A review of the ethnobotany of the Basotho of Lesotho and the Free State Province of South Africa (South Sotho)

This review is a comprehensive compilation of the ethnobotany of the Basotho (residing both in Lesotho and the Free State Province of South Africa)in its entirety. It includes all the known traditional uses ranging from food, through clothing, crafts, and textiles, to medicine and magic and is based on an extensive literature survey of both published and unpublished data from books, journals, dissertations, theses, available online databases, as well as past experiences of the authors. A total of 712 species is utilised for various purposes, comprising 22 pteridophytes and 690 flowering plants (509 dicotyledons, and 181 monocotyledons). The Asteraceae, with 115 species is the most commonly used family, followed by Poaceae (61)and Fabaceae (50). The largest number of plants (437 species)are utilised for all kinds of medical conditions (in both animals and humans)ranging from a simple cold to more complex ailments such as cancer and diabetes. There are 193 plant species utilised as food including staple food, vegetables, fruits, and beverages. Several species have functional uses such as thatching, clothing, textiles, building, cosmetics, crafts, fuel, musical instruments, and other cultural applications. 197 species are used for magic, mostly as a variety of charms, for example love charms, good luck charms, and protective charms.