Ethnobotanical of the Wild Edible Healthy Functional Plant Resources of the Gelao People in Northern Guizhou, China
Authors: Xie Jian , Liu Fusong , Jia Xiaohuan , Zhao Yongxia , Liu Xiaoqi , Luo Mingxia , He Yuqi , Liu Sha , Wu Faming 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Introduction: Gelao is a unique minority in southwest China, which has a unique culture on the utilization of edible plant resources, including a large number of medicinal plant resources. They believe that at least 61 species are edible and have medicinal value, and they are used for health care in their lives. Ethnobotany research can understand the local knowledge of Gelao people regarding the traditional use of plants and the relationship between Gelao people and their living environment in order to keep and pass on this traditional knowledge forever. At the same time, we can also explore wild plant resources with high utilization value such as medicine plants, discuss their development value, and provide appropriate suggestions for protecting biodiversity and sustainable development and utilization of wild resources in minority areas.
Methods: The edible wild plant resources and their applied ethnic knowledge were investigated by taking Daozhen County, Wuchuan County and Zheng'an County in Northern Guizhou as the study areas, and Gelao residents as the main interviewees and by using the methods of literature research, village interviews, participatory observation and quantitative evaluation of ethnobotany.
Results: The survey results showed that 151species of wild plants belonging to 67families are collected and eaten by Gelao residents in this area, among which 61 species are considered by Gelao residents to have medicinal value, accounting for 40.4% of the total, and 43 were collected in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition). There are 57 plants species with fruits as their edible parts, so they eat more snack items. This was followed by 54 species of plants whose young seedlings and leaves are the edible parts, most of which are consumed cold or stir-fried. In addition, other edible parts include roots or rhizomes (bulbs), flowers, whole plants, seeds, fruiting bodies, and stems. There were two consumption modes: raw and cooked. Raw foods are mainly consumed as snacks, which mainly comprise fruits. Cooked foods are mainly vegetables that mainly consumed cold or stir-fried. In addition, some plant resources were be used seasoning, infused wines, condiments, and miscellaneous grains. The main medicinal functions are nourishing and reducing heatiness, the nourishing were mainly from "Shen" and Liliaceae,while the reducing heatiness were mainly from plants of Asteraceae, and others include anti-hangover, anticancer and insecticidal functions. There were 38 species of important edible wild plants (CFSI>500) in Northern Guizhou, and these wild plants have a high utilization rate in this area. Houttuynia cordata Thunb. and Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. are the most representative edible wild plants in this area. The species, edible parts, edible categories, consumption modes and medicinal functions of edible wild plants in this area are diverse, and the traditional knowledge on their uses is rich. However, the number of wild plant species eaten by the reporters and their related processing information were positively correlated with age, which indicates that the rich traditional knowledge in this area is gradually disappearing with the urbanization process.
Conclusions: Gelao is a special ethnic group in mountainous area of northern Guizhou with a rich history of edible wild plant. With the development of social economy, the traditional knowledge accumulated from generations to generations is gradually forgotten by the younger generation, and the inheritance is faced with great risks. This study collect, sort out and spread these traditional knowledge, which is of great value to the protection and inheritance of these precious traditional knowledge and also fully demonstrate the value and importance of our work.