Table 3 Thirteen types of main local food categories with the number of species and URs for each use and examples of wild edible plants for each use category

Rice veg

Boiled in water with rice

268

37

Malva neglecta

Coco sabzi

Fried in oil with egg

186

28

Allium iranicum

Soup

Boiled with water with beans

162

39

Stellaria media

Herb stew

Fried in oil and boiled with water with meat and legumes

120

32

Eremurus sp.

Yogurt

Added to yogurt in steamed and mashed, or enhanced taste

75

16

Suaeda acuminate

Kashk

Fried in oil or raw to enhance the taste of curd

71

8

Urtica dioica

Salad

Fresh and raw or flavoring

47

11

Allium paradoxum

Herbal tea

Processed and boiled with water with natural sweetener

43

5

Stachys lavandulifolia

Veg bread

Preparation of bread with flour, water and added toasted herb with spices

40

10

Allium umbilicatum

Pickled

Fermented in vinegar

23

9

Ferula sp.

Ripe fresh fruit

Ripe fruits without any cheeks preparing as dessert

23

9

Crataegus pentagyna

Snack

Dried fruits and edible flowers

22

10

Celtis caucasica

Jam

Cooked in sugar

6

3

Prunus divaricata

Total

13

1086

217