In Ispir region of the Çoruh Valley, wild edible plants have been used as a source of food from ancient times onward. Some of them are used as sources of ethereal oils, natural dyes, tea, vegetable and other goods. Genera that are important in this regard and that have definite economic significance as well include: Fruit trees (Prunus, Mespilus, Malus, Cydonia, Amygdalus, Cerasus, Cornus, Coryllus, Sorbus, Crataegus, Juglans, Pyrus, Punica, Rosa, Morus and Rubus), herbs and plants with rich essential oils (Achillea, Artemisia, Origanum, Mentha, Thymus, Satureja, Sideritis, Melissa, Salvia, Angelica and Geranium spp.), medicinal plants (Crocus sativus, Datura stramonium, Foeniculum vulgare, Mentha pulegium, Peganum harmala, Rhamnus pallasii, Teucrium polium, Artemisia, Digitalis, Haplophyllum, Hyoscyamus, Linaria, Marrubium, Papaver, Pedicularis, Symphytum, Thymus and Verbascum spp.), dye plants (Alkanna tinctoria, Anchusa italica, Anthemis tinctoria, Isatis tinctoria, Rubia tinctoria), and horticultural plants (Allium, Asparagus, Bellevalia, Colchicum, Cyclamen, Fritillaria, Gagea, Gentiana, Galanthus, Gladiolus, Iris, Lilium, Orchis, Ornithogalum, Rosa, Scilla and Tulipa spp.). Most of the edible plants were used as wild vegetables (Plantago major, Prangos uechtritzi, Asphodelus ramosus, Malva sylvestris, Urtica dioica, Rheum ribes, Falcaria vulgaris, Trangopogon reticulates, Allium scorodoprasum, Atriplex parula, Helianthus tuberosus, Polygonum aviculare, Rumex acetocella, Rumex crispus, Rumex scutatus, Polygonum cognatum, Sinapsis arvensis, Portulaca oleraceae, Barberau vulgaris, Lepidium latifolium, Nasturtium officinale, Lactuca serriola, Mentha pulegium, as flavouring (Satureja, Thymus and Nepeta spp.) and for jam making (Rosa, Pyrus, Fragaria, Cornus, Crateagus, Cerasus, Rubus and Cydonia spp.). Some local wild plants such as Plantago minor, Polygonum bistorta, Astrodaucus orientalis, Camelina rumelica, Galium rotundifolium, Chenopodium album, Lathyrus tuberosus and Sisymbrium officinale have been used as food or vegetable in Ispir region
Keywords: Medicinal and aromatic plants, biological diversity, herbal tea, Çoruh Valley.