An ethnobotanical research in Şanlıurfa central district and attached Villages (Turkey)

Abstract

The objective of present study is to identify the plants traditionally utilized by local communities, who reside at the rural areas attached to Central District of Şanlıurfa located in Southeast Anatolia Region, for various purposes, and to reveal the significant of such use in terms of ethnobotany. The study conducted in this respect identified 137 taxa of 87 genera from 47 families (86 species, 34 sub-species, and 17 varieties), 21 of them are cultigens. 1 taxon is from Terfeziaceae of Ascomycota division of Fungi kingdom, while the others are from Gymnospermae and Angiospermae sub-division of Spermatophyte division from the Plantae kingdom. In general, local community utilizes taxa identified in field of study as follows: 56 taxa as food, 37 as medicinal purposes, 5 for belief, 5 for pests, 4 as household goods, 3 as seasoning, 3 as ornaments, 3 as cosmetics, 2 as beverages, 2 as knick-knack, 2 as fuel, 2 as building materials, 1 as dulling, 1 as canopy, 1 as aphrodisiac, 1 as clarifying, 1 as repellent, 1 as doddle, 1 as preventive and 1 as aroma. Moreover, 11 taxa are not utilized, but 7 of them are known by their local names and 4 with their harmful effects.