Wild Edible Herbs in Paddy Fields and Their Sale in a Mixture in Houaphan Province, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Abstract

Wild Edible Herbs in Paddy Fields and Their Sale in a Mixture in Houaphan Province, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Multiple wild edible herbs coexist in paddy fields under the agricultural practices used for growing rice. Paddy field vegetation was surveyed and the rural population’s perceptions and use of wild edible herbs were investigated in the northern Lao People’s Democratic Republic. A total of 115 wild herbaceous species were observed in the paddy fields of two villages; 52 species grew in fields, 95 on levees, and 63 on banks. Of these, 25 species were locally used, and 22 were sold as a mixture at the Xamneua market, with species composition varying by availability and season. The total number of edible greens increased during the summer season when available vegetables were scarce. Marsilea quadrifolia L. (Marsileaceae), the most abundant in the field and in the market, as well as Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. (Apiaceae), Eryngium foetidum L. (Apiaceae), Spilanthes oleracea L. (Asteraceae), and Monochoria hastata (L.) Solms (Pontederiaceae) were the most popular wild herbs sold. Wild edible herbs are called “phak”, which is also used to indicate cultivated vegetables, and clearly distinguishes them from the inedible herbs referred to as “nya.” Two methods are employed to gather wild edible herbs: some plants are uprooted as a way of thinning individuals, and other plants have only their young leaves picked so that they can be harvested repeatedly. Gathering and selling wild edible herbs was mainly conducted by women and children for whom it was a source of cash income. Thus, the relationships that exist between people and the wild plants they maintain as part of their farming activities can be considered an indicator of paddy field agrodiversity.

ラオス北部フアパン県における水田の食用野草とその販売における組み合わせ. 水田稲作は多様な野草を育み、その多くは食用とされてきた。ラオス北部において、水田の草本植生と住民による野草利用の調査を行った。二カ村の調査で合計115種の野草が記録され、そのうち52種が田面、95種が畦畔、63種が水路土手に生育していた。食用とされる25種のうち、22種はサムヌア市街の市場で販売されていた。市場では複数種の野草が混ぜて販売され、野菜の少ない乾季には混ぜられる野草の種類が多かった。最も多く販売される野草は、Marsilea quadrifolia L. (Marsileaceae)、Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. (Apiaceae)、Eryngium foetidum L. (Apiaceae)、Spilanthes oleracea L. (Asteraceae)、Monochoria hastata (L.) Solms (Pontederiaceae)であった。食用となる野草は、栽培野菜を指す総称「パック」で呼ばれ、食用とならない野草「ニャー」と明確に区別されていた。食用野草の採集には、間引きも兼ねて根から引き抜く方法と、繰り返し採集できるように若葉だけ摘む方法の二通りが確認された。野草の採集と販売は女性と子供によって行われ、彼らの現金収入源とされていた。このようにラオス北部の水田では、農耕活動のもとで人々と野草の多様な関係が維持されており、それは水田農業の多様性を象徴するものである。