Ethnobotany in Bung Khong Long Non-Hunting Area, Northeast Thailand

Abstract

Bung Khong Long Non-Hunting Area is located in Nong Khai province, northeast Thailand. It has two forest areas: Don Sawan and Don Mor Thong, which are large lowland evergreen forests of this region. At least 4 villages, 364 households, and 2,566 people live around the two forests. This study focused on ethnobotanical knowledge of the villagers comprising list of useful plants and method of use. Data and plant specimens were collected by interviews with practitioners from 121 households (25%) and plant collecting trips during field studies, respectively, (April 2001, July 2001, November 2001, and April 2002). A total of 203 species, 128 genera, and 67 families were considered as ethnobotanical plants by the villagers. These species were divided into 4 categories (some species overlapped among these categories): 108 edibles (53%), 76 medicinals (37%), 14 construction materials (7%), and 40 for other purposes (20%). Leaf was the most frequently used plant part. Most medicinals were prepared by decoction and immersion in the liqueur for drinking. The villagers gathered the useful plants throughout the year. Most of the useful plants were collected for household uses and a few were collected for selling.