Importance ethnobotanique et valeur d’usage de <i>Picralima nitida</i> (stapf) au Sud-Bénin (Afrique de l’Ouest)

Beaucoup de connaissances se perdent en Afrique faute de transmission, ce qui ne favorise pas la conservation des ressources par les populations locales. Il urge donc d’evaluer les connaissances des populations sur l’importance des ressources en vue d’elaborer des strategies de conservation et de gestion durable. Le but de la presente etude est de documenter les connaissances des populations locales sur la valeur d'usage de Picralima nitida au Sud-Benin. Pour y parvenir, 240 enquetes, choisis de facon aleatoire dans 4 groupes socio-culturels au Sud-Benin a savoir Fon, Goun, Nago et Aizo ont ete interviewes. Les enquetes etaient soumis a un entretien dans la langue locale. Des parametres ethnobotaniques ont ete calcules. L’analyse en composante principale a ete effectuee a partir d’une matrice concue. Les resultats ont revele que les populations locales des 4 groupes socio-culturels utilisent les differentes parties de P. nitida pour 21 traitements. P. nitida est assez important pour les populations locales. Les graines sont les organes les plus utilises suivies des racines, feuilles et ecorce. Le groupe socio-culturel Goun a une meilleure connaissance des usages de l’espece compare aux Nago, Fon, et Aizo. Existence de mauvaise transmission horizontale et verticale des connaissances endogenes disponibles sur l’espece. © 2017 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Mots cles: Connaissances endogenes, usage, Picralima nitida, groupe socio-culturel English Title: Ethnobotanic importance and use value of Picralima nitida (stapf) in South – Benin (West Africa) English Abstract African continent rich in biodiversity loses its resources due to the ignorance of their uses by the local populations. It becomes important to assess the knowledge of populations on the importance of resources to elaborate their conservation strategy and their sustainable management. The purpose of the present study is to document the knowledge of the local populations on the use value of P. nitida in South-Benin. To reach this  objective, 240 persons were randomly selected among 4 socio-cultural groups in South-Benin namely Fon, Goun, Nago and Aizo were interviewed. The interview was performed in local language. Ethnobotanic parameters were calculated. A principal component analysis was performed to link socio-cultural groups with ownership, the used part and the species recognition. Results revealed that local populations belonging to the 04 socio-cultural groups use the different parts of P. nitida for 21 treatments. P. nitida is rather important for the local populations. The seeds of the species are the most used organs followed by roots, leaves and bark. The socio-cultural group Goun has a better knowledge of the uses of the species compared with Nago, Fon, and Aizo. Existence of bad horizontal transmission and vertical line of endogenous knowledge available on the species. © 2017 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords: Endogenous knowledge, use, Picralima nitida , socio-cultural group