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. 2007 Oct 15;3:33. doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-3-33

Table 1.

List of selected wild food plants

Wild food plant name Smith's Salience Index* Gathering Consuming

Boy Girl
1. Phak kaen khom (Inline graphic)
Botanical name: Lobelia alsinoides Lam.
Family: Campanulaceae Common name: Chickweed
0.542 0.558 Gathered by hands from paddy fields and areas where there is moisture in the soil. Most abundant and consumed in October to February after rice harvesting. It has bitter taste. Yod (tip of the plant that is new growth consisting of tender young leaves and stem) or whole young plant is eaten. Often cooked in curry.

2. Phak kayang (Inline graphic)
Botanical name: Limnophila aromatica (Lomk.) Merr.
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Common name: Rice Paddy Herb
0.230 0.217 Gathered by hands from paddy fields. Available from May to November. Yod or whole young plant is eaten. Often cooked in curry.

3. Phak khee lek (Inline graphic)
Botanical name: Cassia siamea Lam.
Family: Caesalpiniaceae
Common name: Thai Copper Pod
0.167 0.259 Gathered by hands or fork stick from house area (transplanted), around the village, paddy fields, plantation areas, and secondary forests. Most consumed in November to February. Yod and flower are eaten. Often cooked in curry.

4. Phak som/Phak kaen som (Inline graphic)
Botanical name: -
Family: -
Common name: -
0.169 0.135 Gathered by hands from paddy fields and areas where there is moisture in the soil. It looks similar to Phak kaen khom but has sour taste. These two species often grow together. Children have to learn to distinguish these two species when they collect. Most abundant and consumed in October to March. Yod or whole young plant is eaten. Often put in curry to give some sour taste.

5. Phak mek (Inline graphic)
Botanical name: Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake
Family: Myrtaceae
Common name: Punk Tree/Paperbark Tea Trees
0.211 0.020 Gathered by hand from house area (transplanted), around the village, paddy fields, plantation areas and secondary forests. Consumed all year round when new leaf buds emerge., especially during the rainy season. It has a slightly sour taste. Young leaf shoots are eaten raw.

6. Phak waen (Inline graphic)
Botanical name: Marsilea crenata C. Presl
Family: Marsileaceae
Common name: Water Clover, Clover Fern
0.156 0.073 Gathered by hand from house area (not transplanted), around the village, paddy fields and areas where there is moisture in the soil. Most abundant and consumed in August to October. Young leaf shoot is eaten raw.

7. Phak hom (Inline graphic)
Botanical name: Marsilea crenata C. Presl
Family: Marsileaceae
Common name: Water Clover, Clover Fern
0.058 0.067 Gathered by hand from house area (not transplanted), around the village, and paddy fields. Young plants are consumed all year round and especially during the rainy season. Young leaf shoot or whole young plant is eaten raw or parboiled.

8. Phak lin pii (Inline graphic)
Botanical name: Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC.
Family: Asteraceae
Common name: Lilac Tasselflower
0.043 0.060 Gathered by hand from paddy fields. Most abundant and consumed from November to December. Young leaf shoot and flowers are eaten raw.

9. Bak tong leeng (Inline graphic)
Botanical name: Polyalthia evecta (Pierre) Finet & Gangnep.
Family: Annonaceae
Common name:-
0.017 0.038 Gathered by hand from the village area, plantation area, and secondary forest. Fruit is available from June to July. Fruit is eaten raw and often on spot as snack.

10. Phak lam (Inline graphic)
Botanical name: Adenanthera pavonina L.
Family: Mimosaceae
Common name: Red Beadtree
0 0.002 Gather by hand or long fork stick on pole from house area (transplanted), around the village, paddy fields, and secondary forests. Different parts are eaten. Young leaf shoots and flowers are eaten fresh or parboiled. Seed/fruit is roasted and eaten as a snack. Raw seed/fruit is toxic.

* Smith Salience Index varies between 0–1. The most salient (basic) terms of the domain have the value 1. The term not mentioned at all (least salient) have the value 0.