BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA SHEET

with other agro-pastoral societies of the west central Sahel.
Considering edible wild plants in Botswana, some of the available data
already have been summarized in pages 6 - 8 of this report when discussing
Bushman wild foods. Other researchers, however, have turned their attention
to other species used specifically for water or energy, or as famine foods.
Maccrone (1937) presented the first account of the dietary role played by
the wild tsama melon (Citrullus lanatus) and its use among Bushmen bands as
a reliable dietary and water source. More recent work by Renew (1968) detail­
ed an additional twelve wild cucumber/gourds used throughout the Kalahari as
important food resources (Table 29).
The present author identified an important correspondence in the Botswana
National Archives dated 1949-1954 outlining the potential dietary role of
papyrus (Cyperuz papyrus) and its use among Okavango delta peoples as a dietary
element during periods of famine. It may also be noted that consumption of
papyrus root has a long documented archaeological history in Egypt (Darby et
al. 1978, Vol. 2, pp. 644-649) and probably throughout much of eastern Africa.
Between 1973-1975 the present author conducted dietary field work among
the Moshaweng Tlokwa, a Tswana agro-pastoral people of eastern Botswana. In­
itial mimeographed reports on Tlokwa edible wild plants were produced for the
Botswana Ministry of Health (Grivetti, 1974; 1975) and a major report on diet­
ary wild species was issued as part of fieldwork responsibilities (Grivetti and
Mogome, 1974). These accounts explored the broad relationbhips between culture,
diet, and environmental setting, specifically, the Tlokwa quest for food dur­
ing years of adequate vs. poor rainfall. Survey instruments were developed to
identify edible wild plants, portions used, and maintenance or decline of
knowledge associated with their use.
60.