MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 20 informants (14 males and 6 females) were selected purposefully with the help of local area administrator and elderly people from Hayolom sub-district. Recommended traditional medicine practitioners were identified as potential informants and participated in personal interviews which were based on a checklist of questions prepared before hand in English and translated to the local language (Tigrigna). The majority (12, 60%) of the respondents were illiterate, with age range between 28 to 65 years. Ethnobotanical data was collected using semi-structured interviews between January and February 2011 on seven field trips made to the site. Information regarding local names of medicinal plants, methods of preparation, part(s) used, diseases treated, route of application, uses other than medicinal uses was recorded. Identification of the medicinal plants was done in Mekelle University using Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, by comparison with authentic specimens, illustrations and taxonomic keys.