Ethnobatanical studies on non-medicinal plants of Shinaki Valley Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan
Paper Details
Ethnobatanical studies on non-medicinal plants of Shinaki Valley Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan
Abstract
Present investigation explores folk modes, means, ways, approaches and practices-in-use of indigenous floral, fungal and lichens wealth usages in the Hunza. Out of a total 108 species identified 35.45% were medicinal, 30.9% fuel wood, 38.2% used for food, 94.5% fodder and forage, 21.8% cash crops, 17.2% timber wood, 6.36% oil producing, 9% condiments and 24.01% are least used for miscellaneous purposes. All these floro-fungal and lichen species belong to 84 genera and 37 families. Comparative utilization scores show that Juglans regia L. (CUS=8) is the most versatile plant species used followed by Morus alba L., Morus nigra and Prunus armeniaca (CUS=7) which are more common and possess diverse uses. Elaeagnus angustifolia, Linum usitatissimum, Ficus carica L., Punica granatum, Prunus avium (L.) L., Prunus amygdalus, Prunus persica, Pyrus communis and Malus pumila showed 3rd major plant species for their wide and important utilization having 6 CUS. Folk medication practices have eroded in the area and at present only 1.4% population relies on indigenous treatment and medication. Several adverse causes have left many floro-fungal species under severe pressure. Conservation of threatened species is needed to avoid loss and extinction of several endemic species.
Ahmad M, Qureshi R, Arshad M, Khan MA, Zafar M. 2009. Traditional herbal remedies used for the treatment of diabetes from district Attock (Pakistan). Pakistan Journal of Botany 41(6), 2777-2782.
Akhter R. 1986. Caprifoliaceae. In: Flora of Pakistan. (Eds.): E. Nasir & S.I. Ali. 174: 1-33. Bassett, I.J. and C.W. Crompton. 1970.
Ali SI. 1977. Papilionaceae. In: Flora of Pakistan No. 100.(Eds.): E. Nasir, E. and S. I. Ali. Department of Botany University of Karachi. 1-388 p.
Ali SI. 2001. Salicaceae. In: Flora of Pakistan No.203. (Eds.): S.I. Ali and M. Qaiser. Department of Botany, University of Karachi and Missouri Botanical Press, Missouri Botanical Garden, St, Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. 1-60 p.
Baquar SR.1989. Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Pakistan. Printed, Karachi, Pakistan.
GOP. 1999. Census Record, Government of Pakistan, Statistical Department, Gilgit-Baltistan, Gilgit.
Grohmann F. 1974. Oleaceae. In: Flora of Pakistan No. 59. (Eds.): E. Nasir and S.I Ali. Department of Botany, Gordon College Rawalpindi. 1-27 p.
Hamayaun M. 2005. Ethnobotanical Studies of some Useful Shrubs and Trees of District Buner, NWFP, Pakistan. Ethnobotany leaflets.
Hedge IC. 1990. Labiatae. In: Flora of Pakistan No.192. (Eds.): S.I. Ali and Y.J. Nasir. Department of Botany University of Karachi and National Herbarium, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad.
Hocking GM. 1958. Pakistan Medicinal plants, Quarterly Planta Material Vegetation 9, 103-119.
Hussain F, Mustafa G. 1995. Ecological Studies on some pasture plants in relation to animal use found in Nasir Abad valley, Hunza, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of P1ant Sciences 1(2), 263-272.
Hussain F, Khaliq A, Durrani MJ. 1995. Ethnobotanical studies of some plants of Dabargai Hills, Swat. Proceedings of First Training Workshop on Ethnobotany and its application to Conservation. National Harbariun/PASA/PARC. Islamabad, Pakistan. 207-215 p.
Jafri SMH. 1973. Capparidaceae. In: Flora of Pakistan No.34. (Eds.): S.I. Ali and Y.J. Nasir. Department of Botany University of Karachi. 1-40 p.
Jafri SMH. 1975. Berberidaceae. In: Flora of Pakistan No.87. (Eds.): E. Nasir and S.I. Ali. Department of Botany University of Karachi. 1-40 p.
Kazmi MA, Siddiqui IA. 1953. Medicinal plants of Astore and upper Gurraiz valley. Pakistan Journal of Botany 1(2), 217-223.
Khan T, Khan IA, Rehman A, Alam J, Ali S. 2013. Exploration of near-extinct folk wisdom on medicinally important plants from Shinaki Valley Hunza, Pakistan. International Journal of Biosciences 3(10), 180-186. http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/3.10.180-186
Khan SW, Khatoon S. 2007. Ethnobotanical studies on useful trees and shrubs of Harramosh and Burgort Valleys in Gilgit Northern Areas, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Botany 39(3), 699-710. Retrieved from
Nasir E, Nasir YJ. 1987. Gymnospermae. In: Flora of Pakistan No.178-186. (Eds.): E. Nasir and S.I. Ali. Department of Botany University of Karachi. 1-36 p.
Nasir YJ. 1971.Thymelaeaceae. In: Flora of Pakistan No.12. (Eds.): E. Nasir and S. I. Ali. Stewart Herbarium Gordon College Rawalpindi. 1-10 p.
Nasir YJ. 1972. Juglandaceae. In: Flora of Pakistan No. 14. (Eds.): E. Nasir and S.I. Ali. Department of Botany Gordon College, Rawalpindi. 1-5 p.
Nasir YJ. 1975. Betulaceae. In: Flora of Pakistan No.95. (Eds.): E. Nasir and S. I. Ali. Department of Botany Gordon College, Rawalpindi. 1-5 p.
Nasir YJ. 1975. Elaeagnaceae. In: Flora of Pakistan No.85. (Eds.): E. Nasir and S. I. Ali. Department of Botany Gordon College, Rawalpindi. 1-6 p.
Nasir YJ. 1983. Anacardiaceae. In: Flora of Pakistan No.152. (Eds.): E. Nasir and S.I. Ali. Department of Botany University of Karachi, and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad.
Qureshi R, Bhatti GR, Shah M. 2001. Ethnomedicinal properties of Aloe baradensis Mill., with particular reference to the people of Nara Desert. Hamdard Medicus XLIV (3), 46-50.
Qureshi RA, Ghufran MA, Sultana KN, Ashraf M, Khan AG. 2006. Ethnobotanical Studies of Medicinal Plants of Gilgit District and Surrounding Areas. Ethnobotany Research & Applications 5, 115-122.
Rasool G. 1998. Medicinal Plants of Northern Areas of Pakistan.
Siddiqi MA. 1977. Celastraceae. In: Flora of Pakistan No.109. (Eds.): E. Nasir and S. I. Ali. Department of Botany, University of Karachi. 1-15 p.
Stewart RR. 1967. Checklist of plants Swat state, Northwest Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Forestory 4(2), 457-528.
Yang J. 1988. A review on the derivation of Xizang (Tibetan) drugs and the advance of its research. In: Acta. Bot. Yunnanic Adit. 1, China 1988. Bhotahity, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Tika Khan, Imtiaz Ahmed Khan, Abdul Rehman, Haibat Ali, 2013. Ethnobatanical studies on non-medicinal plants of Shinaki Valley Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan. Int. J. Biosci., 3(11), 63-70.
Copyright © 2013 by the Authors. This article is an open access article and distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license.