Medicinal plants in the high mountains of northern Jordan

The status of medicinal plants in the high mountains of northern Jordan was evaluated. A total of 227 plant species belonging to 54 genera and 60 families were recorded. The survey is based on field trips conducted in the areas that include Salt, Jarash, Balka, Amman and Irbid governorates. Line transect method was used; collection of plant species was done and voucher specimens were deposited. A map for the target area was provided; the location of the study area grids in relation to their governorate was included.


INTRODUCTION
Human beings have always made use of their native flora, not just as a source of nutrition, but also for fuel, medicines, clothing, dwelling and chemical production.Traditional knowledge of plants and their properties has always been transmitted from generation to generation through the natural course of everyday life (Kargıoğlu et al., 2008).Documentation of the indigenous knowledge through ethnobotanical studies is important for the conservation and utilization of biological resources (Muthu et al., 2006).Therefore, establishment of the local names and indigenous uses of plants has significant potential societal benefits (Bağcı, 2000).
In this study, a total of 227 plant species were recorded in the target areas which includes Salt, Amman, Jarash, Ajloun and Balka which represent Mediterranean phytogeographical area (Al-Eisawi, 1996) (Map 1).The recorded plant species are reported and identified as medi-cinal plant out of 670 flowering plant species identified in the same area in Jordan.Recent studies are published on the status of medicinal plants that are used fofolk medicine by the local societies (Oran, 2014).
Medicinal plants in Jordan represent 20% of the total flora (Oran et al., 1998).The local Bedouins and villagers know many plant species; 363 species of medicinal vascular plants were recorded in Jordan (Oran et al., 1998).
In this study, the status of medicinal plants in the high mountains of northern Jordan was evaluated.

Plant collections
Plant specimens were sampled from the high mountains of 5 governorates (Amman, Irbid, Ajloun, Balka and Jerash) as shown in Map 1.

Plants classifications
Plants were classified by plant taxonomists (Prof.Sawsan Oran and Prof. Dawud Al-Eisawi, University of Jordan).
Voucher specimens were deposited at the herbarium, AMM at the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
A list of the medicinal plants recorded in the study area is tabulated.

RESULTS
A list of medicinal plants is provided in Table 1.Rare plant species are reported and indicated in the list prepared.A map for the study area as well as the location of the study area grids in relation to their governorate is included (Figure 1).

DISCUSSION
It is shown from this study that the diversity of medicinal plants in the study area is relatively high; 227 plant species are recorded.The area surveyed is characterized by its high mountains, high altitudes (900 -1700 m), and the climatic and the phytogeographical area is the characteristics of the Mediterranean area with rich fertile soil and rainfall.In this study, a total of 71 species were recorded as rare species that reflects the difficult situation  of the survival of many plant species recorded.Therefore, more efforts are required for the conservation and protection of the medicinal plant species in that rich area; the laws for the conservation of nature are to be seriously enforced.
It was also shown from this study, the use of medicinal herbs in folk medicine which is declining in most of the investigated areas as a result of the following: 1. Degradation of the wild plants resources amongst the medicinal plants.2. Grazing.3. Urbanizations. 4. Construction of roads. 5. Forest destructions 6. Lack of elders in most of the study localities, hence the youth comprising the large number of the population from where one could learn about the tradition medicine most.
Finally, collaborative scientific research is needed at local and global level; some of the medicinal plants recorded are rare and threatened wild genetic resources.Priorities in research should be given to those endangered plant species.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.The location of the study area grids in relation to their governorate.

Table 1 .
The total recorded number of medicinal plants in the study area.
R: Rare