Ethnobotany of edible, medicinal and industrial plant species in Khosh Yeylagh Rangeland, Golestan province

Abstract

Indigenous knowledge has been created as centuries of human life experience in this earth and is also specific-ecosystem. "Ethnobotany" is a new extra-disciplinarily of anthropological science and technology in the field of indigenous plant-related knowledge. Khosh Yeylagh rangeland in Golestan province has been studied due to the richness of plant species. The purpose of this study is to collect data from and identify plants having been utilized by local people. Data were recorded in both interview and participatory observation at the plant habitat. The interviewees were selected by snowball method. The local names, used organs, medicinal properties and their use were recorded for all plants. In this study, plant species belonging to 17 families, with the highest number of citations, were selected. The results of this study show that out of 30 selected plant species, 17 belong to edible medicinal, 10 medicinal and 3 medicinal industrial applications. Knowing and habitat prediction of plant species was also one of the most important practical knowledge of local people in Khosh Yeylagh. They are aware of the various forms of vegetation, organ, processes, properties and methods of using plants as food, medicine, tools and shelter in their lives.

Keywords

• indigenous knowledge
• ethnobotany
• medicinal plants
• snowball method
• khosh yeylagh rangeland