Ethnobotany of Artistic Plant Uses. Crop Art in Baix Llobregat (Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula)

Abstract

<span style="color:black">Artistic uses of plants are rarely explored in ethnobotanical studies. However, in Baix Llobregat (Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula), seeds and other plant parts are utilized to create art expressions associated with agricultural fairs and promotion of local vegetal goods. The objective of this study is to catalog the plants used and to reflect on the current vitality and significance of this cultural and social activity. </span><span style="color:rgb( 25 , 25 , 25 )">The contribution of the manuscript lies in the cataloging of plants used in crop art, which is a biocultural use that is not often registered in ethnobiological studies. </span><span style="color:black">The methodology employed involved semi-structured interviews, bibliography research and observation. We have identified two distinct types of artistic creations. A total of 65 taxa have been identified, primarily comprising locally cultivated species. The results of this research emphasize the enduring presence of ethnobotanical knowledge related to cultural uses and underscore the significance of its preservation.</span>