Articles
WILD AND CULTIVATED PLANTS USED AS FOOD AND MEDICINE BY THE CIMBRIAN ETHNIC MINORITY IN THE ALPS
Article number
955_2
Pages
31 – 39
Language
English
Abstract
The Cimbrian ethnic minority has spread along the southern and eastern borders of the Dolomites in the heart of Europe (Italy) since the 12th century AD. There was a population of 35,000 in 1854, which was estimated at 2,230 in the year 2000, of whom 500 lived in Luserna (Trentino, Trento), 1,500 in the Sette Comuni (Roana, Mezzaselva di Roana and Rotzo) (Veneto, Vicenza), 230 in Giazza/Ijetzan (Veneto, Verona), and a few dozen resided in Piano Cansiglio (Veneto, Vittorio Veneto). The Cimbrian language (the Upper German, Bavarian-Austrian group) presents three dialects: Lusernese, Tredici Communi Cimbrian (Taucias), Sette Comuni Cimbrian.
Based on structural and intelligibility differences, the three dialects may be considered as separate languages; Lusernese is heavily influenced by Italian (Trentino dialects). The objectives were to determine the fungi and vascular plant species named and used by the Cimbrian, particularly as food and medicine, and to analyze the results in the Alpine cultures and traditions context.
Methods included a literature review, especially local journals and books, interviews with members of the different Cimbrian communities in Italy (Trentino and Veneto), and the collection of voucher specimens, as well as photographs of plants, gardens and landscapes in the different areas.
The database comprised 2,313 records of plant names and uses among the Cimbrian communities.
Most were exclusively vernacular plant names, 494 included medicinal uses and 462 were foods.
Of the 382 species used by the Cimbrians, only 97 were recorded as medicinal, and 94 as food sources.
However, 34 other species were used as both food and medicine.
Most records (2,189) corresponded to vascular plants, but fungi were also relatively frequent.
Among vascular plants, the families Rosaceae, Asteraceae, Poaceae, Pinaceae and Salicaceae were more often used and named.
Based on structural and intelligibility differences, the three dialects may be considered as separate languages; Lusernese is heavily influenced by Italian (Trentino dialects). The objectives were to determine the fungi and vascular plant species named and used by the Cimbrian, particularly as food and medicine, and to analyze the results in the Alpine cultures and traditions context.
Methods included a literature review, especially local journals and books, interviews with members of the different Cimbrian communities in Italy (Trentino and Veneto), and the collection of voucher specimens, as well as photographs of plants, gardens and landscapes in the different areas.
The database comprised 2,313 records of plant names and uses among the Cimbrian communities.
Most were exclusively vernacular plant names, 494 included medicinal uses and 462 were foods.
Of the 382 species used by the Cimbrians, only 97 were recorded as medicinal, and 94 as food sources.
However, 34 other species were used as both food and medicine.
Most records (2,189) corresponded to vascular plants, but fungi were also relatively frequent.
Among vascular plants, the families Rosaceae, Asteraceae, Poaceae, Pinaceae and Salicaceae were more often used and named.
Authors
D. Rivera , F. Alcaraz, C. Obón
Keywords
ethnobotany, medicinal plants, edible plants, folk medicine, ethnopharmacology, mountain area, Italy
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