	Fl	As part of the lule ditvere (“flower of the summer”) bunch, which is hung on the churn, as a good omen for the diary production		+
Asteraceae
CAME 26289
Thymus longicaulis C. Presl.		Полски чаj	W	AP	Infusion: panacea		+
Lamiaceae
CAME 26272
Tilia platyphyllos Scop.	Çaj blini	Пушала	W	Fl	Infusion: panacea	+	+
Malvaceae
CAME 26241
					Infusion: recreational, flu		+
Ulmus minor Mill. and other Ulmus spp.	Vidh		W	G	Infusion: anti-hepatitis	+
Ulmaceae
CAME 26303
Urtica dioica L.	#	#	W	L	Externally rubbed on the affected part (eventually with salt): anti-rheumatic	+
Urticaceae
CAME 26262
				L; R	Infusion: anti-rheumatic	+	+
				YL	Cooked with rice with rice, eggs, and dairy products (buranje^ALB/zelje^MAC), as post-partum reconstituent		+
				AP	Externally applied for treating bruises	+	+
					Externally rubbed on breasts in cows affected by the evil-eye		+
				R	Decoction: anti-rheumatic	+
Vaccinium myrtillus L.	#	#	W	Fr	Snack for treating stomachache		+
Ericaceae	#	#	W	Fr	Snack for treating stomachache		+
					Infusion: anti-fever		+
Verbascum longifolium Ten.		Допушке	W	L	Infusion: flu		+
Scrophulariaceae
CAME 26287
Diverse tree species			W; C	WC	Hot charcoal put in water and the resulting liquid in external washes on the face of the child suffering from the evil-eye; or thrown on the person suspected to be the gazer		+
				WC	Powdered and applied on the mom’s breast to wean the baby*	+
Diverse tree species			W; C	DW	Smoked, as a deterrent for bees and then anti-bites		+
				WA	Externally applied (warm) on the cheek for treating toothache or on the neck for treating tonsillitis		+
Not identified		Млечка	W	AP	Infusion: hepatitis		+

^§: first record of the species in Albania.
In bold: folk taxa quoted by more than 40% of the informants.
C: cultivated; SD: semi-domesticated; W: wild.
*: past use.
#: see Table 1.
+: recorded use.
Plant part(s) used: AP aerial parts; Bu bulbs; DFB dried fruiting body; DW decayed wood; FAP flowering aerial parts; FB flowering branches; Fl flowers; Fr fruits; FT flowering tops; G galls; J juice; L leaves; R roots; Se seeds; Sh Shoots; T tubers; Th thorns; UF unripe fruits; WA ashes from wood; WC charcoal from wood; YL young leaves.

Back to article page

ISSN: 1746-4269

Contact us

Submission enquiries: juliet.maloloyon@springernature.com
General enquiries: info@biomedcentral.com