The importance of uncultivated plants for human nutrition in the V-Baoulé, central Côte d'Ivoire, was studied. The inhabitants of this region live at the border between the forest and the savanna. They know and use both ecosystems. The ethnobotanical, biochemical and nutritional features of 48 uncultivated plants were evaluated. Their relative importance with respect to the diet was assessed. Social and cultural factors interacting with their utilization were recorded.

Although nutrition is based on agricultural crops, uncultivated plants are an important source of vitamins and minerals, some being part of the daily diet. Leaves are prepared as vegetables mostly in times when fresh vegetables from the field are scarce. Uncultivated fruits are gathered throughout the year. They add variety and complement the children's diet particularly. Palm wines are consumed by all groups of the population. They are a valuable source of energy, vitamin C, niacin and potassium.

This paper discusses the most important plant species and the prospects of sustainable use. It also highlights the possibilities and constraints of their potential domestication. Special attention is given to the wine- and fruit-producing palm tree Borassus aethiopum, to the fruit -producing shrub Annona senegalensis, and to the annual, semi-domesticated Corchorus olitorius.

Up to now, the gathering of products from the wild has been possible without major effort. Farmers will grow these products only if there is a market demand or if, because of environmental pressures, these products become scarce. When selecting species for domestication, their possible negative image must be taken into account (`attracts snakes', `famine food').