Fan Yanxiao, Tian Menghua, Hu Defen, Xiong Yong
School of Ethnic Medicine, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650504, China.
Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, Yunnan Minzu University, Ministry of Education, Kunming 650504, China.
Biology (Basel). 2025 Jul 11;14(7):846. doi: 10.3390/biology14070846.
, known as Tianma in Chinese, is a valuable medicinal and nutritional resource. The favorable climate of Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province, China, facilitates its growth and nurtures rich biocultural diversity associated with Tianma in the region. Local people not only cultivate Tianma as a traditional crop but have also developed a series of traditional knowledge related to its cultivation, processing, medicinal use, and culinary applications. In this study, field surveys employing ethnobotanical methods were conducted in Yiliang County, Zhaotong City, from August 2020 to May 2024, focusing on Tianma. A total of 114 key informants participated in semi-structured interviews. The survey documented 23 species (and forms) from seven families related to Tianma cultivation. Among them, there were five Gastrodia resource taxa, including one original species, and four forms. These 23 species served as either target cultivated species, symbiotic fungi (promoting early-stage Gastrodia germination), or fungus-cultivating wood. The Fagaceae family, with 10 species, was the most dominant, as its dense, starch-rich wood decomposes slowly, providing with a long-term, stable nutrient substrate. The cultural importance (CI) statistics revealed that , , f. , f. , f. , and Xuehong Tianma (unknown form) exhibited relatively high CI values, indicating their crucial cultural significance and substantial value within the local community. In local communities, traditionally processed dried Tianma tubers are mainly used to treat cardiovascular diseases and also serve as a culinary ingredient, with its young shoots and tubers incorporated into dishes such as cold salads and stewed chicken. To protect the essential ecological conditions for Tianma, the local government has implemented forest conservation measures. The sustainable development of the Tianma industry has alleviated poverty, protected biodiversity, and promoted local economic growth. As a distinctive plateau specialty of Zhaotong, Tianma exemplifies how biocultural diversity contributes to ecosystem services and human well-being. This study underscores the importance of biocultural diversity in ecological conservation and the promotion of human welfare.
天麻在中国被称为“Tianma”，是一种珍贵的药用和营养资源。中国云南省昭通市宜人的气候有利于天麻生长，并孕育了该地区与天麻相关的丰富生物文化多样性。当地居民不仅将天麻作为传统作物种植，还发展出了一系列与天麻种植、加工、药用和烹饪应用相关的传统知识。在本研究中，于2020年8月至2024年5月期间，在昭通市彝良县采用民族植物学方法进行了实地调查，重点关注天麻。共有114名关键信息提供者参与了半结构化访谈。调查记录了与天麻种植相关的7个科的23个物种（及变种）。其中，有5个天麻资源分类群，包括1个原种和4个变种。这23个物种要么作为目标栽培物种、共生真菌（促进天麻早期萌发），要么作为菌材。壳斗科有10个物种，占主导地位，因为其木质致密、富含淀粉且分解缓慢，为天麻提供了长期稳定的营养基质。文化重要性（CI）统计显示，乌天麻、红天麻、绿天麻、黄天麻变种、松天麻变种以及雪红天麻（未知变种）表现出相对较高的CI值，表明它们在当地社区具有至关重要的文化意义和巨大价值。在当地社区，传统加工的天麻干块茎主要用于治疗心血管疾病，也用作烹饪食材，其嫩茎和块茎被用于制作凉拌菜和炖鸡等菜肴。为保护天麻所需的生态条件，当地政府实施了森林保护措施。天麻产业的可持续发展减轻了贫困、保护了生物多样性并促进了当地经济增长。作为昭通独特的高原特产，天麻体现了生物文化多样性如何为生态系统服务和人类福祉做出贡献。本研究强调了生物文化多样性在生态保护和促进人类福祉方面的重要性。
