03. Taxonomic diversity and ethnobotanical characteristics of the family Lamiaceae of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
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Abstract
A total of 35 species belonging to 21 genera of the family Lamiaceae were collected from the research area. The plants were categorized on the basis of their morphological characteristics and ethnobotanical uses. The plants were classified and described in semi-technical language. Bracket keys were constructed to ensure their easy classification and description. Nepeta and Salvia were found to be the dominant genera each represented by five (5) species. Mentha was the next dominant genus with three (3) species followed by Ajuga, Leucas, Ocimum, and Stachys each with two (2) species. While a single species was contributed by all the other genera. Ethnobotanically almost all the plants had more than one uses by the locality people. Most of the plants are important ethnomedicinally. Despite various ailments members of the family Lamiaceae collected from the research area are also used for various traditional and religious aspects.
Keywords: Taxonomic; diversity; Lamiaceae; enthnobotanical