Floristic analysis of the medicinal flora used by the population of the Central Middle Atlas (Morocco)

Abstract

Within the scope of the exploitation of natural resources, an ethnobotanical and floristic study was carried out in the Central Middle Atlas to identify the medicinal plants used in traditional medicine and to collect as much information as possible about the local knowledge held by the local population. Ethnobotanical field surveys were conducted during two campaigns (2013 and 2014) using a questionnaire sheet. The location of the different ethnobotanical and floristic surveying environments was identified by the stratified sampling method. The survey was carried out among 1560 inhabitants randomly selected from the population of the study area with a sample of 40 persons per stratum. The results of these surveys have enabled us to draw up a catalog of 267 medicinal species divided into 211 genera and 79 families, among which: 6 are the most represented, including Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae. Oregano (Origanum compactum Benth.) is the most used species. The elaborated catalog is characterized by the presence of endemic species of Morocco and also by the presence of rare or threatened taxa with a percentage of 6, 36 % of the listed species. The study contributes to improving knowledge about traditional medicine and safeguarding folk knowledge. but abusive gathering can put wild medicinal species at risk, many populations of local medicinal species suffer from overexploitation. Thus, it is necessary to provide legislative measures capable of protecting them and also to create specialized nurseries in order to curb the abuse of use and direct it towards a more rational and scientific use.