BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA SHEET

Fox and Weintraub (1937) in their work on native dietaries identified
wild leaves as high in calcium, and vitamins A and C, noting that in many
instances the leaves were higher in ascorbic acid than citrus. Fox and
Weintraub documented a basic decline in utilization of wild plant foods due
to "European" influences; traditional peoples wishing to immitate South
African "White" dietary practices, with resulting decline in the nutritional
quality of traditional diet! Osborn and Noriskin (1937) provided additional
information on the role wild leaves play, noting that they are seldom consum­
ed by Transkei (Xhosa) males, but are instead a major Xhosa female food. They
noLe that wild foods have a major role to play in maintaining the quality of
diet of the baSotho of Lesotho (Basutoland), the baTswana of Botswana (Bechuana­
land), and among Portuguese immigrants to South Africa. Fox (1939) provides
recipes from the eastern Cape Province, including information on relishes of
wild foods used by Xhosa and Pondo peoples.
Other studies have focused specifically on the dietary practices of specific
ethnic groups. The Xhosa have been surveyed by Rose (1972) and Rose and Guil­
larmond (1974) who report extensive use of wild foods on a daily basis with
importance attached to nine genera and species; Amaranthus spp., Bidens pilosa,
Chenopodium alba, Sonchus spp., Taraxacum spp., Urtica burchelli, Urtica dioica,
Urtica urens, and Solanum nigrum (Table 25). In addition, they report potential
nutritional problems from consuming certain species that are capable of concen­
trating nitrates, but note that such species are drought resistant and possibly
could be genetically improved through a research program.
The Pedi were the focus of a major food habit, nutritional investigation
by Quin (1959; 1964) who provided information on each type of domesticated and
wild food used (Table 26). His work is also important because the text pro­
55.