Abstract

An arboretum is a collection of trees. Related collections include a fruticetum (from the Latin frutex, meaning shrub), and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study. Distribution of medicinal plants information were investigated in International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) arboretum and Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN)  arboretum to collate and identify different medicinal plants used in the traditional pharmacopoeia for the treatment of diseases affecting human body. The indigenous knowledge of local traditional healers and the native plants used for medicinal purposes were collected through questionnaire and personal interviews during field trips. A total of 120 informants aged 35 and above comprising 64% males and 36% females were interviewed. The investigation revealed that a total of 129 species of medicinal plants (Trees (78%), Shrubs (18%), Herbs (3%) and Climbers (1%)) belonging to 39 families 94 genera were identified and documented. Much of the plant families have been endangered as they were not easily found during the field work. Plants are documented for further research on their secondary metabolites, biological attributes in the various plant parts.

Key words: Ethnomedicinal, identification, collation, research institutes, arboretum.