Research Article

The “Bringing into Cultivation” Phase of the Plant Domestication Process and Its Contributions to In Situ Conservation of Genetic Resources in Benin

Table 1

Diversity, vernacular names, and utilisation of the species under domestication across ethnic groups.

NumberScientific namesFamilyVernacular namePart of the plant used

1Adansonia digitata BombacaceaeOtché (Fè, Nago), Télou (Lamba), Zouzon (Mahi), Boutouobou (Gourmantché)Gourmanthé, Nago, Fè (Fruits and Leaves); Lamba (fruits)
2Agelanthus dodoneifoliusLoranthaceaeAyapou (Lamba)Lamba (bark)
3Annona senegalensisAnnonaceaeAlilou (Lamba)Lamba (Leaves, fruits)
4Anogeissus leiocarpusCombretaceaeKolou (Lamba)Lamba (bark)
5Balanites aegyptiacaBalanitaceaeBoukpanwounkpôhôbou (Gourmantché)Gourmantché (fruits)
6Bixa orellanaBixaceaeTiminti-éssô (Fè)Fè (fruits)
7Blighia sapinda SapidaceaeN'tchin (Nago)Nago (fruits)
8Bombax costatumBombacaceaeKpahoudèhouin (Mahi), Houlou (Lamba)Mahi, Lamba (Leaves)
9Caesalpinia bonduc Fabaceae-caesalpinioideaeAdjikoun (Mahi), Ogrounfè (Nago), Fèo (Fè)Fè (Leaves, roots, seeds), Tchabè (Roots), Mahi (Root,
10Calotropis procera AsclepiadaceaeTouloukou (Lamba)Lamba (Leaves)
11Ceiba pentandraBombacaceaeOgoun Fè (Fè)Fè (Leaves)
12Celosia argentea AmaranthaceaeTchôkôyôkôtô (Nago), Sôman (Mahi)Nago, Mahi (Leaves)
13Celosia trigyna AmaranthaceaeAdjèmanwofô (Nago, Fè),Nago, Mahi (Leaves)
14Ceratotheca sesamoides PedaliaceaeAgbôssou (Mahi), Koumonkoun (Fè), Idjabô (Nago), Assoworou (Lamba)Mahi, Fè, Gourmantché, Nago, Lamba (Leaves)
15Corchorus tridensTiliaceaeOuntcho (Nago)Nago (Leaves)
16Cissus populneaVitaceaeTchôkougbôlô (Fè), Kpôgôlô (Nago), Anyar (Lamba)Fè, Nago, Lamba (roots)
17Clausena anisataRutaceaeOroukôgbo (Fè)Fè (Leaves and roots)
18Cleome ciliata CapparaceaeAiya (Mahi)Mahi (Leaves)
19Cleome gynandra CapparaceaeAkaya (Nago)Nago (Leaves)
20Cochlospermum tinctoriumCochlospermaceaeBoussôrôbou (Gourmantché)Gourmanthé (Roots)
21Crassocephalum rubensAsteraceaeAkôgbo (Mahi), Gboolo (Nago, Fè)Fè, Nago, Mahi (Leaves)
22Cymbopogon giganteusPoaceaeKpalman mihou (Lamba)Lamba (Leaves)
23Detarium microcarpum LeguminosaeKpôr (Lamba), Bounankpôhôbou (Gourmantché)Gourmantché, Lamba (Roots, fruits)
24Dichrostachys cinereaLeguminosaeNanha sèhô (Lamba)Lamba (Roots)
25Diospyros mespiliformisEbenaceaeAnkalé (Lamba), Bougaabou (Gourmantché)Lamba, Gourmantché (fruits)
26Dioscorea abyssinica DioscoreaceaeKoudjabouwoungou (Gourmantché)Gourmantché (Tuber)
27Dioscorea praehensilis DioscoreaceaeIchou (Fè)Fè (Tuber)
28Echinops longifolius Asteraceae Koumantchaintchain (Wama)Wama (Roots)
29Eriosema pellegriniiLeguminosaeKassimintê (Wama)Wama (Roots)
30Ficus abutilifolia MoraceaeAgbèdè (Fè), Okpoto (Nago)Fè, Nago (Leaves)
31Ficus ingensMoraceaeBoukankanbou (Gourmantché)Gourmantché (Leaves)
32Ficus sycomorusMoraceaeOukankanmou (Gnindé)Gnindé (Leaves)
33Gardenia erubescensRubiaceaeBounansôôbou (Gourmantché), kaou (Lamba)Gourmantché (Fruits), Lamba (Fruits, stem)
34Haumaniastrum caeruleumLamiaceaeAtingbinnintingbin (Fè)Fè (Leaves)
35Heteropteris leonaMalpigluaceaeNansikôr (Lamba)Lamba (Leaves and Roots)
36Hibiscus sabdariffa MalvaceaeKpakpala (Nago), Kpakpa (Fè)Fè, Nago (Leaves)
37Indigofera bracteolataleguminosaeTikouyè ogoutè (Gnindé)Gnindé (Leaves and roots)
38Justicia tenella AcanthaceaeDjagou-djagou (Fè)Fè (Leaves)
39Lagenaria siceraria Cucurbitaceaekaka (Nago)Nago (Leaves)
40Lannea microcarpaAnacardiaceaeBougbantchabou (Gourmantché)Gourmantché (fruits)
41Launeae taraxacifoliaAsteraceaeOdôdô (Nago, Fè), Gnantotoé (Mahi)Fè, Nago, Mahi (Leaves)
42Lippia multifloraVerbenaceaeAglaala (Mahi), Tchaga (Fè)Fè, Mahi (Leaves, flowers)
43Momordica charantiaCucurbitaceaeTchaati (Fè), Gnissikin (Mahi)Fè, Mahi (Leaves)
44Ocimum americanumLamiaceaeOfin (Fè)Fè (Leaves)
45Ocimum basilicumLamiaceaeOunkpèhoun (Fè), Gbogbotyin (Nago), Hissin-hissin (Mahi)Nago (Leaves)
46Ocimum gratissimumLamiaceaeSimonba (Fè), Kioyo (Mahi)Fè, Mahi (Leaves)
47Parkia biglobosa LeguminosaeAyoya (Mahi), Ougba (Nago), Igba (Fè), Boudoubou (Gourmantché), S'lou (Lamba)Mahi, Fè, Nago, Lamba (fruits); Gourmantché (Fruits, Bark)
48Pergularia daemia AsclepiadaceaeAgbonfoun-foun (Fè)Fè (Leaves)
49Phyllanthus muellenianusEuphorbiaceaeAkanmankogou (Mahi)Mahi (Leaves)
50Piliostigma thonningii LeguminosaeWôkou (Lamba)Lamba (Leaves, Roots)
51Platostoma africanum LamiaceaeKouloubi (Fè), Gouloubi (Nago)Nago, Fè (Leaves)
52Pseudocedrela kotschyiMeliaceaeAsntélémr (Lamba)Lamba (Bark)
53Psorospermum alternifoliumClusiaceaeKpinon-kpinon (Fè)Fè (Leaves)
54Raphionacme brownii AsclepiadaceaeKousséligou (Gourmantché), Kohounsèhounta (Wama)Gourmantché, Wama (Tuber)
55Rauvolfia vomitoriaApocynaceaeEssô èyèdjè (Fè)Fè (Leaves)
56Saba comorensisApocynaceaeLouou (Lamba)Lamba (Fruits)
57Sarcocephalus latifoliusRubiaceaeBounangnibou (Gourmantché), Athithélou (Lamba)Lamba (Leaves, Roots, fruits); Gourmantché (Fruits)
58Sclerocarya birreaAnacardiaceaeMounannikmon (Otamari), Bounanmag'bou (Gourmantché)Otamari (Fruits, Leaves); Gourmantché (fruits)
59Sesamum radiatumPedaliaceaeDossé (Nago), Koumonkoun-adjagbalè (Fè), Ungangoun (Gourmantché), Natawourou (Lamba), Agbô (Mahi)Mahi, Fè, Gourmantché, Nago, Lamba (Leaves)
60Solanum erianthumSolanaceaeMon (Fè)Fè (Leaves)
61Sterculia tragacantha SterculiaceaeAkèmonkodjèko (Fè)Fè (Leaves)
62Strychnos spinosa LoganiaceaeFountoumdrô (Lamba)Lamba (fruits and Roots)
63Talinum triangularePortulacaceaeOdondon (Nago), Odondon (Fè), Glassoéman (Mahi)Nago, Fè, Mahi (Leaves)
64Tamarindus indica LeguminosaeBoupouguibou/Boupouobou (Gourmantché), Timtélém (Lamba)Gourmantché (Fruits, Leaves); Lamba (Fruits)
65Vernonia colorataAsteraceaeArikoro (Nago)Nago (Leaves)
66Vitellaria paradoxa SapotaceaeKotoblè (Mahi), Emin (Fè, Nago), Boussanbou (Gourmantché), Sèmou (Lamba)Mahi, Fè, Nago, Lamba (fruits), Gourmantché (fruits, bark)
67Vitex donianaVerbenaceaeBougaanbou (Gourmantché), Akpagnarou (Lamba), Fonman (Mahi), Ewa (Fè), Akoumanlapka (Nago)Mahi, Fè, Gourmantché, Nago, Lamba (Leaves, fruits)
68 Ximenia americana OleraceaKlivovoé (Mahi), Boumirinbou (Gourmantché)Mahi (fruits); Gourmantché (Fruits, Leaves, Roots)
69Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloidesRutaceaeTchanouwèlè (Fè)Fè (Leaves, Roots, Bark, Thorns)