This thesis presents a documentation of indigenous knowledge on plants used in treating jointrndiseases followed by investigation on some seed characteristics, germination physiology andrnpotentials for germinants to establish of three of the plant species.rnIn a participatory approach, indigenous knowledge was documented from the local peoplernliving in the area under the mandate of Elang'ata Wuas Ecosystem Management Program,rn(EWEMP), Kajiado District, Kenya. Semi-structured interviews and guided field walks werernused in collecting the information. The study on the seed characteristics and germinationrnphysiology focused on three plant species namely: Sllychnos henningsii Gilg., Jlyrsinernafricana L. and Ziziphus mucronala Willd. ssp mllcronala. One hundred seeds were takenrnrandomly and their size (length and width) and weight measured. The seeds externalrncharacteristics including the shape, color, seed-coat features were noted. The seeds were alsornincubated in distilled water and the embryo examined microscopically twenty-four hours andrnten days after sowing. For germination physiology studies, different concentrations (10.3_10'7rnM) of three plant growth regulators namely Gibberellic-3-acid (GA)), ocNaphthleneaceaticrnacid (NAA) and Benzyl-aminopurine (BAP) were investigated for their influence on the seedrngermination.rnInvestigations on the potentials for germinants to establish were carried out on SllJlchnosrnhenningsii Gilg and lvJyrsine a/ricana L. germinants. One hundred Sllychnos henningsiirngerminants (all from distilled water treatment) and one hundred and twenty lvJyrsine a/ricanarngerminants (thirty each from GA) 10-4, NAA 10'7, BAP 10,6 M and distilled water) treatmentsrnwere investigated for their potential to establish over a period of eight weeks.rnThe findings from this study revealed that twenty-one plant species, all of which are harvestedrnfrom the wild, are used in treating joint diseases. The roots are the parts mostly used inrntreatment of joint diseases followed by the stem barks. Use of plant species in combinationrnwith others (concoctions) was widely reported. Traditional conservation practices applicablernto trees and shrubs were reported. Two plant species namely: Rliellia palliia Jacq. andrnHeliolropillm rGrijlorum Stocks ssp hereroense (Shinz.) Verdc.were reported not to be asrnreadily available as they were in the past.rnThe seeds of Sllychnos henningsii and iVJyrsine a/ricana showed no conspicuous changesrn(size and appearance) after soaking in water for twenty-four hours or ten days. Almost all thernseeds of Ziziphus mucronata Willd. ssp /Ilucronata were dead. On the influence of plantrngrowth regulators on seed germination, GA3 and NAA showed significant differences with therncontrol in SlIychnos henningsii. Higher concentrations of NAA (NAAIO-3 and 10'4 M)rndelayed germination for twenty-one and seventeen days respectively. In iVJyrsine africana, allrnthe treatments showed significant differences with the control. Germination was poor (lessrnthan 20%) in all the treatments in Ziziphus /Ill/cronata ssp mucronata seeds. Ninety-ninernpercent of Sllychnos henningsii germinants survived for eight weeks. In JvJyrsine a/I'icana,rnGA3 10'4 M treated germinants showed the highest mortality (31 %).rniv :,rnFrom the results of this study, it could be concluded that (i) treatment of joint diseases usingrnmedicinal plants mostly utilizes the roots and the stem-barks, parts if excessively removedrncould lead to the death of the plant. (ii) No efforts have specifically targeted the propagationrnof the medicinal plants and hence there is need to in-corporate medicinal plants in plantrnpropagation programs. (iii) Myrsine africana seeds seemed to be under germination inhibitionrnand hence would require pre-treatment before sowing. FUliher studies to identify thernappropriate pre-treatment techniques are recommended.