ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF GALLIYAT FOR BOTANICAL DEMOGRAPHY AND BIO-ECOLOGICAL DIVERSIFICATION

Muhammad Arshad and Mushtaq Ahmad

Department of Botany University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

The present research work was based on the results of an enthnobotanical research project conducted in the Galliyat areas of NWFP, Province (Pakistan) during July 2003-March 2004. The region is mountainous with pine forests. Botanists have rarely studied the remote villages of the area, hence ethnobotanical information is quite meager. The local people of the area have always used surrounding natural resources that is wild plants for medicinal purposes and have for a long time dependent on the surrounding plant sources for their food, shelter, fodder, timber, fuel and health care. The present study mainly focus on the information regarding indigenous uses of plants for medicinal as well as other purposes by the native people of the area The ethnobotanical data of 40 plant species belonging to 37 genera and 26 families, during summer and winter season were collected. Among them the two families belong to gymnosperms, two families of pteridophytes, one family of monocot and 21 families of dicot (Angiosperms) were studied ethnobotanically. The ethnobotanical inventory consist of botanical name of plant followed by its local name, family, habit and habitat, flowering period, voucher specimen number, part use, ethnomedicinal uses and other ethnobotanical uses.

Key words: Ethnobotany, Demography Galliyat Pakistan.

INTRODUCTION

Geo-Climate of the area

Galliyat is highly mountainous track situated in south east of North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It comprises many areas each of which is known as Galli and the whole areas is called is Galliyat. The study area includes Donga Galli, Bara Galli (Barian), Nathia Galli and Chhangla Galli. It is located at 33-35⁰ N latitude and 73-74⁰ E longitude with altitude between 7000-9500 feet. The climate of the area is not uniform, as there are large climatic variation mainly because of altitudinal differences. In general, the climate of the area is pleasant to extreme cold type in different months of the year.

The area receive major part of the rainfall during monsoon i.e. form June to middle of September. Therefore the weather remains almost dry till December and winter start gradually. During winter the rains are rather more as compared to snow because the area is fall in moist Temperature Zone (Rahim, 2000).

In winter snow ordinarily falls above an altitude of 3000 feet and occasionally even lower, but melts rapidly except at high altitudes and on northern aspects above 6000feet. Generally snowfall starts from late December to March. Temperature goes up slowly from January to June till the start of monsoon rains. Then it starts falling steadily till a rapid fall of temperature in December and January. The temperature is minimum in January and maximum in June (Rahim, 2000).

Ethnobotany

Since the prehistoric time man has always dependant upon the plants for his food, shelter and health. So the relationship between man and plants is as old as history of mankind and indigenous knowledge about the plants is as old as human civilization. The study of direct interaction between human and plant population through its culture, each human population classified plants, develops attitudes and beliefs and learns the use of plants, while human behavior has a direct impact on the plant communities with which they interact, the plants themselves also impose limitations on human, these mixture interactions are the focus of ethnobotany (Pei, 1995). The fundamental structure of ethnobotanical research is to examine the dynamic relationship between human population, cultural values and plants, recognizing that plants permeate materially and metaphorically many aspects of culture, and that nature is by no means passive to human action but interacted with each other. To discover the practical potential of native plants, an ethnobotanist must be knowledgeable not only in the study of plants themselves, but must understand and be sensitive to the dynamics of how cultures work.

The vegetation of Pakistan is as diverse as its landscape. The sandy beaches, the blue lagoons, the mangroves along the Arabian sea, the sandy deserts, the desolate plateaus, the Indus basin, the high mountain ranges and the picturesque valleys, each have their own vegetational complexes. Nearly six thousand species of flowering plants reported to be occurring in Pakistan and Kashmir, a very large number is to be found in the Northern and Northwestern parts of Pakistan.

Pakistan being rich in indigenous herbal resources offers a great scope for ethnobotanical studies. The necessity for exploitation of indigenous knowledge of drugs has long been felt with increasing needs of drugs and medicines by human beings. It is desired that indigenous plant material should be collected, identified, processed and utilized for medicinal and other ethnobotanical uses. Keeping in view the importance of flora of Galliyat areas, the study was confined to collect the indigenous knowledge of local people about medicinal and other ethnobotanical uses of native plants. The proposed study area have never been surveyed ethnobotanically, hence the information is quite meager. The ethnobotanical study was the need of time in order to record the indigenous knowledge about the plants from the local people of the area. So the present study was planned keeping in view the following objectives.

· To establish a database of the plants of Galliyat with special reference to there ethnobotanical uses.

· To collect valuable information which has been transmitted orally from ancestors and knowledgeable persons to record these information for wider circulation.

· To investigate the local medicinal uses of plants for further investigation by plant scientists, pharmacologists and phytochemists.

· To aware the local communities about the conservation strategies of these valuable natural resources for coming generations.

Materials and Methods

Collection of Ethnobotanical data

Medicinal plants do not grow at any one place and are available in particular season. Therefore, the research work was divided into two phases depending upon the season. The ethnobotanical data during summer and winter seasons was collected by frequent survey trips. The information was gathered from villages of Galliyat. During field trips, the questionnaires were used to interviews the local inhabitants usually older people who were familiar with traditional use of indigenous plants. Interviews were conducted with local people in different villages individually. Repeated quarries were made to get the data confirmed.

Collection & Preservation of Plants

Local people conducted frequent field trips of the area according to the life form, flowering period and the season of utilization of the plant products. Throughout the field trips a general collection of plants were made. The fully dried specimens were poisoned and then mounted on Herbarium sheets.Plants were identified with the help of available literature (Stewart, 1972, Nasir & Rafique, 1995). Confirmation of plants was done by comparing with the already identified plant specimens of the Herbarium, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. After correct identification, the plants were given voucher number and deposited as voucher specimens in the Herbarium for future references.

Results and Discussion

Ethnobotanical observations

The ethnobotanical data of 40 plant species belonging to 37 genera and 26 families, during summer and winter season were collected. Among them the two families belong to gymnosperms, two families of pteridophytes, one family of monocot and 21 families of dicot (Angiosperms) were studied ethnobotanically. The ethnobotanical inventory consist of botanical name of plant followed by its local name, family, habit and habitat, flowering period, voucher specimen number, part use, ethnomedicinal uses and other ethnobotanical uses.

1. Abies pindrow Royle.

Local Name = Paludar, partal

Family = Pinaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is the perennial tree and is one of the dominant

species of an area.

Part used = Stem and bark

Flowering Period = April

Voucher Specimen No = 1

Ethnomedicinal Uses = Stem, bark is used to make tea which is

recommended against vomiting and stomach

disorders.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = Useful timber for building purposes, wood is used

for making furniture and matches.

2. Cedrus deodara Roxb. ex D.Don

Local Name = Deodar

Family = Pinaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is the perennial tree and is one of the common

species of area.

Part used = wood, bark

Flowering Period = October-November

Voucher Specimen No = 3

Ethnomedicinal Uses = Wood is used for piles, pulmonary and urinary

disorders. Bark is used for diarrhea, fever and skin

diseases.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = Deodar yields oil called tar oil, which is used for

various purposes

3. Pinus wallichiana Jackson

Local Name = Kail, biar

Family = Pinaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is the perennial tree and is one of the common

species of area.

Part used = Wood, bark, leaves and twigs

Flowering Period = April- June

Voucher Specimen No = 2

Ethnomedicinal Uses = Oil obtained from the plant is used for wounds and

ulcers. Wood is used for cough and ulcers.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = Turpentine obtained from this pine and is applied to

woodwork as protective varnish, it is also used as

timber.

4. Taxus wallichiana

Local Name = Barmi, Thuna

Family = Taxaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is the perennial tree and is one of the threatened

species of area.

Part used = leaves, bark and fruits

Flowering Period = April- May

Voucher Specimen No = 5

Ethnomedicinal Uses = Leaves are used in bronchitis, asthma, indigestion,

epilepsy and as aphrodisiac

Other Ethnobotanical uses = Wood is used as timber.

5. Ephedra gerardiana Wall. ex Stapf

Local Name = Asmani booti

Family = Ephedraceae

Habit and Habitat = It is the perennial herb and is one of the rare

species of area.

Part used = Stem, root and berries

Flowering Period = May- July

Voucher Specimen No = 9

Ethnomedicinal Uses = The liquid extract is used for controlling asthmatic

attack. Decoction of the stem and root is considered

a remedy for rheumatism. Juice of the berries is

used for respiratory diseases.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = Plant is used as fodder.

6. Adiantum incisum L.

Local Name = Phunka

Family = Adiantaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is the perennial herb and is one of the dominant

species of Changla and Barian hills.

Part used = Leaves

Flowering Period = March-April

Voucher Specimen No = 10

Ethnomedicinal Uses = Leaves are used for the extraction of juice which is

recommended by local people for chronic diarrhea

and dysentery. Juice is also used for jaundice.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = Plant is used as decorative agent.

7. Trianthema portulacastrum L.

Local Name = Itsit

Family = Aizoaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is rare succulent herb found in the area . Flowers light pink

& white.

Flowering Period = July-August

Voucher specimen No = 12

Part used = Whole Plant

Ethnomedicinal uses = It is used for the treatment of jaundice and liver disorders. It is

diuretic and used in dropsy. Also used in swelling to body, pain

in bladder, cough, Asthma and fever.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = It is used as fodder for cattle.

8. Achyranthes aspera L.

Local Name = Puthkanda.

Family = Amaranthaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is annual herb found in waste places very

abundantly.

Part used = Roots, Leaves and Stem.

Flowering Period = September-April

Voucher Specimen No = 13

Ethnomedicinal uses = Decoction in water is used for asthma, cough,

Stomach pain, dropsy, piles and skin eruption.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = Plant is used as fodder

9. Althea rosea L.

Local Name = Gul e Khaira

Family = Malvaceae

Habit & Habitat = It is common, large size, erect undershrub with

reddish purple flowers.

Part used = Roots

Flowering Period = July-September

Voucher Specimen No = 17

Ethnomedicinal Uses = Roots are dip in new earthen pot for whole night. In

the following morning the water juice is drunk for

kidney problems, sexual tonic and jaundice.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = It is used as ornamental.

10. Berginia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb

Local Name = Butpay

Family = Saxifragace

Habit & Habitat = It is very common herb found on rocks.

Part used = Leaves and roots.

Flowering Period = March- May

Voucher Specimen No = 18

Ethnomedicinal Uses = Roots are dried in sunshine, then ground to make

powder. Half teaspoon of this powder is used in the

following morning for stomach ulcer and digestive

disorders. It is also recommended for rheumatism

and muscle fatigue with milk and butter, otherwise

it cause dryness. It is marketed plant,

leaves are also externally applied for skin diseases.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = It is used for cattle diseases also.

11. Ajuga bracteosa Wall.ex.Benth

Local Name = Mangi booti

Family = Lamiaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is annual herb commonly found. Leaves dark green and

flowers whitish.

Flowering Period = March-December

Voucher specimen No = 20

Part used = Whole Plant

Ethnomedicinal uses = Juice obtained from the fresh aerial parts and recommended for

blood purification and skin diseases.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = Aerial parts are used as ethno veterinary medicines for cattle.

12. Origanum vulgare L.

Local Name = Jangli Ajwain.

Family = Lamiaceae

Habit & Habitat = It is perennial herb with white to pale pink

flowers and found commonly in the area.

Part used = Aerial parts.

Flowering Period = July-September

Voucher Specimen No = 19

Ethnomedicinal Uses = Aerial parts are dried in sunshine and are used as tea

(local kawa) for digestive ailments, stomach ulcers

and vomiting.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = It is used as ingredients of Spices as a flavoring

agent in houses.

13. Swertia chirata L.

Local Name = Chiraita

Family = Apiaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is erect herb with opposite leaves.

Flowering Period = July-August

Voucher specimen No = 14

Part used = Aerial parts

Ethnomedicinal uses = Aerial parts are dried in sunshine and are crushed to obtain

powder. This is recommended to stomach trouble and digestive

disorders. It is also used for skin diseases.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = It is used for cattle diseases.

14. Viola serpens Wall.ex.Roxb

Local Name = Binafsha

Family = Violaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is common small size herb with cordate leaves

and blue/purplish flowers.

Part used = Flowers

Flowering Period = November-December

Voucher Specimen No = 11

Ethnomedicinal Uses = Flowers are dried under shade and ground to make

powder which is recommended by local people for

liver diseases, cold and cough. Decoction of the

flower is used against jaundice and stomach

diseases.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = Flowers are commercially very important.

15. Polygonum amplexicaule D.Don

Local Name = Mosloom

Family = Polygonaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is a large herb with a single flowering stalk with

pink or reddish flowers. It is commonly found in hardy places.

Part used = Flowers and leaves

Flowering Period = June-August

Voucher Specimen No = 23

Ethnomedicinal Uses = Flowers and leaves are crushed to obtain the juice,

which is used in fever and leucorrhoea.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = Flowers are used as decorative agents. Children to

make head crowns and garland pluck flowers. Each

garland varies in rate from Rs. 5-20 depending upon

size.

16. Punica granatum L.

Local Name = Anar

Family = Punicaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is an erect wild shrub with reddish flowers and

commonly found on hills.

Part used = Fruit and bark.

Flowering Period = September-December

Voucher Specimen No = 21

Ethnomedicinal Uses = Bark of the fruit is dried in sunshine and ground to

obtain the powder. This powder is recommended

with water for diarrhoea, dysentery and stomach

problems. The powder is mixed with double amount

of ground fennel and is recommended for diarrhoea

and dysentery for cattle.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = Fruit is edible.

17. Verbascum thapsus L.

Local Name = Gider tambaku

Family = Scrophulariaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is uncommon perennial herb with yellow flowers.

Part used = Leaves

Flowering Period = June-August

Voucher Specimen No = 25

Ethnomedicinal Uses = Leaves are crushed to obtain powder. Half teaspoon

of this powder twice in a day is recommended for

asthma and cough.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = It is used as firewood.

18. Ageratum houstoniarum Mill.

Local Name = Neeli booti

Family = Asteraceae

Habit and Habitat = It is branched annual upto 60 cm tall herb.

Flowers are purplish pink. It is commonly

Found in cultivated fields and waste places.

Part used = Leaves and inflorescence juice.

Flowering Period = February - April

Voucher Specimen No = 26

Ethnomedicinal Uses = It is used for wound healing and is antidote for

snake bite.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = It is the weed and sometimes used as fodder by

goats and sheep.

19. Artemisia maritima L.

Local Name = Chouhu

Family = Asteraceae

Habit and Habitat = It is large size aromatic herb with light color flower and is

commonly found.

Flowering Period = March-June

Voucher specimen No = 27

Part used = Aerial parts.

Ethnomedicinal uses = Aerial parts are extensively used for abdominal worms of

children. It is also used against fever, malaria and chest

diseases.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = It is sometime used as firewood.

20. Senecio chrysanthemoides DC.

Local Name = Chitta howla

Family = Asteraceae

Habit and Habitat = It is large size herb with yellow flower and is commonly found.

Flowering Period = July-September

Voucher specimen No = 28

Part used = Flowers and rhizome.

Ethnomedicinal uses = Rhizome is used against asthma and respiratory problems.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = Flowers are used as decorative agents in marriage ceremonies.

Flowers are also collected by children and women to make the

garlands. The rate of each garland varies from Rs. 5-15.

21. Asparagus adscendens

Local Name = Musli sufaid.

Family = Liliaceae

Habit and Habitat = It is climber with greenish needle like leaves and is

uncommonly found.

Flowering Period = July-September

Voucher specimen No = 29

Part used = Rhizome.

Ethnomedicinal uses = Rhizome is used against digestive problems, jaundice and liver

problems. It is also used as sexual tonic.

Other Ethnobotanical uses = It is used as ornamental.

22. Taraxacum officinale Weber.

Local Name = Dudal Bumbola.

Family = Asteraceae

Habit and Habitat = A common herb with yellow flowers. Very commonly

found throughout the area.

Flowering Period = February-April