Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2021). 8(7): 64-80 International Journal of Advanced Research in Biological Sciences ISSN: 2348-8069 www.ijarbs.com DOI: 10.22192/ijarbs Coden: IJARQG (USA) Volume 8, Issue 7 -2021 Research Article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22192/ijarbs.2021.08.07.008 Documentation of Edible Plants in Homesteads of Khampti Tribe, Namsai District, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Prosanta Hazarika*1, Clerissa Handique2 and Protul Hazarika3 1,2Chemistry and Bioprospecting Division, Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat-785001, Assam, India. E-mail: [email protected] 3Forest Ecology and Climate Change Division, Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat-785001, Assam, India. E-mail: [email protected] Corresponding Author’s Email: [email protected]

Abstract A study was conducted to document edible plant species present in homesteads of Khampti tribe of Namsai district, Arunachal Pradesh during November 2019 to February 2021. Randomly selected 225 homesteads of 15 Khampti villages were surveyed for edible plant species, taken photographs, collected samples for identification. Further, the homesteads owners (with pre-consent) were interviewed with semi-structured questionnaire and record information such as local name of the plant, category of the plant (i.e. cultivated, planted and wild), edible plant parts, mode of consumption etc. A total of 150 edible plant species belongs to 56 families were documented from the homesteads of Khampti villages during the study. Of which, 47 edible plant species were planted in their homesteads from the wild, 44 were wild and natural invaders and 59 were cultivated. The study revealed that Khampties were consumed fruits of 72 plant species, whole plant used as vegetables of 21 herb species, tender shoots of 19 plant species used as vegetables, 9 tubers,7 rhizome, seeds of 7 plant species and leaves 6 species. They used to consume 47 plant parts as raw, 77 after cooked, 15 as pickle, 9 as chutney, 7 as spice and another 7 consumed by extracting juice etc. The study could document a considerable extent of edible plant species from Khampti homestead gardens. It indicates that Khampti homesteads were safe shelter edible plant diversity and thus they are being conserved with time and in turn provide the community needs.

Keywords: Khampti, homesteads, edible plant species, documentation

Introduction

It is a known fact that edible plants are domesticated by two factors such as resource availability of edible in past from the wild habitat. Thereafter, these plant plant species and ecological factors. Further, it has species are either cultivated in field or planted in the governed with local ethno botanical knowledge (LEK) homesteads. It was also said that domestication of and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) at plant took place mainly in mountainous regions more community level (Hazarika et al., 2015; Turreira- or less within or near the tropics (Vavilov, 1935). Food García et al., 2015). The human population used to habit of a community confined in particular locality collect different edible plants or plant parts i.e. fruits, has been build up with time and was governed mainly nuts, roots etc from the forests since nomadic stage. 64 Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2021). 8(7): 64-80 Subsequently, with the progress of settled and civic community level on wild edible plants (Angami et al , nature of nomadic tribes, they domesticated plants and 2006; Moyong et al., 2019; Murtem and Chaudhry animals (Schaal, 2019). Use of fire and agriculture 2016; Tsering et al., 2017; Tag and Das, 2004; altered the food habit of human beings by and large Shankar et al., 2016; Lungphi et al., 2018; Khongsai et (Zucoloto, 2011). The food habit is also influenced by al., 2011, Namsa et al., 2011). The homesteads play some other factors such as development of indigenous important role conservation of unique diversity of knowledge, cultivation, culture, economic, social, edible and useful plant species to mitigate local needs nutritional, health status etc (Downs et al., 2020; and commercial important (Dilrukshi et al., 2013; Gartaula et al., 2020; Singh et al., 2020; Singh et al., Hazarika et al., 2014). There has been no systematic 2010). Thus, it is assumed that within a community or study on the edible plant species of the homesteads a tribe with time a gradual change in food habit is that are consumed by Khampti tribe of Namsai build up and shaped. Accordingly people use to district, Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, this study domesticate the plant species in their settled habitat was conducted for generation of the database on and thereafter in homesteads. Researchers also edible plant species, recorded edible plant parts, mode observed that there is number of different of use etc. The study also emphasizes on the extent environmental factors and socioeconomic factors such conservation of edible plant species by the Khampti as sex, age gender, education, proximity to the market community in their homesteads. and distance to the urban areas can influence the knowledge and use of wild food plants by the local Materials and Methods people (Bortolotto et al., 2015; Ojelel et al., 2015; Toledo et al., 2007 ). Study Area

A number of scientific studies document over 27,400 The study was conducted on Khampti tribe in Namsai plant species as edible in the world either cultivated or district, Arunachal Pradesh during November 2019 to from wild (Garn and Leonard, 1989; French, 2019). It February 2021. The district is located in between is estimated that, in India about 1,403 species of 184 latitude 27°30' to 27°55'N and longitude 95° 52' to 96° families are consumed as food plants (Ray and 20' E and sharing border with Lohit and Changlang Sreevidya, 2020), while in north east (NE) India is towards the east; Assam to the West; Lohit and around 300 (Deka et al., 2012; Murtem and Chaudhry, Assam towards the North, and the south border 2016). Even after having highest natural plant adjoins Changlang district (Fig.1). The climate is diversity and tribal communities in NE India the figure warm and temperate. The rainfall in summers has of edible plant diversity is merely low and it indicates much more than the winter. The average annual that lots of works need to be done. temperature is 22.8°C. Average annual precipitation is 2728 mm. High quantity of rainfall Arunachal Pradesh is hotspot of natural plant (750-800 mm) is recorded during July-August with a resources and rich in ethnicity as the state is an relative humidity of 80%. Maximum and minimum inhabitance of 28 major tribes (Khongsai et al., 2011). winter temperatures are 25° C and 10° C, respectively. It was also recorded that the edible plants which are found in NE India occur in Arunachal Pradesh (Ray and Sreevidya, 2020; Dutta et al., 2017; Haridasan et al., 1990). A good number of research studies were reported from Arunachal Pradesh at different

65 Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2021). 8(7): 64-80

Fig 1 Location Map of Namsai district, Arunachal Pradesh

Data collection Results

A total of 225 Khampti homesteads form 15 Khampti A major plant species recorded from homesteads of villages were surveyed randomly i.e. Old Mohong, Khampti villages of Namsai district were edible. There New Mohong, Lathao, New Lathao, Sulungtoo, were 106 edible plant species documented from Pathar Gaon, Piyong II, Kherem, Mankao, Marua Khampti homesteads, of which, 59 were cultivated and Camp, Manphaiseng, Manmow, Wagon Pathar, 47 were planted and are presented in Table 1. Planted Jenglai, and Wenko. Randomly selected 15 species are basically domesticated from the wild homesteads of each of the 15 Khampti villages were habitat as they are useful. Apart from that 44 wild visited and objective of the study was clearly species were also recorded from the homesteads of explained to the homesteads owner. Information of Khampti villages and are presented in Table 2. In both edible plant species, parts used as food, mode of use , the tables incorporated information such as their local the associated indigenous knowledge etc were name, family, edible parts, mode of use etc. The collected with the interview by a semi structured survey could record a total of 149 plant species from questionnaire with prior informed consent (PIC) from their homesteads were edible either in raw or cooked the homestead owner. The edible plant species were or in other processed product form (Table 1 & 2). also photographed along with the edible parts. They belongs to 56 plant families (Fig 2.), of which Solanaceae represented with maximum 13 species, The edible plant species of their homesteads were followed by Rutaceae with 10 species, 7 species taxonomically authenticated with the help of standard belong to Cucurbitaceae and Arecaceae; Araceae and Flora of Assam (Kanjilal et al., 1934 – 1940) and Brassicaceae with 6 plant species each; 5 species by Flora of Arunachal Pradesh (Hajra et al., 1996; Giri et Zingiberaceae. Other plant families such as al., 2008; Chowdhery et al., 2009), and Flora of Lower Amaranthaceae, Apiaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Subansiri (Pal, 1993). The accepted scientific names Musaceae, Rosaceae and Rubiaceae were observed to were verified in the website www.theplantlist.org and have 4 edible species each in different Khampti www.plantsoftheworldonline.org. homesteads. Likewise, Anacardiaceae, Asteraceae,

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Clusieaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Myrtaceae Polygonaceae The tender shoots of 21 plant species were recorded as and Piperaceae were 7 plant families found to occur 3 edible by the Khampti tribe, of which two were edible species each in the homesteads of Khampti cultivated in their homesteads i. e. Mentha piperata villages. Importantly, other 11 plant families were and Hibiscus subdarifa. Other 14 were grown found to have 2 edible plant species in the homesteads naturally in homesteads (Table 1&2). Moreover of different Khampti villages i.e. Alliaceae, Raphanus sativus is cultivated to eat root. Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Lauraceae, Oxalidaceae, Passifloraceae, The survey also recorded that seeds of 7 plant species Phyllanthaceae, Rhamnaceae, Sapindaceae, and found in Khampti homesteads were cultivated for Malvaceae. Only single edible plant species were edible purposes (Fig 3). The Khampti are also detected from another 24 plant families i.e. practicing to take rhizome of the plant species as food. Acantaceae, Annonaceae, Bambusaceae, Seven such plant species found in their homesteads Bromeliaceae, Caricaceae, Convolvulaceae, were Alpinia galanga, Colocasia affinis, Colocassia Dilleniaceae, Eleocapaceae, Eleagnaceae, Lythraceae, esculenta, Colocasia antiquorum, Curcuma longa, Melastomataceae, Myricaceae, Moraceae, Homalonema aromatica and Zingiber officinalis. Of Moringaceae, Pedaliaceae, Poaceae, Portulacaceae, which, Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinalis are Saururaceae, Woodsiaceae, Theaceae, Tiliaceae, popular spice among them. Urticaceae ,Verbenaceae and Vitiaceae. There was a variation in parts used within a species or among the Mode of consumption these edible plants as food was edible plant species and are presented in fig 3. More also evaluated during the survey and presented in the than one part of a plant species was also recorded for a table 1 and 2. Accordingly, five plant parts were few edible plant species. Accordingly, bark. consumed after boiling, nine plant species were Cinnamomum zeylenicum was used for preparing recorded to intake as chutney, 77 plant parts/ plants spice. The bark of Glyscosmis pentaphylla was used were taken as cooked vegetables,4 plant were treat Pneumonia and ripe fruit is eaten (Table 2). The consumed after dry; Juice of 7 plants were taken and 1 flower of three plant species i.e. Brassica oleracea plant used as beverage. Apart from that 15 plant parts var.botrytis, Phlogachanthus thyrsiflorus and Sesbania were utilized as pickle, 3 of them are use as medicine, grandiflora were recorded as edible after cooked. seven were as spice and 47 plant species parts were Fruits of 72 plant species were recorded as edible recorded to take as raw (Fig 4). Photographs of few which were grown in their homesteads of which 22 plants species and market product of Khampti were taken when ripped. The other fruit were recorded homesteads of Namsai district presented in Fig 5. to take either in raw or after cooked. Likewise 6 plant species were recorded as edible their leaves (Table 1 & 2).

Apart from leaves entire plant of 21 herb species were recorded as edible. They are Alternanthera sessilis, Amaranthus hybridus, Brassica juncea, Brassica napus, Brassica olracea var capitata, Brassica pekinensis, Celosia argentea, Centella asiatica, Chenopodium album, Coriandrum sativum, Drymaria cordata, Ecliptica prostrata, Eryngium foetidum, Hedyotis scandens, Houttuynia cordata, Hydrocotyl sibthorpioides, Malva verticiliata, Oxalis corniculata, Rumex vasicarius, Spinacia oleracea and Stellaria media. Of which, Amaranthus hybridus, Brassica juncea, Brassica napus, Brassica olracea var capitata, Brassica pekinensis, Coriandrum sativum, Malva verticiliata, Rumex vasicarius and Spinacia oleracea were recorded as cultivated vegetables in their homesteads and the others are wild herb and come naturally in their growing season.

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Table 1 Planted/Cultivated edible plant species recorded in the homesteads of Khampti villages of Namsai district, Arunachal Pradesh

Species Name & Khampti Time of part Sl No Habit/ Habitat Mode of use Family Local name availability used

Aegle marmelos (L.) Bel April to 1 Tree/ planted Ripe fruit Raw Corrêa (Rutaceae) May Alium cepa L. Raw/ cooked as 2 Plumuh/Piaj Nov.-Dec. Herb/ cultivated Tuber (Alliaceae) vegetable Allium sativum L. Plosing Raw/ Cooked 3 Nov.-Dec. Herb/ cultivated Tuber ( Alliaceae) /Naharu as vegetable Alocasia macrorrhizos Panam mon/ Sept to Leaves / 4 Herb/cultivated Cooked /boiled (L) Schott.( Araceae) Bor man Kasu January corm Amomum subulatum September- 5 Bor Elachi Herb/cultivated Seed Spice Roxb. (Zingiberaceae) October. Amaranthus hybridus L. Pu-hom lung/ March to Whole Cooked as 6 Herb/ cultivated (Amaranthaceae) Morisa sag August plant vegetable Ananus comosus (L.) May- Ripe 7 Mati kathal Herb/ cultivated Raw Merr. (Bromeliaceae) August. Fruit Andrographis Hirota Whole 8 paniculata Wall.ex. September Herb/ cultivated Medicinal /Kalmegh plant Nees (Acanthaceae) September Annona squamosa L. King hom/ Ripe 9 to Tree/ planted Raw (Annonaceae) Atlos Fruit Novembe Areca catechu L. Mak mow/ June 10 – Tree/ planted Fruit Raw (Arecaceae) Tamul December Artocarpus heterophylla Maalang/ July- 11 Tree/ planted Ripe friut Raw Lamk (Moraceae) Kothal August Averrhoa carambola L. Me phung/ June to Ripe 12 Tree/ planted Raw (Oxalidaceae) Kordoi February Fruit Baccaurea ramiflora Ma phai/ July to Ripe 13 Tree/ planted Raw Lour. (Euphorbiaceae) Leteku August Fruit Benincasa hispida August to climber/ Cooked as 14 (Thunb.) Cog. Kumura Fruit November cultivated vegetable (Cucurbitaceae) Leaves are Brassica juncea(L.) Herb / 15 Hariuh/ Sarioh November Leaves cooked as Czern. (Brassicaceae) cultivated vegetable Brassica napus L. Khow hariuh/ Cooked as 16 November Herb/ cultivated Plant (Brassicaceae) Boga sariah vegetable Brassica oleracea November- Cooked as 17 var.botrytis Phul kobi Herb/ cultivated Flower February vegetable (Brassicaceae) Brassica olracea var November- Cooked as 18 Bondha Kobi Herb/ cultivated Plant capitata (Brassicaceae) March vegetable

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Brassica pekinensis Pakkat/ November- Cooked as 19 (Lour.) Rupr. Pa kag/ Herb/ cultivated Plant February vegetable (Brassicaceae) Lai Sag Camellia sinensis (L.) Toon neng/ Tender Leaf extract used 20 Whole year Shrub/ planted Kuntze(Theaceae) Sah leaves as beverage Capsicum annum L. 21 Me fit/Jalokia Whole year Herb/ cultivated Fruit Raw/ cooked (Solanaceae) Capsicum chinensis Me fit- kong/ 22 Whole year Herb/ cultivated Fruit Raw /cooked Jacq. (Solanaceae) Bhut jalokia Capsicum fructescens Me fit khow/ 23 Whole year Herb/ cultivated Fruit Raw / cooked L. (Solanaceae) Boga jolokia Mak saan Carica papaya L. small tree/ 24 phow/ Whole year Fruit Raw /cooked (Caricaceae) cultivated Amita Cinnamomum May and small tree/ 25 zeylenicum Br. Dalcheni again in Bark Spice planted (Lauraceae) November Citrus limon (L.) Hattal/ July- Raw/pickle / 26 Shrub/ planted Fruit Osbeck (Rutaceae) Kaghzi-nemu September juice Citrus maxima (Burm) Mak lung/ November- 27 Shrub/ planted Fruit Raw juice Meer (Rutaceae) Bortenga January. Citrus medica L. Mak sa neng/ November- 28 Shrub/ planted Fruit Raw juice (Rutaceae) Robab Tenga January. Mak mighi/ Citrus reticulata Blanco November- 29 Komolatenga Shrub/ planted Fruit Raw/ juice (Rutaceae) January. (1) Citrus x sinensis (L.) Mingi/ November- 30 Shrub/ planted Fruit Raw/ juice Osbeck (Rutaceae) Komolatenga January. Cocos nucifera L. Mowon/ 31 Whole year Tree/ planted Fruit Raw (Arecaceae) Narikol Colocasia affinis Schot. November- Cooked as 32 pi pok Herb/ cultivated Tuber (Araceae) January vegetable Colocassia esculenta Phewk/ November- Herb/ Cooked as 33 Tuber (L.) Schott (Araceae) Kala-kochu December cultivated vegetable pi Corchorus olitorius L. Tender Cooked as 34 seng/Chbang April- May Herb/ cultivated (Tiliaceae) plant vegetable /Mora pat

Coriandrum sativum L. January- plant/ Chutney 35 Pi ki/ Dhania Herb/ cultivated (Apiaceae) February seed /Cooked

Chutney/ Cucumis sativis Linn. Climber/ 36 Teng/Tianh Whole year Fruit cooked as (Cucurbitaceae) cultivated vegetable

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Cucurbita pepo L. Ma pak kham/ August - climber/ Cooked as 37 Fruit ( Cucurbitaceae) Rongalau December cultivated vegetable Curcuma longa L. Khow main/ December- 38 Herb/ cultivated Rhizome Spice (Zingiberaceae) Halodhi January Dendrocalamus April to 39 hamiltonii Kako Banh Cultivated Rhizome Cooked/pickle June (Bambusaceae) Dillenia indica L. Makchan/Ou- 40 July- Feb Tree/ planted Fruit Cooked/pickle (Dilleniaceae) tenga Kuan mung/ Dioscorea pentaphylla Climber/ Boiled as 41 Panchpotia Dec-Jan Tuber L. (Dioscoreaceae) cultivated vegetable Alu Dioscoria alata L. Malang/Kath climber/ Boiled as 42 December Tuber (Dioscoreaceae) alu cultivated vegetable Dimocarpus longan Lou Small tree/ 43 r. Nagalitchu July- Oct. Fruits Raw planted (Sapindaceae) Elaeis guineensis Jacq. June- Ripe fruit eaten 44 Plam oil Tree/ exotic Fruit (Arecaceae) August raw Elaeocarpus floribundus August to 45 Blume. Jalphai Tree/ planted Fruit Raw / pickle October. (Elaeocarpaceae) Eleagnus latifolia L. Mu lot August to Climbing 46 Fruit Pickle (Eleagnaceae) Mirika Tenga October. Shrub/planted Emblica officinalis L, August to 47 Amlokhi tree/planted Fruit Raw /pickle (Euphorbiaceae) October. Garcinia cowa Roxb. July- 48 Kuji thekera Tree /planted Fruit Pickle/ dry (Clusieaceae) September Garcinia lanceifolia Rupohi July- 49 Shrub/planted Fruit Chutney/ pickle Roxb. (Clusieaceae) Thekera September Garcinia pendunculata Mannang April to Chutney/ pickle/ 50 Roxb. ex Buch._ Ham Tree/ planted Fruit Bor thekera August dry (Clusieaceae) Hibiscus subdarifa L. April to Tender Cooked as 51 Tenga mora Herb/cultivated (Malvaceae) August shoot vegetable Houttuynia cordata Punkyo/ whole Cooked as 52 Whole year Herb/cultivated Thunb. Saururaceae Masandari plant vegetable Ipomoea batatas (L.) June- climber/ Cooked as 53 Lamk. Mitha alu tuber January cultivated vegetable (Convolvulaceae) Lagenaria siceraria Throughou Climber/cultivat Cooked as 54 (Molina) Standl. Jatilau fruit t the year ed vegetable (Cucurbitaceae) Livistona jenkinsiana Tongko/ Dec- 55 Tree/ planted/En Nut Raw Griff. (Arecaceae) Tokow January

Litchi chinensis Sonn. May and 56 Lichu Tree/ planted Ripe fruit Raw (Sapindaceae) June.

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Luffa cylindrica June to Climber/ Cooked as 57 M.Roem. Jika Fruit October cultivated vegetable (Cucurbitaceae) Lycopersicon esculenta October- 58 Bor bilahi Herb/ cultivated Fruit Raw /cooked L. (Solanaceae) February Lycopersicum October- 59 pimpinifolium (L.)Mill Konbilahi Herb/ cultivated Fruit cooked February (Solanaceae) Magnifera indica L. Momung/ June- Ripe 60 Tree/ planted Raw (Anacardiaceae) Aam August Fruit Malva verticiliata L. October- Herb/ Whole Cooked as 61 Lofa saag (Malvaceae) February cultivated plant vegetable Manihot esculenta October- Shrub/ Cooked as 62 Crantz. Simolu Alu Tuber February cultivated vegetable (Euphorbiaceae) Mentha piperata Linn Piche hun/ March to Herb/ Tender 63 Chutney (Lamiaceae) Pudina August cultivated shoot Makhaie Momordica charantia March to climber/ Cooked as 64 Khum/ Tita Fruit Linn. (Cucurbitaceae) August cultivated vegetable kerela Moringa oleifera Lam. February Cooked as 65 Sajina Tree/ planted Pod (Moringaceae) to May vegetable Musa acuminata Colla. Koi/ Whole Ripe 66 Tree/ cultivated Raw (Musaceae) Mem-Jatikol year Fruit Musa balbisiana Colla. Whole Ripe 67 Bhim kol Tree/ planted Raw (Musaceae) year Fruit Musa cavendish Lamb. Whole Ripe 68 Jahaji Tree/ planted Raw (Musaceae) year Fruit Musa paradisiaca L. Koi athia/ Whole Ripe Cooked as 69 Tree/ planted (Musaceae) Kach kol year Fruit vegetable Myrica esculenta Ham. September Ripe 70 Noga tenga Tree/ planted Pickle/ raw (Myricaceae) -October. Fruit Passiflora edulis Sims. September climber/ 71 Rasna Fruit Fruit Juice (Passifloraceae) -October. cultivated Passiflora May to climber/ Cooked as quadrangularis. L. Lota bel Fruit 72 November cultivated vegetable (Passifloraceae) Phaseolus vulgaris L. Tho nin/ climber/ 73 December Seed Raw /cooked ( Fabaceae) Mati mah cultivated Phlogachanthus Mochomkhum May to Climber/ Cooked as 74 thyrsiflorus Nees. / Flower Auguest planted vegetable (Rubiaceae) Titaphul Phoenix dactylifera L. June or 75 Khejur Tree/ planted Fruit Raw (Arecaceae) early July. Pogostemon Ya kin phit Whole Herb/ planted/ Tender Cooked as 76 benghalensis (Burm. f.) /Suklati year escapices shoot vegetable O. Kuntze (Lamiaceae) Polygonum pangianum (G.D.Pal & Whole Tender 77 -- Herb/ planted Spice Maiti)R.C.Srivast. year shoot (Polygonaceae)

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Phyllanthus embilica L. Makhaam/ October- 78 Tree/ planted Fruit Raw/ pickle/ dry (Phyllanthaceae) Amlokhi November

Phyllantus acidus (L.) October- 79 Skeels. Por Amlokhi Tree/ planted Fruit Raw/ pickle November (Phyllanthaceae)

Piper betel L. climber/ 80 Pan Whole year Leaves Raw Piperaceae cultivated Piper nigrum L. Imphitlom November climber/ 81 Seed Spice (Piperaceae) Jaluk to February cultivated Pisum sativum L. Mantaka/ May to Climber/cultivat 82 Seed Raw (Fabaceae) Motormah August ed Prunica granatum L. April- 83 Dalim Shrub/planted Fruit Raw (Lythraceae) September Prunus persica (L.) October- small 84 Nara Bogori Fruit Raw Batsch Rosaceae November tree/planted Psidium guajava L. Mantaka/ November- Tender Cooked as 85 Tree/ cultivated (Myrtaceae) Modhuri December shoot vegetable Pyrus communis L. October- Ripe 86 Naspoti(1) Tree/ planted Raw (Rosaceae) November Fruit Pyrus pyriflora (Burm.) October- 87 Nak. Naspoti (2) Tree/planted Fruit Raw November (Rosaceae) Raphanus sativus Raw chutney/ November 88 (L.)Domin Mula Herb/ cultivated Root cooked as to January (Brassicaceae) vegetable Rumex vasicarius L. November Whole Cooked as 89 Suka sag Herb/ cultivated (Polygonaceae) -January plant vegetable Saccharum officinarum Oei/ November Whole 90 Herb/ cultivated Juice/ Molasses L. (Poaceae) Kuhiyar to January plant Seasamum indicum L 91 Till December Herb / cultivated Seed Spice (Pedaliaceae) Sesbania grandiflora November Cooked as 92 Bog phul Shrub/ planted Flower (L.) Poir. (Fabaceae) to February vegetable Solanum intregrifolium garden egg February to Cooked as 94 Herb/ cultivated Fruit L (Solanaceae) plant July vegetable Solanum lycopersicumL. November Cooked as 95 Bilahi Herb / cultivated Fruit (Solanaceae) to February vegetable Solanum melongena L. Makhw/ February to Cooked as 96 Herb/ cultivated Fruit (Solanaceae) Bengena July vegetable

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Solanum tuberosum L. December - Cooked as 97 Mangkla/ Alu Herb/ cultivated Tuber (Solanaceae) January vegetable Spinacia oleracea L. December Whole 98 Paleng Herb/ cultivated Chutney/ cooked (Chenopodiaceae) to February plant Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Mokog August 99 – Tree/ planted Fruit Pickle/ raw Kurz (Anacardiaceae) Amora September Syzygium cumini (L.) Jamuk 100 June- July Tree /planted Ripe Fruit Raw Skeels. (Myrtaceae) Kolajamu Syzygium jambos (L.) small tree/ 101 Golapi Jamun May- June Ripe Fruit Raw Alston (Myrtaceae) planted Tamarindus indica L. Mekeng March- 102 Tree/ planted Ripe fruit Raw ( Fabaceae) Teteli April Zanthoxylum armatum Mekat 103 Whole year Shrub / planted Leaves Spice/ chutney DC. (Rutaceae) Masala pat Zingiber officinalis Hing/Khing Dec- 105 Herb/ cultivated Rhizome Spice Roscoe. (Zingiberaceae) Ada January Zizyphus mauritiana Mokho Nov- small tree/ 106 Ripe Fruit Raw Lam. (Rhamnaceae) Apple Bogori January cultivated

Table 2 Wild edible plant species recorded in the homesteads of Khampti villages of Namsai district, Arunachal Pradesh

Species Name & Khampti Time of Sl No Habit/ Habitat part used Mode of use Family Local name availability Alpinia galanga ( L.) King Pang/ Cooked as 1 Willd. Khing pang/ Oct. to March Herb/ wild Rhizome vegetable ( Zingiberaceae) Gandha Tota Alpinia nigra (Gaertn.) Monhioo/ tender Cooked as 2 B.L.Burtt Oct. to March Herb/wild Tora gajali shoot vegetable (Zingiberaceae) Alternanthera sessilis Yachnung/ March to Whole Cooked as 3 (L). RBr. Ex DC Herb/ wild Mati kaduri October plant vegetable (Amaranthaceae) Alternanthera aquatica Tender Cooked as 4 ( Parodi) Chodat. Leheti sak March- June Herb/ Wild shoot vegetable (Amaranthaceae) Amaranthus spinosus Po hom nam/ Tender Cooked as 5 March- Oct Herb/wild L. (Amaranthaceae) Hati Khutora shoot vegetable Blumea lanceolaria (Wall. ex Roxb.) Tender Cooked as 6 Yanang Whole year Herb/wild Druce. plant vegetable (Asteraceae) Caryota urens L. Kunhang/ 7 Dec- Feb Tree/ wild Fruit Raw (Arecaceae) Sewa Tamul

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Centella asiatica (L.) Panang lung Whole Cooked as 8 March - Sept Herb/wild Urb. (Apiaceae) Bor-manimuni plant vegetable Chenopodium album Puku/ Polom Tender Cooked as 9 Dec - March Herb/ wild L. (Chenopodiaceae) Jilmilsak shoot vegetable Clerodendron Patak khai /Helle Tender Cooked as 10 colebrookianum March- Oct Shurb/ wild Yasak/ Nefafu shoot vegetable Walp . (Verbenaceae) Coccinea grandis (L) Lok khoi kang Cooked as 11 Voight. Mar- Sept. Climber/ wild Fruit wan/ Belipoka vegetable (Cucurbitaceae) Colocasia antiquorum Mon-lai/ Cooked as 12 Schott Feb to Sept Herb/ wild Stem Adolia Kosu vegetable Melet(Araceae) Diplazium esculentum Pu kut Tender Cooked as 13 (Retz.) Sw. April- Nov. Herb/ wild Dhekia shoot vegetable (Woodsiaceae) Drymaria cordata Cooked as Whole 14 (L.) Willd. Ex Schult Laijabori March - Oct Herb/ wild vegetable/ plant (Caryophyllaceae) medicine Ecliptica prostrata L. Tender Cooked as 15 Kanraj /Kehraj March - Sept herb/wild (Asteraceae) plant vegetable Eryngium foetidum L. 16 Man dhania March - Sept Herb/ wild Plant Chutney (Apiaceae) Glyscosmis Chauldhuwa Bark/Ripe Medicine/ 17 pentaphylla (Retz.) July August Shrub/wild Hengena poka – fruits Raw DC (Rutaceae) Hedyotis scandens Kanjaua/ Cooked as 18 April to Sept Herb/wild whole plant Roxb. (Rubiaceae) Bonjaluk vegetable Homalonema Suanpa/ Gandha Cooked as 19 aromatica Roxb. Entire year Herb/wild Rhizome kosu vegetable (Araceae) Hedyotis scandens Kanjaua Whole Cooked as 20 Entire year Herb/wild Roxb. (Rubiaceae) /Bonjaluk plant vegetable Hydrocotyl Panang on/ 21 sibthorpioides Lam. Entire year Herb/wild whole plant Cooked Saru manimuni (Apiaceae) Lasia spinosa L. Tender Cooked as 22 Sengmora Entire year Herb/ wild (Araceae) shoot vegetable Leucas aspera Dulon bon/ Tender 23 (Willd.) Link . Entire year Herb/ wild Cooked Durun shoot (Lamiaceae) Litsea cubeba (Lour). Rukmeer/ 24 April to July Tree / wild Fruit Cooked Pers. (Lauraceae) Mejankori Mangifera sylvetica L Momung/ Bon 25 April to July Tree/ wild/ En Ripe Fruit Raw (Anacardiaceae) Aam Melastoma Mohapatta Throughout the 26 malabathricum L. Shrub / wild Ripe Fruit Raw Phutuka year (Melastomataceae) Murraya koenigii (L.) Hom/ 27 Sprenge Whole year Shrub/ wild Leaf Chutney Narasingha (Rutaceae) Oxalis corniculata L. Yasompi/ 28 Whole year Herb/ wild whole plant Cooked (Oxalidaceae) Tengesi 74 Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2021). 8(7): 64-80

Paederia foetida L. Sankar/ 29 Whole year Climber/ wild Leaves Cooked (Rubiaceae) Bhedai lota Perilla frustescens Herb/cultiv Nga khaw/ Naga 30 (L.)Britt Whole year Lamiaceae ated/ Machala (Lamiaceae) escapist Physalis minima L. 31 Pokmou April to Aug. Herb/ wild Fruit Raw/ cooked (Solanaceae) Pinanga gracilis Bl. September- 32 Gerugatamul Shrub/ wild Fruit Raw (Arecaceae) October Piper mullesua D. Imphitlom thon/ 33 Whole year Climber/ wild Spike Raw / spice Don (Piperaceae) Pipoli Yayinu/ Portulaca oleracea Whole Cooked as 34 Malbhug Sept to June herb/wild L. (Portulacaceae) plant vegetable Khutara Rubus ellipticus Sm. February and Eaten ripe 35 Jetulipoka Climber/ wild Fruit (Rosaceae) April. fruit Sarcochlamys Bon-tejpat, 36 pulcherrima (Roxb.) Whole year Shrub/Wild Leaves Cooked Mesaki Gaud. Solanum Miyangkom/ 37 aculeatissimum Jacq. May to sept Herb/ wild Fruit Cooked Tita bekuri ( Solanaceae) Solanum 38 myriacanthum Kutahi-benegna May to sept Herb/ wild Fruit Cooked Dunal. ( Solanaceae) Solanum nigrum Hor/ 39 Linn. March to Nov. Herb/ wild Fruit Raw Rambengena (Solanaceae) Stellaria media Whole 40 (Linn.) Vill. Morolia sak April to Oct. Herb/ wild Cooked plant (Caryophyllaceae) Tetrastigma Tender Cooked as 41 thomsonianum Nol- tenga Whole year Climber/ wild shoot vegetable Planch (Vitaceae) Xanthium December- Tender Cooked as 42 strumarium Linn Agora Herb/Wild February plant vegetable Asteraceae Zanthoxyllum Tender Cooked as 43 oxyphyllum Edgew. Mezenga Whole year Climber/ wild shoot vegetable (Rutaceae) small tree/ Zizyphus oenoplia L. Mokho on 44 Nov- Dec wild/ Ripe Fruit Raw (Rhamnaceae) Bogori cultivated

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Fig.2 Number of edible plant species and their plant families

Fig.3 Number of different parts of edible plant species consumed by Khampti tribe

Fig.4 Different mode of consumption edible plant by Khampti tribe

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Fig 5 A few edible plant species of homesteads of Khampti tribes, Namsai district Arunachal Pradesh (A) Piper betel; (B) Melastoma malabathricum ; (C) Clerodendron colebrookianum; (D) Eryngium foetidum ;(E) Phlogachanthus thyrsiflorus; (F) Murraya koenigii ; (G) Annona squamosa; (H) Sarcochlamys pulcherrima ; (I) Eleagnus latifolia ; ( J) Dillenia indica ; (K) Alocasia macrorrhizos ; (L) Sesbania grandiflora; (M) Manihot esculenta ; (N) Alternanthera aquatica ; (O) Homalonema aromatic; (P) Garcinia lanceifolia ; (Q) Pinanga gracilis; (R) Glyscosmis pentaphylla; (S) Blumea lanceolaria; (T) Bamboo shoots (Right), Cane shoots (Middle) Dillenia indica fruits (Left) sold in local market (U) Tender shoot of Zanthoxyllum oxyphyllum sold in local market.

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Discussion Conflict of interest: There is no room for conflict The Khampti homesteads were also multi-story plant of interest among the authors. composition herb, shrub and trees of agriculture, forestry and food production systems to mitigate Acknowledgments social, cultural and economic requirements. They have been played as a key food source to manage Authors are really indebted to the National malnutrition, hunger and livelihoods. Similar Mission on Himalayan Studies, G.B. Pant National observations were also reported from Sri Lanka Institute of Himalayan Environment and (Dilrukshi et al., 2013) and a few case studies from Sustainable Development, Ministry of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (Johnson- Environment and Forests & Climate Change Govt. Welch, 2000). Although, more than a dozen of of India for financial support to conduct of this research literatures described the status of wild edible research work. The authors are grateful to the plants (WEP) used by the tribal communities in Director of Rain forest Research Institute for his Arunachal Pradesh (Angami, et al., 2006; Gajurel and permission and valuable guidance. The Group Doni, 2020; Haridasan et al., 1990; Namsa, et al., Coordinator (Research) and Head, Chemistry and 2011) but none of them were found to emphasize the Bioprospecting Division, RFRI Jorhat also provided importance of homesteads/ home gardens as a safe lots of valuable cooperation to carry out the works and shelter of many wild plant species as well as cultivated is remembered gratefully. crops. The study could document 45 planted species which are domesticated by the Khampti tribes in their References homesteads from the wild habitat by planting them 1. Angami, A., P. R. Gajurel, P. Rethy, B. Singh with time as a source of food yielding plants. It was and Kalita, S. K. 2006. Status and potential of also found that most of them are planted for edible wild edible plants of Arunachal Pradesh. Indian fruits and vegetables. In addition to these planted Journal of Traditional Knowledge., 5(4):541- species the Khampti tribe has shown to conserve 60 550. cultivated plant species of which, majority were local 2. Bortolotto, I. M., Maria Christina de Mello varieties except a few commercial crops. Hazarika et Amorozo, G.G. Neto, J. Oldeland, and Geraldo al (2014) studied on homesteads of four communities Alves Damasceno-Jr, 2015. Knowledge and use of Assam and described as people choice biodiversity of wild edible plants in rural communities along conservation sites of useful plants domestication from Paraguay River, Pantanal, Brazil. Journal of the wild with time and need. Indeed, homesteads of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 11:46 DOI Khampti villages are playing a vital role conserving 10.1186/s13002-015-0026-2. over a 44 numbers of wild edible plant species. As a 3. Chowdhery, H.J., G.S. Giri, G.D. Pal, A. whole homestead gardens of this tribe may be a Pramanik and Das, S.K. 2009.Materials for the potential landmass for household and community level Flora of Arunachal Pradesh, Flora of India, food security and habitat for considerable number of Series 2, Vol. 3. Hydrocharitaceae-Poaceae, edible plant species. The study also observed that the Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, India, 349 soil fertility management systems of Khampti p. homesteads were unique and managed through animal 4. Dutta, D., Protul Hazarika and Hazarika, P. manure and organic residues, no chemical fertilizers 2017. Wild edible plant species in patch and pesticides were reported to use so far. The study vegetations of Jorhat district, Assam, India. Int. has given new interpretation about the importance of Res. J. Biological Sci. 6(3):14-26. home gardens as community choice conservation of 5. Deka, B. C., A. Thirugnanavel, R. K. Patel, plant species and also no prior work on documentation Amit Nath and Deshmukh, N. 2012. has been carried out for edible plant species at Horticultural diversity in North-East India and community level in homesteads. Documentation of its improvement for value addition. Indian J. edible plant species of Khampti tribe could help for Genet., 72(2):157-167. planning future research on biodiversity conservation 6. Dilrukshi H. G., F. Russell and Karim, M. M. in general and food security at community level. 2013. Home gardens: a promising approach to Authors are hopeful the work could contribute in enhance household food security and wellbeing. future research planning for promotion of livelihood, Agriculture & Food Security., 2:8 adopt technology for production/ value addition skills http://www.agricultureandfoodsecurity.com/con depending upon demand and resource availability. tent/2/1/8 78 Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2021). 8(7): 64-80

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How to cite this article: Prosanta Hazarika, Clerissa Handique and Protul Hazarika. (2021). Documentation of Edible Plants in Homesteads of Khampti Tribe, Namsai District, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. 8(7): 64-80. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22192/ijarbs.2021.08.07.008

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