Background: We compare traditional knowledge and use of wild edible plants in six rural regions
of the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula as follows: Campoo, Picos de Europa, Piloña, Sanabria and
Caurel in Spain and Parque Natural de Montesinho in Portugal.
Methods: Data on the use of 97 species were collected through informed consent semistructured
interviews with local informants. A semi-quantitative approach was used to document
the relative importance of each species and to indicate differences in selection criteria for
consuming wild food species in the regions studied.
Results and discussion: The most significant species include many wild berries and nuts (e.g.
Castanea sativa, Rubus ulmifolius, Fragaria vesca) and the most popular species in each food-category
(e.g. fruits or herbs used to prepare liqueurs such as Prunus spinosa, vegetables such as Rumex
acetosa, condiments such as Origanum vulgare, or plants used to prepare herbal teas such as
Chamaemelum nobile). The most important species in the study area as a whole are consumed at
five or all six of the survey sites.
Conclusion: Social, economic and cultural factors, such as poor communications, fads and direct
contact with nature in everyday life should be taken into account in determining why some wild
foods and traditional vegetables have been consumed, but others not. They may be even more
important than biological factors such as richness and abundance of wild edible flora. Although most
are no longer consumed, demand is growing for those regarded as local specialties that reflect
regional identity.
