African traditional plant knowledge today [Elektronische Ressource] : an ethnobotanical study of the Digo at the Kenya coast / by Mohamed Pakia

AFRICAN TRADITIONAL PLANT KNOWLEDGE TODAY: An ethnobotanical study of the Digo at the Kenya Coast By Mohamed PAKIA, M.Sc. KWALE, KENYA A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF A DOCTOR OF NATURAL SCIENCES (Dr. rer. nat.) AT THE FACULTY OF BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY AND GEOSCIENCE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BAYREUTH BAYREUTH, GERMANY JANUARY 2005 iDECLARATION This dissertation is the result of original research conducted by myself with the guidance of my supervisors Prof. Dr. Erwin Beck and Prof. Dr. Franz Rottland. Any reference to other sources has been acknowledged in the text. No part of this work has been submitted for a degree at any other University. Mohamed Pakia, January 2005. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The study forms part of the ‘Sonderforschungesbereich 560’ at the University of Bayreuth, Germany. Financial support was provided by the German Research Foundation (DFG), and I express my gratitude towards that. I am highly indepted to the exceptional and friendly support and advice I received from my supervisors Prof. Dr. Erwin Beck and Prof. Dr. Franz Rottland. It is through their continued encouragement and moral support that I managed to accomplish what I have. I also appreciate the support of all the respondents who cooperated and participated in the interviews and discussions.