Diversité floristique et ethnobotanique des plantes sauvages comestibles dans le Département de Bondoukou (Nord- Est de la Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Floristic diversity and ethnobotany of edible wild plants in the Department of Bondoukou (North-Eastern Côte d'Ivoire) Objectives: To inventory and assess the level of local knowledge and use of edible wild plants in the Department of Bondoukou in the north-eastern Côte d'Ivoire. Methodology and Results: focus groups and structured interviews were used to gather information from four indigenous ethnic groups in 7 villages. Species were collected then identified in the laboratory. In total 81 species belonging to 76 genera and 41 families are consumed. From them the families Malvaceae, Annonaceae, Arecaceae and Fabaceae showed up to be the most intensively used. The well-known and most frequently consumed species represent 27.14% of the taxa. The most frequently consumed organs in decreasing order of importance are fruits (57.14 %) leaves (26.19%) and seeds (10.71 %). The other consumed organs are bark (2.38%), flowers, saps and tubers with 1.37% each. The consumption of Coelocaryon oxycarpum Stapf (Myristicaceae), an endemic species of West Africa is reported for the first time. Conclusion and application of findings: Many species identified in the frame of our study area display a large economic importance among women and children. These species are the subject of a local trade that provides extra income to these populations. The valorization (juice preparation or oil extraction) of certain fruits could bring an added value to these species. Other species to a lesser degree used as food may be, however, promising in cosmetics. Coelocaryon oxycarpum is used as a spice in the meal (soup) of women who have just given birth. A phytochemical analysis of the fruits of this species is required to better assess its importance.