A CONTRIBUTION TO ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF WILD PLANTS OF TEHSIL JATLAN AZAD JAMMU & KASHMIR

Abstract

Plants are the major source of nutrition and medicine in the world. In this regard a survey was carried out in Tehsil Jatlan, Mirpur District, Azad Jammu & Kashmir to explore ethnobotanical potential in the area. Jatlan is situated 20 km away from Mirpur Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The purpose of survey was to investigate wild plants and their use in the area by local people. The emphasis was laid down on taxonomy of these plants. During study 102 plant species including herbs, shrubs and trees belonging to 41 different families were recorded. The most dominant families among dicots was Asteraceae with 10 species and among monocot poaceae with 7 species. The plants collected were classified in three different categories which were single usage, double usage and multiple usage plants. Out of 102 plant species, 58 were single usage, 33 were two usage and 11 were multiple usage species. The result revealed that some wild medicinal plants were under severe biotic and abiotic pressure and demand to formulate indigenous and national level policy and biodiversity plan should be implemented promptly. Local communities and concerned government department should cooperate and coordinate with universities for protection and conservation of local Flora of Jatlan, AJK.