Abstract:
Assessment of traditional uses of aromatic plants was carried out in Wayu Tuka District from
May20, 2016 to October 5, 2017.Total number of respondents was 365,in which 318(87.12%)
were male and 47(12.88) were female. They were randomely selected from five study sites to
distribute questionnaires.The respondents were grouped into three groups of age 20-40 which
was 234 (64.11%), 41-60 which was 98(26.85%) and above 60 which was 33(9.04%). The total
number of key informants was 20 which were 17 male and 3 female for specific investigation.
Therefore pertinent information was collected using questionnaire, semi-structured interview,
field observations and discussions. The data gathered were interred in Microsof office Ecel2007
to be analyzed and summarized in more notable manner using descriptive statistical method
such as tables,graph,frequencies and percentage.The aromatic plants collected from home
garden (cultivated area) which was 23(57.5%), from wild which was 15(37.5%) plant species
and from both which was 2 (5%). Totally 40 plant species were identified for their aroma and
multipurpose. The plants habits were categorized into tree which reperents 13 (32.5 %), shrub
6(15%) and herb 21(52.5 %). Taxonomically the plants were fall under 31 genera and 24
families, from which 8 of the families were Lamiaceae, Rutaceae, Asteraceae, Zingebraceae,
Solanaceae, Verbenaceae, Oleaceae and Alliaceae with 2-6 different plant species. Lamiaceae
represents 6(15%) of the total species; Rutaceae represents 4(10%) while Asteraceae and
Zingebraceae represents 3(7.5%) of the total species equally. The Solanaceae, Verbenaceae,
Oleaceae and Alliaceae represent 5% individually while each of the rest 16 family
represents2.5% of the 40 plant species. The identified plants used among the peoples for
medicine, spices, fumigation, incense, insect repellent, fire wood and ritual. The parts of the
plants used were whole plant which contains 15(37.5%) plant species, root which contains
3(7.5%,seed 4(10 %) plant species, leaf 9 (22.5%),wood 2(5%),bark 2(5%),bulb 2(5%),leaf
succulent 1(2.5%) and rhizome 2(5%) plant species.
