Ethnobotanical study in Valchiavenna (Northern Italy)

Valchiavenna (Sondrio, Italy) is an alpine area of Northern Italy characterized by a great variety of landscapes due to climatic conditions, altitude range, side exposure and soil morphology. All these features have produced a biodiversity with many autochthonous plant species. Inhabitants of the valley still collect plants to use as cure for some ailments. The aim of this study, carried out for the first time in this area, was to gather information about folk remedies before they are completely lost and to enlarge the medicinal plant collections of the local Botanical Garden. Fieldwork was carried out in different time intervals during the period 2008-2009. Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews and the data were analyzed using quantitative indexes: ethnobotanicity index, ethnophytonomic index, index of saliency and informant consensus factor. The use of several species was documented by speaking with farmers, shepherds, housewives and impassioned botanists, mostly over 60 years old. The highlights were: Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach. (decoction) for bronchitis of bovines in veterinary medicine and as antitussive (infusion) for human health; Veratrum album L. (leaves decoction) as antibacterial agent; Artemisia absinthium L. (dried leaves) as moth-repellent; other Artemisia species (for example, A. genipi Weber) were mentioned to prepare liqueurs; honey of Taraxacum officinale Weber as food preparation. The results showed a reduction in the ethnobotanical knowledge, whose transmission from the old to the new generation is declining. Many species are not much known by villagers, particularly by young people, most of them preferring the orthodox medicine.