Ethnobotanical Study Of Wild Edible Plants In Hababo Guduru District, Horro Guduru Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Wild edible plant species are important resources in combating food insecurity. Wild edible plants have played a vital role in supplementing the diet of people in developing countries. People in Hababo Guduru District consume different parts of wild edible plants. The purpose of the study was to identify and document wild edible plants with their habits, habitats, edible parts, uses, threats and management practices by Hababo Guduru District of Horro Guduru Wollega zone, Oromia Region, Western Ethiopia. The area lies between latitudes 90, 35‘to 9045’ North and longitude 370 24’ to 370 36’ East. A total of 72 informants (40 males and 32 females) selected from four study sites and of them 8 were key informants. Questionnaires, Semi-structured interview, focus group discussion, market survey and field observations were tools of data collection methods. The collected data was analyzed through Descriptive statistics. A total of 29 wild edible plants were documented. Of these families, Moraceae, the most dominant families that account 3 (10.34%) species. Trees habit were the major growth forms (58.62%) followed by shrubs (31%), herbs (6.89%) and climber (3.5%). The study also showed that the majority (79.3%) of the species were collected from the natural forest.Fruits were the most edible parts compared to the other edible plant parts that account 22 (75.86%).The most preferred in food taste quality of wild edible plants was Ficus sur .Multipurpose use, farm land expansion, over grazing, fuel wood collection, charcoal making and construction resulted in major threat to WEPs