ENDOGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND USES OF THE FRUITS OF PTEROCARPUS SANTALINOIDES L’HER. EX OF (PAPILLIONOIDAE), SPONTANEOUS FOOD PLANT FOUND IN COTE D'IVOIRE

Pierre Etche Etche, Irene Ahou Kouadio, Yolande Dogore Digbeu and Edmond Ahipo Due*

ABSTRACT

The ethnobotanical study carried out on the fruits of Pterocarpus santalinoides in the districts of Agboville, Alépé and Gagnoa located respectively in the South, South-East and Center-West of Côte d'Ivoire was intended to assess the knowledge and use of these fruits by the populations of these localities. The survey areas were chosen on the basis of the results of a pre-survey and the respondents were met in places of large gatherings. The questions asked were closed and open. A total of 609 inhabitants including 230 men and 379 women were interviewed. The results revealed that parameters, age group, ethnicity and locality influence the level of knowledge, which is far from the case with parameters, gender and level of education. People aged 60 and over were more familiar (69.3%) with fruits than those under 60. Also, the male gender had a higher knowledge rate (64.3%) than the female gender (57.8%). The Abbey ethnic group had a high knowledge rate compared to other ethnicities, and the vernacular names collected differ from one ethnic group to another. In addition, the fruits were better known in Adahou (100%) and Alépé (90.1%) than in other localities. When it comes to educational attainment the results indicated that the uneducated had the highest rate (65.7%).Subsequently, the study reported that the fruits were obtained by collecting and were used mainly for food. Most almonds were eaten in the freshform and only 2% of respondents said the almonds from these fruits could be used in the treatment of ulcer.

Keywords: ethnobotanical knowledge, Pterocarpus santalinoides, local appellation.