PJB-2023-496
ETHNOBOTANICAL EXPLORATION OF THE CHAMLA VALLEY: UNCOVERING INDIGENOUS FLORA KNOWLEDGE IN DISTRICT BUNER, KPK, PAKISTAN
Fazli Rahim
Abstract
The present study focused on ethnobotanical exploration within Chamla Valley, a region located in Buner District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This research was conducted during the years 2018 to 2019 and aimed to document indigenous knowledge related to 135 plant species, which were subsequently categorized into 13 distinct groups. These groups encompassed 80 species with medicinal properties, 54 used for fodder, 53 for food, 39 for fuel, 16 for fencing, 11 for crafting agricultural tools, 9 for ornamental purposes, and 8 for thatching. These plant species represented 65 different families, with the Poaceae family being the most prevalent, containing 15 species, followed by Asteraceae with 11 species, Rosaceae with 8 species, and Lamiaceae with 7 species. The flora inventory consisted of 75 herbs, 28 trees, 27 shrubs, 4 climbers, and 1 parasite. Quantitative analysis of the gathered data was conducted using metrics such as Relative Importance (RI), Relative Frequency Citation (RFC), and Use Value (UV). Notably, species like Pinus roxburghii, Melia azedarach, Morus indica, and Dodonaea viscosa displayed the highest values for these indices, signifying their significant ethnobotanical importance within Chamla Valley.
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