The present paper reports ethnobotanical usage of 28 endemic plant species used by the tribes of Eastern Ghats, India. All the species were enumerated with botanical name, family name, vernacular name, habit, habitat and information on ethnic uses

Reddy, C. Sudhakar, et al.

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      Ethnobotanical Leaflets 10: 82-91. 2006.  Ethnobotanical Observations on some Endemic Plants of Eastern Ghats, India Ch. Sudhakar Reddy1*, K. N. Reddy2, Chiranjibi Pattanaik1 and Vatsavaya S. Raju3 1Forestry & Ecology Division, National Remote Sensing Agency, Balanagar, Hyderabad -500 037, India2Laila Impex, R&D Centre, Unit-1, Phase-3, Jawahar Autonagar, Vijayawada 520 007, India3Department of Botany, Kakatiya University, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh – 506009, India*Corresponding author Email: csreddy_nrsa@rediffmail.com Issued 8 March 2006 ABSTRACT            The present paper reports ethnobotanical usage of 28 endemic plant species used by the tribesof Eastern Ghats, India. All the species were enumerated with botanical name, family name,vernacular name, habit, habitat and information on ethnic uses. INTRODUCTIONThe Eastern Ghats are isolated hill ranges in Peninsular India, harbours primarily tropicalDeciduous vegetation, which represents species of high economic, timber, medicinal potential, lies in110 30' to 210 0' N Latitudes and 770 22' to 850 20' E Longitudes. Based on geological and tectonicconsiderations, the Eastern Ghats are formed of four sections (Meher-Homji, 2001): the portion northof the Mahanadi river covering Mayurbhanj and the adjoining territory (Keonjhar, Angul, Jajpur,Balasore districts of Orissa); the portion between the Mahanadi and the Godavari where themountainous character of the Eastern Ghats is most clearly marked (Phulbani, Boudh, Dhenkanal,Sambalpur, Bolangir, Baragarh, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiridistricts of Orissa; Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari andKhammam districts of Andhra Pradesh), the third section lies between the Krishna river and theChennai city along the arcuate eastern margin of the Cuddapah basin. This section includes theNallamala hills of Kurnool, Prakasham, Mahabubnagar, Veligonda, Palakonda hills of Cuddapah andNellore districts, Seshachalam hills of Cuddapah and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh. The lastsection comprises the tract between Chennai and the Nilgiri hills where they join the Western Ghats.Prominent features are the Javadi hills of North Arcot, the Gingee and Kalrayan hills of South Arcot,Pachamalai hills of Tiruchirapalli, Shevaroys and Kolli hills of Salem district (Tamil Nadu) andBiligirirangan hills in Chamrajnagar, Kolar hills and Sandoor hills in Bellary district (Karnataka).Eastern Ghats is “tors” of geological antiquity and older than Himalayas and Western Ghats.The number of flowering plant taxa occurring in the Eastern Ghats is about 3200 with 98 endemicspecies (Reddy et al. 2002). Most of the endemic plants in Eastern Ghats show narrow range ofdistribution. Ethnobotanical studies were carried out in ethnically different groups of Eastern Ghats ofAndhra Pradesh and Orissa during 1997 to 2006. This has resulted in the collection of information on28 endemic plant species used by local ethnic groups namely: Bagatas, Chenchus, Gonds,Kondareddis, Koyas, Lambadas, Nukadoras, Valmikis, Yanadis, Yerukalas of Andhra Pradesh andKondhas, Gadabas, Sauras, Didayis and Kolhas of Orissa. Of the 28 endemic medicinal plants, only 7species were included under Red Data Book of Indian Plants (Nayar & Sastry 1987, 1988, 1990). Thedata are presented here as the outcome of exploration trips conducted over a period of nine years.Voucher specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of Kakatiya University (KUH), Warangal. ENUMERATIONTaxa are alphabetically arranged. The botanical name of the species is followed with familyname in parenthesis, vernacular name, habit, habitat, information on ethnic uses and notes. 1. Albizia thompsonii Brandis (Mimosaceae) Vernacular Name: Velugu ChintaHabit: Large TreeHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Skin diseases: Stem bark paste used as an external application. Ulcers: Leaf paste used as anexternal application.Note: In Red Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under Vulnerable (VU) category. It is foundin parts of Anantapur, Cuddapah, Mahabubnagar districts of Andhra Pradesh and Angul, Dhenkanaldistricts of Orissa. 2. Atylosia cajanifolia Haines (Papilionaceae) Vernacular Name: Adavi KandiHabit: UndershrubHabitat: Tropical Moist Deciduous forestsUses: Food: Seeds used for curry as a vegetable.Note: In Red Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under Vulnerable (VU) category. It is foundin hilly areas of parts of East Godavari, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh,Gajapati, Kalahandi districts of Orissa and Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. 3. Boswellia ovalifoliolata Balakr. & Henry (Burseraceae) Vernacular Name: GuggilamHabit: Large TreeHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Scorpion sting: Resin used as an external application; Children’s diseases: Gum burnt andfumes spread out in home.Note: It is found in hilly areas of parts of Kurnool, Chittoor, Cuddapah districts of Andhra Pradesh. 4. Ceropegia spiralis Wight. (Asclepiadaceae) Vernacular Name: Nimmati gadda.Habit: Tuberous ClimberHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forests among grassesUses: Indigestion: A teaspoon of tuber paste taken daily once for three days.Note: In Red Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under Vulnerable (VU) category. It is foundin hilly areas of parts of Kurnool, Chittoor, Cuddapah districts of Andhra Pradesh. 5. Cleome chelidonii L.f. var. pallai V.S. Raju & C.S. Reddy (Cleomaceae) Vernacular Name: Adavi AavaluHabit: Erect HerbHabitat: Margins of lakesUses: Condiment: Seeds were used as a condiment.Note: It is restricted to Pakhal lake of Warangal district (Reddy & Raju, 2001). 6. Crotalaria paniculata Willd. var. nagarjunakondensis Thoth. (Papilionaceae) Vernacular Name: Gutta VempaliHabit: Erect HerbHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Eczema: Handful of roots crushed with common salt and turmeric (Curcuma longa) andextract applied externally.Note: It is restricted to type locality in Nagarjunakonda hill of Nalgonda district. 7. Curcuma inodora Blatter     (Zingiberaceae) Vernacular Name: Chara PasupuHabit: Tuberous HerbHabitat: Tropical Moist Deciduous forestsUses: Swellings due to wounds: Slightly warmed tuber paste used as an external application.Note: It is found in hills of East Godavari, Khammam, Visakhaptanam and Warangal districts ofAndhra Pradesh. 8. Cycas beddomei Dyer (Cycadaceae) Vernacular Name: PaireethaHabit: ShrubHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Debility: It is learnt that people cut the Cycas plant and take out the pith and make it intopieces and used in their diet in case of debility.Note: It is restricted to Seshachalam hills of Chittoor and Cuddapah districts of Andhra Pradesh. InRed Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under Vulnerable (VU) category. 9. Cycas sphaerica Roxb. (Cycadaceae) Vernacular Name: PotteethaHabit: ShrubHabitat: Tropical Moist Deciduous forestsUses: Flour: Pith pieces are used to make ‘sago’ flour.Note: It is found in northern part of Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and eastern part of Orissa. 10. Decalepis hamiltonii Wight. & Arn. (Asclepiadaceae) Vernacular Name: NannariHabit: ClimberHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Tonic: Root extract is taken orally to rejuvenate the body and it is the popular health tonic forrural people.Note: It is found in Rayalaseema districts of Andhra Pradesh.  11. Decaschistia cuddapahensis Paul & Nayar (Malvaceae) Vernacular Name: Magasiri GaddaHabit: ShrubHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Aphrodisiac: Half teaspoonful of root paste taken with jaggory (Saccharum officinarum) dailyonce 15 days.Note: It is restricted to Seshachalam hills of Chittoor and Cuddapah districts of Andhra Pradesh. 12. Eriolaena quinquelocularis (Wight & Arn.) Cleghorn       (Sterculiaceae) Vernacular Name: Nara BotkuHabit: Small TreeHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Fibre: Stem bark fibre used as ropes.Note: It is found in Karimnagar and Warangal districts of Andhra Pradesh. 13. Glochidion tomentosum Dalz. (Euphorbiaceae) Vernacular Name: PageriHabit: Medium Sized TreeHabitat: Tropical Semievergreen forestsUses: Wounds: Leaf paste applied as an external ointment.Note: It is found in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh and Gajapati, Ganjam,Phulbani districts of Orissa. 14. Habenaria roxburghii (Pers.) R.Br. (Orchidaceae) Vernacular Name: Malle Leena GaddaHabit: Erect HerbHabitat: Tropical Moist Deciduous forestsUses: Wounds: 10-15 g tubers are crushed with 2-3 g each pepper and garlic. The extract is givenorally in snake-bite by Konda Reddis of Khammam district.Note: It is found in Khammam, Karimnagar, Warangal, East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Kurnooldistricts of Andhra Pradesh and Salem, Dharmapuri districts of Tamil Nadu (Reddy et al. 2003). 15. Heterostemma deccanense (Talb.) Swarup. & Mangaly (Asclepiadaceae) Vernacular Name: Pedda Joola palaHabit: ClimberHabitat: Tropical Semievergreen forestsUses: Stomach ache: Stem bark juice is used for stomach ache and gas troubles.Note: In Red Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under Endangered (EN) category. It is foundin Maredumilli hills of East Godavari and Sukkumamidi hills of Khammam district of AndhraPradesh (Reddy et al. 2001). 16. Hildegardia populifolia (Roxb.) Schott. & Endl. (Sterculiaceae) Vernacular Name: Gali BuddaHabit: Small TreeHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Dog bite: 4-5g of upper epidermis of stem bark removed from finger nails, crushed with equalquantity of garlic (Allium sativum)mixed in 100 ml of water, mixture taken twice in a day for threedays; Malaria: 3-4 teaspoons of stem bark extract taken daily twice for 5 to 7 days.Note: In Red Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under Endangered (EN) category. It is foundin Anantapur, Chittoor, Cuddapah districts of Andhra Pradesh and Villupuram, Salem districts ofTamil Nadu (Reddy, Reddy, & Jadhav, 2001). 17. Hypericum gaitii Haines (Hypericaceae) Vernacular Name: Jangli KalyHabit: ShrubHabitat: Tropical Moist Deciduous forestsUses: Skin eruptions: Leaf paste used as an external ointment.Note: It is found in Simlipal Biospehere Reserve of Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. 18. Memecylon jadhavii K.N. Reddy, C.S. Reddy & V.S. Raju (Memecylaceae) Vernacular Name: Konda AlliHabit: ShrubHabitat: Tropical Moist Deciduous forestsUses: Fuel: Stem branches are used as fuel wood.Note: It is found in Sapparla hills of Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh (Reddy et al. 2004). 19. Oryza jeyporensis Govind. & Krish. (Poaceae) Vernacular Name: Dhani        Habit: Erect GrassHabitat: Tropical Moist Deciduous forestsUses: Food: Cultivated for its grain by natives.Note: It is found in Biorgumma, Boipariguda areas of Koraput district (Orissa).  20. Phyllanthus indofischeri Bennet  (Euphorbiaceae) Vernacular Name: Konda UsirikaHabit: Small TreeHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Food: Fruits edible.Note: It is found in Chittoor, Cuddapah, Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh.   21. Pimpinella tirupatiensis Balakr. & Subram. (Apiaceae) Vernacular Name: Konda KottimeeraHabit: Small TreeHabitat: Tropical Moist Deciduous forestsUses: Scorpion sting: Root paste applied over the bitten area and tied with bandage.Note: It is found in Chittoor and Cuddapah districts of Andhra Pradesh.                        22. Premna calycina Haines  (Verbenaceae) Vernacular Name: NaguruHabit: Small TreeHabitat: Tropical Moist Deciduous forestsUses: Stomach ache: 4-5 teaspoons of stem bark decoction taken twice in a day.Note: It is found in Mayurbhanj, Angul, Nayagarh districts of Orissa.                 23. Pterocarpus santalinus L.f. (Papilionaceae) Vernacular Name: Erra chandanam, Raktha chandanum.Habit: Large TreeHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Diabetes: A pinch of stem bark powder taken with a cup of hot water daily once to till cure.Note: It is found in Chittoor and Cuddapah districts of Andhra Pradesh. 24. Rhynchosia beddomei Baker (Papilionaceae) Vernacular Name: Adavi KandiHabit: UndershrubHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Abortifacient: Half cup of leaf decoction taken twice in a day for two days. Note: In Red Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under Vulnerable (VU) category. It is foundin parts of Cuddapah, Chittoor, Anantapur districts of Andhra Pradesh. 25. Shorea tumbuggaia Roxb. (Dipterocarpaceae) Vernacular Name: Thamba JalariHabit: Large TreeHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Ear ache: Leaf juice is used as ear drops for children.Note: It is found in parts of Chittoor, Cuddapah, Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh and Chengalpattudistrict of Tamil Nadu.              26. Syzygium alternifolium (Wight) Walp. (Myrtaceae) Vernacular Name: Thamba JalariHabit: Large TreeHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Diabetes: One teaspoon dried fruit powder taken with honey daily once to 15 days. Dry cough:Leaves fried in cow ghee and used as a curry. Note: It is found in parts of Chittoor, Cuddapah, Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh. 27. Terminalia pallida Brandis (Combretaceae)Vernacular Name: Tella KarakkayaHabit: Large TreeHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Dysentery: 10-12 grams of fruit powder taken twice in a day. Piles: 10-15 ml of fruitdecoction taken daily once to till cure.Note: It is found in parts of Kurnool, Chittoor, Cuddapah districts of Andhra Pradesh. 28. Torenia indica Saldanha    (Scrophulariaceae) Vernacular Name: Chinna MogakuraHabit: Erect HerbHabitat: Tropical Dry Deciduous forestsUses: Ear ache: Leaf juice is used as ear drops for children.Note: It is found in parts of East Godavari, Khammam districts of Andhra Pradesh. The investigations revealed the medicinal properties of 28 endemic species of 27 generabelonging to 20 families. Papilionaceae is the dominant family (4 spp.), followed by Asclepiadaceae,Sterculiaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Cycadaceae, each with two species. The other families contributedwith one species each. Among all the species, trees are found to be more (11) followed by herbs (7),shrubs (7) and climber (3). Out of 28 species, seven species are included in Red Data Book of IndianPlants (Botanical Survey of India). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION            The present work is the result of intensive systematic ethnomedicinal survey conducted inthree states of Eastern Ghats region. All the 28 species of endemic plants of ethnobotanical interestare recorded after critical screening with the available literature. These species are recommended forfurther phytochemical and pharmacological studies, which might result in the discovery of new drugmolecules. Since these plant species are being exploited from the forest areas of Eastern Ghats, thereis an urgent need for their conservation before they get extinct. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS            Authors are thankful to Deputy Director (RS & GIS Application Area), Head, Forestryand Ecology Division, National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad, Chairman, Laila Impex,Vijayawada for suggestions and concerned Forest Department personnel for providing logisticsupport. We sincerely acknowledge the help provided by the local villagers and herbal healers duringthe field work. REFERENCES Meher-Homji, V.M. 2001. Bioclimatology and Plant Geography of Peninsular India. ScientificPublishers, Jodhpur, India.Reddy, C.S., M.S.R. Murthy & Dutt. C.B.S. 2002. Vegetation Diversity and Endemism in EasternGhats, India. Proceedings of National Seminar on Conservation of Eastern Ghats, EPTRI,Hyderabad.Nayar, M.P. & A.R.K. Sastry 1987. Red Data Book of Indian Plants. Vol. 1. Botanical Survey ofIndia, Calcutta.Nayar, M.P. & A.R.K. Sastry 1988. Red Data Book of Indian Plants. Vol. 2. Botanical Survey ofIndia, Calcutta.Nayar, M.P. & A.R.K. Sastry 1990. Red Data Book of Indian Plants. Vol. 3. Botanical Survey ofIndia, Calcutta.Reddy, C.S. & Raju,V.S. 2001.  A new variety of Cleome chelidonii (Cleomaceae). Journal ofEconomic and Taxonomic Botany, 25: 217-218.Reddy, K.N., Reddy, C.S., & Jadhav, S.N. 2001. Heterostemma deccanense (Talb.) Swarup &Mangaly   (Asclepiadaceae): An endangered and endemic taxon in Andhra Pradesh.  TheIndian Forester 127: 1403-1404.Reddy, K.N., Reddy, C.S. & Raju, V.S. 2003. Ethnobotanical observation on some Orchids of AndhraPradesh. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products 9: 146-147.Reddy, K.N., Reddy, C.S. & Raju, V.S. 2004. Memecylon jadhavii : A new species from AndhraPradesh, India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany, 28: 165-166.     

Ethnobotanical Observations on Some Endemic Plants of Eastern Ghats, India

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Ethnobotanical Observations on Some Endemic Plants of Eastern Ghats, India

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