Gathered wild food plants in the upper valley of the Serchio river (Garfagnana), central Italy

A study of the traditional gathered food plants in the upper valley of the Serchio river (Garfagnana), Lucca Province, north-west Tuscany, central Ita ly, was carried out. One hundred thirty-three species (including fungi), be longing to 48 families, were encountered. The geographical isolation of the valley and the survival of old gastronomic traditions have permitted a ric h popular knowledge to be maintained. In particular, the tradition of prepa ring in springtime a characteristic vegetal soup (minestrella) based on abo ut forty wild vegetables in a very restricted area of the valley might be c orrelated with influences of pre-Roman civilisations. An uncommon specific food utilization of Bryonia dioica and Prunus laurocerasus as well as the c onsumption in some districts of Fagus sylvatica seeds, Taxus baccata and Cr ocus napolitanus fruits as snacks and the very common use of Clematis vital ba shoots seem to demonstrate a well established tradition to use unpalatab le vegetal sources. Ethnopharmacological aspects of the consumption of thes e species are discussed.