Documentation of Edible Flowers of Western Assam Kishor Deka* and Namita Nath

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Original Article Documentation of Edible Flowers of Western Assam Kishor Deka* and Namita Nath

Department of Botany, Goalpara College, Goalpara-783101, Assam, India

ABSTRACT Background: Western Assam are located at the extreme western

part of Assam it extends from 89049/20// E to 91048/16// longitude and 0 / 0 // 25 27 N to 26 54 latitude covering the lower Brahmaputra valley. Western Assam is very unique in its bio resources and is inhibited by different Tribes and Communities. The people of this region use various plant items including leaves and tender shoot, flowers of some species which are often seen to be consumed in different forms like fried, curry form or even eaten raw. Besides using edible items these flowers are also used sometimes as a medicine for curing various diseases. Some of these flowers are also seen to be sold in local markets of various parts of Western Assam including Guwahati city for their high demand. Most of these flowers also eaten all over North East India by different tribes. Objectives: The objective of the present study is to document the plant species used by various communities of Western Assam as an edible flower. This work is very significant because documenting the

indigenous knowledge through ethno-botanical studies are necessary for conservation of biological resources as well as their sustainable utilization. Method: In the study data was collected by field visit in various remote villages and by visiting the local markets of Western Assam. The present research work was conducted during the year on January 2012- June 2014. The present study provides information on their Address for scientific name, family, vernacular name, habit, biological status, Correspondence time of flowering, mode of preparation, medicinal properties and as well as market value. Department of Result and conclusion: A total of 35 species of 31 genera belonging Botany, Goalpara to 23 families of edible flowers have been recorded from the study College, Goalpara- area. There is enormous potential for the use of such edible flowers 783101, Assam, India. which bear specific medicinal properties for which there is E-mail: dekakishor300 tremendous demand even in global level. @gmail.com Keywords: Western Assam, Edible flowers, Tribes, Potentiality.

American Journal of Phytomedicine and Clinical Therapeutics www.ajpct.org Deka et al______ISSN 2321 – 2748

INTRODUCTION Western Assam is rich in floristic the study area. The tribal people of this composition and diverged in its vegetation region commonly use some of the wild types. The land and the climatic conditions flowers in their regular dish. They consume of the state are suitable for propagation, these edible flowers after boiling or frying, growth as well as survival of numerous plant preparing curry or as raw. Various flowers, species in the region9. Being a part of the of course, are consumed following various state of Assam the Assam Western region is processes which vary according to the floral also suitable for the growth and survival of species as well as the tribes and various species. Due to its unique communities who use the items. Some of the geographic location Western Assam is rich flowers like flowers of Papaya (Carica in floristic diversity and one of the largest papaya), Gumhar (Gmelina arboria), Ram reservoirs of wild edible plants. Wild food basak (Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis) Pulutus plants are important in many indigenous (Dendrocnide sinuate) Malabar nut (Justicia communities around the world14,16. A large adhatoda), Midnight horror (Oroxylum number of wild plants are used by various indicum), Night jasmine (Nyctanthus tribes of this region from time immemorial. arbortristis) is eaten as curry with rice flour. The objective of the present study is Sometimes flowers are cooked applying the to document the plant species used by traditional alkali (locally known as kol Khar, various communities of Western Assam as kola Khar or simply Khar) which is prepared an edible flower. In this paper an attempt by burning the rhizome of banana and has been made to document all the aspects collecting his liquid extract after soaking the regarding their scientific name, family, local ash in water. Most of the cases of course the name, habit, biological status, time of floral recipe are prepared along with small flowering, mode of preparation, medicinal fish or with dry fish. This is a traditional properties and as well as market value. This dish which is very popular not only in the work is very significant because study area, but more or less in the whole documenting the indigenous knowledge parts of the state of Assam. Floral items through ethno-botanical studies are used in such preparation are the species of necessary for conservation of biological Papaya (Carica papaya) Wild nongmangkha resources as well as their sustainable (Phlogacanthus Curviflorus), Kanakachu utilization. (Lasia spinosa) Arum (Alocasia Western Assam is the diversified acuminateare). region of several tribes and communities Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata), where these communities live in unity. Their Crape jasmine (Tabernaemontana daily life is most commonly influenced by divaricata), Indian shot (Canna indica), the forests as well as agricultural activities flower of the Camels foot tree (Bauhinia where they are closely linked with the spp.), Agathi (Sesbania grandiflora) are nature. Traditional health care practices are eaten as Pokora (locally called bor). very common among the different tribes and Flowers of Oval-leafed pond weed communities of this region for human (Monochoria hastate) and Drum stick welfare. Assam is known for its rich flora (Moringa oleifera) is eaten after frying with and diverse forests and vegetation due to its egg. Apart from traditional medicinal and unique topography, climate and altitude nutritional uses there are several reports on patterns9. Several wild edible plants and the biological and physiological activities of their various parts are eaten by the tribes of Moringa oleifera. These include

AJPCT[2][10][2014]1124-1140 Deka et al______ISSN 2321 – 2748 hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic malaria, jaundice, as well as it bears the effects3,6,11 anti-inflammatory and anti- property to control the most dangerous helmic, analgesic, dyspepsia and in the cancer. Flower of Drum stick (Moringa management of heart diseases, and ulcers12. oleifera), Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata), Drum stick plant resembles a leguminous Arrow leaved Oval-leafed pond weed species when flowering1. Flower of Water (Monochoria hastata) are energy giving lily (Nymphaea spp.) is commonly used items. Flowers of common Arum (Alocasia after frying, which are believed to be acuminate) and Kanakachu (Lasia spinosa) effective against anaemia. Based on our are the source of calcium. So these are observation during the survey these items effective for bone development and are frequently prescribed to the girl child or prescribed to women particularly during to the women suffering from anaemia. pregnancy. It is very significant that the flowers The western Assam, part is located at are not only eaten for their delicacy, but also the extreme western part of Assam it sometime they bear some specific medicinal extends from 89049/20// E to 91048/16// properties. Most of the edible flowers are longitude and 25027/ N to260 54// latitude bitter in taste (eg. Flower of night jasmine, covering lower Brahmaputra valley10. The Phlogacanthus spp. etc.) And these are different ethnic groups of western Assam are commonly prescribed to prevent stomach Bodo, Rabha, Garo, Hajong, Modahi, problems like indigestion, loss of appetite, Sarania Kochari, Koch rajbongshi etc, which jaundice, liver disorder, cold and cough, are of Indo Mongoloid stock of race. Other diabetes, sore throat etc8. inhabitants of the region are Kalita, Floral spadix of Musa spp. are very Brahmin, Kayastha, Bengali, Santali etc. rich in iron content so, this enhances to Agriculture is the main livelihood of the increase haemoglobin of blood as well as it local people. helps to dry up cut portion or burnt portion of patients. A typical spicy, delicious recipe MATERIALS AND METHOD of Musa spadix along with the meat of pigeon is a very common preparation among In the study primary data were different tribes and communities of Assam. collected by using a typical questionnaire in This recipe is very effective against low various localities of Western Assam. In the pressure, fever, cold and cough8. Banana field for the collection of data household hearts are used in South Asian and Southeast survey as well as market survey was done Asian cuisine, either raw or steamed with extensively by a frequent visit in different dips or cooked in soups and curries5. Flower seasons of the year. of Cassia siamea of the family Caesalpiniaceae also used as a vegetable in Household survey the study area. Not only this species, but the A survey has been done to use of various species of Cassia in different document the edible flowers. Household countries in different manner would create survey was conducted in different villages of attention about the plant for their the study area in order to assess local pharmacological, traditional and medicinal depending on selected wild edible flowers values15. Flower of Midnight horror during the period of January 2012- June (Oroxylum indicum) is most commonly 2014. The survey inquired about the local eaten by almost all tribes of Western Assam names of the plants, mode of preparation because of its active property to control and all other aspects incorporated with the objectives of our study. Ethno-botanical

AJPCT[2][10][2014]1124-1140 Deka et al______ISSN 2321 – 2748 studies were carried out using standard Nymphaeaceae, Araceae, Urticaceae, methods13. Herbariums was prepared from Zingiberaceae, Cucurbitaceae with two the specimens collected by following the species each. All other 14 families are standard herbarium method7. Then they having one species, each of which flowers were identified following some literature are edible. These families are Caricaceae, and were confirmed by comparing them Anacardiaceae, Verbenaceae, Pipilionaceae, with the herbarium of BSI (Shillong) and Moringaceae, Bignoniaceae, Oliaceae, Central National Herbarium (Kolkata). The Bombacaceae, Dilleniaceae, Agavaceae, specimens were submitted to the herbarium Memecylaceae, Cannaceae, Malvaceae and of department of Botany– Goalpara College Apocynaceae. Most of these floral species (Assam). are bearing tremendous medicinal properties. Besides being rich sources of Market survey nutrients, vitamins, minerals these edible Market survey was also conducted in flowers can substitute vegetables, all the districts of Western Assam, including particularly at the time of scarcity. The daily Baksa, Nalbari, Goalpara, Barpeta, consumption of wild products contributes to Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Chirang and overall nutritional well being of tribes2. western part of Kamrup district. Surveys These flowers are consumed cooked or fried were conducted in different times of the year and these preparations also help to 2012-2014 in the weekly markets of the compensate the day to day calorie greater study area. This was done to identify requirements. wild flowers which are seasonally available In the table-1 there is the in the markets. Data collected about plants enumeration of recorded species which included Vernacular name, mode of includes botanical name, family, vernacular preparation and market rate of the edible name, habit, biological status, time of flowers is recorded and verified carefully flowering and useful part of the flower. The from vegetable vendors of market by the table-2 is incorporated with all other assistance of local knowledgeable information regarding market rates, mode of informants. From the study it was observed preparation and medicinal properties. that the market rates were varying from It is observed that most of the market to market, as far as various districts flowers are eaten fresh just after collecting are concerned. Photographs were also taken from the fields. Of course in some cases for some specimens. Ultimately, data were dried flowers are also used. In these cases analyzed from information collected from the flowers can be consumed in off season different fields. also. Mention may be made of flowers of the species of Gmelina arboria, Phlogacanthus RESULT AND DISCUSSION thyrsiformis, Phlogacanthus curviflorus, Justicia adhatoda and Nyctanthus In the present study flowers of 35 arbortristis. These flowers can be eaten both species of 31 genera belonging to 23 freshers as well as in sun dried form. It is families are found to be used as edible observed that as traditional practice the items. It was observed that the flowers of the collected, dried flowers are preserved in a family Caesalpinaceae are having the bamboo container for further use. This highest number of edible flower species that practice is having scientific reason that is to is four species. This family is followed by prevent fungal infection of the preserved Acanthaceae which is having three species, flowers. (See table 1.) and then it is followed by Pontedariaceae,