Table 1 List of the wild food plants used in the study area
From: Wild food plants traditionally consumed in the area of Bologna (Emilia Romagna region, Italy)
Botanical name | RFC | Botanical family | English common name | Italian common and/or folk names | Parts of the plant used | Culinary use | Medicinal use (preparation and administration) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Achillea ptarmica L.* | 0.03 | Asteraceae | sneezewort | achillea | flowers | salads | Â |
Allium schoenoprasum L.* | 0.03 | Liliaceae | chives | erba cipollina | leaves | flavouring | Â |
Allium ursinum L.* | 0.03 | Liliaceae | wild garlic | aglio selvatico | bulbs | flavouring | Â |
Asparagus acutifolius L. | 0.15 | Asparagaceae | wild asparagus | asparago selvatico/asparagina | shoots | salads, pan-fried | Â |
Bellis perennis L.* | 0.03 | Asteraceae | common daisy | margheritina | young leaves | salads | Â |
Borago officinalis L. | 0.08 | Boraginaceae | starflower | borragine | leaves | salads, pancakes, pies | Â |
Calamintha nepeta L.* | 0.03 | Lamiaceae | lesser calamint | nepetella | leaves | salads | Â |
Calendula officinalis L.* | 0.03 | Asteraceae | common marigold | calendula | flowers | salads | Â |
Capsella bursa pastoris L.* | 0.03 | Brassicaceae | shepherd’s-purse | borsa del pastore | young leaves | salads |  |
Castanea sativa Mill. | 0.10 | Fagaceae | chestnut | castagno | fruits | fresh fruits | Â |
Cichorium intybus L. | 0.38 | Asteraceae | wild chicory | cicoria selvatica/ radećć, radećć cavdagn | young leaves | salads, pan-fried |  |
Clematis vitalba L. | 0.51 | Ranuncolaceae | traveller’s joy | vitalba/vizeibra | shoots | salads, pan-fried, omelettes, mixed vegetables |  |
Cornus mas L. | 0.05 | Cornaceae | cornelian cherry | corniolo | fruits | rural snack, liqueurs | Â |
Corylus avellana L. | 0.05 | Corylaceae | common hazel | nocciolo | fruits | fresh fruits | Â |
Crataegus azarolus L.* | 0.03 | Rosaceae | azarole | azzeruolo/lazaren | fruits | rural snack | Â |
Crataegus monogyna Jacq. | 0.15 | Rosaceae | common hawthorn | biancospino/spen bianc | fruits, shoots, leaves | rural snack | Relaxing, insomnia and heart problems (flowers infusion) |
Crepis sancta (L.) Babc. | 0.15 | Asteraceae | hawk’s-beard | radicchiella/ciocapiat | young leaves | salads, pan-fried | Diuretic and laxative (food) |
Crepis vesicaria subsp. taraxacifolia (Thuill.) Thell. | 0.77 | Asteraceae | beaked hawk’s beard | radicchiella/strecapugno | young leaves | salads, pan-fried, omelettes, pasta dough | Depurative, refreshing, blood cleaning, diuretic, laxative (cooking water, food) |
Diplotaxis tenuifolia L. (DC) | 0.38 | Brassicaceae | wall rocket | rucola selvatica | leaves | salads | Â |
Fagus sylvatica L.* | 0.03 | Fagaceae | common beech | al fasoli (fruits) | fruits | rural snack | Â |
Ficus carica L. | 0.05 | Moraceae | common fig | fico | fruits | fresh fruits | Â |
Foeniculum vulgare L. | 0.13 | Apiaceae | wild fennel | finocchio selvatico | stems (I), leaves (II), seeds (III) | liqueurs (I), flavouring (II, III), mixed vegetables (I) | Â |
Gentiana lutea L.* | 0.03 | Gentianaceae | great yellow gentian | genziana | roots | liqueurs | Â |
Humulus lupulus L.* | 0.03 | Cannaboideae | common hop | luppolo | shoots | pasta sauce | Â |
Juglans regia L. | 0.10 | Juglandaceae | walnut | noce | fruits | liqueurs, fresh fruits | Â |
Juniperus communis L. | 0.15 | Juniperoideae | common juniper | ginepro | fruits | flavouring, liqueurs | Â |
Laurus nobilis L. | 0.10 | Lauraceae | bay laurel | alloro | leaves | flavouring, liqueurs | Â |
Lippia citriodora Kuntze | 0.08 | Verbenaceae | lemon verbena | erba luigia | leaves | liqueurs | Swelling trauma (decoction) |
Lonicera caprifolium L. | 0.08 | Caprifoliaceae | sweet honeysuckle | caprifoglio/ligabôsc | shoots | salads |  |
Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill* | 0.03 | Rosaceae | European crab apple | melo selvatico | fruits | fresh fruits | Â |
Medicago sativa L.* | 0.03 | Fabaceae | alfalfa | erba medica/spagna | leaves | salads, mixed vegetables | Â |
Melissa officinalis L.* | 0.03 | Lamiaceae | lemon balm | melissa, erba limone | leaves | flavouring | Â |
Mentha spp. | 0.13 | Lamiaceae | mint | menta | leaves | flavouring, liqueurs | Digestive (decoction) |
Mespilus germanica L. | 0.05 | Rosaceae | medlar | nespolo | fruits | fresh fruits | Â |
Morus spp. | 0.05 | Moraceae | mulberry | mora | fruits | fresh fruits | Â |
Papaver rhoeas L. | 0.05 | Papaveraceae | field poppy | papavero/rosetta | young leaves | salads, pan-fried, mixed vegetables | Â |
Portulaca oleracea L. | 0.05 | Portulacaceae | purslane | portulaca | leaves | salads, liqueurs | Â |
Primula spp. | 0.10 | Primulaceae | primrose | primula | flowers (I), leaves (II) | salads (I), rural snacks (I), pasta stuffing (II) | Â |
Prunus avium L. | 0.05 | Rosaceae | wild cherry | ciliegio selvatico | fruits | fresh fruits | Â |
Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. | 0.10 | Rosaceae | myrobalan plum | mirabolano/rustican | fruits | rural snacks | Â |
Prunus cerasus L. | 0.05 | Rosaceae | sour cherry | amareno/visciole | fruits (I), leaves (II) | fresh fruits (I), liqueurs (II) | Â |
Prunus laurocerasus L. | 0.05 | Rosaceae | lauroceraso | lauroceraso/lauro | fruits | liqueurs | Â |
Prunus spinosa L. | 0.28 | Rosaceae | sloe | prugnolo selvatico/prugnól, spini, strozchi | fruits | rural snacks, liqueurs |  |
Punica granatum L.* | 0.03 | Punicaceae | pomegranate | melograno | fruits | fresh fruits | Â |
Pyrus pyraster Burgsd | 0.05 | Rosaceae | wild pear | pero selvatico | fruits | fresh fruits | Â |
Robinia pseudoacacia L. | 0.21 | Fabaceae | black locust | acacia/acâg | flowers | pancakes, rural snacks |  |
Rosa spp. | 0.28 | Rosaceae | dog rose | rosa selvatica/pizzincul (fruits) | shoots (I), fruits (II), flowers (III) | rural snack (I, II), jams (II, III) | Â |
Rosmarinus officinalis L. | 0.13 | Lamiaceae | rosemary | rosmarino | leaves | flavouring, liqueurs | Digestive (decoction); decongestant (fumigations) |
Rubus spp. | 0.31 | Rosaceae | wild blackberry | rovo/râza | fruits (I), shoots (II) | fresh fruits (I), liqueurs (I), jams (I), rural snacks (II) |  |
Rumex acetosa L. | 0.15 | Polygonaceae | sorrel | acetosa/êrba brossca | leaves | rural snacks |  |
Ruscus aculeatus L.* | 0.03 | Ruscaceae | butcher’s broom | pungitopo | shoots | pan-fried |  |
Salvia pratensis L. | 0.10 | Lamiaceae | meadow clary | salvia selvatica | leaves | salads, flavouring, omelettes, liqueurs | Digestive (decoction); female genital problems (infusion); toothpaste (fresh leaves) |
Sambucus nigra L. | 0.21 | Adoxaceae | elderberry | sambuco | fruits (I), flowers (II) | jams (I, II), pancakes (II), liqueurs (II) | Antirheumatic (food: jam) |
Sanguisorba minor Scop. | 0.05 | Rosaceae | salad burnet | pimpinella/pampinela | leaves | salads | Â |
Satureja hortensis L.* | 0.03 | Lamiaceae | summer savory | santoreggia | leaves | flavouring | Â |
Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke | 0.26 | Caryophyllaceae | bladder campion | silene rigonfia/strìdel, ciucchett | young leaves | salads, pan-fried, pasta sauce, pasta dough, omelettes |  |
Sonchus asper L. (Hill)/Sonchus arvensis L. | 0.33 | Asteraceae | sow thistles | grespino/frabbs | young leaves | pan-fried, salads | Depurative, diuretic, laxative (food) |
Sorbus domestica L. | 0.13 | Rosaceae | seviceberry | sorbo | fruits | fresh fruits | Â |
Tanacetum balsamita L.* | 0.03 | Asteraceae | costmary | erba di santa Maria | leaves | liqueurs | Â |
Taraxacum officinale Weber | 0.77 | Asteraceae | swines snout | tarassaco/piscialet | young leaves | salads, pan-fried, omelettes, mixed vegetables | Depurative, refreshing, draining, diuretic (food, cooking water) |
Thymus spp. | 0.08 | Lamiaceae | thyme | timo | leaves | flavouring | Â |
Trifolium pratense L.* | 0.03 | Fabaceae | red clover | trifoglio dei prati | flowers | rural snacks | Â |
Urtica spp. (dioica, urens) | 0.74 | Urticaceae | nettle | ortica | leaves | pasta stuffing and dough, salads, omelettes, mixed vegetables | Refreshing, kidney problems, mineralizing (food, cooking water); hair strength, shine, dandruff (cooking water); anti- arthritic (fresh leaves rubbed on the body); insecticide (leaves macerated in water) |
Valerianella locusta L. (Laterrade) | 0.41 | Valerianaceae | lamb’s lettuce | valerianella/grassagallina | leaves | salads |  |
Viola spp. | 0.08 | Violaceae | violet | viola | flowers | salads | Â |
Vitis vinifera L. subsp. Sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi | 0.13 | Vitaceae | wild grape | vite selvatica | fruits (I), shoots (II), leaves (III) | fresh fruits (I), rural snacks (II), mixed vegetables (III) | Â |