Electronic Supplementary Material, Appendix 1. Ethnobiological uses of local taxa. Taxa and specific uses that were also cited in the Galt and Galt (1978) study are underlined. Citations for practices no longer in use today are denoted with “[past use]”.
Taxa & Voucher Code / St / Local Name / English Common Name / UVc / PU / Local preparation and use / Uis / Ufl / FL /FUNGI
Agaricaceae
Agaricus arvensis Schaeff. / W / Funci di stincu; prataioli; campagnoli / Horse mushroom / 0.714 / Bd / Food: Cook with garlic, parsley, sometimes with potatoes; sometimes roasted or cooked with sausage / 30 / 0 / 100%
Lycoperdon perlatum Pers. / W / Loffa; funci di cacca; funci 'i tobacco; tabaccara / Common puffball / 0.357 / Bd / Food: Collect when young, cook / 6 / 0 / 40%
Bd / Household: When mature, can step on it to squish it and powder comes out (poof game) / 9 / 0 / 60%
Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer / W / Mazza di tamburo / Parasol mushroom / 0.095 / Bd / Food: Breaded and fried. It grows under Quercus spp. / 4 / 0 / 100%
Amanitaceae
Amanita caesarea (Scop.) Pers. / W / Ovolo / Caesar’s mushroom / 0.071 / Bd / Food: Edible, but generally avoided due to easy confusion with poisonous Amanita spp. / 3 / 0 / --
Amanita muscaria (L.) Lam. / W / Amanita / Fly agaric / 0.333 / Bd / Nuisance: Poisonous, avoided / 14 / 0 / 100%
Amanita phalloides (Fr.) Link / W / -- / Death cap mushroom / 0.048 / Bd / Nuisance avoided: Poisonous, avoided / 2 / 0 / --
Boletaceae
Boletus aereus Bull. / W / Porcino / Queen bolete / 0.762 / Bd / Food: Frequently eaten with risotto, parmesan and oil; or sliced, breaded and fried. Collected in Sept.-Oct. after rain. This is a new tradition introduced about 15 years ago / 27 / 0 / 84%
Food: Eaten raw, seasoned with olive oil as in a salad / 5 / 0 / 16%
Boletus luridus
Schaeff. / W / Porcino velenoso; pinarolo / Lurid bolete / 0.190 / Bd / Food: Boil, throw out water (poisonous) and then eat / 5 / 0 / 63%
Nuisance: Inside turns purple when broken, avoided / 3 / 0 / 38%
Boletus rhodoxanthus (Krombh.) Kallenb. / W / -- / Ruddy bolete / 0.048 / Bd / Food: Boil, throw out water (poisonous) and then eat / 2 / 0 / 100%
Leccinum lepidum (H. Bouchet ex Essette) Bon & Contu / W / Pinarolo; porcino; porcino bianco / -- / 0.286 / Bd / Food: Eat like a porcino, cooked with risotto or fried (some noted that it is not as tasty as the dark porcino) / 12 / 0 / 100%
Cantharellaceae
Cantharellus cibarius Fr. / W / Galletti; finferli; gallinelle / Chanterelle / 0.476 / Bd / Food: Cook and eat, also sometimes prepared with pasta, topped with cheese / 20 / 0 / 100%
Cantharellus lutescens (Pers.) Fr. / W / Finferli; chiodini / Yellow foot / 0.786 / Bd / Food: Frequently eaten, cook and put on towel to dry and store under oil or dried or frozen or vacuum sealed for storage; or cooked with pasta; or cooked with risotto / 33 / 0 / 100%
Coprinaceae
Coprinus comatus (O.F. Müll.) Pers. / W / funci 'i tobacco / Shaggy ink cap / 0.119 / Bd / Food: Eaten when in the first phase of development / 3 / 0 / 60%
Household: When large, squish for the “poof powder” game / 2 / 0 / 40%
Hydnaceae
Hydnum rufescens Pers. / W / Vavuso / Terracotta hedgehog / 0.167 / Bd / Food: Peel top and remove the spines from under the mushroom top, then cook and eat, or store under olive oil; sometimes prepared with sausage / 7 / 0 / 100%
Physalacriaceae
Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm. / W / Famigliola / Honey fungus / 0.071 / Bd / Food: Cook and eat / 3 / 0 / --
Russulaceae
Lactarius deliciosus (L.) Gray / W / Raviolonza; raviolonzo / Saffron milk cap / 0.833 / Bd / Food: Coat in breadcrumbs and fry; or filled with bread crumbs, cheese, and garlic and baked; or grilled; or prepared with pasta; or cut into small pieces and cooked with sausage / 35 / 0 / 100%
Suillaceae
Suillus collinitus (Fr.) Kuntze / W / Vavusa; vavusi / Pinewood bolete mushroom / 0.714 / Bd / Food: Remove top cuticle and tubules under top, chop up and cook with garlic and parsley, sometimes in a dish with rice and pork, sometimes in risotto / 30 / 0 / 100%
PLANTAE
Aizoaceae
Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E. Br. / C / Caddru / Ice plant / 0.333 / Lg / Dermatological: Leaf is cut in half to access inner gel, which is topically applied to burn wounds as a vulnerary. / 1 / 0 / 7%
WP / Household: Grown outdoors as an ornamental. (Was introduced to the island by military during WWII) / 13 / 0 / 93%
Amaranthaceae
Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima (L.) Thell.
GEO20167 / W / Bietola selvatica; ggira / 0.571 / L / Food: Boiled and eaten as vegetable; has a bitter taste / 24 / 13 / 100%
Spinacia oleracea L. / C / Spinaci / Spinach / 0.167 / L / Food: Boiled, seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice; eaten / 7 / 0 / 100%
Amaryllidaceae
*Allium sativum L. / C / Aglio / Garlic / 0.238 / Cl / Gastrointestinal: Inserted into anus to treat intestinal worms "vermi", esp. in children as an anti-helminthic [past use] / 4 / 2 / 20%
Gastrointestinal: Cloves are strung together to make a necklace for the child to wear as an anti-helminthic [past use] / 2 / 1 / 10%
Gastrointestinal: Clove is placed on the umbilical button to treat worms "vermi" as an anti-helminthic [past use] / 12 / 6 / 60%
General health: Eaten raw as protection against the Spanish flu [past use] / 2 / 1 / 10%
Narcissus tazetta L. / W / Mazzu di sposa / Paperwhite / 0.148 / Fl / Household: ornamental use in bridal bouquets / 2 / 0 / 33%
Household: church decorations / 2 / 0 / 33%
Nuisance: Odor can cause headache / 2 / 0 / 33%
Anacardiaceae
Pistacia lentiscus L.
GEO20139 / W / Stinca / Mastic / 0.643 / Ysb / Household: Used to provide shade cover and protect small tomato plants from the sun / 2 / 0 / 7%
Household: Place inside home as insect attractant; once flies and insects have covered the branches, cover it with a bag to trap them and remove from the home. / 2 / 0 / 7%
Maritime: Place branches in water to dye fishing nets black / 3 / 0 / 41%
Household: Grown plant is cut down and young emerging branches “tiroti” are used for basket weaving and to weave fish traps / 9 / 0 / 11%
Fl; L / Household: Used to decorate caskets in funerary rites / 11 / 0 / 11%
Apiaceae
Ferula communis L.
CQ-354; GEO20171 / W / Fella / Giant fennel / 0.976 / St / Household: The dried stem is used as a bottle or jar top “tappu” in place of cork. Reported to be very useful because cat be made to fit many sizes of bottle openings. / 26 / 0 / 63%
Household: Dried stem used to make walking stick/cane for the elderly / 3 / 0 / 7%
Household: Dried stem used to sharpen razor (esp. by barbers) [past use] / 8 / 0 / 20%
Household: Dried stem used as gate barricade to private land / 2 / 0 / 5%
Household: Dried stem used as knife case to protect against cutting oneself with knife when working grape vines "neste" / 2 / 0 / 5%
Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
CQ-319; GEO20205 / W / Finocchio selvatico; finocchio sarvaggio; finocchietto / Fennel / 2.143 / Fl / Food: Dry in sun, crumble into a powder and use in cooking as a spice/colorant for potatoes / 1 / 0 / 1%
Se / Food: Ingredient in homemade cured sausages “salsiccia” / 14 / 1 / 14%
Food: Used in some breads / 6 / 0 / 7%
Gastrointestinal: Tisane is drunk for intestinal gas pains/colic (also for babies) / 16 / 5 / 42%
WP / Food: When plant is young and tender (before flowering), can boil and eat as a vegetable; sometimes prepared with chickpeas or with fish and pasta; or in soups / 53 / 15 / 12%
Araceae
Arisarum vulgare Targ. Tozz. / W / Vriccia luppa / Friar’s cowl / 0.429 / Tu / Ethnoveterinary: Pig fodder / 18 / 0 / 100%
Asparagaceae
Agave americana L.
CQ-370 / W / Zabbara / American aloe / 0.786 / L; Lg / Dermatological: Leaf is cut in half to access inner leaf gel and applied topically to burns wounds as a vulnerary in similar manner to aloe / 2 / 0 / 6%
Dermatological: Leaf is cut in half to access gel that is topically applied to hemorrhoids / 3 / 0 / 9%
L / Household: Fiber is made from the leaves and used in textiles / 1 / 0 / 3%
Inf / Household: Main stem of inflorescence cut and used as bottle tops “tappu” / 3 / 0 / 9%
Household: Dried and used as gate barricade to private land / 2 / 0 / 6%
Maritime: Dried and used as central mast on hand-crafted sail boats [past use] / 19 / 0 / 58%
WP / Household: Ornamental for landscaping / 3 / 0 / 9%
Asparagus acutifolius L.
CQ-335; GEO20140 / W / asparago selvatico; spina di surci / Wild asparagus / 0.881 / Sp / Food: Boiled or fried and eaten; or included as “ragù” ingredient to serve over pasta; or prepared with egg as a "frittata" / 25 / 3 / 59%
L / Household: Prickly leaves are placed in chests or around base of trees (e.g., Almond trees) to repel mice / 15 / 0 / 41%
Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn / SC / cipuddrazzu; scippudazzu; cipudda sarvaggia / Squill; Sea quill / 0.738 / Bu / Dermatological: Place under bed to treat “risibola” (erysipelas) / 2 / 0 / 6%
Household: For punishing vegetable or fruit thieves from one’s garden, advise the suspected thief that the vegetables are no good to eat, then extract juice from the D. maritima bulb, spray onto the vegetables. If the fruit is stolen and eaten by the thief, they will become ill with a strong case of diarrhea due to laxative action of this juice / 6 / 0 / 19%
Nuisance: liquid from bulb is poisonous to the eyes / 1 / 0 / 3%
WP / Dermatological: Place under bed to treat “risibola” (erysipelas) / 2 / 0 / 6%
Household: 2-3 bulbs are planted under fruit trees (e.g. figs, citrus) as a means of repelling insects from the fruit / 21 / 0 / 68%
Asteraceae
Calendula arvensis L. / W / Ciuri di maio / Field marigold / 0.238 / Fl / Household: Decorative worn in the hair of girls and women on May 1st / 7 / 0 / 70%
Household: Used in love game, “she loves me, loves me not”, in which petals are plucked and counted / 3 / 0 / 30%
Cichorium endivia L. / W / Grancita / Endive / 0.024 / L / Food: Boiled and seasoned [past use] / 1 / 0 / --
Cichorium intybus L. / W / Cicoria sarvaggia / Common chicory / 0.167 / L / Food: Boiled, and then fried with olive oil and cured sausage / 9 / 2 / 100%
Galactites tomentosus Moench
CQ-358 / W / Vocca; vocchi nivuri / Purple milk thistle / 0.500 / YL; Sh / Ethnoveterinary: Animal forage (when young/tender), also for cleansing urinary tract of animals / 4 / 0 / 19%
Urological: eat raw when young and tender to cleanse the urinary tract / 2 / 0 / 10%
WP / Nuisance: Spiny plant, avoided / 15 / 0 / 71%
Glebionis coronaria (L.) Cass. ex Spach / W / Ciuri di maio; margarita; miunia; li luci / Garland chrysanthemum / 0.476 / AP / Ethnoveterinary: Animal forage / 1 / 0 / 5%
Fl / Household: Gift to girls / 1 / 0 / 5%
Household: Ornamental for home / 14 / 0 / 70%
Household: Used in love game, “she loves me, loves me not”, in which petals are plucked and counted / 4 / 0 / 20%
Glebionis segetum (L.) Fourr. / W / Margarita / Corn marigold / 0.024 / Fl / Household: Gift to girls / 1 / 0 / 100%
Leucanthemum vulgare Lam. / W / Margarita / Ox-eye daisy / 0.119 / Fl / Household: Ornamental for home / 4 / 0 / 80%
Household: Gift to girls / 1 / 0 / 20%
*Matricaria aurea (Loefl.) Sch. Bip. / W / Cala di tramonta; camomilla selvatica / Golden mayweed / 0.048 / Fl / General health: Tisane is drunk / 4 / 2 / 100%
Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. / W / Vocca / Milk thistle / 0.500 / YL; Sh / Ethnoveterinary: Animal forage / 2 / 0 / 10%
Inf / Food: Eat the heart of the inflorescence (much like an artichoke) / 8 / 0 / 38%
WP / Nuisance: Spiny, painful contact / 11 / 0 / 52%
*Sonchus oleraceus L.
GEO20165 / W / Cardedda / Common sowthistle / 0.310 / YL; Sh / Food: Blanche and season with oil, vinegar, salt; or season with oil, lemon, salt / 8 / 8 / 63%
Food: Eaten raw / 3 / 3 / 23%
Food: Eaten in salad with onion and radish, served with roasted pork / 1 / 1 / 8%
Gastrointestinal: Eaten raw to treat heartburn/acid stomach; esp. useful when working in the fields and have this problem / 1 / 1 / 8%
Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg.
CQ-360 / W / Cicoria / Dandelion / 0.548 / L / Food: Blanched, and then fried in olive oil and sometimes cured sausage “salsiccia”, tomato with garlic and eaten; or boiled and seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice / 22 / 13 / 96%
Urological: Decoction, drunk as a diuretic / 1 / 0 / 4%
Boraginaceae
Borago officinalis L. / W / Bburrania; borragine / Borage / 0.929 / L / Food: Boiled and eaten in soups, sometimes with beans; typically seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice / 36 / 3 / 92%
Urological: Boiled and eaten in soups, considered "cleansing" to the body and diuretic / 3 / 2 / 8%
Brassicaceae
*Brassica oleracea L. / W / Cavolo selvatico / Wild cabbage / 0.048 / L / Food: Cooked as vegetable / 2 / 2 / --
*Brassica rapa L. / C / Cime di rapa / Broccoli rabe / 0.048 / AP / Food: Blanched, and then fried in olive oil with cured sausage “salsiccia”, garlic and tomato / 2 / 2 / --
Diplotaxis erucoides (L.) DC.
GEO20159 / W / Razza / White wall-rocket / 0.143 / L / Ethnoveterinary: Forage / 5 / 0 / 83%
YL / Food: Boiled, and then fried with tomato, cured sausage “salsiccia” and lard / 1 / 1 / 17%
Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. / W / Erba bianca / Sweet alyssum / 0.071 / AP / Ethnoveterinary: Forage / 3 / 0 / 100%
Matthiola incana R. Br. var. pulchella / W / Balchu / Hoary stock / 0.095 / Fl / Household: Decorative / 4 / 0 / 100%
Cactaceae
Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.
CQ-355 / SC / Ficurinnia / Prickly pear / 2.429 / Pa / Dermatological: Slice vertically to reveal fleshy inside, place onto burn wounds; or extract inner leaf juice and apply topically to burns / 10 / 2 / 10%
Ethnoveterinary: Chop up and feed to cattle, goats, pigs as fodder in dry period when there is little grass to eat; some say better for animals than grass / 10 / 0 / 10%