ETHNOBOTANICAL RELEVANCE OF THE WEED FLORA OF TALL DARDYAL, TEHSIL KABAL, DISTRICT SWAT, PAKISTAN

The current study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the weed flora of Tall Dardyal with special reference to ethnobotany. A total of 200 plant species belonging to 72 families and 164 genera were collected in three seasons (spring, summer and winter) in 2013-2015. Since majority of the indigenous people live below the poverty line, and they do not have access to modern resources, therefore they still rely on plant resources for their diverse life needs. They use wild plants as fodder and forages because one of their sources of income is rearing livestock. Most of the people inhabiting the upper hills sites use plants for thatching and construction purposes. They make agricultural tools from various plants as most people of the area are farmers. Poor economic conditions have compelled the locals to use wild as well as cultivated plants as vegetables. Wild medicinal plants are characteristically abundant in the area where they are used as indigenous medicines for treatment of various ailments. The present survey attempts to highlight the indigenous uses of the wild plant resources. The investigation would also provide some useful insights into the study of Weed Science.