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Cultural Importance of Wild or Traditionally Collected Plants in the Sierra de Grazalema (Southern Spain)

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ABSTRACT

The aim of this work is to evaluate the knowledge about, and diversity and cultural significance of, wild or traditionally collected plants used in the Sierra de Grazalema, located in Southeastern Spain. Nine hundred and ninety-three use reports for 98 popular names, corresponding to 124 species, were recorded. The ethnobotanical information was obtained through semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions. Informants had high empirical knowledge of wild plants and lived and/or worked in the area. The human food uses showed the highest use reports with 40% of the total, followed by that of technological uses with 30%. Mentha pulegium (pennyroyal) is the most culturally significant plant in the area according to the cultural importance index (1.50). The second plant in the ranking (1.20) is Olea europaea var. sylvestris (wild olive). Inflorescences from Helichrysum italicum and Helichrysum stoechas have medicinal uses (0.94). The fourth plant in the cultural importance index ranking is Scolymus hispanicus (0.97). Finally, amongst the most popular plants in the Sierra de Grazalema is Phlomis purpurea (0.97). Our results indicate that in the Sierra de Grazalema, some wild or traditionally collected plants are deeply rooted in popular culture. The cultural importance index presented in this work could be a useful tool to evaluate the possibilities of sustainable exploitation of these resources.

RESUMEN

El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar el conocimiento, la diversidad y la significancia cultural de los usos de las plantas silvestres o tradicionalmente recolectadas en la Sierra de Grazalema, ubicada en el sureste de España. Se obtuvieron 993 registros para 98 nombres populares, correspondientes a 124 especies. La información etnobotánica se obtuvo a través de entrevistas semi-estructuradas con preguntas abiertas. Los informantes tenían un alto conocimiento empírico de las plantas silvestres y vivían y/o trabajaban en la zona. Los usos para alimentación humana fueron los más populares, con el 40% de los registros, seguido por el de usos tecnológicos con el 30%. Mentha pulegium (poleo) es la planta más importante de la zona según el índice de importancia cultural (1.50). La segunda planta en el ranking (1.20) es Olea europaea var. sylvestris (acebuche). Las inflorescencias de Helichrysum italicum y Helichrysum stoechas son conocidas por sus usos medicinales (0.94). La cuarta planta en el ranking del índice de importancia cultural es Scolymus hispanicus (0.97). Finalmente, entre las plantas más populares en la Sierra de Grazalema se encuentra Phlomis purpurea (0.97). Nuestros resultados indican que en la Sierra de Grazalema, algunas plantas silvestres o tradicionalmente recolectadas están profundamente arraigadas en la cultura popular. El índice de importancia cultural presentado en este trabajo podría ser una herramienta útil para evaluar las posibilidades de explotación sostenible de estos recursos.

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Author notes

  1. Amparo Melián and Thäis Rucabado contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Agronomy Department, Miguel Hernández University, Ctra Beniel-Orihuela, Km 3.2, 03312, Orihuela, Alicante, Spain

    Amparo Melián

  2. Applied Biology Department, Plant Physiology, Miguel Hernández University, Ctra Beniel-Orihuela, Km 3.2, 03312, Orihuela, Alicante, Spain

    Thäis Rucabado, Juan F. Sarabia, M. Ángeles Botella & M. Teresa Pretel

  3. Applied Biology Department, Botany, Miguel Hernández University, Avda. Universidad s/n, 03202, Elche, Alicante, Spain

    Antonia D. Asencio

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  1. Amparo Melián
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  2. Thäis Rucabado
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  3. Juan F. Sarabia
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  4. M. Ángeles Botella
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  6. M. Teresa Pretel
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Correspondence to M. Teresa Pretel.

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Melián, A., Rucabado, T., Sarabia, J.F. et al. Cultural Importance of Wild or Traditionally Collected Plants in the Sierra de Grazalema (Southern Spain) . Econ Bot 71, 160–174 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-017-9381-3

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