A study of ethnobotany in Kumluca (Antalya)

• Main Authors: Fatma Merve NACAKCI, İsmail DUTKUNER
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Isparta University of Applied Sciences Faculty of Forestry 2018-07-01
• Series: Turkish Journal of Forestry
• Subjects: ethnobotany; flora; medicinal and aromatic plants; kumluca; etnobotanik; tıbbi ve aromatik bitkiler
• Online Access: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/tjf/issue/38486/421970?publisher=iubu

The Mediterranean region, which includes Kumluca, is a plant diversity hot spot. Traditionally, most of the plants in this region have many usage areas. This study was carried out from June 2014 to May 2015 to determine ethnobotanical characteristics of the plants in Kumluca (Antalya). Information on the usage areas of plants were obtained by face-to-face interviews with 255 people from this region. In the questionnaires, information such as age, gender, marital status, education level, occupation, social security, income level of respondents were recorded. In addition, the purpose and usage areas of plants (medicinal, food, spice, fodder, religious belief, etc.) were recorded with the usage instructions. While gathering information from survey participants, the fresh samples in the nature showed to the participants and asked explanation regarding to usage areas of the plants. The study revealed that 89 local taxa belonging to 51 families have ethnobotanical features. It was founded that commonly used families were Lamiaceae (9 taxa), Fabaceae (6 taxa), Rosaceae (6 taxa), Asteraceae (5 taxa) and Anacardiaceae (4 taxa). 132 different usage of these 89 taxa were determined and these were as follows; 37 (food), 38 (medicinal), 27 (tea), 13 (goods), 8 (fodder), 5 (ornament) and 4 (spice). Commonly used parts of these taxa were found as follows; above-ground part (39), fruit (18), flower (10), leaf (9) and cone (4). As such studies are carried out and the deficiencies in the literature are completed, plants that have been useful for humanity can be identified and transferred to future generations.