engleski

Decorative indigenous plants on Zagreb farmer's markets (central Croatia)

The history of Zagreb farmers’ markets began even before the establishment of the City itself, as early as 13th century, when the first public market was established in the area. The beginning of the today’s market system was in 1930, when the central market Dolac was opened for public. After that time and especially after the World War II, the market system enlarged and spread following the spread of the City, and nowadays includes 22 locations. Apart from food and local domestic products, the sellers sometimes offer decorative flowers, out of which some are not cultivated but collected in natural habitats. Our aim was to prepare the overview of the decorative indigenous plants sold on Zagreb farmers’ markets. We have studied all 22 locations in the period January-April 2018, by visiting the markets and surveying the sellers. We made several visits to the markets offering flowers, to include the whole spring season, while the data were collected using previously prepared, original questionnaires. Decorative indigenous plants were found on 13 locations. Total number of respondents was 50, mostly women of the average age 53. Total number of recorded plant taxa was 79, out of which 39 herbs, 15 trees, 14 shrubs, eight mosses and three vines. The respondents provided 64 different common names for a total of 45 plant taxa, mostly giving one name per species, but sometimes also several names per species or the same name for several species. Altogether 93 % of plants were sold as cuttings, while 7 % plants were provided in whole. Only six plant species were provided with underground parts, for further planting. We found two legally strictly protected taxa, Taxus baccata L. and Helleborus niger L. subsp. macranthus (Freyn) Schiffner, both listed in the Red Book as vulnerable (VU). In general, our conversations with the respondents revealed that they are rather familiar and in agreement with the legal protection of the spring flora.

ethnobotany, spring flowers, local markets, ornamental plants

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