Ethnobotanical studies of aquatic plants of district Sialkot, Punjab (Pakistan)

Abstract

The present research work was conducted to explore the Ethnobotanical studies and medicinal utilization of aquatic flora. Regular field tours were conducted to collect aquatic flora of Sialkot district, Pakistan. In total of 18 species belonging to 13 families were collected from different sites and habitats. Work on Ethnobotanical aspect comprises the native names and conventional medicinal utilization of vegetation was obtained from native inhabitants through direct interviews. The present research work was conducted by taking interviews of 40 informers comprising of 25 females and 15 males of the study area. Typically, persons having more experience, skills and knowledge, particularly old females were interviewed. All interviews were completed arbitrarily; precedence was specified to the natives because of the reason they have improved information of flora and their frequent utilization. Ethno-botanical studies on aquatic flora have been rarely conducted in this area. i.e. Pistia is used to treat skin diseases. Mentha is widely used to cure digestive problems, Polygonum sp. used to treat summer prickles. It is imagined that such type of studies should be conducted in the future in study area.