Utilization of Edible Wild Plant in Akita Prefecture and Comparison of Eating Experience of White Goosefoot (Chenopodium album) between Japan and Bangladesh

The edible wild plants were anciently important food materials as sources of nutrients such as vitamins but their utilization has been decreasing in the present day. To elucidate the utilization of edible wild plants in Akita prefecture of Japan, we performed questionary survey targeting at the inhabitants of the wide age age group. Elatostema umbellatum (“Mizu”), Osmunda japonica (Asian royal fern, "Zenmai") and Oenanthe javanica, (Java waterdropwort. “Seri”) were eaten well most. Laportea cuspidate (“Aiko”), Parasenecio hastatus (“Honna”) and Parasenecio delphiniifolius (“Shidoke”) were utilized well in Tohoku region and their rate of experiences of eating exceeded 70%. It is observed that Chenopodium album (white goosefoot, “Shiroza”) grows on the roadside in Japan, but 82.4% of the inhabitants did not know that they were edible. We also performed questionary survey in Bangladesh, where Chenopodium album is cultivated and eaten well. In our investigation, all Bangladeshi had the experiences of eating and it was used as a materials of the traditional cuisine such as sauteed vegetables, bhorta and curry. The values of Chenopodium album as foods in emergency and its availabilities as the teaching materials for safeguard against disaster were also discussed