Two of the gene centres, the Mediterranean and the Near East, meet in Turkey, which comprises the Irano-Turanian, Mediterranean and Euro-Siberian phytogeographical divisions. The country is situated on the crossroads of important migratory routes and has been home to several civilizations, therefore increasing its significance for plant diversity. It is accepted as the centre of origin for several plants like pea, wheat, flax, lentil, chickpea, beet, tuberous species, herbaceous species like clover, medics, oats, together with woody species like pistachios, pear, vines, apple, plum and pomegranate. Wheat and barley are said to have been first cultivated in the fertile crescent. Very recent studies have revealed that wheat was cultivated for the first time at Karacadağ and its environs located in Southeastern Anatolia. In this study we have therefore included Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraș, Mardin, Șanlıurfa, Adıyaman, Siirt, Șırnak and Hakkari States from the Southeastern Anatolia Region. The plants distributed in the region were evaluated for their role in food security. The references available on this topic were fully surveyed and current use by the local inhabitants was recorded together with the way they use these species. The plant taxa distributed in the region were studied and their potential as animal feed evaluated. Generally these belong to the families of Fabaceae and Poaceae. Our investigations showed that the taxa such as Allium scorodoprasum, Anethum graveolens, Capparis spinosa var. spinosa, Crataegus monogyna ssp. monogyna, Geranium tuberosum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Gundelia tournefortii var. armata, Lepidium sativum ssp. sativum, Malva sylvestris, M. neglecta, Mentha pulegium, Morus nigra, Nasturtium officinale, Nigella sativa, Olea europaea, Orchis coriophora, Ornithogalum narbonense, Rheum ribes, Rhus coriaria, Pistacia khinjuk, P. vera, Portulaca oleracea, Rubus sanctus, Rumex acetosella, R. pulcher, Thymbra spicata var. spicata, Thymus sp., Trigonella foenum-graecum, Urtica dioica and U. urens are used by the locals as food, in salad and spices, and also consumed as tea. In addition to these, taxa such as Capparis ovata, C. spinosa, Cerasus mahaleb, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Pistacia khinjuk, P. terebinthus, Rhus coriaria and Thymbra spicata are collected from the wild and sold in the country; also exported. Many taxa distributed in the region are used in traditional folk medicine. These are given alphabetically with their botanical name, part of the plant that is used, ailment treated and information on the preparations used. The taxa used as dye plants were also recorded. This investigation is expected to serve as a basis for future food security questions in the region.