Traditional Usage of Natural Vascular Plants in Taşköprü and Kayaüstü Plateaus (Gümüşhane) and Evaluation of Current Production Methods

Ethnobotanical studies have recorded the interaction between plants and people over the centuries, enabling this interaction to be used for the development of rural areas. The aim of this study, which was conducted in Taşköprü and Kayaüstü plateaus in Gümüşhane province, was to reveal the ethnobotanical uses of natural vascular plants by the local people and to evaluate and recommend the current production methods of these plant species. As a result of interviews with local people in Taşköprü and Kayaüstü plateaus, natural vascular plant taxa used by local people were identified. Information such as local names of these plants, areas of use, parts used, preparation methods were recorded. Twenty-seven natural vascular plant taxa were identified in the study; these plant taxa are Alchemilla erythropoda Juz., A. sericea Willd., A. mollis (Buser) Rothm, Astragalus acmophyllus Bunge, Berberis vulgaris L., B. integerrima Bunge, Caltha palustris L., Crataegus orientalis Pall. ex M.Bieb. subsp. orientalis, Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Pyrus elaeagrifolia Pall., Rosa canina L., R. boissieri Crep., R. spinosissima L., Rubus canescens DC. var. canescens, R. idaeus L. subsp. idaeus, R. saxatilis L., Rumex alpinus L., R. angustifolius Campd. subsp. angustifolius, R. ponticus E.H.L. Krause, R. scutatus L., Sempervivum davisii Muirhead subsp. furseorum (Muirhead) Karaer, Smilax excelsa L., Thymus nummularius M.Bieb., T. sipyleus Boiss., Urtica dioica L., Vaccinium myrtillus L. and V. uliginosum L. Taking into account previous studies in the literature, It was concluded that the most common techniques used to production the 27 plant taxa identified in the research area were seed (52%), tissue culture (27%) and cuttings (21%). This study is significant because it demonstrates the diversity of plant capacity in the plateaus, the breadth of traditional plant knowledge, and the recommendations it makes for production methods. Pharmacologists, botanists, economists, and planners working on local development projects are expected to find significant value in the study's findings.