Reivindicació de l’etnobotànica

6 p., fot. col. y bl. y n.[EN] Ethnobotany, a discipline located at the intersection between natural science and social science, is sometimes misunderstood by researchers from one or other of these fields. In this article we discuss the positive and negative aspects of interdisciplinarity regarding this subject, and we argue for its status as a true science from different points of view. Our conclusion is that ethnobotanical research – like all ethnobiological research in general – undoubtedly exists within the scientific field and is successfully established, active and productive. In addition, ethnobotany is a citizen science: the participation of the population is essential for research, which must be communicated to academia and to the general citizen.[ES] La etnobotánica, disciplina situada en la interfaz de las ciencias naturales y las ciencias sociales, es, en algunas ocasiones, incomprendida tanto por los investigadores de uno como de otro campo. En este artículo discutimos los aspectos positivos y negativos de la interdisciplinariedad en la materia en cuestión y argumentamos, desde diferentes puntos de vista, su condición de ciencia. Nuestra conclusión es que la investigación etnobotánica –como todas las etnobiológicas en general– entra sin duda dentro del ámbito científico y que actualmente está bastante consolidada, activa y productiva. Además, la etnobotánica es una ciencia ciudadana: la participación del pueblo es imprescindible para la investigación, que hay que difundir tanto en el ámbito académico como en el de la divulgación.[CAT] L'etnobotànica, disciplina situada en la interfície de les ciències naturals i les ciències socials, és, en algunes ocasions, incompresa tant pels investigadors d'un com d'altre camp. En aquest article discutim els aspectes positius i negatius de la interdisciplinarietat en la matèria en qüestió i argumentem, des de diferents punts de vista, la seva condició de ciència. La nostra conclusió és que la recerca etnobotànica –com totes les etnobiològiques en general– entra sens dubte dins de l'àmbit científic i que actualment és prou consolidada, activa i productiva. A més, l'etnobotànica és una ciència ciutadana: la participació del poble és imprescindible per a la recerca, que cal difondre tant en l'àmbit acadèmic com en el de la divulgació.Peer reviewe

Phylogeographic insights of the lowland species Cheirolophus sempervirens in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula

5 p., gráf, mapasThe southwestern Iberian Peninsula is an important biogeographic region, showing high biodiversity levels and hosting several putative glacial refugia for European flora. Here, we study the genetic diversity and structure of the Mediterranean, thermophilous plant Cheirolophus sempervirens (Asteraceae) across its whole distribution range in SW Iberia, as a tool to disentangle some of the general biogeographic patterns shaping this southern refugia hotspot. Null genetic diversity was observed in the cpDNA sequencing screening. Nonetheless, AFLP data revealed high levels of among-population genetic differentiation correlated to their geographic location. Our results suggest longer species persistence in southern Iberian refugia during glacial periods and subsequent founder effects northwards due to colonizations in warmer stages (i.e., the southern richness to northern purity pattern). Additionally, our phylogeographic analyses indicate the presence of two separate genetic lineages within Ch. sempervirens, supporting the hypothesis of multiple minor refugia for SW Iberia in agreement with the refugia within refugia model.This work has been supported by the Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica (Spanish Government; projects CGL2010-22234-C02-01 and 02/BOS and CGL2013-49097-C2-2-P) and the Generalitat de Catalunya (“Ajuts a grups de recerca consolidats” 2009SGR0439 and 2014SGR514).Peer reviewe

De plantes silvestres a delicatessen

Noticia publicada en la web institutcional del Instituto Botánico de Barcelona el 7 de abril de 2016 -- Disponibles PDFs en español y catalán y capturas de pantalla de la noticia en la web.Peer reviewe

A vindication of etnnobotany : between natural and social science

Ethnobotany, a discipline located at the intersection between natural science and social science, is sometimes misunderstood by researchers from one or other of these fields. In this article we discuss the positive and negative aspects of interdisciplinarity regarding this subject, and we argue for its status as a true science from different points of view. Our conclusion is that ethnobotanical research ? like all ethnobiological research in general ? undoubtedly exists within the scientific field and is successfully established, active and productive. In addition, ethnobotany is a citizen science: the participation of the population is essential for research, which must be communicated to academia and to the general citizen

Filling the gaps: ethnobotanical study of the Garrigues district, an arid zone in Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula)

[Background]: This study has focused on the Garrigues district, one of the most arid regions in Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula), which, in general terms, has remained unexplored from the ethnobotanical point of view. This area, of 22,243 inhabitants, comprises 33 municipalities distributed across 1123.12 km2. The natural vegetation is dominated by holm oak forests and maquis called ‘garriga’, the latter giving its name to the district. During the last few decades, this landscape has been transformed by agricultural activities, nowadays in recession. The main aim of this work was to collect and analyse the ethnoflora of this area in order to fill a gap in the ethnobotanical knowledge in Catalonia.[Methods]: The followed methodology was based on semi-structured interviews. The obtained data have been qualitatively and quantitatively analysed and compared with other available ones.[Results]: Data were gathered from 68 interviews involving 101 informants, whose ages range from 24 to 94, the mean being 73.07. The number of taxa reported in this study was 420, belonging to 99 botanical families. The interviewed informants referred 4715 use reports (UR) of 346 useful taxa, 1741 (36.93) of them corresponding to medicinal uses, 1705 (36.16%) to food uses, and 1269 (26.91%) to other uses. This study has inventoried, apart from individual plant uses, 260 plant mixtures, of which 98 are medicinal and 162 food. In the present study, 849 vernacular names with 116 phonetic variants have been collected, as well, for 410 taxa. The informant consensus factor (FIC) obtained for our interviewees is 0.93, and the ethnobotanicity index is 23.47% for the studied area. Apart from plants belonging to the typical Catalan, Iberian or European ethnofloras, the present work contributes information on some plants from semiarid or arid regions, such as Artemisia herba-alba and Plantago albicans, much rarer in the ethnobotany of the quoted areas.[Conclusions]: The results of this study reveal the persistence of ethnobotanical knowledge in the prospected area and the importance of filling the existing gaps in the ethnofloristic sampling of the Catalan territories. The almost complete dataset, now including some arid territories, will allow us to carry out a global analysis and to provide an accurate overview.This research was supported by projects 2017SGR001116 from the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government), PRO2017-S02VALLES and PRO2020-S02VALLES from the Institut d’Estudis Catalans (IEC, Catalan Academy of Sciences and Humanities) and CSO2014-59704-P and CGL2017-84297-R from the Spanish Government. AG received a predoctoral grant of the Universitat de Barcelona (APIF 2015-2018).Peer reviewe

Festuca dertosensis (Poaceae), an overlooked fescue from the NE Iberian Peninsula

11 p., mapas, fot., il.A new species of Festuca L. (Poaceae) is described from the southern mountains of Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain). The new taxon belongs to the F. rubra aggregate, and superficially resembles plants of the F. trichophylla group. Its leaf anatomy, however, suggests a closer relationship with F. rubra and, in particular, F. heterophylla. Although sharing some features with F. paucispicula, a sympatric taxon, there are sufficient differences to warrant its separation from this local endemic. A comparative table and key are provided to assist in the identification of this overlooked fescue, and its relationship to other species present in the area is discussed, with special attention paid to species sharing a similar distribution. Mitosis studies have been carried out to determine the chromosome number, and the results suggest a decaploid, with a chromosome number of 2n = c. 70.Peer reviewe

Genome size variation in the Artemisia arborescens complex (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) and its cultivars

10 p.[EN] Different wild Mediterranean populations of Artemisia arborescens from diverse locations representing its geographical distribution, as well as some of its well-known cultivars and some specimens cultivated as ornamentals in gardens, streets, roads and nurseries, were analysed for genome size. Other closely related species endemic to Macaronesia, Artemisia canariensis, Artemisia argentea, and Artemisia gorgonum, were also analysed, and their nuclear DNA amount has been related to the biogeography of this group of species. Additionally, 5 populations of the closely related Artemisia absinthium were analysed to establish comparisons. Measurements acquired by flow cytometry ranged from 8.29 to 11.61 pg for 2C values. Statistically significant differences of 2C nuclear DNA amounts with respect to factors such as insularity or domestication have been detected. However, quite a low intraspecific genome size variation has been found in these species. Furthermore, the study also addressed the possible hybrid origins and possible misidentifications of some of the supposed cultivars of A. arborescens.Peer reviewe

Fitodermologia i cariologia d'Onobrychis viciifolia Scop., O. Supina (Chaix) DC. i O. saxatilis Lam. de Catalunya

Epidermal fragments from 47 populations of Onobrychis viciifolia, 0. supina and 0. saxatilis are studied. The stomatal size, orientation, type and stomatal index are calculated for taxonomical application. The form of the epidermal cells is the most important characteristic for this application. The basic number of genus Onobrychis x=7, the chromosome number of 0 . supina, 2n=14, and 0. viciifolia, 2n=28, are confirmed. The chromosome number 2n=14 is new for 0. saxatilis. The karyotypes, the chromosome formula and asymmetry index are calculated

Festuca dertosensis (Poaceae), an overlooked fescue from the NE Iberian Peninsula

A new species of Festuca L. (Poaceae) is described from the southern mountains of Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain). The new taxon belongs to the F. rubra aggregate, and superficially resembles plants of the F. trichophylla group. Its leaf anatomy, however, suggests a closer relationship with F. rubra and, in particular, F. heterophylla. Although sharing some features with F. paucispicula, a sympatric taxon, there are sufficient differences to warrant its separation from this local endemic. A comparative table and key are provided to assist in the identification of this overlooked fescue, and its relationship to other species present in the area is discussed, with special attention paid to species sharing a similar distribution. Mitosis studies have been carried out to determine the chromosome number, and the results suggest a decaploid, with a chromosome number of 2n = c. 70

Filling the gaps: ethnobotanical study of the Garrigues district, an arid zone in Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula)

This study has focused on the Garrigues district, one of the most arid regions in Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula), which, in general terms, has remained unexplored from the ethnobotanical point of view. This area, of 22,243 inhabitants, comprises 33 municipalities distributed across 1123.12 km2. The natural vegetation is dominated by holm oak forests and maquis called 'garriga', the latter giving its name to the district. During the last few decades, this landscape has been transformed by agricultural activities, nowadays in recession. The main aim of this work was to collect and analyse the ethnoflora of this area in order to fill a gap in the ethnobotanical knowledge in Catalonia