Quantitative ethnobotany of medicinal woody plants in Harabalout area, Nourabad Mamasani city, Fars Province

Quantitative ethnobotany of medicinal plants is one of the most important branches of traditional knowledge that deals with the quantitative discovery and analysis of human relationships with medicinal plants. Since the forests of Zagros are the cradle of various local communities that have a long-standing relationship with the forest, in this study, the traditional relationship between the local communities of the common-law forest area of Harabalout in Nourabad Mamasani city, Fars province with woody species (trees, shrubs and bushe) was studied. The data of this study were collected by snowball sampling method, using key informants and purposively selective. An attempt was made to use a combination of interview methods, direct observation and participatory observation. Data were analyzed using quantitative indicators of Relative Importance Index (RI) and Cultural Importance Index (CI). According to the results, 12 medicinal woody species were identified in the region including 7 trees, 3 shrubs and 2 bushes. In general, the values of the indices were higher for tree species than other forms. The highest index of RI (1) and CI (5.92) were calculated for Brant`s oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) and the lowest of them with values of 0.31 and 0.48 belonged to Teucrium polium L., respectively. The results of this study, in addition to confirming the richness of traditional knowledge related to woody medicinal plants in the study area, emphasized the usefulness of quantitative indicators in ethnobotany studies.