Dulong People's Traditional Knowledge of (Arecaceae): a Potential Starch Plant with Emphasis on Its Starch Properties and Distribution Prediction.

The greatest global challenge is to ensure that all people have access to adequate and nutritious food. Wild edible plants, particularly those that provide substitutes for staple foods, can play a key role in enhancing food security and maintaining a balanced diet in rural communities. We used ethnobotanical methods to investigate traditional knowledge on , a substitute staple food plant of the Dulong people in Northwest Yunnan, China. The chemical composition, morphological properties, functional, and pasting properties of starch were evaluated. We used MaxEnt modeling to predict the potential geographical distribution of in Asia. Results revealed that is a vital starch species with cultural significance in the Dulong community. There are large areas suitable for in southern China, northern Myanmar, southwestern India, eastern Vietnam, and other places. As a potential starch crop, could substantially contribute to local food security and bring economic benefit. In the future, it is necessary to study the breeding and cultivation of , as well as the processing and development of starch, to solve long-term and hidden hunger in rural areas.