Traditional Wild Food Plants Gathered by Ethnic Groups Living in Semi-Arid Region of Punjab, Pakistan

Simple Summary In traditional food systems, especially for rural populations around the world, wild food plants have remained crucial. These resources must be quickly documented in order to lay the groundwork for sustainable livelihoods and food security. In this study, we looked at 71 traditional food plants and the cultural significances and economic views on the diversity of food plants in the semi-arid region of Punjab, Pakistan, and assessed how local people use wild foods according to preference, seasonality, and availability. We gathered information about 71 key traditional food plants from five ethnic groups (Arain, Jutt, Rajpot, Mewati, and Dogar) by conducting semi-structured interviews, and holding group discussions. In this study, we documented four species (Capparis decidua, Cannabis sativa, Salvadora oleoides, and Salvadora persica) which overlapped between all ethnic groups. Seven species did, however, overlap over three indigenous ethnic groups, the Arain, Jutt, and Dogar. More resemblances were seen between the Jutt and Arain ethnic groups due to their extensive historical cohabitation in the same region. Amaranthus viridis, Physalis minima, Ziziphus nammularia, Chenopodium album, Cucumus melo, and Ficus palmata are the food species that we have identified as food indicators and are important in regional diets. This study represents the first effort to compare the use of food plants across cultural groups in the semi-arid area. Wild edible food plants (WFPs) are valuable resources in the traditional food systems of many local cultures worldwide, particularly in underdeveloped regions. Understanding patterns of food preferences requires conducting cross-cultural food studies among various ethnic groups in a specific area. In this context, the current study aimed to record WFP use among five ethnic groups in Punjab, Pakistan, by interviewing 175 informants selected through snowball sampling. The indicator food species for different ethnic groups were calculated using indicator analysis based on the percentage of citations. A total of 71 wild food plants (WFPs) belonging to 57 genera and 27 families were observed in the study area. A high proportion of these wild food plants (WFPs) belonged to Fabaceae with eleven species (15%), followed by Moraceae with seven species (9%). Fruits were most widely used (43%), followed by leaves (19%), and shoots (16%). The majority (35 species, 49%) of plants of WFPs were eaten as cooked vegetables. A cross-cultural comparison revealed that four species overlapped among five ethnic groups (Arain, Jutt, Rajpot, Mewati, and Dogar). The Arain ethnic group gathered and consumed a remarkable number of wild plants (35 species), possibly due to a special connection with the general abundance of the local flora, and being close to nature by adopting professions more allied to WFPs in the study area. The analysis of indicator species revealed distinct significant indicator values (p <= 0.05) between the main food species among the various ethnic groups. Amaranthus viridis was a common indicator of food in all five ethnic groups, while Ziziphus nammularia was a common indicator food plant of the Mewati, Rajpot, and Jutt ethnic groups; these plants are important in local diets, especially during times of food scarcity brought on by disease or drought. In addition, the current study reports 20 WFPs that have been rarely documented as human food in Pakistan's ethnobotanical literature. Future development plans should consider biocultural heritage and pay appropriate attention to local ecological knowledge, dynamics, and historical exchanges of traditional food systems.