Edible Plants that are offered in the markets of the city of León

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the edible plants sold in the four main markets of the city of León—Terminal, Estación, Central, and the Sutiava market—during the period from May 2006 to May 2007. The study investigates the origin, marketing conditions, and uses of these plants. Visits were made to the various markets twice per month (at the beginning and end) to determine which plants are brought in and which are available year-round. Data collection was carried out through ethnobotanical interviews with plant vendors in the city’s markets. A total of 103 species were recorded, of which 28 are native and 75 are introduced. These species are grouped into 43 families: 6 monocotyledonous and 37 dicotyledonous, comprising a total of 79 genera. The most abundant families are Rutaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Apiaceae, Poaceae, Myrtaceae, and Solanaceae. Regarding availability, 60 plants are present in the markets throughout the year. August is the month with the highest influx of plants, with 27 species reported, while February is the month with the lowest, with only 9 species.