Legacy of the chameleon: Edible wild plants in the Kindom of Swaziland, Southern Africa. A cultural, ecological, nutritional study. Part II ‐ demographics, species availability and dietary use, analysis by ecological zone
This paper, the second of four, presents demographic characteristics for 211 adults and 140 school children surveyed in four ecological zones in the Kingdom of Swaziland. It identifies edible species recognized and consumed, and concludes with an analysis of edible plant use by ecological zone. Swaziland is culturally homogeneous: 90 % of persons interviewed were ethnic Swazi; 46 % had no formal education; 60 % of adults were born or had lived for more than 13 years at their present homestead in a specific ecological zone. All respondents consumed wild plants; 11 % never purchased food. More older respondents occupied the Highveld; more younger Swazi Middleveld and Lowveld. Most land was cultivated at Middleveld sites. Food production varied significantly by ecological zone; most maize was produced in the Highveld. Adults reported a range of edible species (9–90) in each of four ecological zones; adults ate, on average, ten more species than school children. Most prominently consumed edible leaves were from the genera Amaranthus, Bidens and Corchorus. More than 200 edible species are identified taxonomically. Recognition and use of each species by adults and school children is compared. Wild fruits were more commonly associated with school children. Traditional edible species once associated with the Middleveld have declined in numbers due to intensive agricultural development.