ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN ALE SPECIAL DISTRICT, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

An Ethno-botanical study was carried out to investigate the type, associated knowledge and practices of medicinal plants used by the local people in Ale Special District, SNNPR, Ethiopia. Ninety informants were selected by preferential sampling technique. Ethnobotanical data about traditional medicinal plant names and associated knowledge such as use, remedy preparation, administration, and others were collected using semi-structured interview, field observation, and focus group discussion. Informant consensus, preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, informant consensus factor and fidelity level were computed. A total of 72 medicinal plant species belonging to 68 genera and 39 families were documented. Among the plant families, Lamiaceae was found to be the richest plant family with 11 species followed by Asteraceae (5 species). From medicinal plants recorded in the study area 80.56% were used only to treat human ailments, 8.33% were used only to treat livestock ailments, and 11.11% were used to treat both human and livestock ailments. Regarding plant habits, herbs accounted for 51.39% followed by shrubs for 20.83%, trees accounted for 19.44%, and climbers accounted for 8.33%. The most frequently utilized medicinal plant part was leaf. The most widely used method of preparation was crushing followed by chopping, and powdering. The common route of administration was oral followed by dermal application. From the plants in the study area, Plumbago zeylanica, Cucumis ficifolius and Hypoestes forskaolii are popular in the area and some medicinal plants are more effective in curing ailments like snake bite and malaria (ICF=0.93). Agricultural expansion, over grazing, over harvesting of plants for different household utensils and other human induced problems were the major threats of natural habitat in general and medicinal plants in particular. The area is known for its diverse medicinal plant utilized for curing various ailments in the study area. There was little practice of medicinal plants conservation in the area. The local government and other concerned groups shall give emphasis on the conservation of medicinal plants used for treating various types of human and livestock ailments in the area. Keywords: Ale Special District, Ethnobotany, Indigenous knowledge, Medicinal plants