3.GATHERED FOOD PLANTS IN MOROCCO THE LONG- FORGOTTEN SPECIES IN ETHNOBOTANICAL RESEARCH BY FATIMA NASSIF AND ABBES TANJI

Abstract

This paper presents an enthnobotanical review of available references with information on the consumption of gathered food plants in Morocco. A total of 246 species is recorded of which 162 belong to the herbaceous plants category distributed into 38 families. The trees/shrubs category counts 84 species belonging to 38 families. Recorded plants represent 6.3% of Morocco’s vascular flora counting 3913 species. Within the herbaceous category, the Asteraceae is the richest family with 30 species, followed by the Lamiaceae and Brassicaceae with 18 and 13 species, respectively. Sixteen families are represented by one species. Within the trees/shrubs group, the richest family is the Fabaceae with nine species followed by the Rosaceae with six species. Twenty plant families are represented by one species only. For the small plants category, the aerial part, namely the leaves, prepared in the beqoul way are the most frequently used. For the trees/shrubs group, the fruits represent the part most frequently consumed. The role of women in developing and transmitting gathered food plants related knowledge is discussed. A brief comparison of Morocco with neighboring Mediterranean countries is also included. It is concluded that gathered food plants related knowledge and traditions are at risk of erosion. Thus, it is not only necessary to document wild food associated knowledge but the study of wild food plants can help uncover opportunities for the use of these plants in the future.
KEY WORD: Gathered Food Plans, Beqoul, Beqoula, Ethnobotanical, Sahara, Morocco.