Ethnobotany and floristic diversity of aquatic flora as traditional uses and conservation concerns in West Sumatran lakes, Indonesia

Syamsuardi, Christy P, Nurainas, Audina Z, Chairul, Ritonga MA. 2026. Ethnobotany and floristic diversity of aquatic flora as traditional uses and conservation concerns in West Sumatran lakes, Indonesia. Asian J Ethnobiol 9 (1): y090111. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjethnobiol/y090111. West Sumatra, Indonesia, hosts numerous lakes that support diverse aquatic resources central to local daily activities. Both natural origins and long-term anthropogenic influences shape the composition of aquatic flora. Increasing pollutant inputs, however, threaten the persistence of these plant species and the traditional knowledge associated with them. This study aims to examine the floristic diversity of lake hydrophytes and their ethnobotanical roles to support sustainable utilization. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in seven nagari representing seven lake systems across the districts of Agam, Tanah Datar, Solok, and South Solok. Data were collected from August to November 2024 using semi-structured interviews involving 393 randomly selected respondents. Information on traditional uses and knowledge of aquatic flora was recorded, while plant specimens were collected and identified at the ANDA Herbarium, Universitas Andalas. A total of 16 aquatic plant species from 12 families were recorded, with species richness varying among lakes. Polygonum barbatum occurred in all lakes, while Panicum auritum was present in most locations. The highest Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) values were recorded for Eichhornia crassipes (0.47). The highest Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) occurred in agriculture and handicrafts (1.00). The greatest Use Value (UV; 0.078) was observed for Enydra fluctuans and P. auritum. These findings demonstrate the close relationship between floral diversity and ethnobotanical knowledge in lake ecosystems and highlight the need to integrate local knowledge into conservation planning. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for developing sustainable lake conservation and management strategies that simultaneously protect aquatic plant diversity, maintain traditional knowledge, and mitigate increasing anthropogenic pressures on freshwater ecosystems

Aquatic plant · Biodiversity · Eichhornia crassipes · Ethnobotany · Flora (microbiology · Floristics · Species diversity · Species richness · Aquatic Ecosystems and Biodiversity · Biological Control of Invasive Species · Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies