Paper Title
Ethno Botanical Study of Wild Edible Plants in Pelagonia Region (Southwestern Macedonia)

Abstract
An ethnobotanical study was conducted from March 2015 to November 2016 to investigate the traditional uses of wild edible plants in 23 villages of Pelagonia region (Southwestern Macedonia). Data for 94 species were collected through face-to-face interviewing and focus group discussion with 78 locally recognized knowledgeableelders over 60 ages of diverse ethnic groups (Macedonians and Albanians). Information about three main different methods of consumption (food, beverages and bread of yogurt starters) were recorded and compared. In this study most commonly used family was Rosaceae followed by Lamiaceae and Asteraceae. Present study indicated that many these elders in Pelagonia region still continue to depend on plant resources to meet their day-to-day needs for food. But now, all three ethnic groups are progressing towards modernization; their knowledge of traditional use of plants might be lost. Therefore conservation of such heritage is warranted. Index terms - Wild Edible Plants (WEPs), Ethnobotany, Food culture, Pelagonia Region, Macedonia.