Gathered wild food plants in the upper valley of the Serchio river (Garfagnana), central Italy

Abstract

A study of the traditional gathered food plants in the upper valley of the Serchio river (Garfagnana), Lucca Province, north-west Tuscany, central Italy, was carried out. One hundred thirty-three species (including fungi), belonging to 48 families, were encountered. The geographical isolation of the valley and the survival of old gastronomic traditions have permitted a rich popular knowledge to be maintained. In particular, the tradition of preparing in springtime a characteristic vegetal soup (minestrella) based on about forty wild vegetables in a very restricted area of the valley might be correlated with influences of pre-Roman civilizations. An uncommon specific food utilization of Bryonia dioica and Prunus laurocerasus as well as the consumption in some districts of Fagus sylvatica seeds, Taxus baccata and Crocus napolitanus fruits as snacks and the very common use of Clematis vitalba shoots seem to demonstrate a well established tradition to use unpalatable vegetal sources. Ethnopharmacological aspects of the consumption of these species are discussed.