Ethnobotanical survey of folk toxic plants in southern part of Jordan

Thirteen representative phytogeographical sites in the southern part of Jordan was surveyed to recognize the folk toxic plant wealth by calculating of FL, RPL, and ROP values. One hundred and twenty-five toxic species were recorded in the area of study belonging to 56 plant families that were mentioned by three informants or more, 53 toxic species (42.4%) were popular, since they were cited by more than half of the maximum number of informants which is 30; therefore have Rank-Order Priority (ROP) value 50 or more, while 72 species (57.6%) were unpopular, since they were cited by less than half of the maximum number of informants; therefore have ROP value less than 50. Eighty species (63.5%) have known toxicity in neighboring countries while 46 species (36.5%) have not such known toxicity. Major toxic effects cited by popular species have exhibited major symptoms ranging from skin irritation, gastric and abdominal disturbances, abortion, sterility, neuralgic pains including hysteria, and fatigue. The studied area has been shown a high level of toxic species diversity, since it is dominated by at least four phytogeographical elements, which requires certain ecological awareness to protect and reserve the wild and endemic species from further threats to enhance the sustainable development. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.