Wild Edible Plants of Cyprus
Author Information
Author(s): Della Athena, Paraskeva-Hadjichambi Demetra, Hadjichambis Andreas Ch
Primary Institution: Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
Hypothesis
What traditional knowledge exists regarding the use of wild edible plants in Cyprus?
Conclusion
The study found that while the use of wild edible plants is still present in Cyprus, the transmission of this knowledge has significantly decreased in recent generations.
Supporting Evidence
- 413 interviews were conducted over a three-year period.
- A total of 78 wild edible plant species were recorded.
- 40 plants were common in both study sites.
- 47 plants were recorded in both this study and a previous list of edible wild plants in Cyprus.
Takeaway
People in Cyprus used to eat a lot of wild plants, but now fewer young people know how to find and cook them.
Methodology
The study involved structured and semi-structured interviews with 89 informants across two sites in Cyprus, collecting data on wild edible plants.
Potential Biases
Most informants were older individuals, which may skew the data towards traditional knowledge that is not widely shared among younger generations.
Limitations
The study is limited to two specific areas in Cyprus and may not represent the entire island's ethnobotanical knowledge.
Participant Demographics
Informants were aged between 48 and 82, with a majority being autochthonous Greek-Cypriots.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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