Ethnobotany of Dacryodes edulis (G.Don) H.J. Lam in Southern Nigeria 2: Practices and applications among Igbo-speaking people
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Botanical Research Institute of Texas.
Abstract
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The Igbos of Southeast Nigeria believe ube (Dacryodes
edulis (G.Don) H.J. Lam) originated in the region. The
plant is heavily cultivated around homes, homesteads,
and village centers as a preferred reception/meeting
point. It constitutes a key auxiliary income source for farmers,
women, and vendors alike. The whole plant and/or
its parts are associated with several practices and applications
amongst the Igbo tribal people. It is preferable to
soften the fruit with hot ashes and eat it with maize. The
people utilize the plant’s medicinal properties for managing
a vast number of health conditions. In some areas, the
plant is venerated as “pure” or “sacred” because of historical
mysterious events linked to it. The idioms and proverbs
relating to the plant show the importance of ube in
the Igbos cultural system. These connections cut across
worship, marriage, birth, chieftaincy/coronation, dispute,
recreation, construction, and craftworks. Ardent efforts
are required to preserve this rich ethnobotanical knowledge
as well as a section of the plant’s (small-sized fruit)
germplasm, which is threatened by the prevailing trade
and domestication trends that favor large-sized fruit types
within and beyond the tribal confines.
Keywords
QK Botany