Diversity, Availability, and Uses of Wild Edible Fruits in the Montane South Kivu, D.R. Congo, Western Albertine Rift

This study was conducted in the mountainous region of South Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its purpose was to identify the edible wild fruits of this mountainous region of the West Albertine Rift. Data were collected through ethnobotanical surveys conducted at local markets and in rural households. A total of 800 informants participated in the data collection. The wild fruit flora recorded consists of 151 species divided into 54 families and 86 genera. They are dominated by the Solanaceae, Malvaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Arecaceae and Myrtaceae families. The morphological types are dominated by trees (48%), and woody species dominate the biological types. Berries (62 species) and drupes (53 species) are the main fruit categories. Although mainly consumed as table fruit, a large proportion is consumed as vegetables and spices. In terms of fruit availability and abundance at the sites, the results suggest that the city of Bukavu (37.50%), the territories of Kabare (29.08%) and Kalehe (17.99%) are the sites where the wild fruit species can be found, due to their proximity to the PNKB and the ethnic diversity in the city. Various wild fruits sold in markets in the study area also come from other provinces such as Kisangani (Treculia africana, Dacryodes edulis), low altitude areas (Tamarindus indica, Mangifera indica) and other Sudano-Zambesian regions, e.g. Dovyalis macrocalyx, Syzygium guineense, factors that may contribute to the prolonged availability of certain fruits in the area