Study On Traditional Botanical Knowledge Of The Mongolians' In Typical Steppe Area Of Xilingol, Inner Mongolia

This dissertation studies the traditional use of knowledge about wild plants in 4 small counties in typical steppe area of Xilingol, which are different in their ecological, economic and social conditions, and analyzes the knowledge difference of people belonging to different genders and ages.The conclusions are: (1) Naming and classifying of the wild plants have been greatly influenced by Xilingol herdsman mode of production. (2) Xilingol Mongolians' knowledge about wild plants refers edible plants, medicinal plants, forage, building material, incense material and some plants for knitting. There are 30 folk edible wild plants, used by Mongolians of Xilingol, which belongs to 12 families, 19 genera. Liliaceae owns the most edible wild plants and occupies 50% of all. According to folk processing methods and purposes, edible wild plants are classified as wild vegetables, condiments, wild fruits, wild grains and tea. There are 19 species of wild vegetables and 9 species of wild fruits; 8 species are used for condiments, 3 species for grains and 9 species as tea. 36 wild plants species, belonging to 17 families, 27 genera, are treated as drug or used by vet. These medical plants are available and convenient. Moreover, 21 species, which belong to 8 families, 12 genera are used as forage, Leymus,Allium and Artemisia frigida are appraised most wonderful. In addition, more than 20 species are used as construction material or some plants for knitting. (3) Owning to respective ecological, social and economic conditions, the conventional knowledge of local people of each county are dissimilar. People of southern area own more traditional knowledge, but in the northern area, where there are less plants species and which has convenient transportation and is close to big cities, the people own very limited traditional knowledge. However, the usage of wild plant in these 4 counties is similar. (4) The knowledge of plants and ecology is very different depending on the age of the people, young people (≤40 years old, P<0.05) know much less than middle age people (40-60 years old) and older people (≥60 years old).In virtue of the change of social environment, production environment, and youth's values, the traditional knowledge of using wild plants is dying rapidly. The relationship between plant diversity and traditional culture diversity indicates that passing down the traditional knowledge of using wild plants is very important. Meanwhile, traditional botany knowledge of Xilingol typical steppe should be further studied and protected.