Volume 11, Issue 1, August 11, 2015, Article number 63
a
University of Warsaw, Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, Ul. Zurawia 4, Warsaw, Poland
b University of Warsaw Botanic Garden, Faculty of Biology, Al. Ujazdowskie 4, Warsaw, Poland
c University of Warsaw, Faculty of Artes Liberales, Ul. Nowy Świat 69, Warsaw, Poland
b University of Warsaw Botanic Garden, Faculty of Biology, Al. Ujazdowskie 4, Warsaw, Poland
c University of Warsaw, Faculty of Artes Liberales, Ul. Nowy Świat 69, Warsaw, Poland
Abstract
Background: Shiri is a small mountainous village in the Republic of Daghestan, in the North Caucasus. Daghestan is Russia's
southernmost and most ethnically and linguistically diverse republic, a
considerable part of which belongs to the Caucasus Biodiversity
Hotspot. Various species of wild leafy vegetables are collected in Shiri
and there are still many social and cultural practices connected with
plant collection in the village. Yet due to migration processes, local
knowledge about wild greens and their uses is being slowly forgotten or
not passed on. The Shiri language is highly endangered and so are the
local plant terminologies and classifications. The unstable political
situation hinders local and international research, therefore we find it
highly important to explore both what wild leafy vegetables are
collected in this mountainous part of Daghestan and how the relation
between plants and people is shaped in this linguistically and
culturally diverse context. We answer the following questions: what wild
leafy vegetables are collected in Shiri? Why are they important to the
local people? What is the social aspect of wild leafy vegetable uses?
Methods: The methods applied were as follows: forest walks and
semi-structured interviews with adult inhabitants of Shiri village,
participant and non-participant observation. During the walks herbarium
specimens were collected, and visual recording of plant collecting
process was conducted. This article is based on fieldwork done in Shiri,
Daghestan, between 2012 and 2014, over the course of 3 field trips that
took place in 3 seasons. Results: We collected and identified
twenty-two local (24 botanical) species of wild leafy vegetables.
Fourteen local species were used as snacks, eight for cooked dishes and
three of them were also dried in order to be transported to kin living
in the lowlands. It is significant that 70 % of taxa collected in Shiri
are used as snacks. While snacks were collected by both sexes, greens
for cooking and drying were part of the women's knowledge. The analysis
of people-plant relations showed that care practices constitute an
important part of these relations. Through the giving of wild greens,
Shiri people express care for co-villagers and migrants and show their
respect for elders. In the narratives about wild greens, their
nutritional and taste value as well as perceived exceptionality were
emphasized. Conclusions: 1) Wild leafy vegetables are a significant
element of everyday social life in Shiri in regard to mutual care,
respect for elders and local identity. 2) Gender has a greater influence
on practical skills than on declarative plant knowledge. 3) Names of
plants are publicly discussed with elders and are not always fixed. 4)
The moral value ascribed to giving in the local culture is expressed
through wild leafy vegetables. 5) Care expressed through sending wild
leafy vegetables helps to sustain social ties between migrants and Shiri
inhabitants. 6) Identity, health and naturalness discourses are adding
value to the local knowledge about wild leafy vegetables. © 2015
Kaliszewska and Kołodziejska-Degórska.
ISSN: 17464269Source Type: Journal
Original language: English
DOI: 10.1186/s13002-015-0047-xDocument Type: Article
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.
