Diversity of non-conventional food plants from rural area of Muriae, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to better know the PANCs in rural communities from Muriaé city, Minas Gerais, in addition to identify and register the diversity, forms of use and domestication status of the studied species. Semi structured questionnaires was used as a script in the conversations with the communities residents, in order to obtain information regarding the species known and/or consumed. The research was conducted in two communities called Ancorado and Macuco, where 30 respondents were interviewed in each community. The characterization of the studied group showed that the majority of respondents were female, whose main activity was the household services. Thirty - six species belonging to different botanical families were cited and we found that the unconventional food plants have come from family tradition which is a strongly marked feature in the two communities studied.