Ethnobotanical analysis of ornamental plant producers’ knowledge in Benin: valorization and management perspectives

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the ethnobotanical knowledge of ornamental plant producers in Benin for better valorization. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted through semi-structured and individual interviews with 80 individuals. In total, 78 species of ornamental plants belonging to 25 botanical families were identified. The families Euphorbiaceae (15.38%), Apocynaceae (12.82%), Araceae (11.54%), and Verbenaceae (6.41%) were the most dominant. Five categories of uses were identified for ornamental plants in Benin, including aesthetic or decorative, psycho-magical, therapeutic, cosmetic, and food uses. Among these, aesthetic or decorative use of ornamental plants was widely recognized by producers (100% of surveyed producers), followed by use for psycho-magical purposes (45.7% of respondents). The frequency of citation of different categories of use varied according to the gender, age, ethnic group, and educational level of the interviewed producers. Ethnic group and educational level significantly influenced the ethnobotanical knowledge of ornamental plant producers. The first species showing a strong potential for ethnobotanical use were Citrus aurantiifolia (UVI = 10.78), Lippia multiflora (UVI = 9.70), Ocimum basilicum (UVI = 9.03), Verbena bonariensis (UVI = 8.14), Dracaena braunii (UVI = 8.08). These results can be considered as an important source of information for the management of the ornamental plant sector in Benin.

Keywords

• Benin
• cultural significance
• decorative plants
• ethnobiology
• horticultural practices
• traditional knowledge