Plantas alimentícias não convencionais (pancs): um ensaio botânico em duas praças de Fortaleza-Ce

Abstract

The urban afforestation is a theme that transits between the well-being of the population and concerns with the flora that is used in the public spaces. The observed urban vegetation has different possibilities of uses, being these related to air quality, soil-climate-vegetation balance, noise damping and aesthetic. However, another possibility of use is the food. Floristic surveys that investigate other potential uses of the flora, such as "Non-Conventional Food Plants (PANCs)", combined with ornamental uses, characterizing the introduced and native, can bring another perspective to the theme. In this context, the floristic survey was carried out in two squares of Fortaleza (Praça Luiza Távora and Praça do Passeio Público), characterizing the inventory of its use with unconventional food (PANC) or ornamental, verifying the contribution of exotic species and native to the composition of the flora of these environments. A total of 121 species were cataloged, of which 37 (30.6%) were PANCs, 21 (17.3%) PANCS and ornamental and 99 (81.8%) ornamental. The most diverse families were Fabaceae and Arecaceae, in the same way as in studies carried out by other authors. As for the origin of the flora, about 50% of the species were native, and the other exotic half. The species richness observed is high compared to other studies using a similar approach. This reinforces that the squares have another potential beyond the already related uses, like urban afforestation and improvement of the quality of life of the populations.