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VOL. 9, ISSUE 4 (2024)
Ethnomedicinal study of herbaceous flora along the Kosi watershed, Kumaun Himalaya
Authors
Bhawna Pandey, Zoya Shah, Dhani Arya
Abstract
The present study was conducted in the Kosi watershed of Almora
district. During the phyto-sociological investigation, the collected plant
specimens along the riverside were examined by consulting important works on
medicinal plants and ethnobotany. The documentation was made based on field
observation, discussions with local and knowledgeable people, and scrutinizing
the literature review. A total of 42 plant species, representing 26 families of
medicinal plants, were documented. The Asteraceae and Poaceae families were the
most prevalent, with six species each, followed by Polygonaceae and Rosaceae,
with three species, and Plantaginaceae and Euphorbiaceae, with two species
each. Of these species, 31 were identified as herbs and 11 as shrubs, utilized
in various health care systems. The majority of the parts, i.e., the whole
plant and leaves, are used in curing various ailments. Among the total of 42,
there were 6 species of the Asteraceae family, which were highly used in
reducing fever, cuts, and wounds and have healing properties. Unmanaged
exploitation was the major problem in the area, leading to a decline in the diversity
of medicinal flora and other associated species. Due to this, the use of
ethnomedicine was also reduced to some extent. There is a need to document and
preserve ethnomedical knowledge and raise awareness among peoples before it is
lost forever.
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Pages:1-5
How to cite this article:
Bhawna Pandey, Zoya Shah, Dhani Arya "Ethnomedicinal study of herbaceous flora along the Kosi watershed, Kumaun Himalaya". International Journal of Botany Studies, Vol 9, Issue 4, 2024, Pages 1-5
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