Wild edible plants oxymoron: Higher abundance in lower wilderness

Abstract Background: Wild edible plants (WEPs) have long underpinned subsistence strategies and cultural traditions in rural Europe, yet regional syntheses remain scarce. Therefore, this research aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of Piedmont ethnobotanical heritage and investigate the abundance of WEPs along a gradient of anthropogenic influence. Methods: This study presents an in-depth literature review of WEPs in Piedmont (NW Italy), integrating a large body of grey Italian-language monographs and published papers, grouping the collected data in a database. Results: We recorded 527 species across 78 families, classifying each one according to its (i) typical environment based on three levels of anthropogenic influence (low, intermediate and high), (ii) harvested organ(s) (seven categories) and (iii) traditional culinary use(s) (eight categories). Our findings reveal that highly anthropized habitats – namely annual and perennial ruderal communities and nutrient-rich grasslands – yield the highest WEPs species richness (208 species), whereas low-disturbed forests and alpine grasslands contribute to organ and use diversity. Aerial organs (leaves, young shoots and flowers) are most commonly collected, facilitating raw and cooked applications, while hypogeal organs (tubers, bulbs) and niche uses (oils, coffee substitutes) are comparatively rare. Among all taxa, 12 species ( Foeniculum vulgare , Tanacetum vulgare, Borago officinalis , Carum carvi, Taraxacum officinale, Tilia cordata, Malva sylvestris , Myrrhis odorata , Rubus fruticosus , Rubus idaeus , Sambucus nigra and Thymus vulgaris ) stand out for their combination of high organ versatility and multiple culinary roles, highlighting their potential as flagship WEPs for gastronomic valorization. Conclusions: The persistence of traditional knowledge in the face of modernization underscores both the resilience of cultural practices and the urgency of conservation. Landscape dynamics, including both land-use intensification and abandonment, exert complex effects on WEP diversity; we advocate tailored land-management strategies that preserve habitat heterogeneity and support the WEP populations. By systematizing Piedmont ethnobotanical heritage and defining the influence of the anthropogenic gradient over it, this work establishes a foundation for future ecological, nutritional and socio-economic research. Moreover, it provides a roadmap for integrating underutilized WEPs into sustainable food systems, promoting the conservation of biodiversity and revitalizing local food traditions in the Western Alps.