ABSTRACT

 Home gardens, whether found in rural or urban areas, are characterized by a structural complexity and multifunctionality which enables the provision ofdifferent benefits to ecosystems and people. This research was conducted in Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra State. Five (5) home gardens each were purposively selected from four (4) towns and this was based on species diversity. Plant samples collected were identified using plant guilds. Ethnobotanical information about them were obtained from respondents through the use of questionnaire and oral interviews. A total ofFifty-two (52) medicinal plants species were identified in the understudied homegardens. The collected data on medicinal plants in the home gardens indicates that Abagana and Nawfia had the Highest level ofspecies variety and richness i.e. a total species count ofTwenty-four (24) plant respectively, while in Nimo had Twenty -two (22) plant and the least being Enugu Ukwu with Nineteen (19) plants. Species such as; Talinium triangulare, Gongronema latifolium, Telfaria occidentale, Carica papaya, Citrius citratus and Vernonia amygdalina had the highest level of occurrence in the home gardens ofthe four towns (enter the values respectively). Medicinal plants growing jn the home gardens are known by the people to treat ailments like syphilis, hypertension, malaria, fuberculoses, dysentery, gonorrhea, leprosy etc using plants like Aspilia africana, Ananas coniosus; Persea americana, Chromolaena odorata etc. plant parts used were found to be roots, rhizomes, fruits, seeds, etc. Due to the essential role homegardens play in the conservation of medicinal plants and biological diversity, it is important to create awareness and make policies to encourage the establishment ofmore homegardens around residences.