Ethnobotanical documentation of plants of bashemsin valley, Kackar mountains national park, Rize, Turkey

Abstract

Ethnobotanical uses of 58 vascular plant species belonging to 24 families have been documented from Bashemsin valley of Kackar Mountains National Park in Rize, Turkey. the villagers used to use these plants traditionally as sources of medicine, food, beverage (tea), timber, raw material of toys and musical instruments, fire wood, ornamental, aesthetic etc. About 20 species were recorded to be medicinally used for the treatment of the cancer, diabetes, cold, cough. sniffles, flue, wounds, urinary problems, circulatory disorder, nephropathy, abdominal pain, hemorrhage and germicide. Local name, used parts and ethnobotanical uses of these taxa were documented. 18 (31.0%) taxa were found to be used with all parts, while 11 (19.0%) taxa for fruits, 8 (13.8%) taxa for stem and branches, 7 (12.0%) taxa for leaves and flowers, 5 (8.6%) taxa for flowers, 4 (6.9%) taxa for seeds, 2 (3.5%) taxa for leaves, 2 (3.5%) taxa for leaves and fruits, and 1(1.7%) taxon for fruits, stem and branches.