Traditional knowledge on wild edible plants as livelihood food in Odisha, India.

An ethnobotanical investigation was carried out in the interior of Kendrapara district, Odisha, India to explore the potential use of edible plants by local inhabitants. Two hundred and twenty three informants of various ages in different villages of the site provided information on plant species used as food. Information on the use of edible plants was obtained through structured questionnaires, complemented by free interviews and informal conversations. The study documented 86 edible plant species belonging to 51 families. Amaranthaceae, Dioscoreaceae and Caesalpiniaceae were the most important botanical family. Of the reported species trees and herbs make up the highest proportion of the edible species comprising 38.4\% and 20.0\% respectively. Within the edible plant parts, leaves and fruits contributed 35.4\% and 33.3\% and the remainders were edible tubers, flowers and seeds. Present study demonstrated that there is an urgent need for documentation of traditional knowledge related to the intangible cultural heritage concerning traditional plant uses. The utilization and cultivation of these vegetables should be promoted to maintain the dietary needs of the household in Odisha. The study can provide a baseline data that may be helpful for prioritization of conservation through sustainable use and management of the resources.