Ethnobotanical perception of the farmers about the weed flora in farms of suburban agriculture in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Abstract

Currently the weed species are a resource to conserve. The objective was to evaluate the ethnobotanical perception of the peasants about the weed flora in farms of suburban agriculture in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. An ethnobotanical study was developed and the percentage of known species, percentage of species per management action and the percentage of weed species with potential utility was determined. The spectrum of use, the categories of use and the species richness by category were also taken into account. The weed species found in each of the farms were identified by at least 60% of the producers conferring more than 70% of this flora potential utilities such as medicinal, animal feed and agricultural. Although different forms of management for these species were identified, more than 40% are eliminated regardless of the potential benefits that productive systems can bring to this.