Background: People’s classification, management, and use of plants represent attempt to attracting people from different academic disciplines. Many countries use traditional medicine for their primary healthcare system. Medicinal plants have been important components of healthcare systems since the time immemorial. The objective of this research was to document and analyze traditional medicinal plants used by the Sheka people and associated ethnobotanical knowledge.Methods: Data was collected by administering pre-prepared semi-structured interview items to 414 informants. Market surveys, group discussion, and guided field walk were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics; determination of informant consensus factor, fidelity level, as well as ranking and scoring.Results: A total of 266 plant species belonging to 192 genera and 74 families were identified. About 204 (77%) of the medicinal plants were used to treat human health problems. Only ten (4%) were used to treat livestock health problems and 52 (19%) of them were used to treat both human and livestock health problems. Croton macrostachyus, Prunus africana, Peperomia retusa, Lobelia giberroa, and Celosia schweinfurthiana were found to be high ranking medicinal plants against gastrointestinal problems based on simple preference ranking.Conclusion: Very high number of medicinal plant species recorded from the study area indicates that vegetation of Sheka is reservoir of medicinal plants. Hence, the area needs attention for medicinal plant conservation priorities. Plant parts used as medicines also play vital role in the entire medicinal plant life cycle. Therefore, it is useful to consider harvesting impacts. Except well-experienced traditional healers, people of the study area use the medicinal plants haphazardly. There may be high risk of being victims of dosage and improper usage. High ranking medicinal plants are candidates for further phytochemical profiling, drug research, and development.

Ethnobotany investigates the ways in which communities utilize plant species to tackle a range of health concerns in both humans and animals, highlighting the intricate relationships between plant life and local cultural practices. The degradation of habitats resulting from agricultural development and deforestation poses a considerable risk to the accessibility of these vital plants. This research was conducted in the Fofa and Toba sub-districts of the Yem Zone in Central Ethiopia, aiming primarily to explore and record the medicinal plant species that indigenous communities use for treating various health issues in both people and livestock. This study was carried out between March 2023 and April 2024, involving a total of 96 informants, with 12 selected from each kebele. A range of quantitative methodologies were employed in the research, such as the informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), plant part value, preference ranking, and direct matrix ranking. Furthermore, various statistical analyses including independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, correlation, and regression were performed using R to evaluate and compare the ethnobotanical knowledge among different groups of informants. A total of 164 medicinal plant species from 140 genera and 60 families were identified in the study. Of these species, 67.68% were utilized for human ailments, 19.5% for livestock issues, and 12.8% for both. The sources of these medicinal plants included 81 species from wild areas, 35 from home gardens, 23 from agricultural fields, 15 from living fences, and 10 from roadsides. In terms of growth forms, herbs comprised the largest group with 76 species, followed by trees with 42 species, shrubs with 34 species, and climbers with 9 species. The most commonly used plant parts were leaves, followed by roots. Preparations were primarily made by crushing the plants, with other methods including powdering, chewing, smashing, and boiling. The highest informant consensus factor value of 91% indicated a significant healing potential for respiratory diseases, common colds, coughs, and fevers. Notably, A. sativum (for malaria) and H. rueppelii (for abdominal pain) recorded the highest fidelity level values. Additionally, the average number of medicinal plants reported by participants varied significantly across different demographic factors, including gender, age groups, educational levels, and experience (P < 0.05). The study area is home to a wide variety of potential medicinal plants along with valuable indigenous knowledge. To address the growing anthropogenic threats and safeguard these plants and their associated knowledge, it is essential to adopt effective conservation strategies and promote responsible use. Additionally, the medicinal properties of these plants should be scientifically validated to harmonize local knowledge with modern medicine effectively.

Background: Wild edible plants (WEPs) are vital for food security, nutrition, and cultural identity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In Korahe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia, Somali communities rely heavily on natural vegetation, yet ethnobotanical documentation of WEPs remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the diversity, utilization, knowledge patterns, and conservation status of WEPs, with implications for food security and health. Methods: Ethnobotanical data were collected from 120 purposively selected informants across five study sites using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and guided field walks. Species were also screened against the IUCN Red List to identify threatened and vulnerable wild edible plants, providing insights into their conservation status and informing sustainable management strategies. Quantitative indices, including the Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index (BEI), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and Jaccard Similarity Index (JSI), were applied. Preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, and priority ranking were used to assess species use, multifunctionality, and perceived threats. Statistical analyses ( t tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation) were conducted to examine variations in ethnobotanical knowledge across gender, age, literacy, and experience. Results: A total of 57 WEP species across 22 families were documented, with shrubs and trees dominating. Fruits were the most commonly consumed part, while roots, tubers, leaves, stems, and resins were used during food scarcity. Knowledge varied significantly by age, gender, literacy, and experience, with older, male, and key informants exhibiting greater familiarity. Cordeauxia edulis Hemsl., Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell., and Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod . were highly preferred and multipurpose. Overharvesting, habitat loss, climate variability, grazing, and invasive species were major threats. Three species were identified as threatened either critically endangered or vulnerable, highlighting the urgent need for their conservation and sustainable management. Conclusions: WEPs are crucial for local nutrition, food security, and cultural heritage. Integrating indigenous knowledge with in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies and promoting sustainable use and cultivation of high-value species is essential to safeguard these resources for future generations.

The Modi-Geyi Forest, a moist Afromontane forest in southwestern Ethiopia, is an important biodiversity reservoir that provides critical ecological service

Wild edible plants (WEPs) are essential for sustaining food security, nutrition, and cultural heritage, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In Shab

Wild edible plants (WEPs) are vital components of traditional food systems, supporting nutrition, health, and livelihood resilience in food-insecure and cl