Ethnic differences in use value and use patterns of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) in northern Benin E. De Caluwe ´ 1 *, S. De Smedt 2 , A. E. Assogbadjo 3 , R. Samson 2 , B. Sinsin 3 and P. Van Damme 1 1 Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Agronomy and Ethnobotany, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium, 2 Department of Bioscience Engineering, Faculty of Science, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium and 3 Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Cotonou, Benin Abstract The aim of this study was to combine qualitative and quantitative tools to evidence ethnic differences in use value and use patterns of baobab for the rural populations of northern Benin. The study was carried out in the municipalities of Boukoumbe ´ and Karimama, focusing on Ottamari and Dendi ethnic groups, respectively, who have good knowledge on baobab uses. Ethnobotanical data were gathered through semi-structured individual interviews and processed by quantitative (multiple use curve, use value and fidelity level) and qualitative (flow chart) ana- lytical and ethnobotanical methods. Leaves, fruit pulp and seeds of baobab were shown to be well-known for several food uses and were often the main ingredient in sauces, pastes, porridges and beverages. Medicinal uses were especially well-known for the bark, which was also used for making ropes. In both communities, a total of 38 different uses were mentioned for baobab products. There were significantly more uses known by the Ottamari than by the Dendi, with use values of 8 and 5, respectively. There were no differences detected in knowledge between sexes and age classes. As a result of its nutritional and high potential market value, preservation of ethnobotanical knowledge on baobab and exchange between communities is critical. Key words: baobab, domestication, ethnobotany, folk beliefs, underutilized crops Re ´sume ´ Le but de cette e ´tude e ´tait de combiner des outils qualitatifs et quantitatifs pour mettre en e ´vidence des diffe ´rences eth- niques dans la valeur d’utilisation et dans les sche ´mas d’utilisation du baobab chez les populations rurales du nord du Be ´nin. Cette e ´tude fut re ´alise ´e dans les municipal- ite ´s de Boukoumbe ´ et de Karimama, spe ´cifiquement chez les groupes ethniques Ottamari et Dendi, respectivement, qui ont une bonne connaissance des utilisations du baobab. Des donne ´es ethnobotaniques furent re ´colte ´es gra ˆce a ` des interviews individuelles semi-structure ´es et elles furent traite ´es par des me ´thodes analytiques et ethnobotaniques quantitatives (courbe d’utilisation multiple, valeur d’util- isation et degre ´ de fide ´lite ´) et qualitatives (graphique d’e ´volution). Les feuilles, la pulpe de fruits et les semences de baobab se sont ave ´re ´es e ˆtre bien connues pour plusieurs utilisations alimentaires et elles e ´taient souvent les ingre ´- dients principaux dans des sauces, des pa ˆ tes, des bouillies et des boissons. Des utilisations me ´dicinales e ´taient parti- culie `rement bien connues pour l’e ´corce qui servait aussi pour fabriquer des cordes. Dans les deux communaute ´s, un total de 38 utilisations diffe ´rentes ont e ´te ´ mentionne ´es pour des produits du baobab. Il y avait significativement plus d’utilisations connues chez les Ottamari que chez les Dendi, avec des valeurs d’utilisation de 8 et de 5, respectivement. On n’a de ´cele ´ aucune diffe ´rence de connaissances en fonction de l’a ˆge ni du sexe. Suite a ` sa valeur nutritionnelle et a ` sa haute valeur commerciale potentielle, la pre ´serva- tion des connaissances ethnobotaniques sur le baobab et des e ´changes entre communaute ´s est critique. Introduction The search for plants with high nutritional, medicinal and ⁄ or commercial potential has been intensified to find candidate species that could help in maintaining a balance between agricultural output and population growth *Correspondence: E-mail: emmy.decaluwe@ugent.be, emmy.decaluwe@gmail.com Ó 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation Ó 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Afr. J. Ecol., 47, 433–440 433