BIODIVERSITY OF GRASSY WEEDS AND THEIR ETHNOBOTANICAL IMPORTANCE IN DERA ISMAIL KHAN DISTRICT (D. I. KHAN), KPK, PAKISTAN

The present study is based on research work carried out during 2005-2007 in Dera Ismail Khan District, Khyber Pakhtun Khwa (KPK), Pakistan. The research area was extensively surveyed in order to investigate grassy weed species. From the study area 28 weed species of grasses belonging to 22 genera were collected. Grassy weeds on one hand cause serious problems and on the other hand they are used for various purposes by local people. Mainly, grasses are used as fodder in the area; some are used for thatching and for medicinal purpose. Data inventory constitutes botanical name, tribe, local name, English name and voucher number (Table 1.), habit and habitat, flowering and fruiting period and ethnobotanical importance (Table 2). Pictures of six plants have also been provided.