Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants used by the Yao people in Lingyun County, China

Wild edible plants (WEPs) play a vital role in food security, nutrition, and cultural identity among ethnic minority communities in southern China. In the mountainous areas of Guangxi, traditional food systems remain closely connected to local ecosystems. However, quantitative and systematic documentation of WEP diversity and cultural importance among the Yao people is still limited. This study provides a comprehensive ethnobotanical assessment of WEPs used by the Yao community in Lingyun County, with an emphasis on their contributions to subsistence strategies, cultural practices, and biocultural resilience. Ethnobotanical data were gathered using semi-structured interviews, key-informant discussions, and guided field walks. All recorded WEP species were taxonomically identified and classified according to growth habit, plant parts used, and food-use categories. The Cultural Importance Index (CI) was applied to quantify the cultural salience of each species across multiple uses. Floristic similarity between the study area and surrounding regions was assessed using the Jaccard Index and similarity measures. A total of 165 WEP species belonging to 61 families and 111 genera were documented. The most species-rich families were Rosaceae (16 species), followed by Moraceae (14 species), Asteraceae (12 species), and Zingiberaceae (9 species). Most WEPs were native species (90.91%) and were predominantly herbaceous (36.97%), followed by climbers (24.24%) and trees (21.21%), based on growth habit classification. Fruits and leaves were the most frequently utilized plant parts, highlighting the nutritional contribution of WEPs to local diets. The Cultural Importance Index (CI) ranged from 0.115 to 0.558, indicating the presence of a small number of culturally central, multifunctional species alongside many seasonal or supplementary resources. Wild vegetables represented the most diverse use category. Floristic similarity with neighboring regions was low to moderate (5.9–19.3%), based on comparisons with multiple ethnic groups and study areas across southern China and adjacent regions, rather than exclusively among Yao communities. The Yao people of Lingyun County maintain a diverse and culturally embedded WEP system that enhances food security, dietary diversity, and cultural continuity. Conservation and development strategies should integrate traditional knowledge and community-based management to sustain biocultural diversity in southern China and adjacent regions.