Abstract:
Traditional plants-use study of Khon Muang and Lawa populations in Phu Fah subdistrict, Bo Klua district, Nan province, was conducted to investigate the traditional usage of plants for their daily life. The study was done by surveying and interviewing key informants for common names of plants, and used parts and their benefits. The collected specimens were identified for their scientific names and made into herbarium specimens. The indigenous plants usage were surveyed from four villages, namely, Ban Hang Tang Luang, Ban Pha Suk, Ban Huay Lom and Ban Huay Loy. The former two were native and the latter two were Lawa. There was the total of 585 plant species in 347 genera and 124 families. They were classified into 448 species of dicotyledon, 121 species of monocotyledon, 14 species of pteridophyte and 2 species of gymnosperm, and classified into 8 groups according to their usage as food plants (330 species), animal food plants (14 species), medicinal plants (180 species), housing-material plants (109 species), utensils plants (73 species), spiritual ceremony plants (9 species), vertebrate-poison plants (4 species) and ornamental plants (18 species). Quantitative study showed that cognitive uses of the plants increased with the age. And people who have been formally educated had less knowledge of plant-use than the people who do not receive formal education. Some interesting plants were Inula cappa (Ham. ex D. Don) DC., which was used as a medicine for several symptoms, e.g. pain, inflammation, flu and restorative. Cyperus trialatus (Boeck.) Kern was used for weaving appliances. Tristaniopsis burmanica (Griff.) Peter G. Wilson & J.T. Watert. var. rufescens (Hance) J. Parn. & NicLugh. was used as charcoals. The data from this study can be used to find ways for conservation and continuing the folk wisdom.