Iconic Arable Weeds: The significance of corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas), cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), and field larkspur (Delphinium consolida) in Hungarian ethnobotanical and cultural heritage

Background: There is an increasing number of initiatives that recognize arable weed species as an important component of agricultural biodiversity. Such initiatives often focus on declining species that were once abundant and are still well-known, but the ethnographic relevance of such species is little recognized. Method: We carried out an extensive literature review on the medicinal, ornamental, and cultural applications of three selected species, Papaver rhoeas, Cyanus segetum and Consolida regalis, in the relevant Hungarian literature published between 1578 and 2021. Results: We found a great diversity of medicinal usages: while P. rhoeas stands out with its sedative influence, C. regalis was mainly applied to stop diverse (often gynecological) bleedings, and C. segetum was most frequently used to cure eye inflammation. The buds of P. rhoeas were sporadically eaten and its petals were used as a food dye. All species fulfilled ornamental purposes, either as garden plants or gathered from the wild for bouquets. They were essential elements of harvest festivals and religious festivities, in particular of Corpus Christi processions. (...) Conclusions: Our results highlight the deep and prevalent embeddedness of the studied three iconic weed species in the folk culture of the Carpathian Basin. The ethnobotanical and cultural embeddedness of arable weed species should also be considered when efforts and instruments for the conservation of arable weed communities are designed.

PINKE Gyula;  KAPCSÁNDI Viktória;  CZUCZ Balint; 

2023-04-11

Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

JRC131217

2223-7747 (online),   

https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/1/84,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC131217,   

10.3390/plants12010084 (online),