Parataxonomy and diversity of local varieties of taro ( (L.) Schott) and macabo ( (L.) Schott) grown in Benin (West Africa).

Taro and macabo are plants with high food, medicinal and economic value, but are under-utilized in Benin. The aim of this study was to identify local varieties of taro and macabo grown in Benin, with their vernacular names, farmers' recognition criteria and distribution. Data were collected between May 2021 and May 2023, through interviews using semi-structured questionnaires.

Folk taxonomy and quantitative ethnobotany of Loranthaceae in northern Benin.

Loranthaceae are parasitic plants whose management remains a challenge. This study aimed to record Loranthaceae species and their local names, assess their use diversity and cultural importance, identify the socio-demographic groups with the highest levels of knowledge about Loranthaceae uses, and analyze the variation of Loranthaceae utilization between and within ethnic groups. Ethnobotanical data were collected in northern Benin from March 2015 to February 2017 through semi-structured interviews and show-and-tell method with 240 informants.