Floristic and medicinal potential of weeds in agroecosystem of Jatropha mollissima (Pohl) Baill under saline condition

Abstract

Spontaneous plants have economic and social importance for its multiple uses. The objective of this study was to analyze the spontaneous plant’s floristic and medicinal potential on pinhão bravo’s (Jatropha mollissima (Pohl) Baill) agroecosystem under saline condition. The survey was conducted in the experimental field of the Center for Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the State University of Paraíba between the months of June and July 2012 in Entisol cultivated with J. mollissima under irrigated with saline water of 3 dS m². Identification manuals were used to determine the number of individuals, species, families, percentage of infestation and medicinal potential. It was found 424 individuals, 16 species and 8 families. The weed species found were Commelina benghalensis L., Brachiaria plantaginea (Link) Hitchc., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Acanthospermum hispidum DC., Siegesbeckia orientalis L., Cyperus rotundus L. and Ricinus communis L., with 27.83%, 19.33%, 17.92%, 9.90%, 7.78%, 4.95% e 4.24% of herbs density, respectively, and 48.58% were identified as medicinal. Areas with J. mollissima under 3dS saline condition have potential for exploration of medicinal properties. The agro-ecosystem analysis has high amounts of weeds that can be explored along with commercial crops.