Ethnobotanic features of Rize province

This study aims to specify the cultural enrichment which is about to disappear in this region, as well as economically important ones by identifying the ethnobotanical characteristics, utilization areas and local names of the plants in the five districts of Rize. With this aim it was carried out between the years of 2011-2012.It has been found that there are on total 113 taxa, belonging to 56 families. 43 of them are used in food sector, 78 of them are being used in treatment, and 19 of them are being used in the treatment of animals and in animal feeds. Besides, 8 of the species are being used as spices and tea production, 6 of them are being used as fuel and 26 of them are being used for different purposes. The percentage and distribution of these plant taxa are calculated under the lights of gained information. The largest five families are qualified as follows: Asteracea family with 14 taxa (% 12), Rosaceae family with 11 taxa (% 10), Lamiacea (Labiatae) family with 10 taxa (% 9), Ericaceae and Fabaceae (Leguminosae) families with 4 taxa in each (% 4).Phytogeographical region of the 66 (% 58,4) diagnosed taxa has been determined. It is examined that 45 (% 39,82) of the taxa are European and Siberian elements, 1 (% 0,89) of them is Irano-Turanian, and 1 (% 0,89) of them is the element of Mediterranean. Furthermore, 5 (% 4,42) of the collected plants are cosmopolitans, 7 (% 6,19) of them are exotics and 2 (% 1,76) of them are endemic taxa. It is stated that danger level of the endemic taxa is in LC level according to IUCN categories.