Traditional Uses of Medicinal Plants in Yalvaç District (Isparta-Türkiye)

Background and Aims: Preserving traditional knowledge of medicinal plants, which has been transmitted orally through generations, is crucial to prevent its erosion and eventual loss. This study aims to document ethnobotanical knowledge related to medicinal plants used by local people in the Yalvaç district (Isparta), located in the Mediterranean Region of Türkiye, where no previous ethnobotanical research has been conducted.Methods: Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 60 participants from 39 villages and the town centre (Çarşı Mahallesi) of Yalvaç. Plant specimens were collected with the assistance of informants from various altitudinal zones within the study area. The relative importance of the recorded species was evaluated using the Use Value (UV) method.Results: A total of 70 plant taxa belonging to 30 families and 50 genera were documented, including 5 endemic and 11 cultivated species. In addition, 4 taxa were noted for their use in ethnoveterinary practices. The most represented plant families were Asteraceae (17%), Lamiaceae (17%), and Rosaceae (7%). Cydonia oblonga Miller and Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich exhibited the highest use values, highlighting their prominent role in traditional therapeutic applications. Comparison with previous ethnobotanical studies conducted in Isparta province revealed the highest overlap with the Eğirdir district, sharing 20 medicinal plant taxa recorded in common.Conclusion: This study provides the first comprehensive documentation of traditional medicinal plant use in Yalvaç and emphasises the continuing importance of herbal remedies in local healthcare practices.