GAZETTE FUTURE, Vol. 8 No. 4, 2025.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.32779/gf.8.4.5
Ethnobotanical research on the use of medicinal, aromatic and other plants in the rural surroundings of Senj (Croatia)
Ana Maria Šimunović
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Agronomski fakultet, Republika Hrvatska (Ms studentica)
Ivana Vitasović-Kosić
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Agronomski fakultet, Republika Hrvatska
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Wild plants have played a key role in human nutrition and treatment for centuries, as well as in various economic activities. With the development of modern medicine and modern lifestyles, the traditional medical and nutritional use of many species has gradually been forgotten. The aim of this paper was to document the knowledge of the local population in the rural area of Senj about the use of mostly wild plants for food, medicine, and other economic activities. Ninety-three plant taxa and six species of mushrooms were inventoried, including their local names and methods of use. The analysis shows that the inventoried species are most often used for medicinal purposes and as cooked dishes, raw vegetables, or fruits. The most frequently mentioned are Salvia officinalis L., Asparagus acutifolius L., and Urtica
dioica L.. More than 70% of respondents reported using medicinal teas from Satureja montana L., Achillea millefolium L., Prunus mahaleb L., and Crataegus monogyna Jacq. Cough syrups are most often made from Laurus nobilis L. and Plantago lanceolata L., as well as from Glechoma hederacea L., which is a forgotten use in other parts of Croatia. In the past, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi L. tea (a vulnerable species, VU) was used for various urinary problems, and the root soaked in brandy of the endangered (EN) plant Gentiana lutea ssp. symphyandra was used to strengthen the heart. It is notable that Chenopodium album L. is still used in this area. The preparation of various types of "čušpajza" (stew) is known, most often from Brassica oleracea L. ssp. capitata (L.) Duchesne with boiled potatoes. Cannabis sativa L. is mentioned in the production of fabrics and carpets, and to "cleanse" a space from
"evil spirits," incense was once burned with leaves S. officinalis. The results confirm the importance of passing knowledge between generations, which ensures the preservation and further valorization of the ethnobotanical heritage of Senj and its surroundings. The obtained data can be used to support the development of sustainable rural tourism, local plant-based products, and the preservation and enhancement of traditional practices.
Keywords
folk medicine, food, Lika-Senj County, traditional use.
Hrčak ID:
350240
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2025.
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