Ethnofloristic profiling of Pursat Valley, Chitral (Lower), along Pakistan–Afghanistan border, Hindu Kush Range, Pakistan

Wild plants have always been important for mankind, but in recent times, mankind has been unable to utilize plant resources properly. Over time, wild plants have disappeared from their localities for various reasons. In Pakistan, many wild habitats are losing their plant species at a very high rate due to a lack of awareness or interest. The present study aimed to explore natural plant resources, their ethnobotany, and the nutritional values of some important medicinal plants. For this purpose, local surveys, group discussions, field studies, gatherings with local communities, and questionnaires were the primary means of data collection, interviewing 80 persons. Depending on the data, plants were classified based on their usage. The use value, frequency, relative frequency of citation, and proximate analysis of the selected plants were also conducted. The floristic survey showed that the Pursat Valley comprises 167 plant species belonging to 129 genera and 56 families. Among them, 125 (74.8%) species were herbs, 26 (15.5%) trees, 13 (7.7%) shrubs, and 3 (1.7%) succulents. Monocots belonged to 6 families and 13 (7.7%) species, with Poaceae as the dominant family with 5 (38%) species. Dicots included 152 (91%) species in 49 families, with Asteraceae as the dominant family with 19 (12.5%) species, and one family with 2 (1.19%) species was pteridophytes. Therophytes, with 75 species (45.7%), were the superior life form, while the dominant leaf size was of nanophylls, with 90 species (53.89%). The family Rosaceae had the maximum number of medicinal species. The maximum and minimum readings of use value (UV), use report (UR), frequency citation (FC), and relative frequency citation (RFC) were 80, 100; 1, 1.25; 20, 0.25; and 18.7, 0.23, respectively. Nutritional analysis of the roots, stems, and leaves of eight plants was performed based on their familiarity and usage by the local community. The present study showed that the area is enriched with many species. The local people of the area can play a vital role in understanding the importance of plants and their uses. Awareness about plants and their importance could play an important role in conservation. The majority of medicinal herbs have vanished due to cultivation and fuel purposes. Therefore, alternative resources must be provided to overcome this problem.