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Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge (IJTK) >
IJTK Vol.10 [2011] >
IJTK Vol.10(1) [January 2011] >
| Title: | Usage of plants for weather and climate forecasting in Bulgarian folk traditions |
| Authors: | Nedelcheva, Anely
Dogan, Yunus |
| Keywords: | Ethnobotany
Botanical indicators
Weather indicators
Folk meteorology
Bulgaria |
| Issue Date: | Jan-2011 |
| Publisher: | NISCAIR-CSIR, India |
| IPC Code: | Int. Cl.8: A01C5/00, E04H, G01W |
| Abstract: | Observations
of plants are a common source of information for predicting weather patterns.
In this study of Bulgarian folk knowledge, more than 30 plant species were
documented as weather indicators, 20 of which were assessed as having a very
high level of repeatability. Three species of
fungi are also reported as weather indicators. The plants, consisting of herbs
(47.6%), trees (28.6%) and shrubs (23.8%),
are well known and widespread in the study area. The original texts relating
to traditional forecasts and the involvement of plants in folk beliefs and
customs are presented. Folk botanical knowledge about the morphology of plants
and phenological states (e.g., grass growing, fruitfulness of trees, natural
leaf fall, secondary flowering) are the basis used by Bulgarians for mostly
long-term forecasts, and for predicting seasonal disasters caused by rain,
drought, snow, extreme heat or cold, ice, or wind. The knowledge of folk
meteorology today and its rational basis and importance are discussed in a
contemporary context. |
| Page(s): | 91-95 |
| CC License: |  CC Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India |
| ISSN: | 0975-1068 (Online); 0972-5938 (Print) |
| Source: | IJTK Vol.10(1) [January 2011]
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