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A CONTRIBUTION TO THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF SAHASTRADHARA, DISTRICT DEHRADUN, UTTARAKHAND (WITH ETHENOBOTANICAL NOTES) A.S.BISHT* and A.B. BHATT Botany Department HNB Garhwal University Srinagar (Garhwal) Uttarakhand 246174. *email [email protected] Abstract :The Himalaya with gushing rivers, alpine meadows, majestic snow claded peaks, enhancing lakes and a rich diverse flora and fauna is rightly described as the " abode of God'. Garhwal Himalaya provides enormous benefits to the human being in the form of shelter, food, water, medicine, fuel and industrial products and fodder. Further it has the potential for providing many more benefits still unknown. The plants protect topsoil, ensure the quality of the water and provide food etc, for all other living beings of the biosphere. Biological extinction has been a natural phenomenon in the geological past however man's interference has speeded extinction at a faster rate. Human beings are involved in destroying the vegetation at an alarming rate resulting in the loss of biodiversity of the biosphere. Himalayan resources are being depleted and converted in to ash each day through biotic pressure coupled with undisciplined exploitation, damage and destruction Key words: Ethnobotany , Garhwal Himalaya, Ayurvedic, Unani medicine. Introduction : Himalaya represents one uniqueness of the plant components in of the most important mega centres of various habitats retained sound and have the biodiversity, sharing over fifty maintained the aesthetic environment percent of the vegetational wealth of the and the serenity of the Himalaya. Indian subcontinent. In the recent past However in the recent past couple of there has been a deep concern and years, awareness for the conservation of the vegetation, unplanned land use, natural fragile The disasters and several developmental as processes accelerated deterioration of diversity, Himalayan ecosystem. copiousness as well 1 excessive exploitation of biodiversity and harmony of the for Himalaya ecosystem. conservation, of these Acorus calamus Cinnamomum spp, Hedychium Garhwal Himalaya possesses spicatum Zanthoxylum alatum, Paris luxuriant and varied vegetation within polyphylla, Valeriana spp, Polygonatum the Himalaya region. Almost every plant spp., has economic value from either a muscifera, are already facing severe nutritional, pressure. aesthetic or medicinal Roscoea spp and Malaxis viewpoint. In fact, a large percentage of Himalaya is rich repository of crude drugs in the Indian market come important medicinal and aromatic plants. from this Himalayan area1. According to The efficacy of medicinal plants growth cumulative Garhwal here is perhaps as old as these hills6. Himalaya has more than 3500 species of Several workers took interest in this flowering plants, most of which are in region forest and alpine meadows2. In India out preservation of medicinal and aromatic of an estimated 15000 –16000 flowering plants in past even before 19th century7. plant species, about 1500 (10%) have Alpine already various Uttarakhand Himalaya is the largest categories of threatened plants3. The nursery of the medicinal plants among same number of species is used in Indian all the Himalayan hill state and provides traditional system of medicine, that is, matchless wealth of 600 species with more than 8000 herbal medicinal and aromatic plants. The remedies in Ayurvedic, 500 specie in ethnobotanical Unani, and 550 species in phyto- Himalaya8 reveals that majority of pharmaceutical industries. Nearly thirty traders collect wild medicinal plants species from the Garhwal Himalaya from alpine and sub alpine zone have been listed in various categories especially before the onset of seed under threat in the India Red Data setting through untrained and unskilled Books4&5 of which 24 species are from labours from higher altitude and export high altitude alpine regions. Recently2 them. This has led to the unscientific listed 45 more species (excluding Red extraction of entire plants. In addition, data Books) which need special attention the evidence, come under the the 2 for and over the sub collection alpine account exploitation area and of highly prized of Garhwal changed the environmental conditions and original The climate of the area is habitats that have led to gradual loss of determined by less severe summer plants. In many of the species the months, higher precipitation and colder exploitation pressure has gone to the or more prolonged winters. The major extent that these are at the verge of output of precipitation is in the form of extinction been rainfall. The rainfall pattern in study area declared as threatened, rare, vulnerable, is monsoon dependent. The Southeast or monsoon commences towards the end of and therefore endangered depending has on the frequency in the nature9. June and it rains until mid of September. Northeast monsoon causes occasional winter showering during December to STUDY AREA February. Survey and Selection of Research During summer months (April-July) the study area experiences Area moderately hot climate while December After undertaking a survey of to February months the area features the various zones in district Dehradun, the coldest climate. Sahastradhara area was finally selected for the present investigations. Humidity represents the amount The of water vapour in the air. Absolute Dehradun district lies between Lat. 29° humidity is the actual amount of water in 55''37'- 31027''3' N and Long 78°54''3' - the air expressed as weight of water per 80°2''3' 10' E. unit of air. There is generally a daily Climate rhythm in humidity in nature i.e. high at Climate of Garhwal Himalaya is night and low during the day, etc. strongly influenced by Indian monsoon. Relative humidity is normally highest Generally the climate depends upon during rainy season (June-Sep.) and it elevation, gradually decreases to winter seasons direction, latitude, precipitation and temperature. Humidity, (Nov.-Feb.). solar radiation and wind speed are the METHODOLOGY important variables interacting with each The present investigation was a result of other and determine the microclimate of extensive and intensive field surveys, a particular zone. 3 conducted during November 2009 to the April were practitioners however; occasionally the collected by usual methods of collection, information was also recovered by preservation housewives, rural old folk, and grazers 2011. The specimens and maintenance of local vaidyas specimen in the herbarium10 with field of long experience. notes viz. local names, habit, habitat, RESULT altitude range, color of flower, flowering or medicinal Species Richness and Contribution of and fruiting time, general availability, families, genera and species local use, etc. The present study comprises total The collected specimens were 58 species respectively 30 families, identified with the help of recent and 11 54species were dicotyledons (26 12 relevant floras i.e Gaur , Naithani . families) Information on medicinal properties and monocotyledons (4 families) collected qualities of various plant species have during the study period. Out of the 30 been angiospermic families, gathered through personnel interview with the local inhabitants. and 4species of Detail statistics is presented in Table 1and 2. Usually the information collected from Table:1 Brief statistical synopsis of number and percentage families, genera and species of Angiosperms, Dicotyledons and Monocotyledones Groups Families Genera Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 26 86.67 51 92.72 54 93.10 Monocotyledons 4 13.34 4 7.27 4 6.89 Total 100 55 100 58 100 Dicotyledones 30 Species Table:2 Contribution of family, genera and species in study area S. No. Family Genera Species Number Percent Number Percent 1 Ranunculaceae 2 3.63 2 3.44 2 Papaveraceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 3 Urticaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 4 of 4 Chenopodiaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 5 Amaranthaceae 5 9.09 6 10.34 6 Polygonaceae 2 3.63 3 5.17 7 Tiliaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 8 Malvaceae 2 3.63 2 3.44 9 Violaceae 2 3.63 2 3.44 10 Cucurbitaceae 2 3.63 2 3.44 11 Begoniaceae 2 3.63 2 3.44 12 Rosaceae 2 3.63 2 3.44 13 Mimosaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 14 Ceasalpiniaceae 2 3.63 2 3.44 15 Euphorbiaceae 6 10.90 6 10.34 16 Vitaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 17 Linaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 18 Oxalidaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 19 Geraniaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 20 Balsaminaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 21 Apiaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 22 Gentianaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 23 Solanaceae 2 3.63 2 3.44 24 Acanthaceae 2 3.63 2 3.44 25 Lamiaceae 2 3.63 2 3.44 26 Asteraceae 7 12.72 8 13.79 27 Cyperaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 28 Poaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 29 Liliaceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 30 Dioscoraceae 1 1.81 1 1.72 Total 55 100 58 100 Eco-Taxonomic Feature 5 The families were arranged according to Vern. Kanjilu. Annual, Prickly herb, 20- Cronquist classification 100cm tall, with yellow latex, lower (1981). The genera and species were leaves petiole, in rosette, upper ones arranged Medico- sessile, elliptic – ovate, base cordate or ethnobotanical uses have also appended semi – amplexicaule. Flowers whitish wherever applicable those plants are color. medicinal used. subtended by leaf like bract at the base. RANUNCULACEAE Fl. Apr. – Jun & Fr. July – Oct. system of alphabetically. sessile or shortly stalked, commonly in waste place. Yellow latex Rannunculus trichophyllus Hook. for skin diseases and The seed emetic Vern.Simariya, fennel. Piryali. Eng. Water and narcotic used as medicine; root Perennial erect or decumbent decoction as wormicide; root chewed in Herb, root stock fibrous short stem 15 – leucorrhoea. 25 cm long, addressed hairy. With immersed leaves, multifid with capillary division. Flowers 1 –1.5 cm across, CANNABINACEAE solitary several yellows during June – Cannabis sativa Linn. Aug., waysides. Plant paste used in Vern. Bhang, Bhangula. Annual – intermittent Perennial erect aromatic herb or under fever rheumatism and asthma. shrubs, to 2.5m high; bark fibrous. Thalictrum foliolosum DC. Leaves palmately 3-7 foliate or partite. Vern. Mamiri. Erect branch herb, to 1 – Fl. and Fr. May – Oct. commonly found 1.5 m high, leaves broadly orbicular or in roadside and wastes places. Bark – ovate oblong, obtusely crenate toothed. fiber used for making ropes, sacs and Flowers polygamous white or dull rough clothes; stem as a fuel. Seed are greenish purple. Flowering June – Aug. used as condiment; seed – oil edible, Root used in ophthalmia and also in besides, its leaves and flowers used as colic and fever. an intoxicating agent. PAPAVERACEAE URTICACEAE Urtica dioica Linn. Argemone mexicana Linn. Vern. Kandali, Eng. Stinging Nettle. 6 Perennial, erect, robust herbs or shrubs, diusetic used in lithiasis and roots used 0.5-3m high, stem branched from the in headache treatment. base, bark fibrous, stem, branches, Achyranthes aspera Blume petioles and leaves covered with sharp, Vern. irritating, stinging hair. Flowers small, perennial slender herbs or under shrubs pale green, on long and tassel-like stem woody at base, patently hairy. dropping or spreading 2-10 cm long Leaves paniculate cymes. Fl. and Fr.: Aug.-Apr. lanceolate, acuminate, thin, dull green Common in waste places. Stem yild above, sparsely pubescent on both strong – shining fiber, used for sacs, surfaces. ropes and mass; young branches and Common, on shady and moist places, leaves used as delicious pot herb; seed Root infusion taken in malarial fever. oil edible as well as medicine in sciatica, Leaf extract supposed to facilitate rheumatism and several skin ailments; delivery, root powder used in making hair – wash leaf extract believed to local beverage, plant decoction used in avoid baldness. dropsy and bronchitis. CHENOPODACEAE Ameranthus spinosa L. Chenopodium album Linn. Vern. Jaungali Chaulai. Erect glabrous Chicheree, opposite, Fl. Latjira. Annual- narrowly and Fr.: ovate- Aug.-Dec. herb, hard radish stem many groved Vern. Bathua. Annual glabrous, simple branches with divert cat spines, leaves or branched herbs 20 – 120 cm. high ovate and lanceolate, Used to care stem often red brown clothed with white powdery mass. Fl & Fr.: June – Nov. eczeni colic and gonorrhoea. Leaves used as pot– vegetable; breads Areva lantana Juss. prepared from the grinned grains. Vern. Gorkha bhindi, Erect, branched AMARANTHACEAE herbs leaves alternate acute and entire flowers greenish white, forming globose Aerua lentan. Juss. clusters, Plant is diureatic used in Vern. Gorkhabundi fam : Anaran thaceal litchiasis and roots used in headache Erect, branched herbs; leave alternte, treatment acute and entire; flowers greenish white Areva javanica Juss. yorming globose clusters. Plant is 7 Annual herb, erect branched stem, leaves venom, while seeds as an antidote to alternate scorpion venom. oblong spathulate densely tomantos flowers in terminal. Decoction Rumex nepalensis Spreng. of plants useful in removing swelling. Vern. Almora. Pahari Palak. Perennial, Aletrnanthera sessilis (Linn.) R.Br. robust, A prostrate herb, flowers in small, rootstock and hollow ribbed stem, 50 – axillary sessile, long head, spike in 150 cm high flower pale green. Fl; April florescence, flowers white, shiny. Used - Aug and Fr; Aug – Oct. The sap of as galactagogue, given in both for leaves and stem is applied on cuts for its phlyctena of young children. astringent powder. Celosia argentea Linn. TILIACEAE Vern. Sarwari. Annual herb, grooved Corchorus capsularis Linn. braches, leafs linear rarely ovate, acute, Vern. Narcha. Annual, Branched entire. Flowers at first pinkish then turn glabrous stem: leaves acute with serrate white with terminal spike. Seeds are margin. Flowering stage occur in efficacious remedy Diorrhoea. November. Decoction of root and unripe glabrous herbs with thick fruit given in Diarrhoea used as an POLYGONACEAE antiperiodic anthelmintic and intestinal Polygonum recumbens. Royle antiseptic also. Prostate branching herbs; leaves broadly MALVACEAE ovate; stipules with 2- long bristles; Sida acuta flowers white or pink. Fl. & Fr. Aug. – Vern. Kareta. Perennial shrubby, much Sept. 2200m branched Rumex vesicarius Linn. lanceolate, serrate, shorter then stipule, Vern. Ambari. Annual, monoecious, yellow flowers. Roots in fusion with branched herb. Leaves acute or obtuse, ginger in intermittent fever and cure for elliptic, petiole as long as blade, fruits rheumatism. white or pink. The herb used in heart Abutilon indicum trouble, constipation and disease of Vern. Pilli buti. A wild shrub, branched spleen. Leaves as an antidote to snake tape root, erract, solid branched stem, hairy stem, leafs long, alternate, simple, petiolate leaf. Axillary 8 in florescence with yellow flowers. In cordate, segment denticulate. Flowers fusion of roots in fever, decoction of white, fruits ellipsoid, with rounded, leaves as an emollient. rarely acute ends, green with white VIOLACEAE strips, orange red on ripening. Fl.: Jan.- Viola biflora J. Smith in Rees. Jul. and Fr.: Aug.-Oct., altitude 1800m. Vern. Banfsa. glabrous, Leaves and root juice given in diabetes, acaulescent herbs, with stout slender leaves also supposed to be antiseptic; roots. Basal leaves in rosette. Flowers fruit juice given in gonorrhea. lilac or purplish white. Fl.: Mar.-Jun. and BEGONIACEAE Fr.:- Jul.-Sep. Common in moist shady Begonia venusta places, altitude 800m. The whole plant Annual climber with the help of tip either in the form of extract or powder tendril, flowers brightly coloured and taken as diaphoretic, useful in skin and showy. Leafs and flowers are used as blood diseases, flowers and leaves antidote of snake bite. boiled with tea, supposed to be good for Tecoma stens Juss. fever and cough. Vern. Yellow bell (Eng.). annual tree, CUCURBITACEAE solid, erract, branched stem, pinnate Trichosanthes palmate leafs and large scarlet or orange flowers. Vern. Indrayan. Annual, weak stemmed, Roots as an antidote of snake bite and climbing by means of tendrils, much scorpion sting. branced roots, alternate leaf divided ROSACEAE palmately, Pyracantha flowers Perennial, dioecious in large flowers, male number and M. Vern. Ghingaru. Evergreen, spinescent, remedy for asthma and fruits and root undershrubs or shrubs, 5m high, spines boiled with mustard oil are used for straight, stout, bark ashy grey. Leaves headache. crowded at the ends of short lateral Coccinia grandis (Linn.) Voigt. Kaduri, (D.Don) Roemer. companulate. Fruit is smoked as a Ver. crenulata Eng. Ivoy branches, shining green above, glaucous Gourd. beneath, and flowers white. Fl.: Mar.- Perennial, climbing herbs with tuberous May and Fr.: Jun.-Oct Branches used for roots, tendrils simple. Leaves an ovate, 9 walking sticks and tool handles, fruits Bauhinia veriegata Linn. rarely Vern. edible, flowers useful in Kachnar. Medium sized apiculture as bee forage and plant act as decioduous tree, bark dark brown, leaves soil binder. deeply cordte, flowers with or pinkish in Pyrus pashia Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don. racemose. Dried flowers for diarrhea, Vern. Malu or Mahel. Deciduous tree, to bark is astringent and used as tonic in 15 cm in high; Flowers large, white fever. tinged – brownish, Feb – March. Leaves EUPHORBIACEAE and twig as fodder. Ripe fruits edible Euphorbia hypericifolia Linn. and also used in digestive disorders; Vern. Dudhi Fam; Euphorbicicel Annual wood made in to stick; flower use fuel in herb, erect with obouate obtuse leaues; apiculture; flowers axillry branched, cymose. believed to check soil erosion in landslide zones. Infusion of dried leaves is romedy in MIMOSACEAE dysentery, dirrtoe and also given to child Mimosa pudica with milk as a tonic. Euphobia microphyalla Vern. Lajwanti. Annual prickly under shrub, branched prickly stem, compound Vern. Dudhi. Annual herb, numerous leaf which is sensitive to touch, a stem, spreading from the roots, leaves globose, axillary head, pink flowers. opposite rounded and sub trumcate at Decoction of roots in leprosy, leafs as apex with pink margin This Plant is tonic. given along with the cryptoletis spp. To nursing mother in milk deficient. CAESALPINIACEAE Euphobia hirta Linn. Cassia fistula Vern. Doda The herbaceous erect solid Vern. Amaltas. An annual herb or hairy and branched or little branched, medium sized tree, compound, alternate, peripinnate leafs, racemose cyathium inflorescence. Naked male and in female flower lack perianth. Decoction florescence having pedicellate yellow is used in asthma and chronic bronchial flower. Pulp called cassia pulp (from affections. fruits) as a laxative admixture with Phyllanthus amarus Schum & Thonn. senna. 10 Vern. Bumianwala. erect, elliptic-obovate, acute or rounded at glabrous, shallow – rooted herbs, 30 – apex and flowers yellow. Fl. and Fr.: 60 cm in high; branches soubrette or 3 - Feb.-Jun. Common in moist localities, gonous, Petals spreading. Annual Leaves simple chewed as tongue wash, appears or rounded ends glabrous often considered sacred, as indicator of overlapping; stipules subulate. Flower pollutants. yellowish. Fl & Fr. Jun – Nov. OXALIDACEAE commonly occurs in waste places. Herb Oxalis corniculata Linn. as an astringent stomachache diuretic Vern. Bhilmori, Khati-Buti, Eng. Indian and febrifuge; leaves said to bear Sorrel. Perennial or annual prostates antibacterial properties. suberect herbs. Rooting at nodes, stem pubescent, creeping. Leaves 3-foliate. Riccirus conmunis. Flowers 2-3 in subumbels and yellow Vern. Arind, arand. Tall annual or with dark purplish streaks. Flowering perennial shrub; erect, solid branched stem; terminal inflorescence; panicled unisexual and fruiting almost throughout the year. cyme Common in all study sites, at 800m. monoecious Leaves taken as salad or cooked as flower. Castoroil is used s a tonic to vegetable and leaf juice dropped in pregnant women and also useful in cataract and conjunctivitis. urinary disorders GERANIACEAE Emblica officinalis Linn. Geranium Vern. Amla. Annual tree, solid, erect, wallichianum D.Don ex Sweet. branched. Leafs opposite. Fruits are rich Vern. Ratanjot, Kaphlya, Eng. Robert in vitamin C and useful as an liver tonic. Geranium. Perennial, erect or trailing, LINACEAE pubescent herbs, Reinwardtia indica Dumortier rootstock thick, Vern. Phiunli. Perennial, erect or sub- orbicular, palmately 3-5 lobed segments erect, tufted, glabrous under shrubs or deeply or irregularly toothed, tip acute, herbs, with woody base. Stem branched pubescent on both surfaces. Flowers from the base, terete or angular, leaves light purple, Fl.: Jul.-Sep. Root juice in 11 to 80 woody. cm long, Leaves diarrhea and ophthalmic, red dye intermittent fever and headache. obtained from the roots said to promote SOLANACEAE growth of hairs, as well as dye to woolen Solanum nigrum Linn. clothes. Vern. Mako, An annual herb erect BALSAMINACEAE branched, Impatiens thomsonii Hook. alternate acute leaves flowers pedicilate Vern. Gulmehandi. Annuals cylindrical stem, white and cymose type. herbs, simple Roots, leaves flowers light yellow Fl & Fr. Jul - Oct. and fruits after heating applied on Common: shady as well as exposed wounds and burns, extract chiefly used localities road sides, waste land 500m. in urinary troubles and skin diseases. Seed edible powder of roasted seed with Physalis minima. Linn. honey given to relieve cough and cold. Vern. Chirpoti. Annual herbaceous, erect APIACEAE (UMBELLIFERAE) stem, leaves ovate acute, flower solitary, Apium gravelens Linn. yellow in color. Fruits is considered as tonic diuretic and purgative. Vern. Ajmud. Biennial shrub erect, branched stem radical leaves pinnate LAMIACEAE (LABIATAE) deeply segmented. Root used as diuretic Nepeta laevigata Wallich ex Benth. in and given as stimulant and liver and Wallich. spleen disorder. Vern. Nueet, Eng. Catmint. Tall, erect, GENTIANACEAE branched herbs, 30-90 cm high. Leaves Gentiana aprica Decne. ovate-cordate. Flower lilac, Fl. and Fr.: Vern. Chirotu. Annual, erect herbs, 2.5- Jul.-Nov. Decoction of leaves and seeds 10 cm high, with simple or little taken in fever. Leaves also yield branched, essential oil. purplish stem. Leaves opposite, basal leaves in rosettes, flower Ocimum basilicum 2-sexual, blue-lilac, in terminal, stalked Vern. racemes. Fl.: Jan.-May and Fr.: Apr.- Marjoram. Perennial, aromatic, hairy Jun. Plant juice with flower decoction of herbs. Leaves ovate rarely toothed, Viola sp. is given in tea as a remedy of pubescent on both surfaces. Flower pink 12 Bantulsi, Eng. Common or purplish. Fl.: May-Aug. and Fr.: Sep.- the root of Thallictrum foliosum made Oct. Plant extract used in bronchitis, into paste and applied on sores, cuts and colic and diarrhea, leaves eaten as various skin ailments. vegetable and flavoring agent, flowering Anaphalis branches hung on the houses to get rid Clarke in Comp. Indicae of bad sprits. triplinervis (Sims) C.B. Vern. Buglya. Erect, rhizomatous herbs, ACANTHACEAE 70 cm high. Leaves sessile, variable, Peristrophae Bnalvis Nees. ovate-lanceolate and acute with black Vern. Pitpapra. Herbaceous, stem and point at apex, hairy above, white branches; leaves ovate, densely-tomontose linceiolate; flower in densely beneath. Head trichotomous (flower) discoid, shining white and cyme. Infusion of rice is good antidot for brownish at base. Common in open snake poison places of oak forests, Leaf juice dropped Adothoda vasica Ness. in laceration of toes during rainy Vern. Basingu. An annual herb woody season. Paste of heads and leaves below and herbaceous above branched applied on cuts, wounds and boils. Fiber solid green stem opposite extipulate of leaves and stem used to lit the fire by green herbaceous, leaves terminal spike friction of stones. inflorescence Artemisia capillaris Thunb. with sessile bisexual flower. Roots and leaves are used in Vern. Jhirun, Eng. Wormwood. Annual, asthma cough and bronchitis. glabrous or sparsely, hairy herbs to 70 ASTERACEAE (COMPOSITAE) cm high. Stem purplish-brown, grooved Ageratum conyzoides Linn. Vern. Gundrya, weed. pinnatisect, flowers small and green in Annual, erect herbs, 40 cm high, stem color. Fl. and Fr.: Jul.-Nov. Decoction of hairy on nodes and young parts. Leaves leaves taken as a bitter tonic for worms ovate and colic, twigs used as brooms. to Eng. with woody rootstock. Leaves 1-3 Goat sub-rhomboid, sparsely pubescent above, glandular-panculate Artemisia roxburghiana beneath. Flowers small, white or purple- Besser blue. Fl. and Fr.: Jan.-Dec. Plants with 13 Wallich ex Vern. Kunjaa, Eng. Indian Wormwood. leaf juice used in eye inflammation and Perennial, pubescent, undershrubs, 1-2m night blindness. high. Stem ribbed or pale-yellow, leaves Sonchus asper (Linn.) Hill. 2-pinnatifid, rachis and leaf surface Vern. Pili-dudhi, Choplya, Eng. Rough pubescent. Heads sessile or shortly Sow pedunculate and greenish-white. Fl. and glabrous or Leaves hard, lanceolate, spinous-toothed tonic and also rubbed on skin allergy. and unequal, heads yellow. Fl. and Fr.: Bidens pilosa Linn. Kumra, Annual, sparsely-hairy herbs, 15-80 cm high. Fr.: Sep.-Nov. Plant extract antipyretic, Vern. Thistle. Mar.-Sep. The plant used as a tonic to Eng. Bur-Marigold. purify blood and in hepatitis and leaf Annual, glabrous or sparsely hairy erect paste applied on wounds. herb 120 cm high. Stem purplish-green, MONOCOTYLEDON tetra-gonous and striate, leaves opposite, CYPERACEAE pinnately, 3-5 lobed and toothed. Heads Cyperus rotundus Retz. radiate and white-yellow. Fl. and Fr.: Mar.-Aug. Plant extract with honey used Vern. Murya-ghas. Annual herb in cough and bronchitis, the vegetable of tufted the in fibrous root.leaves basal, narrowly linear leucoderma and plants browsed as and half of the stem. Spikelets white and fodder. much compressed. Fl. and Fr.: Apr.-Nov. herbs considered useful Hirankuri, Dudhi. rhizome and creeping with Inflorescence used in curing dysentery. Emilia sonchifolia (Linn.) DC. in Wight. Vern. with POACEAE(GRAMINEAE) Annual, diffused or erect-ascending, weak herbs Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Persoon. to 30 cm high. Stem pale-brown, much Vern. branched and glabrous. Leaves variable, Perennial, rhizomatous grass, culms coarsely toothed, heads purple and prostate or ascending from the creeping discoid. Feb.-Jun.. base. Leaves linear-subulate, glaucous, Occasionally upper leaves cooked as sheath glabrous. Spikes digitate and vegetable. Herbs used as febrifuge and green or purplish. Fl. and Fr.: Jan.-Dec. Fl. and Fr.: Dubla, Eng. Dhoob Grass. Common in waste places, at 1800m. 14 Root juice taken in fever and in internal Knowledge of flora and injury. Plant is believed pious and used vegetation of any area is essential for the in several religious ceremonies. study of biodiversity, environment and LILIACEAE conservation of natural resources14. The study area is rich in biodiversity Asparagus racemosus Willd. corresponding Vern. Satavari, branched, Jhirni. scandent Tall or much to the climate and topography of the area, vegetation somewhat ranging from 500- 900 m altitude, climbing shrubs, with tuberous rootstock respectively. and white flowers in April and Fruiting Different factors have influenced (lower or exceeded) the in Nov. Root aphrodisiac, antiseptic, normal limit of vegetation type and refrigerant often used with fresh water flowering seasons. Natural vegetation in or milk. Root decoction with jaggery vicinity of towns and villages in the sub used an abortifacient. tropical belt has been subjected to more DIOSCORACEAE biotic disturbances as compared to the Dioscorea bulbifera Linn. villages at high elevations. There is Vern. Genthi . Eng. Potato Yam. Annual abundance of grasses and annuals during – Perennial, glabrous, slender, twining monsoon, whereas perennials, shrubs herbs; tuber solitary, globose or ovoid; and trees mostly bloom during spring stem and summer. angular or ribbed, bearing numerous, axillary, grey brown, warted The most attractive part of bulbils. Commonly found in waste vegetation in the study area was the places.. Flower unisexual small, pale presence of numerous medicinal plant green in colour. Fl: July – Nov. and Fr.; species, the fact is generally ignored by Sept – Jan. Tuber arte cooked as scientists. Each plant species has its own vegetable. Dried tuber used as an value in the form of fodder, fruits and antiseptic, applied on burns and wounds, vegetable, flowers as a bee forage, fibre, flowers occasionally visited by bee. resin, tannin, gum, dye, ornamentation, psychomedicine and medicines, etc. These plant species are used against DISCUSSION dropsy, bronchitis, boils and wounds, 15 insect and snake bite, relieve from and dyes; Bergenia stracheyi roots used suffering of nettle sting, malarial fever, in kidney stone and genital disorders; facilitate pain, Euphorbia Species tuberous roots used rheumatism, fever, cold and cough, in tonic febrifuge and in stomach gonorrhoea, diarrhea, delivery, body colic and dyspepsia, disorder; Dioscorea species- tubers are digestive and respiratory source of alkaloid; Oxalis corniculata - disorders, diabetes and urinary ailments, rhizome, carminative; relieving earache, body swelling and species contusions, psychomedicines, treatments febrifuge, of migraines, hepatitis and headache, (Summaya) whole plant, febrifuge and dysentery, tonic. The extinction of these medicinal etc. Vaidhyas. by villagers Achyranthus and aspera, whole plants plant, tonic; from Areva lantana antipyretic, Valeriana their natural Spp. habitat Adathosa vasica, Agrimone maxicana, (particularly in this area) is a matter of Anaphalis triplineris, Artemetia spp., great concern but it has not attracted the Asparagus recemosus, Bidens pilosa, attention Begonia picta, Cassia fistula, Euphorbia environmentalists12. This is probably hypericifolia, Oxalis because the medicinal wealth of this area corniculata, Ocimum sp., etc. were the is little known hence no agency or medicinally important species present in related the study area. protection and management of these Geranium sp. of naturalists departments care and for the continuously declining species of drug The study has incorporated large number of plants fulfilling various importance. Changing economic values based on timbers, conditions and lack of knowledge, fibers, dyes, tannins, resin, medicine etc. infectious nature of some weeds are Some of the rare and highly valuable among the other factors responsible for drug yielding plants of the study area, the include Artiemisia capillaries and - roots medicinal plant species. is stimulant, expectorant and yield REFERENCES extinction of these atmospheric important aromatic oil and used in abdominal problem; Thalictrum foliolosum root and 1. Badoni, A.K.. Remarks on the high stem bark are ophthalmic, used in ulcer altitude medicinal plants of 16 Garhwal Himalayas. Jour. Studies and Himalayan Co. Pvt., Ltd. New Delhi and Calcutta. Regional Development. 1989- 7. Burkill, I.H.. Chapters on the 90. 13 &14: 37-45. History of Botany in India. 2. Rawat, D.S., Bhandari, B.S. and BSI, Howrah. 1965. Gaur R.D. Vegetational wealth. 8. Atkinson, E.T. 1882. The In: (eds. O.P. Kandari and O.P. 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