Abstract:
In the present study, an attempt has been made to collect and identify the Pteridophytes of Utror valley, Swat. During the survey 16 Pteridophytes belonging to 10 genera and 9 families are taxonomically and ethnobotanically described. Dryopteridaceae was found as a dominant family having the largest number of species, i.e. 4 species belonging to the genus Dryopteris. Aspleniaceae was the second largest family in terms of number of species, i.e. 3 species belonging to the genus Asplenium. The families like Adiantaceae, Cystopteridaceae, Dennstaedtiaceae, Polypodiaceae, and Thelypteridaceae were represented by one species each, i.e. Adiantum venustum, Cystoperis fragilis, Pteridium aquilinum, Polypodium vulgare, and Cyclosorus dentatus, respectively. The study revealed that these ferns are used by the local community for the treatment of different health ailments.
Keywords:
Taxonomy
,
Ethnobotany
,
Pteridophytes
,
Utror valley