ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF THE FLORA OF GOVERNMENT GRADUATE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN, SAMANABAD LAHORE, PUNJAB

Abstract

The present Ethnobotanical study was undertaken to find out the diversity as well as to document the possible traditional uses of the flora of Government Graduate College for Women Samanabad, Lahore. Along with ethnobotanical studies, the role of institution in flora conservation was also analyzed. A total of 56 plant species belonging to 32 families were collected from the study area. These were described along with their botanical names, common name(s), families and ethnobotanical importance. The diversity of these medicinal and aromatic plants revealed that 80% of the families belonged to dicotyledons, 16% to monocotyledons, and 4% to gymnosperms. The ethnobotanical information on the plant species was documented by interviewing elderly people of the area, gardeners, herbalists, and agriculturists. A total of 25 persons were interviewed. Among the respondents majority were men. Much ethnobotanical information was gathered from old-aged people. The plant species documented in the present research work were in use for different purposes viz; edible 22.84% (24 species), fodder 4.75% (5 species), medicinal 33.40% (35 species), woodwork 12.38% (13 species), ornamental 12.38% (13 species), poisonous 2.85% (3 species) and 11.42% for general purposes.