Folk Knowledge and Perceptions about the Use of Wild Fruits and Vegetables–Cross-Cultural Knowledge in the Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest of Okara, Pakistan

Wild fruits and vegetables (WFVs) have been vital to local communities for centuries and make an important contribution to daily life and income. However, traditional knowledge of the use of wild fruits is at risk of being lost due to inadequate documentation. This study aimed to secure this knowledge through intermittent field visits and a semi-structured questionnaire. Using various ethnobotanical data analysis tools and SPSS (IBM 25), this study identified 65 WFV species (52 genera and 29 families). These species, mostly consumed as vegetables (49%) or fruits (43%), were predominantly herbaceous (48%) in wild and semi-wild habitats (67%). 20 WFVs were known to local communities (highest RFC), Phoenix sylvestris stood out as the most utilized species (highest UV). Surprisingly, only 23% of the WFVs were sold at markets. The survey identified 21 unique WFVs that are rarely documented for human consumption in Pakistan (e.g., Ehretia obtusifolia, Euploca strigosa, Brassica juncea, Cleome brachycarpa, Gymnosporia royleana, Cucumis maderaspatanus, Croton bonplandianus, Euphorbia prostrata, Vachellia nilotica, Pongamia pinnata, Grewia asiatica, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Morus serrata, Argemone mexicana, Bambusa vulgaris, Echinochloa colonum, Solanum virginianum, Physalis angulata, Withania somnifera, Zygophyllum creticum, and Peganum harmala), as well as 14 novel uses and five novel edible parts. Despite their ecological importance, the use of WFVs has declined because local people are unaware of their cultural and economic value. Preservation of traditional knowledge through education on conservation and utilization could boost economies and livelihoods in this and similar areas worldwide.


Introduction
Wild fruits and vegetables (WFVs) improve the nutrition, economy, and even cultural identity of people in many regions of the world, especially in rural communities [1].These plants have one or more parts that, when properly harvested and processed, can be used as food.In developing countries, they are now an integral part of people's daily lives, serving as food, medicine, raw material for construction, fuel, and shelter [2][3][4].However, the utilization of these wild resources as part of the human diet is considered one of the most important components of the global food basket [5].These wild plants can be consumed raw or in the form of herbal teas, sauces, beverages, decoctions, and special dishes [6].Many wild fruits have different amounts and types of fat, carbohydrates, and proteins compared to cultivated fruits [7].In addition, they contain important nutrients that are necessary for maintaining health and preventing many diseases [8].Due to their valuable nutrients, flavor, and aroma, they are also used in times of food shortage [9][10][11].
Household income can also be increased through the production, consumption, and sale of wild fruits, which can be a strong socio-economic factor [5,12].Therefore, a large number of wild fruits are traded in local, national, and international markets [13].They are a good source of income for local people who can improve their socio-economic status by promoting culinary tourism.They attract tourists from many parts of the world by promoting an area as a destination for certain types of food [11].However, significant cultural changes affecting local populations, as well as global climate change, have led to a decrease in reliance on wild plants for food [12].Pakistan, a developing country, is the eleventh highest-risk country in the world for food insecurity [13].The use of wild fruits and vegetables as food is an important local survival tactic in times of famine or drought.In order to prioritize the conservation and/or domestication of these plants, it is important to understand the patterns of use of wild fruits and vegetables as well as their cultural significance and economic value [14].This also has implications for rural development through the commercialization of promising species, as well as for human health through the identification of nutritious species or the promotion of the use of wild fruits.
Many studies have been conducted worldwide on the ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal aspects of edible wild plants, e.g., in China [15], India [14], Zambia [16], Ethiopia [17], and also in different provinces of Pakistan such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) [6], Balochistan [18], Azad Jammu, Kashmir [19], Gilgit Baltistan [20] and Punjab [21][22][23].However, no study on the economic utilization of edible wild plants has been conducted in the Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest in the Okara district of the Punjab province.This wild forest was declared a reserve in 2017 to conserve this natural resource.However, some plants (e.g., Bombax, Populus, Dalbergia, Eucalyptus, and Salix) were cultivated near the forest.Nevertheless, the present study focused only on wild plants as they are able to grow in a natural state (independent of humans, i.e., not cultivated) [24].It was suspected that there is a variety of WFVs in the area and that local people also use some of these products, but the traditional knowledge of their use was not well-researched or documented.Today, the primary aim of ethnobiological research is to document disappearing traditional knowledge [25].Against this background, the present study is the first attempt to specifically address the economic use of WFVs by the inhabitants of the Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest.The specific objective of the present study was, therefore, to record and analyze the diversity, distribution, and various methods of WFV use in this forest.In addition, a cross-cultural analysis was conducted with data on similar aspects.The results of this study can serve as a basis for policymakers to identify and implement certain aspects of future research in this area of great importance.

Demographic Details of the Informants
A total of 70 informants, 51.4% men and 48.6% women, took part in the study.The women were reluctant to participate in the interviews as they were usually hesitant to talk to strangers, especially younger people [26].The women had more knowledge as they were directly involved in the gathering and cooking of these WFVs, in this area.Different ethnic groups participated in the survey; most of them were Qureshi (11.4%),Mughal, and Khokhar (10% each).The majority of the respondents, about 50%, were middle-aged (40-60 years), 36% were young people (20-40 years), and 14% were above 60 years.The older ones had more knowledge than the younger ones, but their less number participated in the survey because of their poor eyesight and memory loos issues.The transfer of knowledge from the old to the young generation seems to be low, as the new generation is less interested in this traditional knowledge.Most respondents were either illiterate (36%) or had only completed elementary school (29%) education.The respondents were a mix of farmers, herders, teachers, forest officers, forest guards, gardeners, landowners, and shopkeepers.However, most information was obtained from shepherds (31%), gardeners (19%), and farmers (17%), as they deal directly with and handle native plants.Farmers and landowners, on the other hand, were mainly aware of the wild species that grow naturally among the crops they cultivate.Some non-resident families of forest guards (7%) and forest officials (3%) who lived in the service buildings also had a good knowledge of forest plants (Table 1).

Diversity of Wild Fruits and Vegetables
The study area has a great floristic diversity.A total of 65 plants were observed to be used as wild food by the inhabitants of the Pipli Pahar area.A total of 65 WFV species belonging to 29 plant families and 52 genera were recorded (Table A1).
A high proportion of these WFVs belonged to the Moraceae family with seven species (11%), followed by Fabaceae and Solanaceae with six species each (9%).The quantitative FIVs (Family Importance Values) also underline the importance of Moraceae (573), Fabaceae (499), and Solanaceae (357) as food plants with the highest values (Table 2).The highest FIVs corresponded to the greater number of informants naming a particular family [27].Previous studies have also reported that Moraceae is the most important family for wild edible foods in Punjab [21,22].However, in the Hindu Kush mountain ranges of Pakistan, Moraceae was reported with the least number of edible wild plants [6].This suggests that the occurrence and utilization of plant species varies from one geographical region to another.However, the number of species in a family is not directly proportional to their use value in a study area.Based on the Family Use Values (FUVs), Arecaceae (5.00), Meliaceae (4.50), and Brassicaceae (4.22) were the most utilized families of WFVs in the study area (Table 2).The plant families with a higher FUV were more frequently used in the community compared to other plant families.It has already been pointed out that different geographical, ecological, and cultural conditions may influence the community configurations of a species at a particular study site.Therefore, the values of FIVs or FUVs for each family may vary by continent, country, or even by region of the same country [28][29][30] (Table 2).
The observations showed that most edible wild plant species were herbaceous (48%), followed by trees (40%), shrubs (11%), and arborescent grasses (1%) (Table A1).Ethnobotanical literature indicates that wild herbaceous have been an important component of human food baskets worldwide [15,31].The plant species in the Pipli Pahar forest grew indiscriminately in open areas, roadsides, water beds, and cultivated and uncultivated land.It was estimated that most of the species in the study area were wild and semi-wild (66%), and only a few species were cultivated in the cultivated and semi-cultivated environment (34%) (Table A1).In this context, a wild habitat refers to the natural environment, including forests with a comparatively high tree diversity, non-forested ecosystems along water bodies, or open areas where non-domesticated plant species grow spontaneously in selfsustaining populations [15,32,33].A semi-wild habitat refers to semi-natural ecosystems that are partially tamed or cultivated and whose processes and biodiversity are largely intact, even if they have been altered in intensity or abundance compared to their natural state by human activities, such as fallow land and edges along fields, paths, roads and rivers [15,32,34].The variety and availability of plants varied with the changing seasons.The local population knew the availability and collection time of WFVs [35].In general, spring (February-May) and summer (June-October) are the main seasons for collecting WFVs.However, the availability of many plants (especially herbaceous species) also strongly depended on the frequency and amount of rainfall.Plant diversity in the Pipli Pahar area was highest during the rainy seasons, especially during the monsoon season (July to September), as 41 out of 65 species (63%) were available during the monsoon months.Plants such as Malva parviflora, which are mainly dependent on rainwater, faded during periods of water scarcity.Therefore, most of the WFVs were not available from December to January (Table A1).

Traditional Utilization Aspects of WFVs 2.3.1. Use Category
In Pipli Pahar, 32 (49%), 28 (43%), and five (8%) species were used as vegetables, fruits, and both fruits and vegetables, respectively (Figure 1).Vegetables were also reported as the most commonly used category in the Jhlem district of Punjab, Pakistan [23].Due to the different climatic conditions in the Lesser Himalayas, the beliefs and traditions of the locals regarding the use of edible wild plants vary, with the fruits being considered the most edible parts.Another possible reason for these regional differences could be the difference in nutritional value and suitability for use as raw or cooked food.A1 in appendix.

Most Popular WFVs
The results of this study showed that the RFC was between 1 and 0.01.About 20 plants had the highest RFC values of 1, including Phoenix sylvestris, Cichorium intybus, Cordia dichotoma, C. myxa, Capparis decidua, Chenopodium album, C. murale, Cucumis melo var.agrestis, Vachellia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, Morus alba, M. nigra, M. serrata, Syzygium cumini, Bambusa vulgaris, Ziziphus mauritiana, Z. nummularia, Solanum nigrum, and Physalis angulata.The plants with the lowest RFC value of 0.04 were Gymnosporia royleana, Croton bonplandianus, Euphorbia prostrata, Ehretia obtusifolia, and Grewia tenax, followed by 0.01 for Euploca strigosa (Table A1 in the Appendix).The higher RFC values of WFVs showed that these species were popular because the locals were more familiar with these WFVs.The higher RFC values of some species indicate that they are used more by the local population and their knowledge is greater [36].The UV, on the other hand, indicates the importance of each fruit and vegetable species based on the number of different uses in the community.The highest UV was found in the literature [37] for Phoenix sylvestris (5.00), followed by Azadirachta indica (4.50) and Bauhinia variegata (4.29), indicating that these plants were either frequently used for a specific purpose or for many different purposes [38] by the community.The species with the lowest UV were Croton bonplandianus, Grewia tenax, and Lantana camara (1.00), as they are less utilized by the inhabitants of the Pipli Pahar area.

Most Popular WFVs
The results of this study showed that the RFC was between 1 and 0.01.About 20 plants had the highest RFC values of 1, including Phoenix sylvestris, Cichorium intybus, Cordia dichotoma, C. myxa, Capparis decidua, Chenopodium album, C. murale, Cucumis melo var.agrestis, Vachellia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, Morus alba, M. nigra, M. serrata, Syzygium cumini, Bambusa vulgaris, Ziziphus mauritiana, Z. nummularia, Solanum nigrum, and Physalis angulata.The plants with the lowest RFC value of 0.04 were Gymnosporia royleana, Croton bonplandianus, Euphorbia prostrata, Ehretia obtusifolia, and Grewia tenax, followed by 0.01 for Euploca strigosa (Table A1 in the Appendix A).The higher RFC values of WFVs showed that these species were popular because the locals were more familiar with these WFVs.The higher RFC values of some species indicate that they are used more by the local population and their knowledge is greater [36].The UV, on the other hand, indicates the importance of each fruit and vegetable species based on the number of different uses in the community.The highest UV was found in the literature [37] for Phoenix sylvestris (5.00), followed by Azadirachta indica (4.50) and Bauhinia variegata (4.29), indicating that these plants were either frequently used for a specific purpose or for many different purposes [38] by the community.The species with the lowest UV were Croton bonplandianus, Grewia tenax, and Lantana camara (1.00), as they are less utilized by the inhabitants of the Pipli Pahar area.

Edible Parts
Most indigenous communities were found to use fruits interchangeably with vegetables (39%) as edible parts, followed by sprouts (14%) and whole plants (11%).In contrast, the use of leaves (12%), seeds (9%), pods (5%), roots (4%), and other parts (1% each of soft twigs, buds, and gum) was less common (Figure 2).The results for the use of fruits as the most commonly utilized edible part were found in the older ethnobotanical literature [8,20,[39][40][41].Therefore, it can be said that wild fruits play an important role in meeting the food needs of many rural communities around the world.fruits as the most commonly utilized edible part were found in the older ethnobotanical literature [8,20,[39][40][41].Therefore, it can be said that wild fruits play an important role in meeting the food needs of many rural communities around the world.2.

Traditional Dishes Recipes of WFVs
Of the 65 WFVs, 34 (37%) species were eaten raw or uncooked, especially those that had ripened as fruit.Only three (5%) plant species (Euphorbia prostrata, Oxalis corniculata, and Bambusa vulgaris) were found to be consumed raw, while the remaining species were preferably used in cooked form.Most (14%) of the wild vegetable species were cooked into curry ('salan').Saag was the most common, well-cooked traditional dish of the region, in which many green wild herbaceous with their sprouts were cooked together with cooking salt and spices.The two main ingredients of the 'saag' recipe were Brassica campestris and Spinacia oleracea, which were boiled in water together with other wild vegetables.The boiled and concentrated product was then fried in oil or butter with onions, garlic, ginger, green chilies, and other spices to make 'tarka' (a traditional frying method).Cooking wild vegetable plants together with other cultivated or wild vegetables [42] improved not only the nutritional value but also the flavor of this traditional food of human communities [6].Besides curry, many (14%) of them were used as pickles, followed by herbal teas (11%) and beverages (9%).In addition, some (6%) WFVs were used to make 'chutney' (the local name for gravy).Some were also used to make desserts (3%), murabba (jam, 4%), herbal tablets, and yogurt (1% each) (Figure 3).Statistically significant differences were found in the use of food plant species for different recipes, represented by axis 1 in Figure 3.A Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significant differences between the different disorders.PC1 and PC2, characterized by the presence and absence of plant species, respectively, accounted for 55% of the variation in the distribution of species within the biplot.2.

Traditional Dishes Recipes of WFVs
Of the 65 WFVs, 34 (37%) species were eaten raw or uncooked, especially those that had ripened as fruit.Only three (5%) plant species (Euphorbia prostrata, Oxalis corniculata, and Bambusa vulgaris) were found to be consumed raw, while the remaining species were preferably used in cooked form.Most (14%) of the wild vegetable species were cooked into curry ('salan').Saag was the most common, well-cooked traditional dish of the region, in which many green wild herbaceous with their sprouts were cooked together with cooking salt and spices.The two main ingredients of the 'saag' recipe were Brassica campestris and Spinacia oleracea, which were boiled in water together with other wild vegetables.The boiled and concentrated product was then fried in oil or butter with onions, garlic, ginger, green chilies, and other spices to make 'tarka' (a traditional frying method).Cooking wild vegetable plants together with other cultivated or wild vegetables [42] improved not only the nutritional value but also the flavor of this traditional food of human communities [6].Besides curry, many (14%) of them were used as pickles, followed by herbal teas (11%) and beverages (9%).In addition, some (6%) WFVs were used to make 'chutney' (the local name for gravy).Some were also used to make desserts (3%), murabba (jam, 4%), herbal tablets, and yogurt (1% each) (Figure 3).Statistically significant differences were found in the use of food plant species for different recipes, represented by axis 1 in Figure 3.A Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significant differences between the different disorders.PC1 and PC2, characterized by the presence and absence of plant species, respectively, accounted for 55% of the variation in the distribution of species within the biplot.

Nutritional and Medicinal Value of WFVs
Many WFVs contain large amounts of nutrients, such as fatty acids, minerals, fibers, vitamins, and phenols, which have a high medicinal value [43][44][45][46].The results showed that most taxa were used to treat fever and pain conditions (21%), followed by gastrointestinal complaints (14%) and other problems (10% each).The lowest number of taxa (2%) was used to treat cancer.As shown in Figure 4, there were statistically significant differences in the use of food plant species for the various ailments defined by axis 1.The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significant differences between the different complaints.PC1 and PC2, determined by the presence and absence of plant species, respectively, accounted for 35% of the species distribution in the biplot.The analysis revealed 11 disease groups based on the presence or absence of specific species, including circulatory, gastrointestinal, skin, respiratory, venereal, liver, cancer, urinary and skeletal diseases, and fever and pain.The use of edible wild fruits was an essential part of the medical management system for the elderly [2].Middle-aged or younger people mostly considered the use of phytomedicines as orthodox therapy and preferred to take modern allopathic medicines.Therefore, the traditional knowledge about the medicinal use of wild plants is disappearing more and more [47].

Nutritional and Medicinal Value of WFVs
Many WFVs contain large amounts of nutrients, such as fatty acids, minerals, fibers, vitamins, and phenols, which have a high medicinal value [43][44][45][46].The results showed that most taxa were used to treat fever and pain conditions (21%), followed by gastrointestinal complaints (14%) and other problems (10% each).The lowest number of taxa (2%) was used to treat cancer.As shown in Figure 4, there were statistically significant differences in the use of food plant species for the various ailments defined by axis 1.The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significant differences between the different complaints.PC1 and PC2, determined by the presence and absence of plant species, respectively, accounted for 35% of the species distribution in the biplot.The analysis revealed 11 disease groups based on the presence or absence of specific species, including circulatory, gastrointestinal, skin, respiratory, venereal, liver, cancer, urinary and skeletal diseases, and fever and pain.The use of edible wild fruits was an essential part of the medical management system for the elderly [2].Middle-aged or younger people mostly considered the use of phytomedicines as orthodox therapy and preferred to take modern allopathic medicines.Therefore, the traditional knowledge about the medicinal use of wild plants is disappearing more and more [47].

Marketing and Cultivation of WFVs on a Commercial Scale
Integrating WFVs into markets and designing efficient and functional value is key to ensuring their increased availability and utilization [48].Ultimately, this will have an impact on the food security challenges of today.Despite all the studies that have been conducted over the last 10 years, the full potential of wild edible resources has still not been realized.This is one of the most burning issues that deserves the attention of the scientific community, with special emphasis on the economic benefits and their role in the sustainability of rural areas [49].In the Pipli Pahar region, almost all WFVs and their products were not considered as saline products.Local people prefer to buy cultivated fruits and vegetables from other farmers or traders but do not even think of marketing their wild food sources.Only 15 species (23%) were sold by the forest department and some locals in the markets of other towns.It was also found that 14 (21%) species of WFV are cultivated in the study area (Appendix Table A1).A few plants of the Bauhinia variegata, Azadirachta indica, Cordia myxa, Morus alba, M. nigra, M. serrata and Syzygium cumini, Ficus racemosa, Moringa oleifera, Ziziphus mauritiana, and Z. nummularia species were cultivated by the forest department.Cassia fistula and Phoenix sylvestris were grown for ornamental purposes in the park, but none of the wild vegetable species were cultivated by the Forest Department of the study area.Morus serrata and Syzygium cumini were cultivated with other staple cultivated commercial fruit trees, while Cichorium intybus was cultivated only as fodder for animals by some native landlords.Poor people who did not own land for farming were not allowed by the forestry department to grow vegetables or fruit on land controlled by the government.However, due to deforestation and urbanization, these wild edible resources could soon disappear.The cultivation and domestication of these WFVs are, therefore, crucial to ensure the conservation of these dwindling plants.This was confirmed by [50], who pointed out that "domestication emerged from food gathering and led almost imperceptibly to cultivation".
The analysis of the Venn diagram showed that nine fruit plants, five vegetable plants, and only one fruit/vegetable plant were commercialized (Figure 5).The fruits of Cordia dichotoma, C. myxa, and Morus serrata were sold by the forest department in the markets of

Marketing and Cultivation of WFVs on a Commercial Scale
Integrating WFVs into markets and designing efficient and functional value is key to ensuring their increased availability and utilization [48].Ultimately, this will have an impact on the food security challenges of today.Despite all the studies that have been conducted over the last 10 years, the full potential of wild edible resources has still not been realized.This is one of the most burning issues that deserves the attention of the scientific community, with special emphasis on the economic benefits and their role in the sustainability of rural areas [49].In the Pipli Pahar region, almost all WFVs and their products were not considered as saline products.Local people prefer to buy cultivated fruits and vegetables from other farmers or traders but do not even think of marketing their wild food sources.Only 15 species (23%) were sold by the forest department and some locals in the markets of other towns.It was also found that 14 (21%) species of WFV are cultivated in the study area (Appendix A Table A1).A few plants of the Bauhinia variegata, Azadirachta indica, Cordia myxa, Morus alba, M. nigra, M. serrata and Syzygium cumini, Ficus racemosa, Moringa oleifera, Ziziphus mauritiana, and Z. nummularia species were cultivated by the forest department.Cassia fistula and Phoenix sylvestris were grown for ornamental purposes in the park, but none of the wild vegetable species were cultivated by the Forest Department of the study area.Morus serrata and Syzygium cumini were cultivated with other staple cultivated commercial fruit trees, while Cichorium intybus was cultivated only as fodder for animals by some native landlords.Poor people who did not own land for farming were not allowed by the forestry department to grow vegetables or fruit on land controlled by the government.However, due to deforestation and urbanization, these wild edible resources could soon disappear.The cultivation and domestication of these WFVs are, therefore, crucial to ensure the conservation of these dwindling plants.This was confirmed by [50], who pointed out that "domestication emerged from food gathering and led almost imperceptibly to cultivation".
The analysis of the Venn diagram showed that nine fruit plants, five vegetable plants, and only one fruit/vegetable plant were commercialized (Figure 5).The fruits of Cordia dichotoma, C. myxa, and Morus serrata were sold by the forest department in the markets of major cities.The samples of Chenopodium album were collected by some women and sold as saag in other towns by some local people along with cultivated plants such as Brassica campestris and Spinacia oleracea.Capparis decidua and Citrullus colocynthis were also collected by some people for sale in the towns.Other plants such as Phoenix sylvestris, Bauhinia variegata, Moringa oleifera, and Syzygium cumini were sold in the local markets, but mainly the park and forest department employees also consumed the products of these species for free.Most of the wild fruit trees were under the control of the forest department, and the people concerned were allowed to consume the fruits without payment.A recent study found that Bauhinia variegata and Chenopodium album were sold in the markets, as also reported in a previous study, but Solanum nigrum was not sold in Pipli Pahar, which was in contrast to a study report on wild fruit data from the Lesser Himalayas region of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan [42].This illustrates the influence of regional cultures and traditions on marketing patterns in individual provinces due to ethnic and historical differences.
Plants 2024, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 10 of 29 major cities.The samples of Chenopodium album were collected by some women and sold as saag in other towns by some local people along with cultivated plants such as Brassica campestris and Spinacia oleracea.Capparis decidua and Citrullus colocynthis were also collected by some people for sale in the towns.Other plants such as Phoenix sylvestris, Bauhinia variegata, Moringa oleifera, and Syzygium cumini were sold in the local markets, but mainly the park and forest department employees also consumed the products of these species for free.Most of the wild fruit trees were under the control of the forest department, and the people concerned were allowed to consume the fruits without payment.A recent study found that Bauhinia variegata and Chenopodium album were sold in the markets, as also reported in a previous study, but Solanum nigrum was not sold in Pipli Pahar, which was in contrast to a study report on wild fruit data from the Lesser Himalayas region of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan [42].This illustrates the influence of regional cultures and traditions on marketing patterns in individual provinces due to ethnic and historical differences.According to some officials of the Pipli Pahar forest department, the edible wild trees cannot be used for honey extraction, and their wood cannot be used for construction, while these purposes can be fulfilled by non-edible trees.Therefore, the forest department preferred the cultivation of non-edible trees over edible fruit trees.Farmers of the study area also preferred to grow staple crops (such as maize, rice, wheat, potato, mango, banana, orange, guava, etc.) as these species are in demand among consumers and can be sold in the cities at good prices so that they can earn a good profit.However, when they grow WFV crops, they cannot sell them in the markets, as people in the cities do not buy these WFVs because they do not know how to use them.Various reasons, such as lack of government funding, inadequate marketing, lack of value addition, and inability to meet market demand, hindered the cultivation of wild species.Another important factor that influenced the revival and cultivation of WFVs was consumer choice [51].

Impact of Urbanization on the Conservation and Utilization of WFVs
The analysis of the relative frequency revealed alarming facts and findings.Despite their importance, only 25% of the species in the study area were classified as common and abundant, while 20% of the species were classified as rare in terms of abundance.According to some officials of the Pipli Pahar forest department, the edible wild trees cannot be used for honey extraction, and their wood cannot be used for construction, while these purposes can be fulfilled by non-edible trees.Therefore, the forest department preferred the cultivation of non-edible trees over edible fruit trees.Farmers of the study area also preferred to grow staple crops (such as maize, rice, wheat, potato, mango, banana, orange, guava, etc.) as these species are in demand among consumers and can be sold in the cities at good prices so that they can earn a good profit.However, when they grow WFV crops, they cannot sell them in the markets, as people in the cities do not buy these WFVs because they do not know how to use them.Various reasons, such as lack of government funding, inadequate marketing, lack of value addition, and inability to meet market demand, hindered the cultivation of wild species.Another important factor that influenced the revival and cultivation of WFVs was consumer choice [51].

Impact of Urbanization on the Conservation and Utilization of WFVs
The analysis of the relative frequency revealed alarming facts and findings.Despite their importance, only 25% of the species in the study area were classified as common and abundant, while 20% of the species were classified as rare in terms of abundance.This could be due to urbanization, which has eclipsed the importance of WFVs in changing habits.
Only the edible wild species that are also used by city dwellers were classified as important, while lesser-known species were gradually removed.For example, Momordica balsmina and Physalis angulata (both rare plants) were removed from various locations for road construction, playgrounds, and commercial plant cultivation.A 60-year-old man said that the last time he ate the root of Launaea procumbens as a curry (salan) was as a child in 1965.After that, the root was never cooked again as it was considered old-fashioned and unpopular due to modernization.If this behavior continues, many WFV species could be neglected or eradicated in the future.Therefore, community education and proper planning are required to conserve and promote the rarely growing edible wild species in the Pipli Pahar region.

Regional Analysis and Novelty Index of Reported WFVs
The national regions of Pakistan are composed of different provinces and ethnic groups living in geographically and climatically diverse areas with different perceptions of different social groups, including dietary habits.The availability of edible wild plants is rooted in the culture and traditions of each area.Factors such as climatic and geographical changes lead to changes in the availability and utilization of edible wild plants and, consequently, their importance as food [52].Therefore, the documented list of 65 wild fruits and vegetables from the current study was compared with the previous 19 articles on edible wild plants in Pakistan to identify cross-regional differences or overlaps and new aspects of reproduced WFVs.The comparison helps to find out the differences in utilization (edible parts and type of utilization) of indigenous edible wild plants in different regions and communities.These types of differences and similarities are usually measured numerically by ethnobotanists using the Jaccard Index (JI).A higher JI value reflects the similarity of vegetation types in the two areas due to similar geographical or climatic conditions, while lower JI values indicate the opposite [53] (Table 1).In the present study, the JI values ranged from 35.3 to 1.1 (Table 3).The highest value was recorded for the Sargodha district (35.3), followed by Central Punjab (24.3) and the Jhelum district (13.5); all three sites were located in the Punjab province, reflecting the similarity of vegetation.The lowest JI value was calculated in the study by Ishkoman and Yasin in the valleys of Gilgit Baltistan (1.1), where only a single plant similar to the current site was reported.This is due to the fact that there is a major difference between the climate and geography of the two sites, with the reported site being a mountainous region with a cold climate, while the study site is a low land with a warm climate that supports different vegetation growth.
The percentage of similarity or dissimilarity of the edible parts used and the way they are used mainly reflect the differences in the cultural dietary habits of different communities depending on where they live in the different provinces or regions.The current study showed that the highest percentage of similarity of edible parts was used in the Sargodha district (81.5%), followed by D.I. Khan in KPK (72.7%) and Central Punjab (63.0%each).The highest percentage of similarity in the type of use was also found in the Punjab province, i.e., the Sargodha and Central Punjab districts (44.4% each), followed by D.I. Khan in KPK (36.4%) and the Hindu Kush Mountains and Bajur on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border (12.7% each).The Harnai district showed the least similarities in terms of the percentage of edible parts utilized (1.7%) and type of utilization (3.4%).These similarities and differences between the areas are due to geographical, climatic, historical, traditional, and cultural differences between the provinces.The reason for the highest percentage of similarities in the Punjab province is clearly due to the same Punjabi culture in both study areas, i.e., past and present publications.However, the higher percentage of similarities in the other provinces is due to the mixing of culture and traditions of different communities due to many factors such as cross-cultural marriages, tourism, migration for livelihood, and recipe channels on social media.This shows that the national culture of Pakistan is united and cemented in the diversity of socio-cultural thoughts and variations in terms of food habits in the use of WFVs [54][55][56].The cross-regional analysis revealed that the current study also uncovered 21 unique WFVs that were rarely documented for human consumption in the studied ethnobotanical literature of Pakistan (Figure 6), i.e., Ehretia obtusifolia, Euploca strigosa, Brassica juncea, Cleome brachycarpa, Gymnosporia royleana, Cucumis maderaspatanus, Croton bonplandianus, Euphorbia prostrata, Vachellia nilotica, Pongamia pinnata, Grewia asiatica, Malvastrum coromandilianum, Morus serrata, Argemone mexicana, Bambusa vulgaris, Echinochloa colonum, Solanum virginianum, Physalis angulata, Withania somnifera, Zygophyllum creticum, and Peganum harmala (Figure 6).In addition, 14 WFVs were recorded in the current study for their novel uses and five WFVs for their novel edible parts used by the inhabitants of the area, reflecting the uniqueness of the flora and food culture of Pipli Pahar.
the national culture of Pakistan is united and cemented in the diversity of socio-cultural thoughts and variations in terms of food habits in the use of WFVs [54][55][56].
The cross-regional analysis revealed that the current study also uncovered 21 unique WFVs that were rarely documented for human consumption in the studied ethnobotanical literature of Pakistan (Figure 6), i.e., Ehretia obtusifolia, Euploca strigosa, Brassica juncea, Cleome brachycarpa, Gymnosporia royleana, Cucumis maderaspatanus, Croton bonplandianus, Euphorbia prostrata, Vachellia nilotica, Pongamia pinnata, Grewia asiatica, Malvastrum coromandilianum, Morus serrata, Argemone mexicana, Bambusa vulgaris, Echinochloa colonum, Solanum virginianum, Physalis angulata, Withania somnifera, Zygophyllum creticum, and Peganum harmala (Figure 6).In addition, 14 WFVs were recorded in the current study for their novel uses and five WFVs for their novel edible parts used by the inhabitants of the area, reflecting the uniqueness of the flora and food culture of Pipli Pahar.Our study highlights previously overlooked plant species, traditional practices, and cultural significance while revealing unique aspects of ethnobotanical knowledge in each area studied.In addition, we set ourselves apart from other studies by comparing our findings with those of previous studies in the region to highlight both the similarities and differences and to expand our understanding of ethnobotanical patterns and cultural practices.Despite the geographical and climatic differences between the regions mentioned, it is remarkable that they are similar in terms of certain food crops.Moreover, these regions belong to the same biogeographical zone, which suggests a certain ecological continuity and common botanical characteristics.Even if we recognize the geographical and climatic differences, the comparison is relevant due to the presence of similar species and the common biogeographical context.

Study Area
The research was conducted in the Pipli Pahar Plantation, which is a union of the Tehsil Depalpur in District Okara [62].The study area is indicated in the map (Figure 1), which was self-created with ArcMap 10.7.1 software.Before the area was converted into an irrigated plantation, it was a typical dry tropical thorn forest described as a "Punjab Rakh The study area is almost 21.6 km away from Okara City and has a population of 110,427 [64].The soil is shallow to deep and dark gray to brown in color.Summers are very hot and long, lasting from June to August when the temperature can exceed 40 • C. Winters are also harsh, with December and January being the coldest months when the temperature remains below 10 • C for many days (Figure 7).

Ethnobotanical Survey and Data Collection
From December 2020 to August 2021, various field visits, inspections, and meetings with the local population were carried out to collect the necessary data.Prior to conducting the field visits, the verbal consent of the informants and the formal written consent of the forest authorities were obtained.Information on the economic use of WFVs

Ethnobotanical Survey and Data Collection
From December 2020 to August 2021, various field visits, inspections, and meetings with the local population were carried out to collect the necessary data.Prior to conducting the field visits, the verbal consent of the informants and the formal written consent of the forest authorities were obtained.Information on the economic use of WFVs was collected using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) based on discussions with local people and direct observations in selected fields [65].The ethical guidelines of the International Society of Ethnobiology, 1988 [66] were followed throughout the survey.The survey design was approved by the Ethical Review Committee of the University of Okara (approval number UOERC#89).Informants were interviewed using a semi-structured and openended questionnaire [67], with questions asked in Urdu (the national language of Pakistan) and Punjabi (the mother tongue and regional language of Punjab).The purpose of the study was briefly explained to the respondents before collecting the required information from them.Forest guards and other forest department staff, including the gardeners of Shahbaz Sharif Forest Park (a park in the Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest), assisted in collecting the required plant samples.The residents of the study area were asked questions about various recipes for traditional food preparations and the use of WFVs in medicine.The forest officials also provided information on the cultivation and marketing of wild fruit trees and vegetable plants.
The collected specimens were identified using the available identification keys in the Flora of Pakistan [68,69].For botanical names and related families, the method of the Angiosperm Phylogenic group [70] was used.The World Flora Online (2022) [71] and the Plant List (2010) [72] were also used for the nomenclature of the plants.The identified plant specimens were assigned with voucher numbers and deposited in the Botanical Herbarium at the University of Okara for future reference.

Data Analysis
As several qualitative parameters were recorded for the plants, it was necessary to evaluate this information using different indices (see below) to highlight their complementary or contrasting application.There are certain methodological differences for each index.Different formulas were used for each index, using different information from the qualitative surveys.All of these indices are important for converting qualitative observations into quantitative observations.We can then quantitatively determine which plants were more familiar to the residents (by RFC), which plant is used more (by UV), and which disease is predominantly treated with these plants (by ICF).The Jaccard index is a novelty index; it indicates an overall comparable uniqueness and authenticity of the data compared to the published articles from different aligned fields.The FIV and FUV indices provide useful information about the families; however, the fundamental difference between them is that the FIV indicates which family is more familiar to residents, while the FUV indicates which family has greater diversity in their utilization patterns.These data values were then organized in Microsoft Excel (2019) before being analyzed using SPSS (IBM 25) to obtain descriptive statistics.A Venn diagram was created in R 4.2.1 software to show overlap and variable characteristics.

Relative Abundance
The relative abundance of the listed herb species was estimated using a visual estimation method [73].For this purpose, an equal number and size of plots were randomly selected in each study area, and then the presence of each medicinal plant was counted and noted.The following formula was used to calculate the percentage relative abundance.

Family Use Values (FUV)
This index calculates the use value of a family by using the following formula [30].

FUV =
∑ UVs NS (where, FUV = Family Use Value, ∑ UVs = Sum of the Use Values of all the species that are quoted from a family; NS = Total number of species that are quoted from the family).

Family Importance Value (FIV)
The FIV is obtained by dividing the number of informants who mentioned the use of species by the total number of informants and then multiplying it by 100.It is an index that represents the importance of a family in a community, and it determines the consensus between the informants and the cited families

Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC)
This index is obtained by dividing the number of informants who mentioned the use of species by the total number of informants who participated in the survey.The plant that was most popularly used received the highest RFC, and the plant species that were less used received a smaller number of citation frequencies in the community.This was calculated by using the following formula:

RFC =
FCs N (where RFC = Relative Frequency of Citation, FCs = Number of informants who mentioned the use of fruit and vegetable species, and N = Total Number of informants) [30].

Use Value (UV)
The UV counted the significance of each plant species based on the number of various uses that had been reported.The objective was to evaluate the significance of species in the community.It was calculated using the following formula: where UV = Use Value for the species, ∑ Us = Sum of all the uses that were mentioned for a species, and N = Number of informants; here, N is not the total number of informants, it is the number of informants for a species in FC [30].

Jaccard index (JI)
The cross-culture analysis to find the similarities or differences in indigenous knowledge among different cultural communities was determined by estimating the JI by the following formula: where a is the species of the study area, b is the species recorded from the allied area, and c is the common species in both areas [74].The % for the part used and the food dish recipe were also calculated to find the unique utilization of wild edible plants for their parts and traditional recipes.

Conclusions
This is the first documentation of traditional knowledge (TK) in the mentioned area, as no literature on WFVs has been published so far.According to Łuczaj [25], descriptive ethnobotanical studies are necessary for the documentation of disappearing traditional knowledge (TK) and represent a primary goal of ethnobiological and ethnobotanical research today.It is encouraging that 21 WFVs appear to be new as they have rarely been documented for human consumption in the studied ethnobotanical literature of Pakistan.Moreover, 14 out of 65 WFVs are described as novel uses, and 5 out of 65 WFVs are described as novel edible parts in the current study.The WFVs of the Pipli Pahar region have great economic value, but the trend of their utilization is declining because people are not aware of the utilization and value of these resources.In addition, low production and difficult cultivation conditions may be other factors for the "lost" uptake and propagation of these rare but valuable plants.These data can be used for the sustainable growth of WFV crops on a commercial scale.Their use can be promoted in our households and in the culinary industry to reduce the burden of conventional food crops.Furthermore, their nutraceutical properties can be evaluated for the discovery of alternative medicines.Local people can not only earn a living but also spread their culture through the use of WFVs in the culinary tourism industry.By classifying plant species into systematic units, we are not only documenting valuable traditional knowledge but also laying the foundation for future studies to build upon.This classification is crucial for recognizing patterns of plant use, distribution, and cultural significance in order to make informed decisions about conservation measures, sustainable resource management, and the preservation of traditional knowledge.The traditional knowledge of the population about the use of edible wild plants could be promoted through education and training.This could contribute to the conservation of natural resources and the optimal use of plants for domestic consumption.Such efforts can also improve the economy of local communities in this and other similar areas of the world.

Recommendations
To find better ways to conserve and effectively utilize WFVs, it would be helpful if the government could be persuaded to direct and fund the forest department and motivate local farmers to sustainably grow these WFV crops on a commercial scale.In addition, the owners of restaurants and pharmaceutical companies should also be encouraged to promote the wonderful potential of these WFVs to increase their interest in the production, consumption, and marketing of WFVs.
It is recommended to promote the use of traditional WFV-based dishes in culinary tourism to boost the economy and promote Pipli Pahar as a place for specialty tourism.For this purpose, food festivals or fairs should be organized in the Shahbaz Sharif Forest Park, which is located in the Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest.This park is already a reason for the popularity of the study area.To achieve this goal, dishes made from wild fruits and their nutritional benefits should be publicized through advertisements in print and electronic media.The locals should be encouraged to participate in festivals to preserve the traditional serving methods and flavors.This will also help to increase the household income of the local population.It is also recommended that coordinated research be conducted on edible wild fruit trees that can be used as a source of timber and honeybees so that the full potential of WFV trees can be realized.
The integration of alien species into the local diet as a source of wild fruits and vegetables (WFVs) is a complex process influenced by ecological, cultural, and socio-economic factors.Ecologically, the introduction of species such as Argemone mexicana, Avena sativa, Bambusa vulgaris, Physalis minima, Lantana camara, and Zygophyllum creticum occurs through different pathways favored by human activities and climate change.Culturally, acceptance depends on culinary traditions and taste preferences.Socio-economic factors such as market demand and land-use changes also play a role.Our study highlights the presence of these alien species among WFVs and emphasizes their importance for local diets.However, their integration raises concerns for native biodiversity and cultural heritage.Future research should assess the ecological impact and nutritional value of alien species and promote sustainable harvesting practices.
Appendix A Table A1.A catalog of wild fruits and vegetables (WFVs) to highlight their different uses by the inhabitants of Pipli Pahar and possible references for their nutritional contents.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Chord diagram showing the species and type of utilization of wild fruits and vegetables from Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest in Okara, Pakistan.The full names of the species are listed inTable A1 in appendix.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Chord diagram showing the species and type of utilization of wild fruits and vegetables from Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest in Okara, Pakistan.The full names of the species are listed in Table A1 in Appendix A.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Chord diagram of utilized parts of wild fruits and vegetables from Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest in Okara, Pakistan.The complete names of the species are given in Table2.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Chord diagram of utilized parts of wild fruits and vegetables from Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest in Okara, Pakistan.The complete names of the species are given in Table2.

Plants 2024 , 29 Figure 3 .
Figure 3. Biplot analysis of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) illustrating the predominant recipes of different plant species in Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest of Okara, Pakistan.

Figure 3 .
Figure 3. Biplot analysis of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) illustrating the predominant recipes of different plant species in Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest of Okara, Pakistan.

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Biplot analysis of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) illustrating the prevalent diseases treated with different plant species in Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest of Okara, Pakistan.

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Biplot analysis of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) illustrating the prevalent diseases treated with different plant species in Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest of Okara, Pakistan.

Figure 5 .
Figure 5. Venn diagram representing unique and common plant species among different categories.

Figure 5 .
Figure 5. Venn diagram representing unique and common plant species among different categories.
." Whereas, by notification No. 659, dated 8January-1931, the Governor in Council declared to constitute a reserved forest in a specified area in the Depalpur Tehsil of the Montgomery District.The Depalpur plantation was not managed regularly until the writing of the first exclusive working scheme for each unit during 1935-1936.On 30 April 1955, this land was transferred from the control of the Colonization Department to the Forest Department to part of the Depalpur Reserved Forest.Pipli Pahar is one of the eight boundaries of the Depalpur Reserved Forest, which is located at the end of the Depalpur Canal System (Sutlej Valley project).This is divided into 4 parts: Depalpur Plantation Cpt.No.96 Bed Nursery, Depalpur Nursery Cpt.95 Bed Nursery, Depalpur Plantation Cpt.133 (10 Ac), and Depalpur Plantation Cpt.No.94/A Bed Nursery.It is not a popular area because there is no modern development in the area [63].

Figure 7 .
Figure 7. Map of the study area Pipli Pahar reserved forest.
FIV = Family Importance Value, FC = Total Number of Informants for a Family, and N = Total Number of Informants).

Table 1 .
Demographic information of informants.

Table 2 .
Comparative datasets for the number of taxa for dominant plant families, FIV (Family Importance Value) based on the ratio of the total number of informants who described them, and FUV (Family Use Value) based on the ratio of the total use for that plant family.

Table 3 .
Jaccard index to compare the present study with the published literature of Pakistan to show the novelty aspect of the present study.
Legends: NP Number of total Plants, NPSP: Number of Plants with Similar Parts used, NPDP: Number of Plants with Dissimilar Parts used, NPSM: Number of Plants with Similar Mode of utilization, NPDM: Number of Plants with Dissimilar or multiple Mode of utilization, TPCBA: Total number of Plants Common in Both Areas, PRAA: Plants Reported in Aligned Areas, PRSA: Plants Reported in Study Area, PPSP: Percentage of Plants with Similar Parts Used, PPDP: Percentage of Plants with Dissimilar Part Used, PPSM: Percentage of Plants with Similar Mode of utilization, PPDM: Percentage of Plants with Dissimilar or multiple Mode of utilization, and JI Jaccard Index.
(2)ots are cooked in saag (shoots of the plants mixed with Brassica campestris and Spinacia oleracea are boiled in water and then fried in oil with onion, garlic, ginger, green chilly with spices).(2)Sharbat(herbaltea) is prepared by boiling the plant in water with sugar.Cooked in saag (Shoots of the plants mixed with Brassica campestris and Spinacia oleracea are boiled in water and then fried in oil with onion, garlic, ginger, green chilly with spices).(2)It is also cooked with a mixture of ground chickpea lentils and potato by frying in onion, garlic, ginger, tomato, red chili, and spices.Leaves with onion, garlic, ginger, and spices are cooked to make salan.(2)Thewhole plant is boiled in water to prepare sharbat (herbal tea).Cooked in saag (Shoots of the plants mixed with Brassica campestris and Spinacia oleracea are boiled in water and then fried in oil with onion, garlic, ginger, green chili with spices).