Medico-ethnobotanical studies of edible wild fruit plants species from the flora of north western Pakistan (D. I. Khan district)

The present research work is based on 11 wild edible fruit plants species belonging to 8 genera of 8 families. The plants are: Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew, Cordia dichotoma Forster, Cordia myxa L., Grewia tenax (Forsk.) Fiori, Monotheca buxifolia (Falc.) Dcne. ex Engler, Nannorrhops ritchiana (Griff.) Aitchison, Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., Salvadora persica L., Salvadora oloides Decne, Zizyphus mauritiana Lam., Zizyphus nummulari (Burm.f) Wight. and Arn. These plants were collected from the north western part of Pakistan (Dera Ismail Khan District) during 2007 to 2008. The main aim of this study is to document the knowledge of ethnobotanical importance of wild edible fruit plants species. In view of the importance of this study related comprehensive and detailed data was collected. Results were arranged in systematic order of botanical names, English name, Local / vernicular name, family, locality, occurrence, habit and habitat, flowering period ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal uses. Photographs of some plants have been presented. It is concluded that during drought conditions or so, wild edible fruits may be used as substitute for food.