Paper Title
Ethnobotanical Study of Wild Edible Plants in Pelagonia Region (Southwestern Macedonia)
Abstract
An ethnobotanical study was conducted from March 2015 to November 2016 to investigate the traditional uses of
wild edible plants in 23 villages of Pelagonia region (Southwestern Macedonia). Data for 94 species were collected through
face-to-face interviewing and focus group discussion with 78 locally recognized knowledgeableelders over 60 ages of
diverse ethnic groups (Macedonians and Albanians). Information about three main different methods of consumption (food,
beverages and bread of yogurt starters) were recorded and compared. In this study most commonly used family was
Rosaceae followed by Lamiaceae and Asteraceae. Present study indicated that many these elders in Pelagonia region still
continue to depend on plant resources to meet their day-to-day needs for food. But now, all three ethnic groups are
progressing towards modernization; their knowledge of traditional use of plants might be lost. Therefore conservation of
such heritage is warranted.
Index terms - Wild Edible Plants (WEPs), Ethnobotany, Food culture, Pelagonia Region, Macedonia.