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Traditional leafy vegetables and their use in the Benin Republic

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Abstract

Seventy-three villages randomly selected in 29 ethnic areas and three regions or agro-ecological zones of Benin were investigated by a participatory rural appraisal survey to assess the diversity of the species used as traditional leafy vegetables (TLVs). In total, 187 plant species belonging to 141 genera and 52 families were recorded. Among these, 47 (25.13%) were cultivated and 140 (74.87%) were gathered from the wild. Herbs (64.78%) were the most numerous followed by shrubs (19.78%) and trees (15.50%). The Shannon–Weaver diversity index calculated was 3.232. The total number of TLVs used highly varies, across ethnic groups, from 15 (Toli tribe) to 58 (people Mahi) with, on average, 36 species per ethnic group. The relative proportions of the wild and cultivated species used also vary with the tribes but on average appeared almost the same. Of the species inventoried, 18 of national importance were found among which Solanum macrocarpon, Corchorus olitorius, Amaranthus cruentus and Gymnanthemum amygdalinum ranked first. The matrix scoring technique yielded 12 criteria of different natures used to define preference. Among these, four (taste, ease of preparation, availability and quantity of required condiments) were the most important and represent, all together, more than 72% of responses. Despite the diversity of species used as leafy vegetables, they were all basically consumed in the same way. Sauces were the main type of preparation and involved all the species. The perceived nutritional and medicinal (curative, regulative and stimulative) properties of the species as well as their cultural significance were documented. Some TLVs are known and consumed by all or many ethnic groups while many others were simply ethnospecific or used by only a few peoples. However, no correlation was found between the distribution of the utilisation of the species and their degree of consumption which all depend on the eating habits of the peoples. Cluster analysis revealed that peoples sharing a common geographical space and/or cultural identity or origin seem to consume almost the same types of TLVs and cluster together. Given the large quantity of evidence of the importance of the TLVs, there should be a systematic effort to improve their understanding and their uses to reduce if not alleviate rural poverty and malnutrition in Benin.

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Acknowledgements

This project was sponsored by the International foundation for science through the grant N° S/3828-1 given to the second author. We express our sincere thanks to all the women’s groups and the agricultural extension personnel who collaborated very diligently with us during the survey. Special thanks are also due to Dr. K. Pistrick (IPK, Gatersleben) for critical reading of the manuscript. We express our gratitude to our colleagues Dr. F. Komlan and Mr. D. Aly of INRAB (Benin National Agricultural Research Institute) who, in one way or another, lent us their support during the entire study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genetic Resources Unit (GRU), Laboratory of Genetic and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FAST), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), BP 526, Cotonou, Benin

    A. Dansi & H. Adoukonou-Sagbadja

  2. Crop, Aromatic and Medicinal Plant Biodiversity Research and Development Institute (CAMRDI), 071 BP 28, Cotonou, Benin

    A. Dansi, A. Adjatin, H. Adoukonou-Sagbadja, V. Faladé & D. Odou

  3. National Herbarium, Department of Botany and Plant Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FAST), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), BP 526, Cotonou, Benin

    H. Yedomonhan

  4. Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture (FSA), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), BP 526, Cotonou, Benin

    B. Dossou

Authors
  1. A. Dansi
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  2. A. Adjatin
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  3. H. Adoukonou-Sagbadja
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  4. V. Faladé
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  5. H. Yedomonhan
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  6. D. Odou
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  7. B. Dossou
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Dansi.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

List of the plant species used as leafy vegetable in Benin

Nos.

Scientific names

Families

NE

DC

TP

Status

PA

 

Group A

01*

Adansonia digitata L.

Bombacaceae

24

High

Tree 

Wild

RS

02*

Amaranthus cruentus L.

Amaranthaceae

29

High

Herb

Cultivated

AS

03*

Celosia argentea L.

Amaranthaceae

24

High

Herb 

Cultivated

AS

04*

Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl.

Pedaliaceae

22

High

Herb 

Wild

RS

05*

Cleome gynandra L.

Capparaceae

18

High

Herb 

Cultivated

RS

06*

Corchorus olitorius L.

Tiliaceae

29

High

Herb 

Cultivated

AS

07*

Corchorus tridens L.

Tiliaceae

22

High

Herb 

Cultivated

RS

08*

Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Walp.

Asteraceae

29

High

Shrub

Cultivated

AS

09*

Hibiscus sabdariffa L.

Malvaceae

18

High

Herb 

Cultivated

RS

10

Manihot esculenta Crantz

Euphorbiaceae

25

High

Shrub 

Cultivated

AS

11*

Moringa oleifera Lam.

Moringaceae

23

High

Tree

Cultivated

AS

12

Ocimum gratissimum L.

Lamiaceae

28

High

Herb 

Cultivated

AS

13*

Sesamum radiatum L.

Pedaliaceae

15

High

Herb

Cultivated

RS

14*

Solanum aethiopicum L. Group Shum.

Solanaceae

19

High

Herb

Cultivated

AS

15*

Solanum macrocarpon L.

Solanaceae

29

High

Herb 

Cultivated

AS

16*

Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.

Leguminosae-Papilionoideae

24

High

Herb 

Cultivated

RS

17

Vitex doniana Sweet

Verbenaceae

22

High

Tree

Wild

DS

 

Group B

18*

Abelmoschus esculentus* (L.) Moench

Malvaceae

26

Low

Herb

Cultivated

RS

19*

Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott

Araceae

17

Low

Herb 

Cultivated

RS

20

Ocimum basilicum L.

Lamiaceae

17

Low

Herb

Cultivated

AS

21

Senna occidentalis (L.) Link

Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae

16

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

22*

Solanum scabrum Mill.

Solanaceae

18

Low

Herb

Cultivated

RS

23*

Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd.

Portulacaceae

22

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

 

Group C

24 S

Acalypha ciliata Forssk.

Euphorbiaceae

02

High

Herb

Wild

RS

25*N

Acmella oleracea (L.) Jansen

Asteraceae

05

High

Herb

Cultivated

RS

26*SC

Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R.Br. ex Roth

Amaranthaceae

08

High

Herb

Wild

AS

27*

Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell.

Amaranthaceae

12

High

Herb

Wild

RS

28*CN

Anogeissus leiocarpa (DC.) Guill. et Perr.

Combretaceae

02

High

Tree 

Wild

RS

29*

Bidens pilosa L.

Asteraceae

04

High

Herb

Cultivated

RS

30

Blighia sapida König

Sapindaceae

08

High

Tree 

Wild

AS

31 SC

Bombax costatum Pellegr. et Vuillet

Bombacaceae

06

High

Tree 

Wild

RS

32*N

Brassica oleracea L.

Brassicaceae

01

High

Herb

Cultivated

AS

33*S

Capsicum annuum L. (Chillies Group)

Solanaceae

02

High

Herb 

Cultivated

RS

34

Cissus populnea Guill. et Perr.

Vitaceae

12

High

Herb 

Wild

RS

35*SC

Cleome rutidosperma DC.

Capparaceae

05

High

Herb 

Wild

RS

36*

Crassocephalum rubens (Juss. ex Jacq.) S. Moore var. rubens

Asteraceae

11

High

Herb 

Cultivated

RS

37 C

Dalbergia saxatilis Hook. f.

Leguminosae-Papilionoideae

02

High

Shrub 

Wild

RS

38 SC

Deinbollia pinnata (Poir.) Schumach. et Thonn.

Sapindaceae

05

High

Shrub 

Wild

RS

39

Ficus abutilifolia (Miq.) Miq.

Moraceae

02

High

Tree

Wild

RS

40 C

Ficus asperifolia Miq.

Moraceae

02

High

Tree

Wild

RS

41 N

Ipomoea triloba L.

Convolvulaceae

01

High

Herb 

Wild

RS

42 N

Isoberlinia doka Craib et Stapf

Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae

01

High

Tree

Wild

RS

43 CN

Justicia tenella (Nees) T. Anderson

Acanthaceae

11

High

Herb 

Wild

RS

44

Laportea aestuans (L.) Chew

Urticaceae

05

High

Herb 

Wild

RS

45*SC

Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) Amin ex C. Jeffrey

Asteraceae

13

High

Herb 

Wild

RS

46*N

Lepistemon owariense (P. Beauv.) Hallier f.

Convolvulaceae

01

High

Herb 

Wild

RS

47 C

Lippia multiflora Moldenke

Verbenaceae

05

High

Shrub 

Wild

RS

48 N

Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.

Cucurbitaceae

02

High

Herb 

Wild

RS

49 S

Macrosphyra longistyla (DC.) Hiern

Rubiaceae

02

High

Shrub 

Wild

RS

50 C

Manihot glaziovii Müll. Arg.

Euphorbiaceae

01

High

Shrub 

Cultivated

AS

51 N

Milicia excelsa (Welw.) C.C. Berg

Moraceae

01

High

Shrub

Wild

RS

52 S

Mirabilis jalapa L.

Nyctagynaceae

01

High

Herb

Wild

AS

53 N

Pandiaka involucrata (Moq.) Hook. f.

Amaranthaceae

01

High

Herb

Wild

RS

54 C

Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen.

Polygalaceae

01

High

Shrub

Wild

RS

55 N

Sida garckeana Pol.

Malvaceae

01

High

Herb

Wild

RS

56*SC

Telfairia occidentalis Hook. f.

Cucurbitaceae

09

High

Herb

Cultivated

RS

 

Group D

57

Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult.

Amaranthaceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

58

Afzelia africana Sm.

Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae

02

Low

Tree

Wild

RS

59

Ageratum conyzoides L.

Asteraceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

60

Allium cepa L.

Alliaceae

01

Low

Herb

Cultivated

AS

61

Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze

Amaranthaceae

02

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

62*

Amaranthus spinosus L.

Amaranthaceae

09

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

63

Annona senegalensis Pers.

Annonaceae

04

Low

Tree 

Wild

RS

64

Aspilia africana (Pers.) Adams

Asteraceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

AS

65*

Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anders.

Acanthaceae

06

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

66*

Basella alba L.

Basellaceae

06

Low

Herb

Cultivated

RS

67*

Boerhavia diffusa L.

Nyctaginaceae

10

Low

Herb

Wild

AS

68*

Boerhavia erecta L.

Nyctaginaceae

03

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

69*

Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb.

Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae

01

Low

Shrub 

Cultivated

AS

70*

Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.

Leguminosae-Papilionoideae

01

Low

Shrub 

Cultivated

RS

71

Capsicum frutescens L. Groupe piment oiseau (Bird Pepper Group)

Solanaceae

07

Low

Shrub 

Cultivated

RS

72

Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.

Bombacaceae

11

Low

Tree

Wild

RS

73*

Celosia trigyna L.

Amaranthaceae

14

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

74

Celtis toka (Forssk.) Hepper et J.R.I. Wood

Celtidaceae

01

Low

Tree 

Wild

RS

75*

Centrostachys aquatica (R.Br.) Wall.

Amaranthaceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

76

Chassalia kolly (Schumach.) Hepper

Rubiaceae

02

Low

Shrub 

Wild

RS

77

Chenopodium ambrosioides L.

Chenopodiaceae

01

Low

Herb

Cultivated

AS

78

Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King

Asteraceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

79

Chrysanthellum indicum DC. ssp. afro-americanum B.L. Turner

Asteraceae

03

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

80

Cienfuegosia heteroclada Sprague

Malvaceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

81*

Cissus palmatifida (Baker) Planch.

Vitaceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

82

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.

Cucurbitaceae

04

Low

Herb

Cultivated

RS

83*

Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai

Cucurbitaceae

03

Low

Herb 

Cultivated

RS

84

Cochlospermum planchoni Hook. f.

Cochlospermaceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

85

Cola millenii K. Schum.

Sterculiaceae

01

Low

Tree

Wild

AS

86

Combretum collinum Fresen.

Combretaceae

01

Low

Tree

Wild

AS

87

Combretum comosum G. Don var. hispidum (M.A. Lawson) Jongkind

Combretaceae

01

Low

Tree

Wild

AS

88

Combretum racemosum P. Beauv.

Combretaceae

01

Low

Tree 

Wild

RS

89*

Commelina benghalensis L.

commelinaceae

04

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

90

Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Engl. var. africana

Burseraceae

01

Low

Shrub 

Wild

RS

91*

Corchorus aestuans L.

Tiliaceae

02

Low

Herb

Cultivated

RS

92

Crateva adansonii DC. ssp. adansonii

Capparaceae

04

Low

Shrub 

Wild

AS

93

Croton lobatus L.

Euphorbiaceae

05

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

94*

Cucumeropsis mannii Naud.

Cucurbitaceae

03

Low

Herb 

Cultivated

RS

95*

Cucurbita maxima Duchesne

Cucurbitaceae

02

Low

Herb

Cultivated

RS

96*

Cucurbita moschata Duchesne

Cucurbitaceae

06

Low

Herb 

Cultivated

RS

97*

Cucurbita pepo L.

Cucurbitaceae

05

Low

Herb 

Cultivated

RS

98

Cyanthillium cinereum (L.) H. Rob.

Asteraceae

02

Low

Shrub

Cultivated

AS

99

Cymbopogon giganteus (Hochst.) Chiov.

Poaceae

06

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

100*

Cyphostemma adenocaule (Steud.) Desc.

Vitaceae

09

Low

Herb 

Wild

DS

101

Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch. et Dalziel

Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae

01

Low

Shrub

Wild

RS

102

Dialium guineense Willd.

Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae

01

Low

Shrub

Wild

DS

103

Dyschoriste perrottetii (Nees) Kuntze

Acanthaceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

104

Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.

Asteraceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

105

Ehretia cymosa Thonn. ex Schumach. var. cymosa

Boraginaceae

01

Low

Shrub 

Wild

RS

106

Emilia praetermissa Milne-Redh.

Asteraceae

03

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

107

Euphorbia hirta L.

Euphorbiaceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

108

Ficus artocarpoides Warb.

Moraceae

01

Low

Tree

Wild

RS

109

Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq.

Moraceae

02

Low

Tree

Wild

RS

110

Ficus polita Vahl

Moraceae

04

Low

Tree

Wild

RS

111

Ficus sur Forssk.

Moraceae

05

Low

Shrub

Wild

RS

112

Ficus sycomorus L.

Moraceae

03

Low

Shrub

Wild

RS

113

Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. et Thonn.

Rubiaceae

02

Low

Shrub 

Wild

RS

114*

Gmelina arborea Roxb.

Verbenaceae

01

Low

Tree

Wild

RS

115

Gomphrena celosioides Mart.

Amaranthaceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

116

Grewia carpinifolia Juss.

Tiliaceae

01

Low

Tree 

Wild

RS

117

Grewia lasiodiscus K. Schum.

Tiliaceae

04

Low

Shrub 

Wild

RS

118*

Grewia mollis Juss.

Tiliaceae

07

Low

Shrub 

Wild

RS

119

Gymnanthemum coloratum (Willd.) H. Rob. et B. Kahn

Asteraceae

05

Low

Shrub

Wild

AS

120

Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes.

Celastraceae

01

Low

Shrub 

Wild

RS

121

Hallea stipulosa (DC.) J.-F. Leroy

Rubiaceae

01

Low

Shrub 

Wild

RS

122*

Heliotropium indicum L.

Boraginaceae

13

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

123

Hexalobus monopetalus (A.Rich.) Engl. et Diels

Annonaceae

01

Low

Shrub 

Wild

RS

124*

Hibiscus asper Hook. f.

Malvaceae

14

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

125

Hoslundia opposita Vahl

Lamiaceae

02

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

126

Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Muell.

Violaceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

127

Hydrolea gbabra Schum. et Thonn.

Hydrophyllaceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

128

Hyptis lanceolata Poir.

Lamiaceae

04

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

129*

Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.

Convolvulaceae

09

Low

Herb 

Wild

AS

130*

Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.

Convolvulaceae

11

Low

Herb

Cultivated

RS

131*

Ipomoea eriocarpa R. Br.

Convolvulaceae

02

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

132

Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq.

Convolvulaceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

133

Ipomoea vagans Baker

Convolvulaceae

03

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

134*

Jacquemontia tamnifolia (L.) Griseb.

Convolvulaceae

05

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

135*

Jatropha curcas L.

Euphorbiaceae

01

Low

Shrub

Cultivated

AS

136

Lagenaria breviflora (Benth.) Roberty

Cucurbitaceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

137*

Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.

Cucurbitaceae

11

Low

Herb 

Cultivated

RS

138*

Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne.

Asclepiadaceae

08

Low

Herb 

Wild

AS

139*

Ludwigia decurrens Walt.

Onagraceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

140*

Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.

Cucurbitaceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

141*

Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.

Solanaceae

12

Low

Herb

Cultivated

AS

142

Melanthera scandens (Schumach. et Thonn.) Roberty

Asteraceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

143

Melastomastrum segregatum (Benth.) A. et R. Fern.

Melastomataceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

144*

Melochia corchorifolia L.

Sterculiaceae

03

Low

Herb

Wild

AS

145

Mikania chenopodiifolia Willd.

Asteraceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

146

Momordica charantia L.

Cucurbitaceae

08

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

147

Momordica cissoides Planch. ex Benth.

Cucurbitaceae

02

Low

Herb

Wild

AS

148

Ocimum americanum L.

Lamiaceae

04

Low

Herb 

Cultivated

AS

149

Ormocarpum sennoides (Willd.) DC. ssp. hispidum (Willd.) Brenan et J. Léonard

Leguminosae-Papilionoideae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

150

Passiflora foetida L.

Passifloraceae

04

Low

Herb

Wild

AS

151*

Pentodon pentandrus (Schumach. et Thonn.) Vatke

Rubiaceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

152

Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov.

Asclepiadaceae

04

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

153

Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Leguminosae-Papilionoideae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

154

Phragmanthera kamerunensis (Engl.) Balle

Loranthaceae

01

Low

Shrub 

Wild

RS

155

Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. et Thonn.

Euphorbiaceae

02

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

156

Physalis angulata L.

Solanaceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

157

Piliostigma reticulatum (DC.) Hochst.

Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae

01

Low

Shrub

Wild

RS

158

Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh.

Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae

01

Low

Shrub

Wild

RS

159

Platostoma africanum P. Beauv.

Lamiaceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

160*

Portulaca oleracea L.

Portulacaceae

04

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

161

Psidium guajava L.

Myrtaceae

01

Low

Tree 

Cultivated

RS

162*

Psophocarpus palustris Desv.

(Leguminosae-Papilionoideae)

01

Low

Shrub 

Wild

RS

163

Pterocapus santalinoides L’Hér. ex DC.

Leguminosae-Papilionoideae

01

Low

Tree 

Wild

RS

164

Pupalia lappacea (L.) Juss.

Amaranthaceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

165

Sclerocarpus africanus Jacq. ex Murr.

Asteraceae

01

Low

Herb

Cultivated

RS

166

Secamone afzelii (Schult.) K. Schum.

Asclepiadaceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

167*

Senna obstitufolia (L.) H.S. Irwin et Barneby

Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae

04

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

168

Sida rhombifolia L. ssp. rhombifolia

Malvaceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

169*

Solanum americanum Mill.

Solanaceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

170*

Solanum dasyphyllum Schumach. et Thonn.

Solanaceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

171

Sphenoclea zeylanica Gaertn.

Sphenocleaceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

AS

172

Spigelia anthelmia L.

Loganiaceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

173

Stachytarpheta indica (L.) Vahl

Verbenaceae

09

Low

Herb

Cultivated

RS

174

Sterculia setigera Delile

Sterculiaceae

01

Low

Tree 

Wild

RS

175

Sterculia tragacantha Lindl.

Sterculiaceae

08

Low

Tree

Wild

DS

176*

Sparaganophorus sparganophora (L.) C. Jeffrey

Asteraceae

07

Low

Shrub

Wild

AS

177

Strychnos spinosa Lam.

Loganiaceae

01

Low

Shrub

Wild

RS

178

Stylochaeton lancifolius Kotschy et Peyr.

Araceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

179

Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn.

Asteraceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

180

Terminalia glaucescens Planch. ex Benth.

Combretaceae

01

Low

Tree

Wild

RS

181

Terminalia superba Engl. et Diels

Combretaceae

01

Low

Tree

Wild

RS

182

Trema orientalis (L.) Blume

Celtidaceae

01

Low

Shrub 

Wild

RS

183*

Trianthema portulacastrum L.

Aizoaceae

01

Low

Herb 

Wild

RS

184

Tribulus terrestris L.

Zygophyllaceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

185

Tridax procumbens L.

Asteraceae

01

Low

Herb

Wild

RS

186*

Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum.

Sterculiaceae

01

Low

Tree

Wild

RS

187

Uvaria chamae P. Beauv.

Annonaceae

01

Low

Shrub

Wild

RS

  1. NE: Number of ethnic group consuming the species; DC: degree of consumption; TP: type of plant; PA: period of availability of the consumable fresh leaves; RS: rainy season; DS: dry season; AS: all season; * described in PROTA database and/or Schippers (2002); N: north; S: south; C: centre

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Dansi, A., Adjatin, A., Adoukonou-Sagbadja, H. et al. Traditional leafy vegetables and their use in the Benin Republic. Genet Resour Crop Evol 55, 1239–1256 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-008-9324-z

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