Ethnobotany of Eskisehir and its environs

Abstract

Eskişehir is located in the Central Anatolian province of Turkey. It is included in B3 grid square of Davis. There are more than 1000 plant taxa distributed in this State and its environs and nearly 220 are endemics. The phytogeographical distribution of plant taxa in the region is as follows; Mediterranean (25%), Irano-Turanian (17%) and Euxine (20%). In this study attempt has been made to record and identify the uses of medicinal and aromatic plants administered by people in Eskişehir and its environs. A questionnare including 20 questions such as; socio-economic status of the individuals, where from they obtained the plants, how, when, and what was their aim was prepared and distributed to 641 persons above the age of 18 from different occupations. They were randomly chosen and interviewed. The data obtained was analysed via SPSS 19.0 package programme. The results revealed that; peppermint, thyme, fennel, anise, sage are used for stomach disorders; balm, walnut, hawthorn, black radish for cardiac diseases; and blueberry, cinnamomum, thyme, nigella, olive leaves and apricot seed for diabetes. In the majority of cases walnut, linseed and thyme are used against cholesterol; garlic and lemon for blood pressure; nigella, marshmallow flower, and nettle for allergy; black mulberry for mouth wounds; rosemary for migraine; centaury oil for joint pain. 50.2 percent of the individuals surveyed pointed out that they want to have education about conscious use of medicinal and aromatic plants. Majority of the persons benefited from the plants distributed in Eskişehir and its environs.