SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL PATTERN OF MEDICINAL FLORA USING GIS: A CASE STUDY OF TEHSIL ISA KHEL (MIANWALI)

Abstract

Study was confined to document the plant species in north and east parts of Tehsil Isakhel district Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan, used by the local people of the area. In total 76 plant species were collected during summer and winter seasons belonging to 39 families and 70 genera. Mapping of local distribution of plants was made by using GIS (Geographic Information System). By using GIS seasonal plant species were arranged in map according to nature and distribution in local areas of Isa khel. To get rid of difficulty, GIS was used for the convenience to know the local distribution of plants in study area. People of the study area had close relationship with surrounding plant resources and depend on plants for their food, health, shelter, fodder, fuel wood and other cultural purposes. Plant species were collected from eleven parts of Tehsil Isa khel in north and east directions. North areas were Kamar Mushani, Udhey Wala, Chapri, Sodhri, Ghaziwal and east areas were Burzi, Mandakhel, Khuduzai, Jalalpur, Kot Chandna and Kalabagh. Each species was described with english name, local name, collection area, botanical name, flowering period, specimen number, ethnomedicinal uses and mode of administration. Mostly plant species were used to treat joint pains, dysentery, diarrhea, sexual desire, stomach problems, piles, constipation, toothache, vomiting, jaundice, asthma and inflammations. Study revealed that the research area had many plants that were used to treat various diseases. Main purpose of the study was to save the ethnobotanical knowledge in the form of documentation which is the method to conserve the knowledge   its original form and secondly the utilization of medicinal plants by the local people of Tehsil Isa Khel