Crumbotti and rose petals in a ghost mountain valley: foraging, landscape, and their transformations in the upper Borbera Valley, NW Italy

Fontefrancesco, Michele F.; Zocchi, Dauro M.; Cevasco, Roberta; Dossche, Rebekka; Abidullah, Syed; Pieroni, Andrea

doi:10.1186/s13002-022-00535-7

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Table 1 Wild and semi-domesticated food plants and herbal remedies used in the upper Borbera Valley (the table also includes a few cultivated plants whose local use is peculiar)

From: Crumbotti and rose petals in a ghost mountain valley: foraging, landscape, and their transformations in the upper Borbera Valley, NW Italy

Botanical taxon and family	English name	Local name(s)	Used part(s)	Local culinary or herbal preparation(s) and use(s)	Frequency of quotations
Agaricus campestris L., Agaricaceae	Field Mushroom	Balun, Masin, Prale (pl.)	Fruiting body	Fried, risotto, sauces	+ +
Allium sativum L., Amaryllidaceae C	Garlic	Agio	Bulbs	Necklaces worn by children as an anthelmintic; consumed as a hypotensive	+ +
Allium ursinum L., Amaryllidaceae	Ramsons	Aglio ursino	Leaves	Sauces	+ N
Amanita caesarea (Scop.) Pers., Amanitaceae	Caesar's mushroom	Ovulo	Fruiting body	Eaten raw or fried	+ +
Apium nodiflorum (L.) Lag., Apiaceae	Fool's watercress (marsh celery)	Cresciun	Aerial parts	Boiled (considered diuretic)	+ *
Arnica montana Hook., Compositae	Arnica	Arnica	Flowers	External compresses or oleolite or alcohol macerate, externally applied to treat rheumatism; tea	+ *
Balsamita major Desf., Asteraceae C	Costmary	Erba amaa	Leaves	Omelettes	+
Boletus spp., Boletaceae	Boletus	Funzo negro, Riueu, Verie (pl.)	Fruiting body	Fried, risotto, sauces	+ + +
Borago officinalis L., Boraginaceae	Borage	Buraje	Leaves	Omelettes, soups, boiled as filling for ravioli	+ +
Cantharellus cibarius Fr., Hydnaceae	Chanterelle	Galeti, Galette (pl.)	Fruiting body	Fried, sauces	+ + +
Carthamus tinctorius L., Compositae C	Safflower	Saffarano	Petals	Used to colour risotto yellow	+ N
Castanea sativa Mill., Fagaceae	Chestnut	Castagna	Fruits	Roasted or boiled; traditionally cooked with rice or potato dumplings; dried, boiled in milk; dried and powdered into flour to make polenta	+ + +
Chelidonium majus L., Papaveraceae	Greater celandine	Erba da calli	Latex	Externally applied on warts and burns	+ *
Chenopodium bonus-henricus L., Chenopodiaceae	Good-King-Henry	Spinasso	Aerial parts	Boiled and used as filling for ravioli	+
Citrus x aurantium L., Rutaceae	Bitter orange	Melangolo	Fruit peels	Macerated in new wine to obtain an aromatised wine	+ N
Clematis vitalba L., Ranunculaceae	Traveller's joy	Ligabosca, Viassu	Young shoots	Omelette	+ + +
Cornus mas L., Cornaceae	Cornelian cherry	Curnaghe (pl.), Curnà	Fruits	Eaten raw, jam	+ *
Corylus avellana L., Betulaceae	Hazelnut	Niusse, Nissue (pl.)	Kernels	Consumed raw or dried, oil*	+
Crataegus spp., Rosaceae	Hawthorn	Spina	Fruits	Eaten raw as a snack	+ *
Craterellus cornucopioides L., Hydnaceae	Black trumpet	Santacaten	Fruiting body	Fried, sauces	+ N
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Poaceae	Bermuda grass	Gramigna	Whole plant	Tea	+ *
Fragaria vesca L., Rosaceae	Wild strawberry	Mulette, Meieli, Mieirui (pl.)	Fruits	Eaten raw, jam, syrup	+
Gentiana ligustica R.Vilm. & Chopinet, Gentianaceae	Narrowleaf gentian	Cancagè	Flowers	Macerated in white wine or alcohol as a stomachic; cold macerated in water as a digestive; tea as a digestive and mouth anti-inflammatory	+ +
Gentiana lutea Ruiz & Pav. ex G.Don, Gentianaceae	Gentian	Gensana, Reise de drago	Roots	Macerated in alcohol or white wine as a digestive	+ +
Grifola frondosa (Dicks.) Grey, Grifolaceae	Hen-of-the-woods	Barbegin	Fruiting body	Deep fried, risotto, boiled in vinegar and pickled in olive oil	+
Juglans regia L., Juglandaceae	Walnut	Noce	Kernels and unripe fruits	Kernels: dried, sauces, liqueur Unripe fruits: dye for hair	+ + *
Lactuca perennis L., Asteraceae	Wild lettuce	Crumbotti (pl.)	Young aerial parts	Salads, boiled, filling for ravioli	+ + +
Laurus nobilis L., Lauraceae	Bay leaf	Faggiu, Ofegiu	Leaves	Seasoning	+
Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer, Agaricaceae	Parasol mushroom	Trulla	Upper fruiting body	Fried	+ +
Malus domestica Borkh., Rosaceae C	Apple	Puma	Seeds	Seeds: macerated in alcohol as a liqueur	+ *
Malus sylvestris (L.)Mill., Rosaceae	European crab apple	Puma sarvaega	Fruits	Fermented into home-made cider, vinegar	+ *
Malva sylvestris L., Malvaceae	Mallow	Varma	Whole plants (aerial parts and roots)	Decoction as a depurative, bechic, and mouth anti-inflammatory; put in hot water—fumigation as anti-cold	+ + +
Matricaria recutita L., Asteraceae	Chamomile	Camomilla	Flowering tops	Tea as a spasmolytic (especially against toothaches)	+
Mentha spicata L., Lamiaceae C	Spearmint	Menta	Leaves	Syrup	+
Olea europaea L., Oleaceae	Olive leaf	Uiva	Leaves	Tea, as a hypotensive	+ +
Origanum vulgare L., Lamiaceae	Wild oregano	Curnabugia	Flowering tops and aerial parts	Seasoning	+ +
Polygala vulgaris L., Polygalaceae	Milkwort	Poligala	Flowering tops	Tea as a bechic	+ *
Primula vulgaris Huds, Primulaceae	Primrose	Cucchi (pl.)	Leaves	Salads, soup (sometimes considered good for mitigating prostatitis)	+ + +
Prunus avium (L.) L., Rosaceae	Sweet cherry	Siege (pl.)	Fruits	Eaten raw, jam, syrup	+ +
Prunus cerasus L., Rosaceae (Diverse landraces) C	Wild cherry	Maine, Graffiun, Visciue (pl.)	Fruits	Eaten raw, jam, syrup	+ +
Prunus spinosa Walter, Rosaceae	Blackthorn	Brugnini (pl.)	Fruits	Macerated in alcohol to obtain a home-made liqueur	+ *
Pyrus communis L., Rosaceae (Local landraces)	Pear	Pera rosetta, Pera nissa	Fruits	Baked	+ + *
Pyrus pyraster (L.) Burgsd., Rosaceae	Wild pear	Pera saravega	Fruits	Fermented into a home-made cider	+ *
Quercus spp., Fagaceae	Oak	Seru	Bark	Externally applied to cuts (especially in folk veterinary medicine)	+ *
Robinia pseudoacacia L., Fabaceae	Black locust	Gaggia	Inflorescences	Deep fried	+ +
Rosa canina Siev., Rosaceae	Dog rose	Grattacül, Scaganissi	Pseudo fruits	Eaten raw as a snack, tea as a bechic and anti-diabetic; jams	+ +
Rosa spp., Rosaceae C	Rose	Röza	Petals	Syrup (sometimes also considered a mild laxative)	+ + +
Rubus idaeus L., Rosaceae	Raspberry	Lampöna, Ampöine	Fruits	Eaten raw, jams, syrup	+ +
Rubus ulmifolius Schott, Rosaceae	Blackberry	Muie (pl.)	Fruits and young shoots	Fruits: eaten raw, jam, syrup Young shoots: eaten raw as a snack	+ +
Rumex acetosella L., Polygonaceae	Sorrell	Erba brisca	Young aerial parts	Snack	+ *
Russula cyanoxantha (Schaeff.) Fr., Russulaceae	Charcoal burner	Pévègn, Crumbette	Fruiting body	Fried, sauces, boiled in vinegar and pickled in olive oil	+ +
Russula vesca Fr., Russulaceae	Bare-toothed russula	Sementin	Fruiting body	Fried or baked with potato slices	+
Ruta graveolens L., Rutaceae C	Rue	Erba rüa	Aerial parts	Liqueur	+
Sambucus nigra L., Adoxaceae	Elderberry	Sambügo	Flowers	Beverage prepared by fermenting for nine days with lemon, vinegar, sugar; syrup as a bechic	+ +
Sedum sp., Crassulaceae	Stonecrop		Leaves	Externally applied to treat skin problems	+ *
Solanum tuberosum L., Solanaceae C	Potato	Patata	Tubers	Sliced and externally applied on the forehead as a diaphoretic	+ *
Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz, Rosaceae	Whitebeam	Anigüe (pl.)	Fruits	Eaten raw as a snack	+ *
Stachys annua (L.) L., Lamiaceae	Annual hedge-nettle	Gerba	Leaves	Tea	+ + *
Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex F.H.Wigg., Compositae	Dandelion	Dente de can	Leaves	Salads, soup, boiled to colour home-made noodles green	+ +
Tilia cordata Mill., Malvaceae	Lime tree flower	Teie	Flowers	Tea	+ +
Trifolium spp., Fabaceae	Clover	Trifoglio	Flowers	Sucked	+ *
Urtica dioica L., Urticaceae	Nettle	Begìa, Besciga, Urtiga	Leaves	Soup (often with onions and bacon or the so-called 12 apostles’ soup of Holy Friday, also made with dandelion and borage leaves, other cultivated vegetables and basil), omelettes	+ + +
Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ericaceae	Blueberry	Scurnogiotti (pl.)	Fruits	Eaten raw, jam, syrup	+
Vaccinium uliginosum L., Ericaceae	Bog bilberry	Peiette (pl.)	Fruits	Eaten raw, jam, syrup	+
Viola odorata L., Violaceae	Violet	Violetta	Flowers	Risotto, liqueur	+
Diverse spp., Poaceae	Hay	Feno	Aerial parts	Put in hot water and fumigation as anti-cold	+ *
Unidentified taxon	-	Grigiuielu	Leaves	Omelettes	+ *
Unidentified taxon	-	Campanele	Aerial parts	Tea, blood depurative	+ *

C: cultivated plant; (pl.): folk name(s) expressed in plural; + + + : quoted by more than 40% of the study participants; + + : quoted by 10–40% of the informants; + : quoted by one or two informants only; *: use reported only for the past; N: recently introduced “new” use

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ISSN: 1746-4269

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