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Table 3 Local market potential of the most quoted wild gastronomic and medicinal herbs (excluding wild berries) in the upper Varaita valley
| Species | Estimated ecological availability in the upper Varaita valley | Gathering permitted in the Cuneo Province | Estimated potential for the local market (details) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Achillea herba-rotta (herb) | Medium | Aerial parts corresponding to five plant samples; up to 1 kg (dried aerial parts) if special permission is obtained from local authorities. | High (dried herb to be sold as a tea). |
| Arnica montana (flowers) | Medium | Aerial parts corresponding to five plant samples; up to 5 kg (dried flowers/roots) if special permission is obtained from local authorities. | High (dried flowers to be sold as a tea). |
| Artemisia absinthium (herb) | High | Aerial parts corresponding to five plant samples; up to 2 kg (dried aerial parts). if special permission is obtained from local authorities. | Low (dried herbs to be sold as a tea); Medium (ingredient of home-made digestives). |
| Artemisia genipi, A. glacialis, A. umbelliformis (aerial parts and flowers) | Low | Aerial parts corresponding to five plant samples; up to 1 kg of each species (dried aerial parts). if special permission is obtained from local authorities. | Very low, given the limited ecological availability. |
| Carum carvi (fruits) | Medium-high | Not clear: aerial parts corresponding to five plant samples or unlimited gathering. Unlimited gathering, due to the fact that the plant can be considered "commonly consumed" in the study area. | High (dried fruits as a tea or seasoning). |
| Chenopodium bonus-henricus (leaves) | Very high | Unlimited gathering, due to the fact that the plant can be considered "commonly consumed" in the study area. | High (as a preserved vegetable?) |
| Gentiana acaulis (leaves and flowers) | Medium-low | Aerial parts corresponding to five plant samples | Low (as an ingredient for digestives) due to the limited availability in the area. |
| Gentiana lutea (roots) | High | Up to 10 kg (dried roots), if special permission is obtained from local authorities. | High (dried root as a tea or ingredient for digestives). |
| Malva spp. | High | Unlimited gathering, due to the fact that the plant can be considered "commonly consumed" in the area. | Medium (as a tea or as a preserved vegetable). |
| Peucedanum ostruthium (roots) | Medium-low | Up to 2 kg (dried roots), if special permission is obtained from local authorities. | Low (as a tea). |
| Pinus cembra (cones) | Low | Theoretically unlimited. | Low (as an ingredient for digestives) due to the limited availability. |
| Polygonum bistorta (leaves) | High | Unlimited gathering, due to the fact that the plant can be considered "commonly consumed" in the area. | Medium (as a preserved vegetable). |
| Rumex alpinus (leaves/stalks) | Medium | Unlimited gathering, due to the fact that the plant can be considered "commonly consumed" in the area. | Low (as a preserved vegetable). |
| Tanacetum vulgare (leaves) | Medium | Aerial parts corresponding to five plant samples; up to 5 kg (dried aerial parts) if special permission is obtained from local authorities. | High (as a tea or as an ingredient for digestives). |
| Taraxacum officinale (leaves) | High | Unlimited gathering, due to the fact that the plant can be considered "commonly consumed" in the area. | High (as a preserved vegetable or a tea). |
| Tragopogon pratensis (leaves and flower buds) | Medium | Unlimited gathering, due to the fact that the plant can be considered "commonly consumed" in the area. | High (as a preserved vegetable). |
| Urtica spp. (leaves) | High | Unlimited gathering, due to the fact that the plant can be considered "commonly consumed" in the area. | Low (as a preserved vegetable). |
| Veronica allionii (flowering aerial parts) | Low | Aerial parts corresponding to five plant samples. | Low (as a tea) due to the limited availability in the area. |
