Ethno-Botanical Survey Of Plants Used By The Local Communities Of Sub-Urban District Of Zaria, Kaduna State

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants by the local people in the Zaria district. Regular study trips were arranged throughout the area under investigation and the data was collected during the spring, summer and winter seasons of the period for one year using a design questionnaire and the survey shows that 43 species belonging to 23 families were used by the inhabitants of the district. Among them, Asteraceae, Solanaceae, and Lamiaceae were represented by 5 species each, and Asclepiadaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Mimosaceae, Moraceae Papillionaceae, Rosaceae Zygophyllaceae and Euphorbiace were represented by 2 species each. Apocynaceae, amaranthaceae, cannabaceae, celastraceae, colchicaceae, convulvulaceae, elaeagnaceae, fumariaceae, liliaceae, meliaceae, oleaceae, salicaceae, sapindaceae, and simaroubaceae were represented by 1 specie each. Several diseases and ailments are cured using these species of plants. Different parts including the stem, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots and seeds of these plants are used by the local inhabitants. These species are collected from the wild and are regularly utilized by the local inhabitants. Human activities such as over-exploitation, over-harvesting, grazing, and improper collection are depleting the local flora thereby eroding the genetic diversity of the plant; hence the need to take various preventive measures.