Linking biodiversity, food and nutrition: The importance of plant identification and nomenclature

The use of biodiversity for food and nutrition requires accurate, reliable and accessible food composition data. It is essential for users of such data to be certain of the reliability of identification and naming of food plants, which is particularly problematic for lesser-known wild or locally cultivated plants. The aims of this paper are to assess the reliability and quality of botanical information in papers citing quantitative food composition data of wild and locally cultivated species and to make recommendations for minimum standards in publishing botanical information with food composition data. We developed a framework for evaluating sample plant identification and nomenclature, and surveyed 50 papers referring to 502 species sampled (‘sample plants’), each associated with one or more nutritional data. We also tested whether or not a botanist was involved in the identification of ‘difficult to identify’ species. Of 502 sample plants, only 36 followed best practice for plant identification, and 37 followed best practice for plant nomenclature. Overall, 27% of sample plants were listed with names that are not in current use, or are incorrectly spelt, or both. Only 159 sample plants would have been found from a database search of citations and abstracts. Considering the need for food composition data from wild and locally cultivated food species, and the cost of analysis, researchers must identify, name and publish species correctly. Drawing on the fields of ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology, comprehensive recommendations are given for best practice.