The outcome of the literature search revealed only 103 plant species froma total of 33 families in five out of nine
provinces. In South Africa the cultivation of these wild vegetables has so far been limited to only two provinces.
These important plant foods are clearly underutilised although they potentially have a big role to play in food security.
Wild vegetables need to be revitalised and brought back into the mainstream diet so that they can play
their role in food security.