Ethnobotanical survey in the Graecanic Area of Reggio Calabria (Southern Italy): a treasure chest of biodiversity and traditions at risk of extinction

Background: In many rural areas of the Mediterranean, spontaneous plants play an essential role in everyday sustenance. However, knowledge of the use of spontaneous plants is gradually disappearing owing to socioeconomic changes that do not allow the enhancement of ethnobotanical traditions. The aim of this work was to collect, preserve, and enhance the ethnobotanical knowledge of the Graecanic Area of Reggio Calabria (Southern Italy), a marginal area rich in traditions and ethnobotanical knowledge that are at risk of extinction. Methods: Data related to the botanical species known and used by the Graecanic populations were collected and analysed. Results: In total, 632 records concerning current and past ethnobotanical use were gathered based on interviews with 24 informants. A total of 157 taxa belonging to 50 different families were identified, along with 22 subspecies and 3 genera utilised for ethnobotanical purposes. The most frequently mentioned families were Asteraceae (105 interviews and 26 taxa), Lamiaceae (69 interviews and 12 taxa), and Apiaceae (56 interviews and 8 taxa). The most frequent use was related to nutrition (263 interviews and 83 taxa). The most used taxon was Clinopodium nepeta (L.) Kuntze subsp. nepeta, known as nipiteddha in dialect, cited by 14 informants for 5 different uses and totalling 34 interviews, showing high values for CV (0.72) and RFC (0.58). Conclusions: These findings highlight the significance of ethnobotanical knowledge in preserving cultural traditions and promoting sustainable local practices, while also identifying potential new quality products.