Table 1 Wild food plants (WFPs) gathered and consumed under the traffic light metaphor in Konso, Ethiopia
WFPs parts gathered and consumed under the red household food situation (mainly based on consumption by adults) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | WFPs | Scientific name | Part(s) | Remarks |
1 | Dhahanata | Cucumis dipsaceus Spach. | Leaves | |
2 | Hakala koyra | Erucastrum pachypodum (Chiov.) Jonsell | Leaves | Wild cabbage |
3 | Hanqarara | Senna singueana(Delile) Lock | Leaves | |
4 | Liltota | Arisaema flavum (Forssk.) Schott | Leaves | Thorny |
5 | Teyla | Brassica napus L. | Leaves | If eaten alone frequently |
6 | Dhashandhashata | Plant species not confirmed | Fruits | Fruits are with very little flesh |
7 | Ikayteta | Plant species not confirmed | Fruits | Consumed like juice |
8 | Kahelta | Psydrax schimperiana A. Rich. Bridson | Fruits | Tiny fruits and the plant is rare |
9 | Manqoraya | Rhus sp. (Anacardiaceae) | Fruits | Paralyzes teeth when consumed |
10 | Heriya | Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl. | Seeds | Eaten roasted |
11 | Achacha (wild/false millet) | Elusine sp. (Poaceae) | Grains | Never eaten alone even in bad times |
12 | Yetota (wild sorghum) | Sorghum arundinaceum (Desv.) Stapf | Grains | Shatters very easily; kept for bad times |
13 | Karsata | Dobera glabra (Forssk.) Juss. ex Poir. | Kernels | Rock-hard kernels, long hour boiling |
14 | Hakata | Plant species not confirmed | Roots | Adults only in bad times |
15 | Heqayata | Cyperus bulbosus Vahl | Roots | |
16 | Kullayya sakkarra | Vatovaea sp. (Fabaceae) | Roots | |
17 | Kuritata | Dorstenia barnimiana Schweinf. | Roots | |
18 | Napa arpa | Plant species not confirmed | Roots | |
19 | Tombolasha | Tacazzea sp. (Asclepiadaceae) | Roots | Fresh or cooked; watery |
20 | Pakanna (Qachama) | Amorphophallus gomboczianus Pic. Serm | Tubers (mature) | Very irritating taste (never eaten alone) |
21 | Tubers (immature) | |||
22 | Tubers (fresh) | Needs adequate desiccation before processing it to food | ||
23 | Inkutayata | Boletus sp. (Boletaceae) | Shoots | Rare; some poisonous, prudently collected |
24 | Agaricus campestris L. | Shoots | ||
25 | Maraeta (Qitqita) | Portulaca sp. (Portulacaceae) | Whole plant | Frequent consumption will induce diarrhea |
WFPs parts gathered and consumed under the amber household food situation | ||||
26 | Honona | Justice flava (Vahl) Vahl | Leaves | Only available during wet times |
27 | Ifayata | Ocimum sanctumL. | Leaves/shoot | Spice, but in food shortage times eaten as a cabbage |
28 | Isatta | Kedrostis pseudogijef (Gilg) C. Jeffrey | Leaves | Normally used as medicine, but as food in bad time |
29 | Katata | Commiphora kataf (Forssk.) Engl. | Leaves | Boiled and drunk like coffee |
30 | Qannatata | Pouzolzia parasitica Schweinf. | Leaves | Boiled; tasteless |
31 | Rasuta | Amaranthus graecizans L. | Leaves | Frequent intake without other foods induces diarrhea |
32 | Chalanchalota/Hepata | Flueggea leucopyrus Willd. | Fruits | It is always eaten fresh/raw |
33 | Chaqalesa | Grewia erythraea Schweinf. | Fruits | Adults only in bad times |
34 | Grewia ferruginea Hochst. ex A. Rich. | Fruits | ||
35 | Gnarqeta | Plant species not confirmed | Fruits | |
36 | Hakala | Brassica sp. (Cruciferae) | Fruits | |
37 | Hotarta | Plant species not confirmed | Fruits | |
38 | Kabutayta | Rhus natalensis Bernh. ex Krauss | Fruits (dried) | Kernel is hard and always discarded |
39 | Kombolta/Babalota/Qulqualeta | Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. | Fruits | Thorns are tiniest and very dangerous if entering into eyes |
40 | Liya | Ficus platyphylla Del. | Fruits | |
41 | Luqata sigmama | Cadaba farinosa Forssk. | Fruits | Roots have medicinal value for animal diseases; if eaten by adults it shows food stress |
42 | Maqayta | Euclea racemosa subsp. schimperi (A. DC.) F. White | Fruits | |
43 | Euclea divinorum Hiern | Fruits | ||
44 | Marka | Plant species not confirmed | Fruits | |
45 | Mudhukanta | Vangueria madagascariensis J.F. Gmel. | Fruits | |
46 | Pa-ata (Ye bereha lomi) | Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. | Fruits | |
47 | Porporissa | Ehretia cymosa Thonn. | Fruits | Tiny, less tasty |
48 | Punita purkaya | Lantana trifolia L. | Fruits | “False coffee”; fruits are small |
49 | Qignfirta | Combretum aculeatum Vent. | Fruits | Available in lowlands |
50 | Timpliqisha | Vangueria apiculata K. Schum. | Fruits | |
51 | Tinayta | Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. | Fruits | |
52 | Korahiteta | Plant species not confirmed | Roots | |
53 | Oritata | Lannea sp. (Anacardiaceae) | Roots | |
54 | Qahata | Commiphora terebinthina Vollesen | Roots | Medicinal value in delivery |
55 | Bark | Smells bad | ||
WFPs gathered and consumed even under the green household food situation | ||||
56 | Akaketa | Plant species not confirmed | Leaves | |
57 | Arjohela | Plant species not confirmed | Leaves | |
58 | Hankalta | Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile | Leaves/ tendril | Succulent, bitter |
59 | Hankolayta | Launaea intybacea (Jacq.) Beauv. | Leaves | Available during times of food shortage/wet times |
60 | L. taraxacifolia (Willd.) Amin | Leaves | ||
61 | Kasha | Plant species not confirmed | Leaves | |
62 | Kepata | Plant species not confirmed | Leaves | |
63 | Khayla | Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne | Leaves | Invasive weed, like cabbage |
64 | Kugnarata | Lablab purpureus L. | Leaves | |
65 | Masara | Vatovaea sp. (Papilionaceae) | Leaves | |
66 | Moqorqorsa/Moroqroqsa | Oxygonum sinuatum (Hochst. & Steud. ex Meisn.) Dammer | Leaves | Available during times of food shortage/wet times |
67 | Okalata | Dolichos sp. (Fabaceae) | Leaves | |
68 | Oloqiloqota | Corchorus trilocularis L. | Leaves | Only available during periods of food shortage (wet times) |
69 | Pasa | Amaranthus hybridus L. | Leaves | Watery leaves |
70 | Seeds | |||
71 | Poshanata | Plant species not confirmed | Leaves | |
72 | Roots | |||
73 | Qananta | Berchemia discolor (Klotzsch) Hemsl. | Leaves | Sweet, sticky |
74 | Fruits | Good taste | ||
75 | Qaqaha/Qahaqaha | Solanum nigrum L. | Leaves | Cooked |
76 | Berries | |||
77 | Qaqula | Adenia ellenbeckii Harms | Leaves | Available during rainy season; protected |
78 | Rasuta | Amaranthus graecizans L. | Leaves | Eaten mixed with other food items |
79 | Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell. | Leaves | Only available during periods of food shortage in wet times | |
80 | Shabalata | Plant species not confirmed | Leaves | |
81 | Teyla | Brassica napus L. | Leaves | Eaten mixed with other food items |
82 | Torchata | Celosia argentea L. | Leaves | Delicious; occurs in March and April |
83 | Torqeta | Celosia trigyna L. | Leaves | |
84 | Digera muricata (L.) Mart. | Leaves | ||
85 | Agamta | Carissa spinarum L. | Fruits | Fruits temporarily desensitize teeth after consumption |
86 | Cheqerta | Ficus thonningii Blume | Fruits | Small fruits |
87 | Dhahayta | Grewia bicolor Juss. | Fruits | |
88 | Grewia velutina (Forssk.) Lam. | Fruits | ||
89 | Halota | Plant species not confirmed | Fruits | Sweet, usually available in lowlands |
90 | Hankalta | Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. | Fruits | Fresh/dried; good storability |
91 | Hashashayata | Cordia sp. (Boraginaceae) | Fruits | |
92 | Heleta | Ficus sur Forssk. | Fruits | |
93 | Hillteta | Ficus sycomorus L. | Fruits | |
94 | Hinkikata (Enkoy) | Ximenia caffra Sond. | Fruits | Eaten fresh/raw |
95 | Kopta | Ziziphus mucronata Willd. | Fruits | Pulp is very acidic and not liked in normal times |
96 | Kumanata | Physalis peruviana L. | Fruits | |
97 | Kutata | Balanites rotundifolia (Tiegh.) Blatt. | Fruits | Sweet, mostly occurs in lowlands, availability is seasonal |
98 | Lamtta | Blyttia fruticulosum (Decne.) D.V. Field | Fruits | Difference in use only in age |
99 | Madherta | Cordia sinensis Lam. | Fruits | Occurs in lowlands |
100 | Mordhoha | Balanites sp. (Balanitaceae) | Fruits | |
101 | Ogomteta | Grewia villosa Willd. | Fruits | Usually available in lowlands; sweet |
102 | Otayta | Cordia africana Lam. | Fruits | Pounded and mixed with salt |
103 | Poketa | Plant species not confirmed | Fruits | |
104 | Qaraqawola | Plant species not confirmed | Fruits | |
105 | Qehakorba | Plant species not confirmed | Fruits | |
106 | Qochata | Grewia ferruginea Hochst. ex A. Rich. | Fruits | Also has medicinal value |
107 | Grewia bicolor Juss. | Fruits | ||
108 | Qopissa (Poqsa) | Grewia villosa Willd. | Fruits | Sweet |
109 | Rokoota | Tamarindus indica L. | Fruits | Slightly sour/bitter |
110 | Toleqota | Cordia monoica Roxb. | Fruits | Sticky |
111 | Qawureta | Sterculia africana (Lour.) Fiori | Seeds (Beans) | Eaten in two forms: drank like coffee, or eaten roasted like beans |
112 | Alge-heluta | Plant species not confirmed | Roots | |
113 | Kullayya | Vatovaea pseudolablab (Harms) J. B. Gillet | Roots/Tubers | Planted/protected on terraces |
114 | Mechata | Plant species not confirmed | Roots | |
115 | Pakanna (Ateta) | Amorphophallus sp. | Mature tubers | |
116 | Poshanposha | Plant species not confirmed | Roots | Eaten fresh |
117 | Saitata | Plant species not confirmed | Roots | |
118 | Checheha | Acacia hockii De Wild | Bark (inner) | |
119 | Lahadho | Plant species not confirmed | Whole plant | |
120 | Parapaqa | Pachycymbium laticoronum (MG Gilbert) MG Gilbert | Whole plant | Whole plant is eaten except the fine roots |