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Table 1 Ethnoveterinary and anti-parasitic uses of plants in some areas of Calabria (Southern Italy)

From: Contribution to the knowledge of the veterinary science and of the ethnobotany in Calabria region (Southern Italy)

Family, scientific name, local name (voucher specimen)

Used Part

Use

Preparation/Administration

N *

Locality

Habitat

APOCYNACEAE

      

Nerium oleander L. – liantru – CLU2

Br

The plant is considered enemy of the moles, well-known eaters of roots of vegetables

According to the folk opinion the branches of oleander were stuck into the ground in order to poison the moles (use still actual).

3

CI

To, he

CAPRIFOLIACEAE

      

Sambucus nigra L. CLU5

Fle

To attract the flies that were killed

Leaves were put in small bunches in the houses

1

CS

Ru, di,to

COMPOSITAE

      

Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton – spulitru CLU7

Ap

Elderly people used it to eliminate the parasites of the rectum

The whole plant was inserted in the anus (veterinary use for asses and mules)

5

CI

Unc, ru, caso

Matricaria chamomilla L. – galumedda, camomilla

Dfh

Repellent for woodworms and other insects

They were put among the linen

2

SC,CT

Cu, ru

EQUISETACEAE

      

Equisetum telmateja Ehrh. – stocca e ammenta CLU10

Ep

To make cow-beds for bovines, horses and sheep without evaluate the toxicity of the plant

Shepherds and herdsmen use it dry

5

CI

Di, ed-wo, da

JUGLANDACEAE

      

Juglans regia L. – noce CLU17

Le

Anti-parasitic (above all for bugs)

Decoction (it was poured in the bed)

1

AC

Wo, di

 

Le

Anti-parasitic also for furnishings, garments and pieces of furniture

 

1

CI

 

LABIATAE

      

Lavandula angustifolia Miller – ramaietto(MR), spigaddossa (CS)

Ft

Repellent, deodorant of linen

Picked before the complete flowering, dried and put in small bugs

6

MR, CS, MT, SE, CT, SC

Cu

Ocimum basilicum L. – basilico CLU18

Ep

Repellent for flies and mosquitoes

The plant is put on the windows

1

AC

Cu

LAURACEAE

      

Laurus nobilis L. CLU22

Fr

Repellent for flies (veterinary use)

Macerate in olive oil applied onto the coat of the animal

3

MT

Tewo

Vicia faba L. – fava

Se

Fodder for animals

 

5

CI

Cu

LILIACEAE

      

Ruscus aculeatus L. – vruscia

Br

To keep mice at a distance

They are hung in the houses

1

TA

Tewo

Urginea marittima (L.) Baker – cipuddazzu CLU26

Ep

Repellent and anti-parasitic agent for insect and mice

The farmers put the whole plant in granaries and silos, above all in "canizze" (containers woven of reeds) that contained broad beans of various type

5

CI

Sl

MALVACEAE

      

Malva sylvestris L. CLU 27

Le

Gastritis

Decoction (veterinary use)

2

MT, SE

Unc, ru, edro

MORACEAE

      

Ficus carica L. – see footnote (1) CLU28

Le

To increase the output of milk

Leaves were given as fodder to cows

5

CI

Ru, wa

RANUNCULACEAE

      

Helleborus bocconei Ten. – aricchja CLU32

Ro

For the bronchitis of bovines. The animal would be recovered in short, and it was recognizable for the hole remained on it. Then, it seems that it would have become immune from diseases, after this remedy. No possibility of recovery existed in the case in which the disease was in advanced stage; in this case it occurred atrophy of the hole containing the 3 pieces of the stalk, then expelled.

According an ancient tradition, the cowherds of Calabria region let dry the long petiole of the basal leaves, divided into 3 parts; it was inserted in a hole practised on the back of the ear of the animal (from here the vernacular name), or under the fur of the lateral part of the neck. If the animal reacted "in positive way" to this graft, a swelling of the surrounding region developed around the stem, with a necrotic area of the diameter of approximately 1 cm, provoking a small hole on the ear, or a small cavity (on the neck).

4

CI, UM

He, mo-wo (su-cl)

SCROPHULARIA-CEAE

      

Scrophularia canina L. – erva lupara CLU34

Ap

To treat the lameness ("pedàina") of the sheep.

Veterinary use. There is not a breeder who not used this plant for whichever problem, both in human medicine and in veterinary science. The breeders whom speak about this plant are many.

5

CI

Sa, gr, st

Verbascum thapsus L. – lingua e voiju CLU35

Le

Against the lameness ("pedàina") of cows

Not communicated

5

CI

Drme

SOLANACEAE

      

Cestrum parqui L'Hér – erva fetusa CLU36

Ep

Repellent for animals

Cowherds planted it at the edges of the bushes in order to discourage the entrance of other animals, because it gives off a bad smell (poisonous plant).

3

CI

To, he, be

THYMELAEACEAE

      

Daphne gnidium L. – junastrum, paparina ("ppè ntassari")

Ep

Used against the invasions of water snakes.

Put in lakes where domestic animals drink after the transhumance

5

CI

To, ro, cla, sa

CLU38

Ep

Some fishermen use it to capture ells of streams.

Thrown in the water

5

CI

 
 

Ba

To treat "papillomas" (veterinary-magical use)

A plaiting with the bark was made and then it was knot around the papilloma; the animal would be recovered in a short time.

5

CI

 

URTICACEAE

      

Urtica dioica L. – ortica CLU40

Ap

Once a mash with bread was made

By boiling (it was the only fodder for chicks of Turkey)

5

CI

Ru

  1. * = citations
  2. Localities: AC Acri; CI Cirò; CR Crùcoli; CS Castrovillari; CT Cittanova; MT Montauro; MR Morano; SC Scilla; SE S.Elia; TA Tarsia; UM Umbriatico
  3. Plant parts used: Ap aerial part; Ba bark; Br branches; Dfh dry flower heads; Ep entire plant; Fle fresh leaves; Fr fruit; Ft flowery tops; Le leaves; Ro root; Se seeds
  4. Habitat: Be beachs; Caso calcareous soils near to the water; Cla clayey grounds; Cu cultivated species or cultivations; Da damp areas; Di ditches; Drme dry meadows; Edro edges of roads; Edwo edges of woods; Gr gravels; He hedges; Mowo mountain woods; Ro rocks; Ru ruins; Sa sandy places (grounds); Sl slopes with rocks and silt, areas with sand and silt facing West; St stony grounds; Su sunny grounds; Sucl sunny clearings; Tewo termophile woods; To along torrents; Unc uncultivated areas; Wa walls; Wo woods.
  5. (1) In Cirò the first ripe figs are named 'botta', those ripening in summer 'fichi'.