Ethnobotany of Pentadesma butyracea in Benin: A quantitative approach

Integrating ethnobotanical knowledge in the development of management and conservation strategies of indigenous plant resources is critical to their effectiveness. In this paper, we used four plant use indices to assess how the plant use knowledge of a multipurpose tree (Pentadesma butyracea Sabine) varies across different sociolinguistic groups from two geographical areas of Benin, and how these variations may influence the species’ conservation and utilisation strategies. Seven sociolinguistic groups namely the Anii, Nagot, Kotocoli, and Fulani in the central part, and the Waama, Ditamari and Natimba in the northwestern part of the country were considered. We determined the reported use value of the plant parts, the plant part value, the specific use and the intraspecific use value for each sociolinguistic group. The various communities showed different interests in the plant organs they used. Nagot people showed the best plant use knowledge with the highest use value for bark and roots, two organs critical to the plant survival. Sociolinguistic groups living in the same geographical area shared similar plant part values, likely because of knowledge exchanges through social interactions. The observed intercultural convergences of uses may be a starting point of the selection of parts of the species for phytochemical, biological and pharmacological studies.

Source de publication: Ethnobotany Research & Applications 9:00X-00X (2011)

Contacts du ou des auteurs: C. Avocèvou-Ayisso (c.avocevou@gmail.com) , T.H. Avohou, M. Oumorou (moumorou@yahoo.fr), G. Dossou and B. Sinsin