Traditional knowledge on wild plants in Üzümlü (Erzincan-Turkey)

Abstract

This survey was conducted in Üzümlü district and its surrounding villages in order to determine the useful plants consumed for different ethnobotanical purposes such as animal fodder, ornamental plant, good, fuel, and dye by the local people living in the area between 2010 and 2011 summer vegetation periods. Totally 77 traditional uses of 64 plant taxa were determined at the end of the study. The biggest families with the numbers of taxa were Fabaceae (10), Asteraceae (9), Rosaceae (6), Salicaceae (4) Brassicaceae, Poaceae, and Liliaceae (3). All parts of 42 plants, stems of 11 plants, flowers of 6 plants, branches of 5 plants, seeds of 3 plants, fruits of 3 plants, aerial parts of 2 plants, fruit exocarp of 2 plants, and root of 1 plant were determined to be used for different purposes. In addition, local names and ethnobotanical aspects of totally 17 taxa (26.5 %) were presented firstly in this study. East Anatolia is a very important region of Turkey in terms of plant diversity, and many studies have been conducted on the traditional uses of plants; but, the least have been carried out in Erzincan province. Because of that, this study was conducted in the area.