Abstract

An ethnobotanical survey of traditional medicinal plants was carried out in Tehuledere district, South Wollo, northeast Ethiopia from July 15, 2009 to August 30, 2009 using rapid ethnobotanical appraisal. A systematic random sampling was employed for selection of 9 study Kebeles and 67 informants. Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured interview, field observation and group discussion. Data gathered were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Informant consensus factor, preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, fidelity level index and simple linear correlation coefficient.  A total of 105 medicinal plants (99 ethnomedicinal and 19 ethnoveternary) were documented from the study area. The majority of plants (54%) were harvested from wild habitat. Herbs (48%) were the major plant species followed by shrubs (34%) and trees (13%). The most frequently used plant parts in the treatment of human diseases were leaves (50%) followed by roots (18%) and seeds (12%). Similar use pattern but with different proportion leaves (48%), roots (26%) and seeds (11%) were also used in the treatment of livestock ailments. Concoction forms were the largest proportion (23.4 %) and (58%) for human and livestock, respectively and the majority of preparations are orally administered. The Pearson correlation analysis (r = 0.94) indicated significant increase of medicinal plants knowledge with age at 5% level of significance. Direct matrix analysis revealed Cordia africana to be the most important species followed byZiziphus spina-christi in the area. Over all, the community in the study area uses considerable diversity of plant species for maintaining their primary healthcare system. The conservation strategy practiced by the local people is not enough to tackle the erosion of plant species from their habitats. So, In-situ and ex-situ conservation should be implemented by training the practitioners; and the local government should organize medicinal practitioners into association in such way that their knowledge can be integrally used with modern medicine.

Key words: Ethnomedicine, ethnoveternary, indigenous knowledge, traditional medicinal practitioners, plant use-categories and ailments.