The Persistence of Flavor: Past and Present Use of Wild Food Plants in Sierra Norte de Madrid, Spain

Despite the increasing scientific and public interest in wild food plants, their traditional knowledge is undergoing a deep cultural erosion process at global scale. The paper assesses past present use of plants Sierra Norte de Madrid (Spain) order to understand which are main drivers its evolution. We interviewed 132 informants analyzed importance following: (1) human use-category compared with all other use-subcategories, (2) plant species, (3) use-subcategories (e.g., vegetables, fruits, condiments, or beverages). useful flora included 252 74 were traditionally used as food, most culturally important use-category. species three vegetables consumed cooked ( Scolymus hispanicus, Bryonia dioica , Silene vulgaris ), two greens that eaten raw Rumex papillaris Montia fontana condiment Thymus zygis fruit Rubus ulmifolius ). Among use-categories, was category higher index, but beverages condiments had lowest rate. found several change some enhancing trend abandonment affects differently certain uses others encouraging maintenance. Factors may explain general linked agricultural practices shepherding: decrease abundance quality plants; no longer necessary for subsistence; reduction time spent countryside; (4) negative connotations considered famine food. On hand, there motivations gathering using plants: seen leisure community building activity; intense flavor cannot be substituted by cultivated commercial ones; positive values associated everyday now delicatessen; medicinal role mainly closer medicine such condiments.