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. |
