Ethnobotany of plants used by indigenous communities in Birjand, a dry region with rich local traditional knowledge in eastern Iran

Background: Despite locating in a dry region with mostly homogeneous ethnic group, South Khorassan province has high diversity of medicinal plant uses and rich cultural background. The current study was conducted Birjand (South province) its 18 adjacent villages to document information concerning the plants used introduce important species using ethnobotanical indices. Methods: In total, 59 people were interviewed about local their utilizations semi-structured questionnaire personal observations between 2018 2020. All documented collected identified. obtained data analyzed quantitative Results: A total 119 belonging 93 families Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Lamiaceae most families. frequently part aerial part. Decoction reported as common preparation method. highest UV RFC values recorded for Sclerorhachis leptoclada, Scrophularia leucoclada, Nepeta saturejoides. ICF digestive system disorders. 35 showed fidelity level value 100%. Conclusions: present reveals that areas have indigenous knowledge regarding plants. Moreover, still maintain place people's lives, especially medicine food. Older more knowledgeable than young ones. results this can be screening future phytochemical pharmacological studies. will facilitate protection programs endangered area. Keywords: Conservation, Food, Medicinal plants, Pharmacology, Traditional