Ethnobotany of the Samburu of Mt. Nyiru, South Turkana, Kenya

摘要: Traditional plant use is of extremely high importance in many societies, and prevalent African communities. This knowledge however dwindling rapidly due to changes towards a more Western lifestyle. The influence modern tourism cannot be neglected this context. paper examines the Samburu Mt. Nyiru area Northern Kenya. pastoralists Kenya are still amongst most traditional communities country have retained their about large part plants environment for wide variety purposes. results indicate that local population has very surroundings, attributes purpose percentage found. 448 species were collected, identified names uses recorded. 199 reported as "no use". proportion 249 had some use: highest number (180 species) was used fodder, followed by 80 medicinal use. Firewood (59 species), construction (42 tools (31 food (29 ceremonial (19 ranked far behind. Traditionally attribute illnesses effect pollutants block or inhibit digestion. can include "polluted" food, contagion through sick people well witchcraft. In cases treatment illness involves herbal purgatives cleanse patient. There frequent indications common problems like wounds, parasites, body aches burns. change from nomadic sedentary lifestyle, often observed other areas country, affected remote much lesser extent did so not lead major loss knowledge. However, overgrazing over-exploitation resources already led decline material available.