Some wild growing plants in traditional foods of Uzbekistan

Abstract

Background: The flora in Uzbekistan is extremely rich and diverse due to its biogeographical features such as a sharply continental climate, deserts, and high mountains. Methods: The collected data were obtained from the 12 villages of the west (Tashkent region), the southern part of Uzbekistan (Kashkadarya and Surhandarya regions), and Karalpakstan by conducting interviews and through scientific research. Results: The selected 39 species from 200 wild growing plants, which are used as food in Uzbekistan, are described. Among these endemic plants are: Allium aflatunense B. Fedtsch., A. motor R. Kam. and Levichev, A. suworowii Regel, A. pskemense B. Fedtsch. (Alliaceae), Dragocephallum spinulosum M. Pop, Hyssopus ferganensis Boriss., Mentha pamiroalaica Boriss., Rheum maximoviczi A. Los. (Polygonaceae), etc. The taxonomical analysis shows that these plants belong to 18 families and 25 genera. Conclusion: The collected data represents less than 10% of the plants which are used as a food in Uzbekistan. Analysis of the indigenous plants revealed a number of them which are also used in traditional food in China, Russia, Korea, India, and other countries.

Keywords

• edible plants
• ethnic food
• Uzbekistan