Ethnobotanical Study of Munda Khazana, District Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Ethnobotanical Study of Munda Khazana, District Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Rehan Ullah1, Fazli Rahim1, Muhammad Sajid1, Shakir Ullah2*, Shahab Ali2, Lubna Shakir3, Mohammad Sohail4 and Ghani Subhan5
ABSTRACT
The study aimed to gather comprehensive information on ethnobotanically significant plants, focusing on medicinal species, in Khazana Munda, District Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The study was conducted in 30 isolated villages of the research area through questionnaires to collect information from 500 native people of different ages (35 to 75 years old) who were interviewed and included men and women, who were involved in the compilation and utilization of plants. The study region was carefully visited in all four seasons of the year and 183 plant species belonging to 73 families were collected which is composed of 9.6% of species were shrubs, 65.4% of species were herbs, 25% of species of trees, were collected from September 2018 to August 2020. Among the collected plant species, 68 were used for medicinal purposes, followed by those used as vegetables and food sources. Additionally, 12 species served as fuel and timber, 10 were utilized for furniture-making, 4 for thatching, 2 as hedges, 2 for fruit, and 6 species were valued for ornamental purposes. The dominant plant families in the study area included Rosaceae with 10 species, followed by Fabaceae and Poaceae, each represented by 9 species. The families Lamiaceae and Solanaceae each included 8 species. Additionally, Brassicaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Moraceae, Papilionaceae, Ranunculaceae, and Rutaceae were represented by 5 species each, while Euphorbiaceae, Labiatae, Malvaceae, and Rhamnaceae each had 4 species. The leaves of the plants were predominantly used in preparing therapeutic remedies, most commonly administered orally as decoctions. However, traditional collection practices and inadequate post-harvest handling often reduced the quality of these medicinal plants. Deforestation, soil erosion, and population growth pose serious threats to the valuable plant species of this region. This study represents an initial effort to document and preserve these important plant resources. The flora of Khazana Munda Valley necessitates effective conservation efforts to ensure a sustainable future for the region.
To share on other social networks, click on any share button. What are these?
