ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES OF SPRING FLORA OF DISTRICT DIR (LOWER), KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

This ethnobotanical study of Dir Lower shows the exploration of the local plant species, which were used as medicinal, fuel wood, fodder, edible fruits, bees forage, agricultural tools, fencing and hedging, timber wood, ornamental plants, vegetable, sheltering, poisonous and veterinary medicines. A total of 40 plants species belonging to 30 families were collected. Among those, 48% were herbs, 17% shrubs, 17% trees and the remaining 8% were climbers. Among those 25% were medicinal, 14% fodder, 8% fuel wood, 8% forage species for bees, 7% vegetables, 7% sheltering, 6% edible fruits, 6% veterinary, 5% fencing and hedging, 5% timber wood, 3% agriculture tools, 3% ornamental plants and 3% poisonous. Plants specimen were collected, identified and preserved in the herbarium of the University of Agriculture, Peshawar. Information collected from the local communities shows that the plants have been used for diuretic, carminative, anticancer, stomachache, jaundice, sedative, diaphoretic, antispasmodic, chronic constipation and headache problems.