Ethnobotanical review of food uses of Polygonatum (Convallariaceae) in China

According to our literature survey, fifteen species in the genus Polygonatum (Convallariaceae) have been used as food in China. Five main categories of use (drinks, snacks, vegetables, staple food and seasoning) were found. The plants from this genus are used mainly as vegetables. Rhizomes are the main parts used. The categories of use and diverse preparation methods have some similarities with those in other countries. Among all the recorded species, Polygonatum sibiricum and P. odoratum are the most commonly consumed species in China. Local people from different places have their own unique preparation methods and customs. However, the use of Polygonatum still remains at the level of family consumption, and the resources have not been fully used yet. We proposed ideas for further exploitation and conservation of edible Polygonatum species, and suggested fur- ther research, e.g. on the nutritional properties of all recorded edible species. It is believed that there is still plentiful traditional knowledge about food uses of Polygonatum to be documented in China.