PLANT DIVERSITY ANALYSIS IN THALAIMALAI HILLS, A PART OF EASTERN GHATS, TAMIL NADU, INDIA
Thesis submitted to the BHARATHIDASAN UNIVERSITY, TIRUCHIRAPPALLI for the award of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN BOTANY
Submitted by P. MANI (Ref. No. 38833/Ph.D.1/Botany/P.T/April 2009 Dated 25.03.2009)
Under the guidance of Dr. R. RAVIKUMAR, M.Sc., B.Ed., Ph.D.
P. G. & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY JAMAL MOHAMED COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS) College with Potential for Excellence Nationally Reaccredited with 3.6/4.0 Grade by NAAC TIRUCHIRAPPALLI - 620 021, INDIA
NOVEMBER 2013
Dr. R. RAVIKUMAR Assistant Professor P.G. & Research Department of Botany Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous) Tiruchirappalli - 620 021 Tamil Nadu, India ______
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Mr. P. Mani has carried out the research work presented in this thesis entitled ‘Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills, a part of Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India’. This work has been carried out under my guidance and supervision. This work is original and no part of the thesis earlier to any other university or organisation for obtaining any other Degree or
Diplomas.
Dr. R. RAVI KUMAR Research Guide
Place : Tiruchirappalli Date :
P. MANI Research Scholar P.G. & Research Department of Botany Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous) Tiruchirappalli - 620 021 ______
DECLARATION
I do hereby declare that the thesis entitled ‘Plant Diversity Analysis in
Thalaimalai Hills, a part of Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India’, which I am submitting for the award of Doctor of Philosophy to the Bharathidasan University,
Tiruchirappalli is an original work carried out by me, at the P.G. & Research
Department of Botany, Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli under the guidance and supervision of Dr. R. Ravikumar, Research Guide &
Assistant Professor, the P.G. & Research Department of Botany, Jamal Mohamed
College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli. I further declare that this work not been submitted earlier to this or to any other university and does not form the basis for the award of any other degree, diploma, associateship, fellowship and other similar titles.
Place : Tiruchirappalli P. MANI Date :
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It is my privilege to thank the unique personal Dr. R. Ravikumar, M.Sc., B.Ed., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, P.G. & Research Department of Botany, Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli. The completion of this treatise shows the systematic guidance and persistent countenance of Dr. R. Ravikumar, who introduced me to the Plant Diversity research which made me fully absorbed in it starting with the field work at the Thalaimalai hills. I once my profound gratitude to him. I sincerely express my gratitude to Janab Dr. A. K. Khaja Nazeemudeen Sahib, Secretary & Correspondent; and Janab. K. A. Khaleel Ahamed, Treasurer, Jamal Mohamed College, Tiruchirappalli for giving me the golden opportunity to carry out my research work in this prestigious institution.
I am very much thankful to Dr. A. M. Mohamed Sindhasha, M.Com., M.Phil., M.Sc.(Psy)., Ph.D., M.B.A., Principal, and Dr. S. Mohamed Salique, M.Sc., B.Ed., Dip.in Arabic., Ph.D., Vice-Principal, Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli for admitting me to the Ph.D. Programme and providing all the facilities during this course of work. I sincerely thank Dr. S. Ahmed John, M.Sc., M.Phil., M.Ed., PGDCA, PGDPMR, Ph.D., DLL, Head, PG & Research Department of Botany, Jamal Mohamed College, Tiruchirappalli who had kind concern and consideration regarding my academic requirements for his patience and steadfast encouragement to complete this study and the moral support.
I am overwhelmed to thank Dr. S. R. Senthilkumar, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., FLS (London), Associate Professor, Department of Botany, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli and Dr. V. Nandhagopalan, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., ______Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills iv
Associate Professor, Department of Botany, National College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli whose had been the members of the Doctoral Committee, who by his efficiency and generating in offering his precious time and provided valuable suggestion and continuous support in my research work. It enabled me to complete the project work successfully. I would like to thank Dr. A. Khaleel Ahamed, Associate Professor; Dr. M. H. Muhammed Ilyas, Associate Professor; Dr. M. Ghouse Basha, Associate Professor; Dr. H. Syed Jahangir, Associate Professor; Dr. M. Kamaraj, Assistant Professor; and Dr. A. Aslam, Assistant Professor and Lab Assistants, Research Scholars, P.G. & Research Department of Botany, Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli for their support and encouragement.
I sincerely thank Rev. Dr. S. John Britto, SJ, Director, Rapinat Herbarium and Centre for Molecular Systematics, St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli and Rev. Fr. S. Aruldoss, SJ, Director, SHEPHERD Extension Department, St. Joseph’s College to permit me for doing research work and encouraging me in various ways. I am very much grateful to Dr. D. I. Arockiasamy, Head, Department of Biotechnology, St. Joseph’s College for encouraging me for doing Ph.D. work in several ways. Dr. S. Soosai Raj, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, St. Joseph’s College for provided all my technical requirements and plant identification work to complete my treatise with a homely atmosphere. I also thank Mr. M. Joseph Stephen, Mr. P. Vijayakumar, Mr. C. Jeyachandran, Mr. A. Saravanakumar and Mr. S. Raja, Coordinators of Extension Department, St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli for their support.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills v
I am indebted to Mrs. Padmavathi, I.F.S., District Forest Officer, Namakkal; Mr. Sivaji Ganesan, Former Forest Ranger; Mr. A. Kanaga Rathinam, Ranger, Mr. E. Somasundaram, Forester; Mr. K. Kandasamy, Forest Guard (North Beat), Mr, P. Govindan, Forest Guard (South Beat), Mr. M. Velusamy, Forest Watcher (North) and Mr. P. Periasamy, Forest Watcher (South) for their able assistance especially in collecting data of the area, visiting the field and local villagers, collection of plants, recording the information shared by the local traditional medicine men and informants. I specially thank all the Traditional Medical Practitioners and Villagers, Forest Protecting Council Leaders and Members, village land owners, elders of the village and all the peoples for their contribution to the information in this investigation. I am grateful to Mr. P. Manohar, BT Assistant (Maths), Mr. M. Johnson Gritto, Research Scholar, National College; Mr. Govindan and Mr. Charles, Herbalists, Anthiyodhaya Sangh, Tiruchirappalli; Mr. Dhanapal and Mr. Santhosh, PG Students, Bharathidasan University for having accompanied me in the field trip in the collection of plants and local village visits. It is my privilege to thank Mr. S. Jesudoss for typing my thesis work in time with utmost care and patience and to thank Richnet Designing Centre for making the photoplates.
Above all I gratefully acknowledge my parents, wife, son and daughter who were on top of anything else endured my research work. They were an everlasting source of encouragement and offered me the greatest patronage and aspiration whenever I need. P. Mani
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CONTENTS
Chapter-I INTRODUCTION ... 1 1.1 Introduction ... 1 1.2 Ethnomedicine ... 2 1.3 Diversity of Medicinal Plants ... 5 1.4 Ethnomedicinal / Ethnobotanical research from aboard ... 8 1.5 Present Concept and Scope ... 11 1.6 Interdisciplinary subjects of Ethnomedicine/Ethnobotany and sub-disciplines ... 12 1.7 Ethnobotany of the Thalaimalai Hills ... 14 1.7.1 Occupation and Food habits ... 15 1.7.2 Life style ... 16 1.7.3 Religion and belief ... 17 1.7.4 Utilization of natural resources ... 17 1.8 Aims and Objective of Ethnomedicinal Plants investigations in theThalaimalai ... 20
Chapter - II REVIEW OF LITERATURE ... 21 2.1 Introduction ... 21 2.2 Origin of Ethnomedicine/Ethnobotanical Research ... 21 2.3 Definition and Expansion ... 22 2.4 Growth of Ethnomedicine / Ethnobotany as a discipline ... 24 2.5 Bibliography of Ethnomedicine/Ethnobotany ... 30 2.6 In India ... 31 2.6.1 Origin of Ethnobotany in India ... 33 2.6.2 Books and Thesis on Ethnomedicine / Ethnobotany ... 34 2.6.3 Major Ethnic Groups ... 34 2.6.4 Work on Folk Medicinal Plants ... 35 2.6.5 State-wise and Region-wise Coverage ... 35 2.6.6 Botanical Coverage ... 35 2.6.7 Researchers and their Publication ... 36 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills vii
2.7 Studies in India on Ethnomedicine / Ethnobotany ... 36 2.8 Organised Ethnomedicinal / Ethnobotanical Research ... 38 2.9 Ethnomedicine / Ethnobotanical Research in Tamil Nadu ... 39 2.10 Conclusion ... 45
Chapter - III MATERIALS AND METHODS ... 46 3.1 Introduction ... 46 3.2 Area of Study: The Thalaimalai ... 46 3.2.1 The Eastern Ghats ... 46 3.2.2 Climate ... 53 3.2.3 Forest Types ... 53 3.2.4 Dry Mixed Deciduous type ... 53 3.2.5 Dry Deciduous scrub ... 53 3.2.6 Southern Thorn Scrub ... 54 3.2.7 Southern Thorn forest ... 54 3.2.8 Riparian forest ... 54 3.2.9 Euphorbia Scrub forest ... 55 3.2.10 Forest Plantations ... 55 3.2.11 Forest Cover Density ... 55 3.2.12 Accessibility ... 55 3.2.13 Fauna ... 56 3.3 Field Work ... 56 3.4 Informants ... 56 3.5 Method of Data Collection ... 57 3.6 Laboratory Work ... 59 3.7 Identification and Matching ... 59 3.8 Analysis and Presentation of Data ... 59 3.9 Photo documentation ... 60 3.10 Conclusion ... 61
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Chapter-IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ... 62 4.1 Enumeration of the Thalaimalai Hill - Ethnomedicinal Plants and Uses ... 62 4.2 Ethno Pharmacology of the Thalaimalai ... 164 4.2.1 Pharmacology of Ethnospecies ... 164 4.2.2 Forms and Preparations of Medicine ... 187 4.2.3 Beliefs and Taboos regarding Medicinal Plants ... 189 4.3 Ethnoveterinary Practices in the Thalaimalai ... 191 4.3.1 Ethnoveternary Practices ... 191 4.4 Ethnomedicinal species diversity and knowledge in the Thalaimalai ... 200 4.5 Mode of Plant Use ... 226 4.6 Important medicinal plants used by the traditional medical practitioner in and around Thalaimalai ... 227 4.7 Analysis of Usage ... 229 4.8 Comparison with other tribal areas ... 230 4.9 Administration of Medicine ... 231 4.10 Discussion ... 232
Chapter-V SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION ... 234
REFERENCES ... 237
_____
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LIST OF MAPS
3.1 India 3.2 Tamil Nadu 3.3 Namakkal District 3.4 Study Area
LIST OF TABLES
1.1 District population of Namakkal District 1.2 Talukwise population of Namakkal District 1.3 Blocks/Municipalities wise population of Namakkal District 4.1 Enumeration of Ethnomedicinal Plants and Uses 4.1 Ethnomedicinal species diversity 4.2 List of Families having more than 4 Species 4.3 List of High Number of Species in a Genus 4.4 Plant Parts used and the number of Species 4.5 List of Species and Families 4.6 List of Families and Species 4.7 Diseases list with number of species used 4.8 Major ailments and number of species used
LIST OF CHARTS
4.1 Ethnomedicinal species diversity 4.2 Families having more than 4 Species 4.3 High Number of Species in a Genus 4.4 Percentage of distribution of different habits _____
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Chapter-I
INTRODUCTION . .
1.1 Introduction
The Thalaimalai hills are part of the Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu and are in
Namakkal forest division. The division lies between 11° 35' and 11° 05' North
Latitudes and 78° 40' and 79° 05' East Longitudes. The altitude of Thalaimalai
700 meters 2400 feet. Thalaimalai is situated at the Tiruchirappalli to Namakkal
(Thottiyam – Sevinthipatty or Elurpatty and Meikkalnaikenpatty). Namakkal to
Thuraiyur (Erumapatty) Highway. There are four ways to reach the Thalaimalai
Hills.
1. Vadavathur 4 km
2. Sevinthipatty 6 km
3. Neeliyampatti 8 km
4. Erumapatty 5 km
The total forest area of this division is as follows:
Reserved Forest - 2664.22 Ha
Beat I North, Beat II South covered with 20 villages.
The Traditional Medical practitioners are closely linked to the forest
ecosystem with which they traditionally live in harmony. Traditional medical
practitioners still drives their daily needs from various plants growing around
them. A large part of information is passed by verbal communication for
generations. It is desirable to collect and record such information for proper ______Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 1 Chapter - I Introduction scientific evaluation and also a common proposition arising from them was the need to find ways to make tropical forests economically attractive to these populations. It was assumed that with added economic incentives and proper scientific knowledge of sustainable use of forests. People would strengthen their resolve against other deforesting agents. There are both nature and man-made factors affecting the forest flora. The distribution, establishment and survival of the plant species is influenced by multiple-factors.
1.2 Ethnomedicine
The finalised guidelines of World Health Organisation (WHO, 1991) for the assessment of herbal medicines were presented to the sixth International conferences of Drug Regulation Authorities. According to these guidelines,
Herbal medicines / Ethno medicines should be regarded as ‘finished, labelled medicinal products that contained as active ingredients aerial or underground parts of plants or other plant materials, or combination thereof, whether in the crude state or as plant preparations. Plant materials include juices, gums, fatty acids, essential oils, and any other substances of this nature’.
Herbal medicines are those which are traditionally used by tribal communities or substantially known by segregated group of people and called ethnomedicine. Although research in ethnomedicine has been taken up vigorously by Western world only in recent years, the tradition in India is quite old. Indian system of Ayurvedic medicine is the result of ancient studies of ethnomedicine.
Though the beginning of ethnobotanical enquiry is only a century old, with
Stephen Powers (1874) using the term Aboriginal Botany and Harshberger (1895)
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 2 Chapter - I Introduction introducing the term ‘Ethnobotany’ for the first time, the ethnomedicinal practices are as old as human civilization. As mentioned earlier, in India the Atharva Veda records the medicinal practices of the time. Ethnomedicine or Social medicine can be defined as, “the study of an ill person with his/her environment with the aim of identifying, classifying and rectifying the casual factors of diseases to regain health and promote health” (Banerjee and Jalota, 1988).
The factors involved in it are: the disease has a social cause, beside the pathogenic cause, with diverse interrelationships which could be termed as the
‘Social etiology of diseases’ and the medicinal therapy needs to be designed keeping in mind the social etiology of diseases. Thus the ethnomedicine have a contextualised diagnostic and therapeutic approach. The diagnosis has to situate the patient in his / her cultural religious and social context and evaluate the social aspects of diseases causation; while the therapeutic aspect of health care provides standard for various groups of patients under treatment that relieve conditions or check causes of diseases.
With the benefits of the scientific, technological development and modernisation percolating down to rural and tribal areas of India, many tribal groups are rapidly absorbed into the suring urban mainstream. In this tidal wave, their culture, tradition and also ethnomedical lore are lost. Traditional knowledge is one of the major casualties of this process of modernisation. As more and more tribals get educated and move out into the neighbouring towns and cities in search modern medicinal science fails (Mamba, 1999). Rajshekharan (2002) estimated that over 6,000 plant species are being used in traditional, folk and herbal
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 3 Chapter - I Introduction medicine, representing about 75 per cent of the medicinal needs of the third world countries.
Right from its beginning, the documentation of traditional knowledge especially on the medicinal uses of plants, has provided many important drugs of the modern day (Anon, 1994; Cox and Ballick, 1994; Fabricant and Farnsworth
2001). Even today this area holds much more hidden treasure, as almost 80 per cent of the human population in developing countries is dependent on plant resources for health care. In the rural areas plant are the major sources of local medicine for their well being. Information of folk medicinal uses of the plants has recently become of renewed interest in search for new therapeutic agent. A vast knowledge on medicinal plants exits as oral tradition among the folklore and primitive societies of India, where a large number of potent medicinal herbs are found growing wild.
Although, a great amount of ethnomedical / ethnobotanical research work has been undertaken in various pockets of tribal and rural population scattered throughout the country, there is still much to be discovered. Ethnomedical / ethnobotanical explorations play vital role in bringing to light information about such plant species from our rich flora that can be source of safer and cheaper potent drugs for the benefit of mankind. In a country like India, according to reasonable estimates, 70 percent of inhabitants still rely on herbs (Singh and
Gautam, 1997).
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1.3 Diversity of Medicinal Plants
Plants are medicines are being utilized since ancient civilization or pre-Rig-Vedic times. Rig-Veda, the earliest Sanskrit scripture of the Hindus
(4,500-1,600 BC) lists around 99 medicinal plants and Atharva-Veda deals with around 288 plants species utilized in drugs whereas in the Yujur-Veda 82 plants species have been maintained. There is a description about 519 plants having medicinal properties which are recorded in Kalpa Sutras.
Out of the total of 4,20,000 flowering plants reported from the world
(Govaerts, 2001) more than 50,000 are used for medicinal purpose (Schippmann et al., 2002). In India, more than 43 per cent of the total flowering plants are reported to be of medicinal importance (Pushpangadan, 1995). Utilization of plants for medicinal purpose in India has been documented long back in ancient literature (Tulsidas, 1631). However, organized studies in this direction were initiated in 1956 (Rao, 1996) and of late such studies are gaining recognition and popularity due to fading of traditional knowledge and depleted plant population.
All India Coordinated Research Project on Ethnobiology (1986-96) reported that tribal communities alone use over 9,000 species of wild plants, out of them the single largest use category is medicinal plants (over 7,500 species).
Beside this 3,900 for edible purposes, 700 for medicinal plants and cultural requirements, 525 for fibre and cordage, 400 as fodder, 300 as pesticides, 300 as gums and dyes, and 100 as incense and perfumes. Chopra (1933) has important contribution on Indian medicinal plants in the 20th century. Post independence contributions on Indian medicinal plants include contributions of Datta and
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 5 Chapter - I Introduction
Mukherjee (1950, 1952), Chopra et al. (1956), Mitra and Jain (1991), Sivrajan and
Balachandran (1994), Tripathi (1995) and Kaushik and Dhiman (2000).
The familiarity with plant species producing medicine, essential oil, and insecticides dates back to the beginning of civilization. The tribal people and ethnic races throughout the world have developed their own cultures customs, cult’s religious rites, taboos, totems, legends and myths, folk tales and songs, foods, medicinal practices and other aspects. Numerous wild and cultivated plants play a very important and vital role among these cultures and this interrelationship has evolved over generations of experience and practices. The modern civilization is penetrating into most regions of the world still held by primitive societies. The consequent divorcement of aboriginal people from dependence upon their vegetal environment for the necessities of life has been set in motion, resulting in the disintegration of knowledge of plants and their properties (Maheshwari, 1983).
There is a steady decline in human expertise capable of recognising the various medicinal plants.
Advance in science, notably during the last two centuries, better understanding of human body, its physiology, led to the isolation of many of the active ingredients of these herbs in impure from and formulated synthetic compounds, with or without herbal extracts, obtaining the drugs mostly used in the control of diseases. Unfortunately, the continuous use of potent drugs is often associated with harmful side-effect of these medicines both in the affluent West as well as in the poor East. The WHO (World Health Organisation) has recognised the role of traditional systems of medicine and considers them a part of strategy to
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 6 Chapter - I Introduction provide health care to the masses. The medicinal plants continue to receive attention of scientists from chemical pharmacological and clinical angles in India and aboard. The studies on folk medicines through ethnomedicinal / ethnobotanical surveys are gaining importance.
The accomplishment of forest dwellers in understanding plants and properties of their roots, stem, leaves, flowers and fruits is simply a result of long and intimate association with their flora and their dependence of them. Since their knowledge is based on experimentation on human beings, though highly empirical, it warrants careful consideration. It demands of us to take advantages of their extensive knowledge that still exist in many parts of the world, for scientific scrutiny and adoption for posterity, lest it be lost under the debris of modernism.
There is a need to chemically and pharmacologically analyse known biodynamic species and see their physiological effectiveness. There is a steady decline in human expertise capable of recognising various medicinal plants. Much of this wealth of knowledge is totally becoming lost as traditional culture gradually disappears (Hamilton, 1995).
Thus there is now urgency for ethnobotanical research amongst aboriginal peoples (Maheshwari, 1983). “It is of importance therefore, to seek out these primitive races and ascertain the plants which they have found available in their economic life, in order that perchance the valuable properties they have utilized in their wild life may fill some niche in our own (Harshberger)”, cited by Schultes
(1962). Schultes (1962) has stated that as scientists, we should strive to maintain an equilibrium between those on the one hand who would brush aside the
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 7 Chapter - I Introduction superstition of ignorant people-all native uses of plants as medicine and narcotics, and those on the other who glorify primitive man as possessing some uncanny intuition concerning plant properties.
In discussing the role of ethnomedicine / ethnobotany in our search for new drug plants, we must constantly bear in mind the widespread exaggeration of the usefulness of ethnobotanical data. We cannot afford to pre-judge reports of aboriginal uses of plants simply because they seem to fall beyond our limits of credence. According to Rama Rao and Hendry (1996) there is an urgent need to inventories and record all ethnobiological information among the diverse ethnic communities before the traditional cultures are completely lost who should make use of this knowledge and what part of knowledge should be used are certainly within the purview of the tribals. But the tribals hardly understand the intricacies of the so-called intellectual property rights and their implications.
The work so far done in the field of ethnomedicinal / ethnobotanical researches by different workers to help the modern world as well as local communities in rescuing disappearing knowledge and returning it to local communities in India and aboard are reviewed here.
1.4 Ethnomedicinal / Ethnobotanical research from aboard
It is not possible to cover all ethnobotanical research being carried aboard by ethnobotanists. A few significant contributions only are mentioned below:
The modern approach to the science of ethnomedicine / ethnobotany evolved in the USA and the forest center for the botanical aspects is the Botanical
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 8 Chapter - I Introduction
Museum of Harvard University in Massachusetts. Here, ethnobotanists like
Rachard Evans Schultes, Richard Gorden Wasson, Sir Von Reis Altschul,
Timothy Plowman, Wade Davis and others contributed in various fields of ethnobotany (Shah, 1987). The Southwest of USA is the best studied area in the world for ethnomedicine / ethnobotany (Ford, 1985).
The well-known ethnobotanists of the world, Ricard Evans Schultes conducted ethnobotanical explorations in Oklahama, Oaxaca, Mexico, the
Amazon and in other regions. He had to spend almost 12 years among the tribals and worked on hallucinogens, medicinal and toxic plants (Schultes, 1938, 1962).
The word Ethnobotany literally means the study of botany of the primitive human race. This term was the first applied by Hashberger in 1895 to the study of
“Plants used by primitive and aboriginal people”. The term ethnobotany has been variously defined and interpreted by subsequent workers. While Jones (1941) defined it as the study of the interrelations of primitive man and plants, Faulks
(1958) considered the subject of ethnobotany as the total relationship between man and vegetation which meant more than even the scope of Economic Botany.
After a decade, Jones revised his concept and treated ethnobotany as a unit of an ecological study specialising in the interaction of man and the plant world.
Schultes (1962) interpreted ethnobotany as the study of relationships which exist between people of a primitive society and their plant environment. Till few years, interpretation varied greatly but now it generally includes total natural relationship of plant kingdom with man and also his animals.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 9 Chapter - I Introduction
Ethnobotany deals with the total natural relationship of man with plants.
The relationship between man and plant kingdom can be said to fall under four board categories: i) Relationships useful to both man and plants, ii) Relationships useful to man but harmful (or damaging) to plants, iii) Relationship useful to plants but harmful to man, and iv) relationship harmful to both man and plants.
However most of the ethnobotanical studies appear to have been restricted among the tribals or rural people for recording their knowledge about plant wealth and for search of new resources of herbal drugs, edible plants and other aspects of plants.
The other three aspects and the urban populations have generally been left out.
Ethnobotany was earlier defined as the inter-relationship between the primitive humans and plants. The use of the word primitive before humans was not considered appropriated by Ford (1978) and now the term ethnobotany applies to total inter-relationship between beings and plants (Jain, 1986).
The use of the word primitive has been in appropriative but still of great advantage. Despite all discomforts, ethnobotanists visited interior villages and localities and interacted with folk population to record plant usages among primitive people. Otherwise most ethnobotanists would have liked to confine studies of plants and human relations in urban settings, for convenience, if for no other factors. The culture and the habitat of ethnic groups are both changing to urban pattern at quite fast rate. Hence their knowledge, as also the environment where that knowledge took birth, has been diminishing. As during the last 100 years the attention of ethnobotanists has been more primitive people, many such societies have been studied, and elements of their knowledge system documented.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 10 Chapter - I Introduction
Otherwise much of this knowledge would have been lost. Even now the villages inhabited by the tribals are considered ideal for ethnobotanical studies and the field methods in literature are largely aimed towards aimed their study.
1.5 Present Concept and Scope
A brief reference has been made to the definition of the word ethnobotany.
The concept of ethnobotany has undergone several changes. It is no more confined to recording of plants used by primitive people. Ethnobotanical data are utilized by economic botanists for discovering new plant resources. for fresh ideas to environment planners, a tool for basic selection of plant species for development of drugs by pharmacologists, phytochemists and clinicians, as a new source of history of plant names for linguists, a source for locating new germplasm for agriculturists, etc. This science has now emerged as an interdisciplinary study which can involve, in addition and ethnology, areas such as archacology, sociology, folklore, mythology, linguistics, forestry, ecology, agriculture, medicinal sciences, economics, phytochemistry, pharmacology, veterinary medicine and others. The multidisplinary nature of ethnobotany, occasionally leads to some confusion in definition of its objectives. Ethnobotany is now also concerned with the study of use of microbes, lichens, mosses and other lower plants not yet investigated or developed into practical use. It is interesting to note that ethnobotanists have innovated identification of food materials from the dissection of human faces; this has proved to be a valuable tool in the study of prehistoric nutrition. Though a variety of subjects have intentionally or even accidentally contributed to the objectives of ethnobotany, yet this science has –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 11 Chapter - I Introduction remained primarily an applied discipline of botany; this is evidence by the fact that the tradition behind ethnobotany has been built largely by contribution of plant scientists.
In view of the wide scope of ethnobotany, an ethnobotanists should be familiar with at least six disciplines namely, botany, anthropology, chemistry, linguistics, economics, and ecology, but should try to specialise in any one or two of them. The field of specialization which an ethnobotanist may choose include traditional taxonomy, morphology, plant chemistry, drug plant cultivation, and certain aspects of anthropology, traditional medicine, pharmacy, pharmacology and even therapeutics. A basic knowledge of floristic and anthropology is essential for an ethnobotanist.
1.6 Interdisciplinary subjects of Ethnomedicine/Ethnobotany and sub- disciplines
It is necessary to understand the difference between the interdisciplinary subjects and sub-disciplinary of ethnobotany. These two terms cause confusion to students and researchers many times. Though strictly speaking the subject of ethnobotany is itself interdisciplinary between ethnology and botany, but having become well-known and established as a discipline, it is distinct now. There are many areas of research related with ethnobotany which are also interdisciplinary.
Some of these are ethnomedicobotany, ethnopharmacology, ethnogastrology, ethnoorthopedics, and archaeoethnobotany.
There are always more than one subject involved in an interdisciplinary subject. Ethnopharmacology is interdisciplinary between two subjects, ethnology,
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 12 Chapter - I Introduction and pharmacology. Archaeoethnobotany involves three subjects, ethnology, archealogy and botany. It means study of plants depicted in the archaeological remains of ancient objects and people. Study of ethnic groups in relation with their food and food habits comes under ethnogastrology which is also an interdisciplinary subject. Ethnoagriculture is also interdisciplinary: What are the traditional agriculture practices among the recent groups? Study of that is ethnoagriculture. What is the knowledge about health care of children in different ethnic groups? It will be ethnopediatrics. The knowledge of different ethnic groups about setting and healing of bones will be ethnoorthopedics. We could possibly make several such combinations of words where the knowledge of ethnology and various other science subjects is required. Amongst these subjects studies of plants are also involved. Hence they become the inter-disciplinary subjects with ethnobotany. Study of medicines involving only the usages of mineral products among ethnic groups wills not come under ethnobotany. It will come under ethnomedicine. But studies of plant usages amongst people will come under ethnobotany as well as ethnomedicine. Both are inter-disciplinary subjects.
In sub-disciplines of ethnobotany the umbrella or the main subject is botany, i.e., plants used by ethnic groups. Sub-disciplines of ethnobotany have only those subjects which are part of botany such as ethnoalgology ethnomycology, ethnolichenology, ethnobryology and ethnopteridology. The knowledge and use of bryophytes among ethnic group will come under ethnobryology. Ethnolichenology is the knowledge of lichens among different
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 13 Chapter - I Introduction ethnic groups and similarly the various sub-disciplines of ethnobotany have some subjects which are part of botany.
It should be clearly understood that the sub-disciplines of ethnobotany are relationships of human being with different subgroups of plant kingdom, i.e., pteridophytes, bryophytes, fungi, etc. Inter-disciplinary subjects with relation to ethnobotany are where plants are involved with some other sciences.
Ethnopharmacology involves application of pharmacological methods to plants and plant products used among ethnic groups. This makes distinction between the sub-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary subjects of ethnobotany, thus ethnomedicine is inter-disciplinary subject of ethnobotany when study of plant usages are involved in ethnomedicine. Ethno-medico-botany is a separate term coined for the same. But it is neither practicable nor advisable to coin such terms for all interdisciplinary subjects where studies involving more than two subjects come together. Moreover, ethnobotany has now become so distinct that it is now regarded as an independent subject and the prefix ‘ethno’ is generally taken to indicate inter-disciplinary sciences.
1.7 Ethnobotany of the Thalaimalai Hills
Besides its rich biodiversity, the Thalaimalai hills also hold a fairly good traditional knowledge on the utilization of its resources. The knowledge ethnic communities especially hill traditional vaidayas are the primary group of people who possess a board knowledge on plants and the use of natural resources. Their culture is deeply interwoven with the nature. They completely depend on forest for their day-to-day life such as shelter, food and medicine. Their traditional
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 14 Chapter - I Introduction knowledge is proved as invaluable and has contributed in formulating traditional remedies for dreadful diseases such as gastric, dermal, dental, gynaecological, fever and malaria, poisonous bites and others. This precious knowledge is passed on orally to the successive generation and need to be documented.
1.7.1 Occupation and Food habits
The Thalaimalai traditional practitioners in the past have been an oppressed lot. After taking over the Thalaimalai by the forest Department in 1998, the local peoples were relieved of the oppression. The local peoples are closely associated with forest and their living conditions are greatly influenced by the forest policies and programmes. The association of forest protecting people with forests is centuries old and they have been the guardians of the forest in the past. However their ignorance and illiteracy have been exploited by leaders who lived as monarchs exploiting the usufructs from the forest and made the people struggle under their hold. With the abolition of local heads control system, things have changed. Still, the hill people living in the interior forest areas one of the most backward communities in the country. Majority of the people own at least a small area of land. The woman is equal to the men in all agricultural activities.
Saamai (Panicum miliare) and rice (Oriyza sativa) are the staple foods of people. Besides this, they also cultivate cereals like (Sorhum bicolor), Ragi
(Eleusing coracana), Cumba (Pennisetum americanum), Thinai (Setaria italic) and Varagu (Paspalum scorbiculatum); Vegetables such as Avarai (Lablab purpureus var. purpureus, Mochchai var, lingnosus), and pulses like Thuvarai
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 15 Chapter - I Introduction
(Cajanas cajan), Ulundu (Vigna munga), and Kollu (Macrotyloma uniflorum).
Guizotia abyssinacia is widely cultivated as a source of vegetable oil.
Most of their traditional crops are rainfed, drought tolerant, pest and diseases resistant, nutrious and require no or less external inputs. They rear cows, sheep, pigs, buffaloes and fowls. Occasionally they hunt wild boars, deers and fowls for food. As supplement to their income, they collect minor forest product and provide labour to Forest Department and other contractors for wages then there is no work in their agricultural fields. Some of them have taken up the practice of making Siddha medicine and nursery and sericulture during the past few years as additional sources of income.
1.7.2 Life style
They are aspirants of modern life style. The forest department has contributed 20 lakh per village for 5 adopted villages to education, electricity, dug wells for drinking water and road facilities. The government has provided residential schools with free education and food for children. The parents have taken up the habit of sending their children to school. It may take some more time to see them neat and clean in their dress and habit.
Common cold, cough, skin diseases such as scabies, stomach disorders, worm infestation and other are some of the common diseases prevailing among the local peoples. Local peoples of the Thalaimalai hills maintain relationship with their counterparts at neighbouring villages by giving and taking brides. Many of the elderly people have become addict to alcohol. In general, they are shy and fearful and there is no record that they are involved in any major crime. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 16 Chapter - I Introduction
1.7.3 Religion and belief
The Thalaimalai traditional practitioners are Hindus by religion and the gods they worship are Shiva, Vishnu, Vinayaka, Kali, Mari, Ayyanar and others.
Beliefs and taboos are commonly prevailing among them. They worship prehistoric Celts (axe-like instruments), stone implements and images placed in their own village area.
1.7.4 Utilization of natural resources
The local peoples are completely dependent of forest resources of their surroundings for their day-to-day living. They make their agricultural implements and household utensils by using the timber of Acacia leucophloea, A. nilotica
Albizia amara, A. lebbeck, Anogeissus latifolia, Bambusa arundinacea,
Chloroxylon swietenia, Dendrocalamus strictus and Tectona grandis. Bamboos are also used for making roof, tent poles, fence, baskets, mats and bullock cart components and for firewood. Cymbopogon ssp, and Phoenix loureirii are primarily used for making roof of their huts. They collect tubers of Dioscorea sp. and wild edible fruits as their food supplement.
The local peoples of Thalaimalai hills posses a fair knowledge on usage of medicinal plants. Traditional healers treat simple ailments such as common cold, cough, fever and other with the help of medicinal plants found around the hamlets and nearby village areas.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 17 Chapter - I Introduction
Table 1.1: District population of Namakkal District
Sl. District Total / Rural Total Total Male Female Population Sex Ratio Area No. Name / Urban Households Population Population Population Density 1. Namakkal Total 394378 1493462 759551 733911 966 3404.00 438.74 2. Namakkal Rural 255827 948230 482365 465865 966 3149.13 301.11 3. Namakkal Urban 138551 545232 277186 268046 967 254.87 2139.26
Table 1.2: Talukwise population of Namakkal District
Sl. Total / Rural / Total Total Female Taluk Name Male Population Sex Ratio No. Urban Households Population Population 1. Namakkal Total 121424 459296 232447 226849 976 2. Rasipuram Total 82471 317571 161944 155627 961 3. Tiruchengode Total 139501 529686 271238 258448 953 4 Paramathi-Velur Total 50982 186909 93922 92987 990
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 18 Chapter - I Introduction
Table 1.3: Blocks/Municipalities wise population of Namakkal District. Name of the Area Population Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribes Literates Sl. Blocks / (sq. No. Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Municipalities km) Blocks 1. Namakkal 211.9 140657 71244 69413 27915 14101 13814 316 151 165 39520 24848 14672 2. Puduchatram 194.0 72751 37065 35686 17929 9188 8741 98 48 50 31074 20064 11010 3. Sendamangalam 185.3 72589 36810 35779 17555 8958 8597 2303 1164 1136 30626 19083 11543 4. Erumaipatti 278.6 84827 42874 41953 23602 11777 11825 233 123 110 43562 26913 16649 5. Mohanur 262.4 90255 45191 45064 16705 8372 8333 31 17 14 42975 27018 15957 6. Kollikills 371.3 36852 18672 18180 672 347 325 35173 17800 17373 8772 5583 3189 7. Rasipuram 105.6 114780 58235 56545 25436 13096 12340 173 89 84 23663 14914 8749 8. Namagiripet 291.0 109963 56195 53768 27297 14182 13115 11213 5686 5527 42331 26251 16080 9. Vennandur 212.4 79095 40471 38624 17677 9027 8650 1514 774 740 22976 14777 8199 10. Paramathi 220.2 73280 36983 36297 14654 7360 7294 7 3 4 38801 21870 16931 11. Kabilarmalai 214.3 82490 41466 41024 12644 6329 6295 16 10 6 35985 22548 13437 12. Tiruchencode 262.0 163583 84331 79252 23887 12225 11662 87 43 44 28250 18292 9958 13. Mallasamudram 153.9 64282 33083 31199 14833 7618 7215 52 26 26 17788 11584 6204 14. Elachipalayam 244.0 73710 36732 36798 18854 9558 9296 35 17 18 29138 18821 10317 Municipalities 1. Namakkal 9.1 53055 26881 26174 6217 3132 3085 195 88 107 41206 22204 19002 2. Rasipuram 8.2 46330 23485 22845 4862 2486 2376 54 24 30 33241 18400 14841 3. Tiruchengode 22.0 80187 10780 39407 7705 3882 3823 78 39 39 56965 31760 25205 4. Komarapalayam 6.0 65868 33468 32400 2103 1080 1023 62 34 28 45604 25719 19885 5. Pallipalyam 155.8 228111 117092 111019 20176 10397 9779 154 84 70 32505 21261 11244
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 19 Chapter - I Introduction
1.8 Aims and Objective of Ethnomedicinal Plants investigations in the Thalaimalai
The main objectives of this study are as follows:
1. Survey of the plant species the traditional practitioners of the Thalaimalai
hills,
2. Documentation of the ethnomedicinal plant species and their uses by formal
interaction with local traditional practitioners and medicine men (Nattu
vaidyas),
3. Collection of above species is herbarium specimens,
4. Data collected on the preparation of native medicine, dosage and
administration (Pharmacology) by the Nattu vaidyas of the Thalaimalai,
5. Recording the Ethnoveterinary plant species and their uses, and
6. To study the conservation of biological resources.
______
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 20
Chapter - II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE . .
2.1 Introduction
Until recently ‘ethnobotany’/‘ethnomedicobotany’ meant only a list of
plants and their uses found in the tribal, rural and other environments inhabited by
aboriginal or underdeveloped people. But most of these investigators did not
concentrate on the ‘context’ in which the uses of these plants became relevant.
They did not recognize that the human perception of their environment necessarily
involves a complex whole, when compared to the perception of the animals of the
surroundings. Human encounter with nature, particularly plants, is guided, besides
the survival instinct, also by various values or priorities that they inherit from the
society in which they are born and in which they live (Alcorn, 1984). Inclusion of
this ethnocentric aspect into the study of botany has greatly widened the scope of
ethnobotany. This chapter aims at a brief outline of relevant literature pertaining to
ethnobotany/ethnomedicine.
2.2 Origin of Ethnomedicine/Ethnobotanical Research
The beginning of the present day ethnobotanic enquiry as has been noted in
the previous chapter can be traced back to Stephen Powers, who in 1874 used the
term ‘aboriginal botany’, which included the total aboriginal dependence on plants
for food medicines, etc. (Ford, 1978). It assumed a new dimension ever since
______Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 21 Chapter - II Review of Literature
Harshberger (1895) gave a new purpose to it - ‘the study of plants used by the primitive and aboriginal people’ (Alcorn, 1984). He introduced the word
Ethnobotany for the first time. Modern anthropologists and ethnobotanists adopted this term to denote the cultural importance and significance of plants in the lives of people.
2.3 Definition and Expansion
Ford (1978) defined it as ‘study of plants in their relation to human culture’, including psychological importance and mythologist reference.
Harrows (1900) inspired an investigation beyond the economic resin into religious significance of plants, their place in folk worship, folklore, etc. He was the first recipient of a doctorate in ethnobotany from the University of Chicago.
Harrington (1932) considered the concept of plants in human languages, while his colleague Robinson endeavoured to emphasize the influence of plants in environment in the thought, life and well-being of people (Ford, 1978).
Jones (1941) expanded the utilitarian scope of ethnobotany proposed by
Harshberger and others with his definition study of ‘inter-relations of primitive man and plants’ (Ford, 1978), emphasizing that the ethnobotanists should be concerned with the entire range of relations between humans and plants as they were used to different societies for food, clothing, shelter, implements, utensils, medicines, etc. He considered ethnobotany as the unit of an ecological study specializing in their interaction in human and plant world (Ford, 1978). He changed our understanding of ethnobotany by recognizing the reciprocal and –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 22 Chapter - II Review of Literature
dynamic aspect of the human interactions with plants. Without a holistic and symbolic study, one cannot understand why certain plants and not others are used for a particular need, how they are prepared, and when they are used, etc.
Carter (1950) envisaged ethnobotany as an ecological science capable of forging a link between geography, botany and ecology (Ford, 1978). In this respect ethnobotany distinguishes itself from economic botany. When the former has a holistic approach to plants in relation to culture and human interaction with plants, the latter concerns more with the utility potential of plants. A more modern definition of ethnobotany is given by Alcorn: ‘Study of direct interaction between humans and plants, concerned with the totality of place of plants in a culture’
(Alcorn, 1984). This definition gives a wider scope to ethnobotanic studies. More studies have so far not taken this broad view of the subject. Among many others, contributions of Barrau (1961), Schultes (1962), Jain (1963, 1964, 1965, 1981,
1989, 1991a, b) and Altschul (1973) are notable in understanding the scope of ethnobotany.
Thus, we see that over the past century, scientists of various disciplines like anthropology, archaeology, economic botany, geography, pharmacology, psychology, sociology, and so on have been studying the different aspects of ethnobotany. Though a coordinated effort was lacking, ethnobotany did remain the central theme of several of these studies.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 23 Chapter - II Review of Literature
2.4 Growth of Ethnomedicine / Ethnobotany as a discipline
George (1995) studied pharmacopoeia of 108 medicinal species from
52 families. Fifty per cent of the pharmacopoeia is composed of species indigenous to Tonga, 30 per cent are species introduced by Polynesian settlers, and 20 per cent are species of post-European introduction. The most commonly used plants are used to treat several types of illness whereas other species are most commonly used to treat a single illness class. Anderson (1985) investigated ethnobotany of Akha tribes of Thailand and reported 121 species and the medicinal use or uses attributed to them. The pharmacological activities correlated with medicinal uses of 37 potential medicinal plants employed by the Laotian
Hmong refugees in the twin cities of Minneopolis and St. Paul, Minnesota are reported. The ethno-pharmacological analysis revealed that 92 per cent of these cultivated medicinal plants were highly efficacious and are frequently used in their diet (81%) to medicinal against various ailments (Spring, 1989). The possibility of the recorded plant species in stimulating physiological skin pigmentation is described in the light of present phytochemical and pharmacological knowledge.
Some of these plants are reported to contain erythemogenic substance responsible for inducing light-mediated hypermalanogenisis for colouring epidermal keratin.
Ethnobotanical information 150 plant species used by the Chumash Indians occupying the mainland and off-shore islands in the vicinity of Santa Barbara,
California based on the collection made by John P. Harrington, deserves mention.
Despite massive deculturation, a great deal of this ethnobotanical knowledge
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 24 Chapter - II Review of Literature
survived. The most valuable sources of Chumash ethnobotanical information is the extensive, unpublished field notes on John P. Harrington, based on interviews conducted from 1912 to 1950 (Timprook, 1990).
The traditional and modern uses of 48 native plants growing in the Fort
Yukon region, Alaska, have been documented and the medicinal and edible material used by the Gwich in Athabaskan and Caucasian residents have been identified. The present and past values of these plants in Gwich’s culture also has been discussed (Holloway and Alexander, 1990).
Medico-ethnobotanical information on 51 empirically accepted prescriptions involving 36 plant species belonging to 36 genera and 27 families, collected from the rural inhabitants of Kabhrepalanchock District of Central
Nepal. The ethnobotanical survey revealed that these prescriptions are much employed for common ailments as the remedies are accepted by the majority of the masses over generations. Ethnobotanical information on 71 plants from Tharu tribe of Chitwan District, and 86 plant species from Makawanpur District of Nepal were reported by Dangol and Gurung (1991). Joshi and Edington (1990) also reported medicinal plants of Central Region of Nepal.
Ethnobotanical information on 36 plants species of Rarotonga, Cook islands used by the local healers in various ailments has been valuable contribution
(Holdsworth, 1990). John et al. (1990) have gathered information from 45 herbalists of the Luo of Siaya District of Kenya independently and reported 1129 remedial measures from 330 plant species, of which 49 per cent of the remedies –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 25 Chapter - II Review of Literature
were recorded only once. Sixty six remedies from 49 species recorded in that paper were through independent reports collected from three or more herbalists to establish a criteria for evaluating the likely efficacies of particular remedies and a long-linear model was applied.
Mahunnah (1991) has investigated 44 medicinal plants, belonging to 39 genera and 21 families, used by the Hehe and Safawa tribes, inhabiting the
Southern highlands of Tanzania. Ethnobotanic information on 52 plant species of
Sengkurong and 29 plant species of Bukit Udal of Darussalam were given by Haji
Mohiddin et al. (1991, 1992) and Holdsworth (1991) respectively. Abbas et al.
(1992) investigated 52 folk medicinal plants used in traditional medicine of
Bahrain. Cunningham (1993) studied African medicinal plants with emphasis on conservation and primary health care. Ethnobotanical information on the uses of bark of 21 species by the Gitksan, Wet’su, Wet’en and Haisla people of West
Central British Columbia has been reported. Out of these, 16 species are employed for medicinal purposes (Gottesfeld, 1992).
Yang et al. (1992) compiled ethnobotanical information on the 157 species of curcurbits in China. Out of these, 63 species are of economic importance.
Twenty six of these 63 species are under cultivation in China, A brief account of herbal remedies prescribed for various ailments in Sudan is given with mode of application along with precautions, If any (El Rayah, 1993). Gill et al. (1993) documented 80 plant species belonging to 43 angiospermic families of Esan people of Nigeria. The chemical constituents detected in each plant were
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 26 Chapter - II Review of Literature
presented. Ethnobotanical information on 152 plants used by the people of
Nicaragua’s Atlantic Coast for the treatment of various diseases has been provided. The diversity and prevalence of medical plant uses for this region has been reported for the first time (Barrett, 1994).
It appears from the above works that ethnobotanical investigations abroad have been undertaken in ethnobotanically rich human societies. Some other important contributions also may be mentioned, such as those of medicinal plants of Saamoa (George, 1974); West Africa and West Indies (Ayensu, 1981); Sudan
(Ahmed, 1970); Hawaians (Beatrice, 1975); Western Washington (Gunther,
1945); Caribs Island of Dominica (Hodge and Taylor, 1957); Amazonian Brazil
(Prance, 1972); Papua New Guinea Central Province (Holdsworth, 1991); Gazelle
Peninsula (Holdsworth and Balun, 1992); Oro (Northern) Provinces (Holdsworth,
1993); Arabia-Central Oman (Ghszanfar and Al-Sabahi, 1993); Turkey (Sezik et al., 1992); Central Mexico (Del Castilu and Trujillu, 1991); and Maroantsetra region of Madagascar (Quansah, 1988).
Reta Regassa (2013) dealt diversity and conservation status of indigenous medicinal plants in Hawassa College of Teacher Education campus, southern
Ethiopia using ethnobotonical inventory, semi-structured questionnaires, interview and group discussion. A total of 198 plant species which belongs to 158 genera and 74 families were recorded. Out of the total plant species documented 54
(27.27%) were trees, 52 (26.26%) shrubs, 82(41.41%) herbs, 5 (2.53%) climbers and 5 (2.53%) ferns. Asteraceae was the most dominant and highest diversity with
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 27 Chapter - II Review of Literature
17 species followed by Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae with 14 and 13 species respectively. Ten multipurpose species were selected out of the total indigenous medicinal plants and five use categories were listed for five selected key informants to assign use value to each species. Prunus africana is found to be highly used by local community for multiple purposes, followed by Juniperus procera, Hagenia abyssinica and Cordia africana. Forty one commonly used indigenous medicinal plants were used to treat 32 human ailments. Leaves were the most frequently used plant parts used. Biodiversity conservation of indigenous medicinal plants is an important activity for preservation, sustainability, popularization, education and environmental conservation. It is therefore, recommended that people need to be encouraged to cultivate indigenous medicinal plants in and around their home garden through education.
Many medicinal plants are also in trouble from over harvesting and destruction of habitat. Population growth, urbanization and the unrestricted collection of medicinal plants from the wild is resulting in an over-exploitation of natural resources. Therefore, the management of traditional medicinal plant resources has become a matter of urgency (Sharma et al., 2010).
The biodiversity are changing and incessantly decreasing, especially the medicinal plants and the problem related to the way of life of people. To solve this problem, knowledge of the people is very important and thus it is a must to build knowledge by various methods. Therefore, this research was aimed to develop the community participatory training model to conserve medicinal plants species
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 28 Chapter - II Review of Literature
diversity. The community participatory training model for the conservation of the medicinal plant species diversity from this operation can enhance the knowledge levels, opinions and behaviours of the biodiversity and self-help group to preserve the medicinal plants biodiversity. Thus, it is necessary to promote this model to be applied according to the community’s potential (Khemkratoke et al., 2012).
Medicinal plants are the principal health care resources for the majority of people all over the world. The healing properties of herbal medicines have been recognized in many ancient cultures. The traditional medical systems such as
Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani are part of a time-tested culture and honoured by people still today. Pharmaceutical importance of plants has led to the discovery and adoption of plant extracts which were commonly used in traditional medicine, as alternative source of remedy. A vast diversity of herbal ingredients, major proportion of which is derived from wild, provide the resource base to the herbal industry. Despite the increasing use of medicinal plants, their future, seemingly, is being threatened by complacency concerning their conservation. Global demand for herbal medicines is accompanied by dwindling supply of medicinal plants due to over-harvesting, habitat loss and agricultural encroachment. As millions of rural households use plant for self-medication community involvement in monitoring use and status of medicinal plants can contribute to effective strategies for their sustainable use (Suresh Kumar, Rohit Kumar and Altaf Khan, 2011).
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 29 Chapter - II Review of Literature
2.5 Bibliography of Ethnomedicine/Ethnobotany
Bibliography of ethnobotany contains about 2000 references covering almost all the major publications on ethnobotany, Indian as well as foreign. Some of the important foreign books on various aspects of ethnobotany are Ethnobotany of the Coahuilla Indian (Barrows, 1900); Notes on Jamaican Ethnobotany
(Beckwith, 1927); Ethnobotany of the Thompson Indians of British Columbia
(Steedman, 1930); Ethnobotany of Western Washington (Gunther, 1945); An introduction to Ethnobotany (Faulks, 1958); Ethnobotany of the Hawaiians
(Beatrice, 1975); The Nature and Status of Ethnobotany (Ford, 1978);
Ethnobotanica Lengua Maskoy (Arenas, 1981); Palaeoethnobotany of the Kameda
Peninsula Jomon (Craford, 1983); Huastec Mayan Ethnobotany (Alcorn, 1984),
People of the Desert and Sea: Ethnobotany of the Seri Indians (Felger and Moser,
1985); Edible Wild Plant of the Prairie: An Ethnobotanical Guide (Kindscher,
1987); Thompson Ethnobotany (Turner et al., 1990); Ethics, Ethnological
Research and Biodiversity (Cunningham, 1993); Ethnobotany: A methods Manual
(Martin, 1995); Ethnobotany: Principles and Application (Cotton, 1996); Dariene
Ethnobotanical Diversity (Duke, 1968); Isthmian Ethnobotanical Dictionary
(Duke, 1986); Amazonian Ethnobotanical Dictionary (Duke and Vasquez, 1994);
An Ethnobotanical Analysis of the Tree Species Common to the Subtropical Moist
Forest of Peten, Guatemala (Mutchnick and McCarthy, 1997) and Economic
Botany and Ethnobotany in Al-anadalus (Iberian Peninsula: Tenth-Fifteenth
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 30 Chapter - II Review of Literature
Centuries), An Unknown HJeritage of Mankind (Hernandez-Bermeja and Garcia-
Sanchez, 1998).
2.6 In India
Vast ethnobotanical knowledge exists in India from ancient times. Written records of the use of plants for curing human or animal diseases in India can be traced back to the earliest (4500-1600 BC) Scripture of the Hindus, the Rigveda
(Jain, 1994). Ayurveda, the Indian indigenous system of medicine, dating back to the Vedic ages (1500-800 BC) has been an integral part of Indian culture (Weiss,
1987). The term comes from the Sanskrit root, Ayu = life and veda = knowledge.
As the name implies, it is not only a science of treatment of illness but covers the whole gamut of happy human life involving the physical, meta-physical and the spiritual aspects (Sivarajan and Balachandran, 1994). The Vedic Aryans were familiar with medicinal plants. Several plants are described in the Atharva Veda.
This was followed by monumental ancient treatise on the subject, like Charak
Samhita (1000-800 BC), Sushrut Samhita (800-700 BC) and Vaghtta’s Astanga
Hridaya. The Yunani system which originated in Greece in about 400 BC, came to India through Arab Physicians, who accompanied Mogul invaders and came to be known as Yunani Tibb. The Siddha system, with a record history from about
2000 BC is believed to have originated from Lord Shiva and to have been passed on through his wife Parvati to a number of disciples. Its use became more common in Dravidian Civilization.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 31 Chapter - II Review of Literature
The texts of each of these three systems deal with herbs used in these systems only. Books in English, written between the 18th century and today, usually include plants from all three systems (Jain, 1994). The Indian system of herbal medicine and its plant-drugs caught the attention of the West since the beginning of the colonial days. Garcia da Orta, the personal physician of the then
Portuguese Governor in India published his Colloquios on the Samples and Drugs of India in 1563; and this was published in a 12 volume work of Kerala Medicinal
Plants (1678-1703) from Amsterdam. Other important contributions are: A
Catalogue of Indian Medicinal Plants and Drugs (Fleming, 1810); Materia
Medica of Hindoostan (Ainslie, 1813). In India, organised study of ethnobotany is of recent origin (middle of the century).
Traditional home gardens have been described as man-managed ecosystems with high energy subsidy, complex structure and multiple functions. These have been reported as treasure trove of a rich biodiversity of plant species including medicinal plants used for traditional home remedies of various ailments. From the available literature it can be ascertained that these traditional rural home gardens can be a suitable site for conservation, propagation, and expansion of medicinal plants that form the backbone of the traditional medicine system and are fast dwindling due to over exploitation and development pattern (Bajpai et al., 2013).
In the hilly areas of Indian Himalaya, the inhabitants largely depend on plants for curing various diseases. The indigenous knowledge and traditional practices of medicinal plants are vanishing fast. Therefore, we aimed to document
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 32 Chapter - II Review of Literature
indigenous uses of some important medicinal plants of Kullu District (Vidyarthi et al., 2013).
2.6.1 Origin of Ethnobotany in India
Studies on ethnobotany was initiated by Janaki Ammal as an official programme in the Economic Botany Section of Botanical Survey of India since its very inception in 1954 and she published a paper on subsistence economic of
India (Janaki Ammal, 1956). From 1960, Jain started intensive field studies among tribals of Central India (1964a-d). The publication from his group in early sixties triggered ethnobotanical activities in many other centres, particularly among botanists, anthropologists and ayurvedic medical practitioners.
During the last two decades work has been initiated at inter alia, National
Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow; National Bureau of Plant Genetic
Resources, Delhi; Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow;
Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha and Central Council for Research in
Unani Medicine. Several Universities have introduced ethnobotany in their syllabi. An All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on ethnobiology came into operation from 1982 at NBRI, Lucknow, four centres of Botanical
Survey of India (Shillong, Howrah, Coimbatore and Port Blair) and some other institutions (Jain and Mirtra, 1997), Mudgal (1987) gave a synoptic treatment on ethnobotanical work in India. Ethnobotanical research works carried out in India are arranged statewise, alphabetically. Work done in seven sister states of North
East region are reviewed separately. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 33 Chapter - II Review of Literature
2.6.2 Books and Thesis on Ethnomedicine / Ethnobotany
Over 30 books have been published which contain the term Ethnobotany or
Tribal medicine in their titles. The books represent almost all regions of India from north to south (Sood et al., 2001 on N.W. Himalayas. Rama Rao and Hendry on Andhra, 1996), from west to east (Singh and Pandey, 1998 on Rajasthan,
Saklani and Jain, 1994), and on many other parts of northern (Maheshwari et al.,
1981), central (Varghese and Hembrom, 2000), and Peninsular India (Vedavathy et al., 1997), Central some books deal with concepts and methodologies (Jain
1989; Jain and Mudgal, 1999), and some are a collection of regional and other studies (Jain, 1987b). One Comprehensive Dictionary (Jain, 1991) summarizes the information published until 1990 on over 2500 plants; and another Dictionary
(Jain and Srivastava, 1999) deals with over 850 ethnoveterinary plants.
2.6.3 Major Ethnic Groups
Over 275 papers relate to specific ethnic groups. Studies on the Tharu of north India (Maheshwari et al., 1981; Saini, 1996), bordering Nepal (Manandhar,
1985), Baiga, Gond and Sahariya of Central India (Singh and Prakash, 1994), Bhil of Rajasthan (Joshi, 1981, 1982), Santals of Bihar (Goel et al., 1984, 1987), Irulas and Kanikkar of South India (Balasubramaniam et al., 1997; Janakiammal and
Debadhas, 1978), Naga Khasi and Garo of eastern India (Rao, 1981; Jamir and
Rao, 1982; Jamir, 1990, 1991, 1997), Onge of Little Andaman (Awasthi and Goel,
1999), and the Nicobarese (Dagar, 1989) have resulted in valuable publications.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 34 Chapter - II Review of Literature
2.6.4 Work on Folk Medicinal Plants
Majority of papers on ethnomedicobotany deal with diseases for which the folk reported the cures, but some researchers did lay emphasis on indigenous cures for specific diseases. About 150 papers deal with over 60 kinds of ailments and injuries. Some topical themes such as family planning including the terms such as antifertility, birth-control, conception, contraception, and fertility regulation are the subject of many publications. Over 25 papers deal with family planning, and about a dozen each with skin diseases, intestinal infections and liver disorders.
2.6.5 State-wise and Region-wise Coverage
Some states / regions in India have received more attention, and 20 or more publications have appeared on them. These are in the order of number of publications: Uttar Pradesh (80), Madhya Pradesh (59), Rajasthan (58), Andhra
Pradesh (50), Orissa (45), Bihar (44), Bengal (40), Jammu and Kashmir (40),
Maharashtra (37), Assam (32), Tamil Nadu (27) and Kerala (20). This analysis is on the basis of the names of the state appearing in the title and can be only approximate.
2.6.6 Botanical Coverage
A majority of papers deals with dozens of families and hundreds of species of ethnobotanical significance in any area. About 150 papers deal with only one or two particular species in detail. A few plants such as Aisandra butyracea (Roxb.),
Baehni (Pandey and Arora, 1989), Cissus quandrangularis L. (Kumbhojkar et al.,
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 35 Chapter - II Review of Literature
1991), Grewia optiva Drumm. (Lata, 1996), Rauvolfia serpentine L. (Shah, 1995) and Trichopus zeylanicus ssp. Travancoricus Burkill ex. Narayanan
(Pushpangadan et al., 1995) have been the subject of more than one title. It is not only the angiosperms which have attracted ethnobotanists; other groups of plants have also received attention of ethnobotanists: Pant and Tewari (1990) on bryophytes, Sharma and Vyas (1985) on ferns and fern allies, Joshi et al. (1997) on fungi and Upreti (1996) on lichens.
2.6.7 Researchers and their Publication
A glance at over 1250 recent references shows that about 250 investigators, mostly botanists and usually taxonomists, have been publishing on ethnobotany in
India. Papers on Indian ethnobotany have appeared in over 100 periodicals.
Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany and Ethnobotany have published over 150 papers each during the period under review; other notable journals in this respect are Economic Botany, Ancient Science of Life, Bulletin of the Botanical
Survey of India, Bulletin of Medicoethnobotanical Research, and Journal of
Ethnopharmacology.
2.7 Studies in India on Ethnomedicine / Ethnobotany
The analysis brings out certain lacunae and possible directions for future work. The mountainous regions of northwest and northeast India, as also the
Southern and Western Ghats regions are particularly rich in plant diversity including land races and wild relatives of crop plants. They are also the home of varied ethnic groups. Yet, studies on these hilly regions have not been adequate; –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 36 Chapter - II Review of Literature
for example, there are only about a dozen papers each on Ladakh, Himachal
Pradesh, Kumaon, Nagaland and Manipur. Very little work has been done on the states on Mizoram, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar and southern parts of Peninsular
India. Some significant aspects of ethnobotanical researches on which Botanists,
Agricultural Scientists, Anthropologists, Geographers and other Naturalists are working in other parts of the world, are almost not being studied in India. Some such themes are mentioned below:
1. The impact of use and extraction of one or a few specific plants for food,
medicine, dyes, gums, house-building or other needs, and trade on the
population of these species, or on biodiversity and ecosystem of the region.
2. The impact of faith and taboos associated with certain plants or sacred groves
on conservation of those species and on the ecosystem, and other
conservation practices of the folk.
3. The concept of the folk taxonomy of various kinds of plants of their
surroundings, e.g., any notable system of classification into small or large
groups, comparable in any manner with botanical families, genera or other
taxa, and any expression of such knowledge in local names of plants.
4. Any discernible gender, age, occupation or other demarcations among the
folk relating to knowledge about plants of their vicinity.
5. Tribal arts such as painting, tattooing, and artefacts, which can be developed
into cottage industries for socio-economic benefits.
6. Tribe and plant specific studies.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 37 Chapter - II Review of Literature
2.8 Organised Ethnomedicinal / Ethnobotanical Research
The presence of multiethnic groups of ancient lineage and the occurrence of very diverse vegetation make India one of the richest countries in ethnobotanical knowledge. The country is inhabited by over 50 million tribals. Angiosperm species alone occurring in India are estimated to be about 20000. The local health traditions originated in close association with the ambient vegetation before centuries and stabilized through ages in different parts of India. It is estimated, make use of more than 6000 plant species (Bulletin of Foundation for
Revitalisation of Local Health Tradition, 1991).
Organised study and research in Indian ethnobotany with emphasis on tribal systems of medicine and culture are of recent origin initiated in the middle of this century. Earlier works like A Catalogue of Indian Medicinal Plant and Drugs
(Fleming, 1810), Materia Medica of Hindoostan (Ainslie, 1813) and Indigenous
Drugs of India (Chopra, 1933) dealt mainly with plants and drugs of established indigenous systems of Indian Medicine, Bazaar Medicines and Common
Medicinal Plants of India (Waring, 1897) is a little different contribution and contains many folk remedies.
Since 1960 ethnobotanical research in India has been intensified in the country. This awakening resulted in bringing out volumes like Ethnobotany (Jain,
1981), A Manual of Ethnobotany (Jain, 1987a), Methods and Approaches in
Ethnobotany (Jain, 1987b) and Dictionary of Indian Folk Medicine and
Ethnobotany (Jain, 1991). –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 38 Chapter - II Review of Literature
2.9 Ethnomedicine / Ethnobotanical Research in Tamil Nadu
Ethnobotanical investigations of any significance were carried out in Tamil
Nadu only in the beginning of seventies. Rajagopalan and Vijayatilakan (1972) studied folk medicine of nomadic Narikaravans. Medicinal flora of different tribal pockets in The Nilgiris and health practices prevalent in these areas were investigated by Raghunathan (1976), Ethnobotany of the Irulas was studied by
Ramachandran and Nair (1981), Ramachandran and Manian (1989), Raja and
Subramanian (1993) and Muthuselvan et al. (2005). Janakiammal and Jelehedas
(1978) Janakiammal and Debadhas (1978) made the first survey of Kannikars of
South India.
Later Janakiammal and Nagendra Prasad (1984) investigated the ethnobotany of Costus speciosus with special reference to Kannikkars of the state.
Apparanathan and Chelladurai (1986) investigated the folk medicine of
Dharmapuri forests. Abraham (1981) studied ethnobotany of Todas, Kotas and
Irulas of the Nilgiris. Folk medicinal claims from North Arcot district were reported by Anandan and Veluchamy (1986). Chelladurai (1987) gave an account of the folk medicinal value of Dolichos falcatus (Minnikizhangu) among the adivasis of point Calimere.
Folklore medicine prevalent at Dhoomanoor and Chempakarari areas of
Anaikkatty Hills in Coimbatore was recorded by Lakshmanan and
Sankaranarayanan (1988) and antifertility herbals in 1990. Lakshmanan (1986) had studied the ethnobotany of the Kotas. Ethnobotany of the Malayalis in the –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 39 Chapter - II Review of Literature
Yelagiri hills of North Arcot district and Vellore district and the Kannis of
Kalakad-Mundanthrurai was also studied by Viswanathan (1989, 1997, 2001),
Ravisankar and Vijayasankar (2003), Sekaran and Jagadesan (1997) and
Reenakumari and Narasimhan (2003).
Plants like Ficus benghalensis, Embelia ribes, Cissampelos pareira, Bulea frondosa, Piper betle, Piper nigrum, Ocimum sanctum and Thespesia populnea are used as antifertility drugs by tribals at Anaikkatty hills (Lakshmanan and
Sankaranarayanan, 1990). Gums from Acacia arabica and Azadirachta indica are considered to be having contraceptive properties. For abortion, Tamarindus indica, Capsicum annum, Aloe vera, Plumbago zeylanica, Amaranthus spinosus and Carica papaya are employed by tribals of this area.
Balasubramanian and Narandera Prasad (1996) studied the ethnomedicinal plants of the Nilgiri Biospherae Reserve. Let by the latter Balasubramanian et al.
(1997) studied the Irulas folk medicine in Coimbatore district forests. Janarthanan
(1997) also investigated the same aspect among the Irulas. Dwarakan and
Alagesaboopathi (1996) surveyed the Kolli hills for Ethnoveterinary medicine.
Kathiresan and Ramanathan (1997) worked on the medicinal plants of
Parangipettai coast. Dhandapani et al. (2007) investigated ethno veterinary herbal practices in Thanjavur district and Perambalur districts. Sankar Ganesh et al.
(2007) surveyed folklore values of weeds grown in the wastelands of
Vedharanyam and Kodiakarai, Nagapattinam District.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 40 Chapter - II Review of Literature
Balu et al. (2000) highlighted 30 folklore botanical remedies for diabetes in the Cauvery Delta of Tamil Nadu. Yoganarasimhan (2000) published a book on
‘Ethnomedicinal Plants of Tamil Nadu’. An ethnomedicinal plant survey of
Melapattam by John de Britto and Chellaperumal (1996) and Tirunelveli district by Jery Thomas and John de Britto (2000) have shown the use of 53 common weeds of medicinal importance.
Karuppasamy and Kumuthakalavalli (1998) surveyed folklore medicinal claims in Sirumalai hills of Dindigul. Along with Karuppasamy et al. (2006), surveyed medicinal plant resources of Dindigul district. Sundaresan and John de
Britto (2000) did similar survey in that area. Dakshinamurthy and Norman (2013) also studied the ethnobotany of Sirumalai hills. Prasad et al. (1996) made ethnobotanical survey among the Kannikars. A similar survey was made in
Pichchavaram mangroves by Ravindran et al. (2005).
Ethnobotanical work in Kanyakumari District was done held by Rosa Kutty et al. (2000). An useful documentation for the Nilgiris is that of Suresh Baburaj et al. (2000) who have enumerated 166 species in 61 genera useful in the
Homoeopathic system of medicine. Shevaroy hills were surveyed by
Alagesaboopathi et al. (2000) for its ethnobotanical wealth. For the Chitheris, the work was done by Subramanian (2000) who has listed 106 species used by the indigenous population of the area.
Cyril Nayagam and Pushparaj (2000) have documented the varied uses of
Mimosa pudica in the Nilgiris and the other parts of Tamil Nadu. Dwarakan and –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 41 Chapter - II Review of Literature
Alagesaboopathi (2000) have codified data based on folklore information obtained from the locals from different parts adjoining the hills of Salem District.
Observations on three important diseases, the use of humans and the livestock medicine have been reported for 25 plant species and were identified by showing the live specimens to the native doctors.
Rajan (1992, 2002), Rajendran and Aswal (2000), Suresh Baburaj et al.
(2000), Rajan et al. (2003), Vijayan et al. (2003, 2004) made an intensive ethnobotanical survey of plants used as herbal cosmetics and ethnomedicinal plants by tribals of the Nilgiris.
Ramachandran and Nair (1981) studied ethnobotanical value of 119 genera of 138 species of 52 plant families used by the Irulas of Tamil Nadu. Later
Karthikeyani and Janarthanan (2003) conducted ethnoveterinary survey in
Siruvani hills and also studied the poisonous bites. Later they also studied folk medicine of the lower Palni hill tribals (2003). Rajan et al. (2003) have also listed
15 plant species used by the Irulas from the Nilgiris. Rajaram has studied the ethnomedicinal aspects in Coimbatore district (2004a, b, 2006) and similarly
Senthilkumar et al. (2006).
Arinathan et al. (2003) surveyed ethno-medico-botanical knowledge among
Paliyar tribals in different pockets of the Srivilliputhur Grizzled Giant Squirrel
Wild Life Sanctuary and enumerated 30 plants species belonging to 20 families used in 37 ailments. Muthukumarasamy et al. (2003) and Sivakumar et al. (2003) have also undertaken similar research. Research on the Valaiyan tribals was –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 42 Chapter - II Review of Literature
initiated by Ganesan and Kesavan (2003) and they have listed 84 angiospermic plant species belonging to 82 genera belonging to 40 families which were used by them. Nadanakunjidam (2003) studied the ethnobotany of the tribals of Attapadi.
He has enumerated the use of 48 plant species (including one gymnosperm and two pteridophytes) belonging to 47 genera and 35 families. Rural ethnobotany of the districts of Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts was the focus in the works of Rajendran et al. (2003) who have accounted for 50 species belonging to
40 genera and 26 families.
The Anaimalais are the abode of Palian tribals and Rajendran (1994) followed by Sivakumar et al. (2003) have documented the ethnomedicines of the paliyans, for the treatment of various ailments, food, cultural traditional and religious ceremonies. Further, the habitat of the plants and the occupational aspects of the tribals are also noted. Kadmban and others (2003) worked on the traditional medicinal on practices of Pondicherry region. John Britto et al. (2004) studied the ethnobotany of sacred groves in Tamil Nadu. John Britto (2007) studied ethnomedicinal legumes of the Pacchaimalais of Perambalur District.
In the eastern ghats of Tamil Nadu, the Kolli hills are traditionally held to be abundant in medicinal plants. Dwarakan and Ansari (1992, 1996) surveyed the folk practices of Kolli hills. Geetha et al. (1996) surveyed the Kolli hills for ethnoveterinary practices. Subramani and Goraya (2003) conducted an ethnomedico botanical discussion among traditional folk practitioners at Nattu
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 43 Chapter - II Review of Literature
Vaidyas Sammelan at Kolli Hills. Information about 71 folk medicinal plant have been recorded.
The indigenous use of herbals by the Valaiyans of Madurai District has been documented by Subramanian et al. (2003), followed by Sandhya et al.
(2006). An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in 2006, east coast districts in
2002, and south-western ghats by Henry et al. in 1996, and Rajendran et al. in
2002, 2003, and southern districts of Tamil Nadu. Hosagoudar and Henry (1996) surveyed the ethnobotany of the Kadars, Malasars and Muthuvans.
Traditional use of herbals in the villages of Madurai, Dindigul and Theni districts was surveyed by Rajendran and Kasthuri Rengamani (2006) and 74 species of 68 genera under 34 families were identified and their uses documented.
Jeevan and Kingston (2005) studied skin diseases in Kanyakumari district.
Ethnomedicinal plants used by the Kaadar tribes living in the forests of the
Top Slip and adjacent regions in Pollachi was analysed by Udayan et al. (2006).
Other contributions in this direction are by Muthukumarasamy et al. (2003),
Duraipandian et al. (2006) among the Paliyans, Muthuselvan et al. (2005) among
Irulas, Muthu et al. (2006) and Chelliah et al. (2006) among the traditional healers of Kancheepuram district, Ignacimuthu et al. (1998) among the Knnikars, Madurai district tribals (2006), Ayyanar and Ignacimuthu (2005, 2006) among the tribals of
Tirunelveli district, Kiruba and others (2006) investigated ethnoveterinary medicinal plants of Kanyakumari District.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 44 Chapter - II Review of Literature
2.10 Conclusion
From the review presented here, it is obvious that a systematic ethno- medicinal and ethnobotanic research for the Thalaimalai has not been undertaken in the past and this investigator has ventured upon this for the first time. The field work and the data accruing from exploration will form a firm foundation for initiating a multipronged research endeavour involving the local vaidayas together with ethnobotanists, ethnopharmacologists, physicians and phytochemists.
______
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 45
Chapter - III MATERIALS AND METHODS . .
3.1 Introduction
To study ethnobotany / ethnomedicobotany the plant-human interaction has
to be observed carefully within the dynamic ecosystem in which they exist. The
central point of observation is, what role do the plants play in their life? What
ethnobotanical processes are occurring and what is the net result? This chapter
will show the approach and methodology adopted for ethnomedicobotanical study
of the Thalaimalai.
Though there is no specific ethnobotanic work on the Thalaimalai some
good floristic works on the region were consulted prior to the field work. Matthew
(1983), The Flora of the Tamil Nadu Carnatic formed the main source of study.
For comparison of ethnomedicinal uses, Dictionary of Indian Folk Medicine and
Ethnobotany (Haines, 1925), Wild Relatives of Crop Plants in India (Arora, 1995)
and Useful Plants of India (Ambasta, 1986) have been referred. Uses of plants not
mentioned in these books are treated as less-known.
3.2 Area of Study: The Thalaimalai
3.2.1 The Eastern Ghats
Geographically, the eastern ghats consists of three secrete sections, the
northern (Nimgiri, Orissa), the central (Nallamalai near to Chennai) and the
souther section that runs in a west–southwest direction, meeting the western ghats
in the Nilgiris Hills and on the southeast Javadi Hills, Melagiris, Shervarayan, ______Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 46 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
Chitteri, Bodnmalai, Kalrayan, Kolli Hills and Thalaimalai Hills are located in
Tamil Nadu, India (Map 3.1).
Study Area
The present study was undertaken in the Thalaimalai hills are part of the eastern ghats in Tamil Nadu (Map 3.2) and are in Namakkal Forest Division of
Namakkal District (Map 3.3). The altitude of Thalaimalai700 meters (2400 feet)
(Map 3.4). Thalaimalai is situated on the north of river Cauvery, south of Kolli
Hills, west of Kolakkudi–Pavithram main road, and east of Tiruchirappalli–
Namakkal main road. There are four ways to reach the Thalaimalai. In and around the Thalaimalai hills 20 villages are located.
City Distance to Thalaimalai
300 km from Chennai 130 km from Madurai 150 km from Coimbatore 65 km from Erode 67 km from Salem 35 km from Namakkal 65 km from Tiruchirappalli
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 47 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
Map 3.1: India
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 48 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
Map 3.2: Tamil Nadu
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 49 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
Map 3.3: Namakkal District
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 50 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
Map 3.4: Study Area
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 51 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
Photos showing Thalaimalai Hills
Thalaimalai Hills Thalaimalai Temple
A panoramic view of study area
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 52 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
3.2.2 Climate
The climate is generally cooler on the hill plateaus than in the plains. The area has a tropical climate, with the temperature ranging from 15 ° to 30 °C. The climate of the hills is generally cool and pleasant. The main seasons are the dry
(January to March), hot (April to May) and monsoons like the South West monsoons (June to September) and the North East monsoons (October to
December) Most of the rainfall is brought by the NE monsoons and to some extent the SW monsoons. The annual rainfall of the area ranges from 600-900 mm annually.
3.2.3 Forest Types
The Thalaimalai hill has two major forest types and the non-forest area including built up land, agriculture and cliff area.
3.2.4 Dry Mixed Deciduous type
This type of forest class comes under the Southern dry mixed deciduous forest. This is generally seen on the exposed slopes with the altitudinal ranges of
400 to 1000 m. The forest type shows dominance of Albizia amara, Anogeissus latifolia, Commiphora caudata and Diospyros montana. This forest type is well distributed on the higher elevations of the study area including the peaks.
3.2.5 Dry Deciduous scrub
This forest class corresponds to 5 DSI type. This is the degrading from the dry deciduous forest wherein the scrubs have occupied the canopy gaps. In many places soil is exposed and comprises species like Anogeissus latifolia, Albizia amara, Dalbergia latifolia, Cholroxylon awietenia and commpihora caudata.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 53 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
3.2.6 Southern Thorn Scrub
This forest belongs to 6A/DSI type of Champion and Seth classification.
The area shows dominance of Anogeissus latifolia, Tamarinds indica,
Chloroxylon swietenia, Albizia amara and Psydrax umbellatum. The presence of
DMD forest species in this forest type is an indicator of the nature’s persistence to reestablish the historical flora.
3.2.7 Southern Thorn forest
This forest type comes under Champion and Seth classification. The forest type consists mostly dense thorny species. The forest is next in degrading hierarchy of the natural forest and the area shows dominance of Anogeissus latifolia, Albizia amara, Psydrax dicoccos, etc. among other species. The forest type concerned is a clear indicator of degradation as most of the dominant species are of dry deciduous type, but due to the degradation process there is intermittent presence of such species.
3.2.8 Riparian forest
This class corresponds to the Southern dry tropical riparian forest (5A/1s1).
This type of forest is chiefly distributed in narrow strips along the hilly section of larger streams and the species composition is typical of the area wherein there is a contrast in the species composition. One happens to see scarce a presence of
Terminalia arjuna a typical indicator of riparian forest. The species occupancy in the study area is Psydrax dicoccos, Tamarindus indica, Pterocarpus marsupium and Terminalia crenulata.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 54 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
3.2.9 Euphorbia Scrub forest
The forest stand represents the southern Euphobia scrub forest (6A/DS2) and is found mostly at the foothills i.e., 200 m. The forest stand as true to the class described id predominant with Euphorbia species. The area characterized with bare, shallow and exposed soil with frequent rocky outgrowth. The forest type represents the ultimate stage in degrading from of successional hierarchy. The dominant species other than Euphorbia antiquorum is Tamarindus indica.
3.2.10 Forest Plantations
The forest department has been reforested certain wasteland and degraded area and the strategy various according to the division and the suitability of the soil in the locality. The forest plantation includes Tamarind, Eucalyptus and
Bamboo, plantations etc. The social forestry division (interface forestry) has been planting forest species from 1998 onwards.
3.2.11 Forest Cover Density
The forest density classification has depicted as dense forest (crown cover
40% and above followed by open (crown cover 10-40% and scrub vegetation
(crown cover below 10%).
3.2.12 Accessibility
There are four ways to reach the hills: from the east side - Neeliyampatti,
8 km; west side - Vadavathur, 4 km; north side - Erumaipatti, 5 km; and south side
- Sevienthipatti, 6 km.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 55 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
3.2.13 Fauna
Wild life is part of forest eco-system. The destruction of habitat and merciless hunting Jagridar’s time resulted in dwindling number. Black buck, barking deer, sloth bear, jungle cats, and jackeal spotted deer, mouse deer, porcupine and python are the commonly seen animals. Birds such as grey jungle fowl, grey patridge, pigeon, and red turtle doves are also available. Jackals,
Monkeys, porcupine, mangoose, wild boars and other wild life are available in
Namakkal range. The open jungles provide a vain habitat quails, jungle fowl and patridges.
3.3 Field Work
This work is the result of personal observations made after taking-up carefully planned field trips in the Thalaimalai during October 2009 to April 2012.
Reference work was done in the Botany Department and in the Rapinat
Herbarium, at St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
3.4 Informants
Before launching the field work, discussions were held and guidance was sought from distinguished researchers and scholars in different centers such as
Thanjavur Tamil University, Manonmanium Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli and Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai. The local informants were of five types:
1. The medicine men (Natu Vaidyas) of the surrounding hill villages and cattle
medicine men (Mattu Vaidyas).
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 56 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
2. Village headmen, forest rangers and elders of the village and their wives or
other women.
3. The interpreters.
4. Men and women working in the field either in agriculture or collection of
minor forest products.
5. Men and women in weekly market, places of worship and common places.
One or more medicine men accompanied the team during data collection and field work. Twenty village leaders, five medicine men and several villagers have contributed to the information reported in this investigation. Each medicinal use has been cross-checked with the village leaders from different villages.
Participating in the village meeting of Forest Protecting Association
Council and other events was of great use in collection of information on plants and to observe how they are used. Photographing some of their plant-related activities and some important plants, recording some of their folklores, and interviews were also done.
3.5 Method of Data Collection
Trip-1 : 22nd November to 25th November 2009 Trip-2 : 28th December to 30th December 2009 Trip-3 : 3rd January to 10th January 2010 Trip-4 : 13th February to 21st February 2010 Trip-5 : 25th July to 28th July 2010 Trip-6 : 10th August to 23rd August 2010 Trip-7 : 5th January to 12th January 2011 Trip-8 : 18th January to 28th January 2011 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 57 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
Trip-9 : 6th March to 18th March 2011 Trip-10 : 9th April to 15th April 2011 Trip-11 : 25th April to 26th April 2012 Trip-12 : 24th June to 25th April 2012
These field trips were so planned that all in two segments south and north beat regions of Thalaimalai were covered at different seasons. During field work, personal observations were noted in the field book on the environment and ecology, flora, agricultural practices and agro-economy, subsistence food, plant resource management, conservational aspects, the people and their life. Reports of the interpreter, forest ranger, medicine men and elders of the village (men and women) were also recorded. About 3-5 voucher specimens of each ethnomedicinal plant were collected and numbered. Their description, reported uses and other details were entered in the field book on the spot. On return to the camp, these specimens were kept in the field press as per standard procedure recorded in Field,
Techniques and Herbarium Methods (Jain and Rao, 1976). Field interviews involved walking with elders in the areas where they normally collected their medicinal plants. After picking a plant, they consulted among themselves on the medicinal uses of the plant. In the house to house interviews elders of the village especially women were given due importance. Local forest rangers served as interpreters during the conduct of the interviews. A questionnaire was framed for these interviews adopting the method of Jain (1977) (Vide Appendix-I).
Interviews with women at home and medicine men proved very informative.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 58 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
3.6 Laboratory Work
Laboratory work mainly consisted of processing, study of morphology, dissection, identification, matching, mounting, labeling and preservation of the specimens. At the conclusion of each field trip the collection was brought to the
Botany Department and Rapinat Herbarium, St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli,
Tamil Nadu.
3.7 Identification and Matching
Floral parts were dissected and identification was done with the help of keys to families, genera and species, provided in the Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic (Matthew, 1981-83).
3.8 Analysis and Presentation of Data
Pooling, analysis and presentation of data form a major part of the work.
For pooling and presentation of the data, first the ethnomedicinally important plants are enumerated alphabetically. The data for each species are given with the following sub-headings:
Botanical Name :
Family :
Local Name :
Diagnostic Description of the Plant :
Part Used :
Preparation and Administration :
Specimen Examined :
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 59 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
In describing the plant, mostly the notes in the field book are used. But, for uniformity, standard floristic works such as Flora of Tamil Nadu Carnatic was consulted. Every effort has been made to ascertain the name changes and affix the correct Botanical name. The local names as given by the villagers have been followed. Though Chapters IV in this thesis are related to a large extent on the information collected during the field trips, yet they are presented separately because of the following reasons:
1. The sources of information are mainly the data gathered from the whole
group that accompanied the researcher in the field and so it is a general
account of ethnomedicinal usage of collected plants in the Thalaimalai.
2. Pharmacology and it chiefly consists of the information shared by the village
medicine men and specially women engaged in health care practices and on
ethnoveterinary practices which were collected from village elders, hill
farmers and medicine men dealing with cattle (Maatu Vaidyas) and on the
conservation of biological resources in the hill.
3.9 Photo documentation
Besides collection of plant specimen for identification, the photo documentation was also done by using Canon Paxer Shot A550, with the 4.5
Megapikeel and Photo Plates were made with the software Adobe 7.0.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 60 Chapter - III Materials and Methods
3.10 Conclusion
Mankind has been developing throughout the world a traditional medicine used on the knowledge of medicinal plants. This knowledge got enriched over numerous generations due to experimentation. Most of the time, this information is only orally inherited and is therefore in danger of being lost in favour of modern medicine. Moreover, it represents for the local population a possibility of simple and cheap treatment. In addition it is a source of potentially important new pharmaceutical substances. The interest and urgency of ethnomedicinal research along the Thalaimalai traditional practitioners therefore assumes significance. In this process, a proper methodology adopted to retrieve traditional knowledge is essential. Keeping this prospective, the methodology proposed in this chapter underscores the role of traditional practitioners, their committed participation and cooperation. The interviews and queries should focus on experience, knowledge acquisition, diagnostic methods, treatment, preparation of plant extracts and mode of administration. The investigator was well clear that getting the confidence of local vaidyas informants would tone up the quality of skill to be acquired.
_____
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 61
Chapter-IV
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
. .
4.1 Enumeration of the Thalaimalai Hill - Ethnomedicinal Plants and Uses
The data were recorded in the field and gathered from plant collection and
interviews with local traditional practioners and medicine men and women are
accounted here. The detailed information pertaining to medicinal uses, as well as
dosage and mode of administration are presented. Ethno medicinal species are
alphabetically arranged in the sequence of botanical name, family, local name
ethno medicinal use, and part used and specimen citation. Only those species that
are frequently used are enumerated here. The data have also been compared with
similar knowledge documented from other tribal in the other hills of Tamil Nadu
such as the Irulas, Paliyans and the Malayalis of Tamil Nadu (Table 4.1).
______Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 62 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Table 4.1: Enumeration of Ethnomedicinal Plants and Uses
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Abrus precatorius L. Fabaceae Kuntumani A twining shrub. Leaves Root, Root paste is used in APM-209 ssp. precatorius paripinnate; Leaflets Leaf cough, cold, wounds and linear-oblong flower menstrual troubles. Leaf pink, in axillary racemes, juice is taken orally twice Seeds scarlet with a black daily for urinary spot. complaints. Leaf paste is applied on affected part twice a day for one week to cure any type of skin disease. Decoction of leaves is used to wash the eyes early morning for one month to cure poor eye sight. Abutilon indicum (L.) Malvaceae Thutti Shrub, leaves simple; Root, Leaf extract with APM-177 Sweet ssp. indicum flowers yellow, 2.5 cm in Leaf buttermilk is given orally diameter. Opening in the to cure dysentery. Leaf evening; fruit of ripe extract with castor oil is carpels separating from used to cure piles. Root the axis. powder is taken for treatment of leucorrhoea. Acacia caesia (L.) Mimosacae Kari Indu Climber with minute, Bark, For lesion and for burning APM-150 Willd. hooked prickles; leaves Root sensation during high fever –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 63 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined bipinnate, pinnae 5.0-7.5 root paste is applied. cm long, leafltes 0.3-0.5 cm; heads yellow; pods straight strap- shaped. dehiscent 8-12 seeded. Acacia cantala Roxb. Agavaceae Nil Tall trunks, slender Seeds The seeds and seedlings APM-282 rosettes, thin, often used for soil binding, recurved leaves are linear. leaves used for coir Light or dark green making, Biopesticides. leaves, 150-200 cm long and 7-9 cm wide. Leaf margin is straight. 6-8 m high Rispige inflorescence has a slender stem. Flower tube is 14-17 mm long. Acacia catechu (L.f) Mimosaceae Nil Tree up to 10 m; spikes Heart- Gonorrhoea, anti-cancer APM-141 Willd. axillary, cylindrical; wood, and bark decoction for flowers small, sessile, Gum, dysentery and diarrhoea. pale ereamy white, fruits Bark flat, brown pods, shiny with a triangular beak at the apex and narrowed at the base; seed 3-10 per pod. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 64 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Acacia chundra Willd. Mimosaceae Surangali A moderate-sized tree; Leaf Leaf paste mixed with APM-072 branches armed. Leaves castor oil (Ricinus bipinnate; leaflets oblong, communis) applied to boils flowers yellowish-white, and blisters. in spikes. Pods brown, compressed. Acacia farnesiana (L.) Mimosaceae Chillodai Erect shrub with zigzag Leaf, Various parts mentioned APM-274 Willd. branches; leaves Flower, above are used for alternated, bipinnate with Pigments, gonorrhoea, abortion, and minute leaflets; flowers Pods, cholera and for borne on axillary cymose bark convulsions; bark for heads, small, fragrant, malaria. bright yellow; pods 5.0- 7.5 cm long, 1.25 cm thick, dull brown, marked with 10-12 fine close horizontal constrictions. Acacia horrida (L.) Fabaceae Dev Babul Low spreading shrub, Bark, Tree is used for tanning APM-280 Willd. sometimes tree native to leaves industry. It also produces both the wet and dry good gum, but it is scrublands. It frequently yellowish in colour. has stipular spine. 9.5 cm long.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 65 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Acacia leucophloca L. Fabaceae Moderate sized tree, Bark Barks of this tree are used APM-281 crooked trunce, leaves for an antipyretic, an appear in April and antidote for snake bites and yellowish white flowers, in the treatment of fruits are thin, flat, curred bronchitis, vomiting, tomentose pods. cough, wounds, ulcers, diarrhea and dental cavies Acacia nilotica (L.) Mimosaceae Karuvelam A moderated-sized tree; Leaves, Paste made from 10 gm APM-017 Willd. ex Del ssp. branches armed, Leaves flowers, gum and two leaves of indica (Benth) Brenan bipinnate; leaflets linear- fruits Amaltas is taken with cow oblong. Flowers yellow. milk powder of unripe in globose heads. pods fruit, flowers and leaves white-tomentose torulose. mixed in equal quantity with sugar and water taken to relieve from leucorrhoea. Acacia polyacantha Mimosaceae Kovalai Mullu A stout prickly climbing Stem Stem bark paste for APM-074 Willd. Maram shrub; leaves bipinnate, bark swelling of throat of cattle. main rachis bearing sharp hooked prickles and a large gland on the petiole, pinnae 8 pairs or more. Leaflets subsessile, sensitive; flowers small in globose heads, –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 66 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined polygamous; fruits short- stalked in thin pods. Seeds 6-10 per pod. Acacia sinuate (Lour.) Mimosaceae Chiyakaai A large, prickly climbing Leaf, fruit Pounded leaf is bandaged APM-053 Merr. shrub. Leaves bipinnate; after setting the bone leaflets linear, Flowers properly (Bone fracture). greenish-white in globose Ash obtained from burning heads, pods thick fleshy the dried fruits is mixed rugose compressed. with gingelly oil and applied for Eczerna. Acalypha fruticosa Euphorbiaceae Sirini Shrubs, Leaves ovale; Leaf Leaf juice mixed with APM-155 Frossk spikes 3-cm long. Bracts common salt relieves bell shaped. stomach pain and stomach upset. Acalypha indica L. Euphorbiaceae Kuppaimeni An erect herb. Leaves Leaf Leaf paste with common APM-279 simple, ovate, cuneate at salt and mixed with curd is base, crenate-serrate, applied on sores and glabrous. Flowers in seabies. Leaf paste mixed axillary spikes, coarsely with common salt for hairy. eczema. Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthaceae Nayurivi An erect, diffuse herb. Seed, Plant decoction is used to APM-006 fine-pubescent. Leaves Root, cure swelling. Seed powder simple, opposite, Infloresce mixed with honey is given decussate, obovate- nce, to cure cough. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 67 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined orbicular, entire, rounded. whole Inflorescence and seed Flowers greenish-white, plant paste is applied on the in terminal spikes. Fruits wounded of snake bite. deflexed; seeds shining. When brushed with root relieves pain and cleans the teeth. Root paste is applied on hypogastrium to relieve excessive labour pain. Acorus calamus L. Araceae Vasambu Semi-aquatic aromatic Rhizome, Oil prepared with rhizome APM-040 herbs with creeping root Root used for epilepsy along stocks, leaves simple, with Carrisa carandas L. sessile; flowers in Dried root powder with ash spadix;fruits berries. of cow dung (1:1) used for killing lice on bodies of chick. Actiniopteris radiate Pteridophyte Nill Ferns in cool and shady Fronds The paste of about twenty APM-106 (Sw.) Link. areas. grams of fresh green fronds is applied externally on the stomach especially around the navel area for three days once or twice to reduce colic pain even among adults.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 68 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Adhatoda zeylanica Acanthaceae Aadathodai Shrubs; leaves opposite. Root, Root bark juice is taken APM-025 Medik. simple elliptic lanceolate; Bark, with honey. Leaf decoction flowers in thyrsiform leaves is given during labour pain. spikes. white, bi-lobed; Leaf and decoction mixed fruits capsules; seeds with fruits if Piper longum tubercular-verrucose. for Asthma and cough. Leaf powder is boiled in gingelly oil and applied on the affected part against Psoriosis. Aegle marmelos (L.) Rutaceae Vilvam A medium-sized thorny Leaves Shade dried powdered APM-242 Correa tree. Leaves 3-foliolate, leaves used for decoction ovate, sub-crenulate, and consumed for cooling acute and glabrous. effect and diabetes. Flowers white, in axillary panicles. Fruit a large globose berry; seeds embedded in fleshy pulp. Aerva lanata (L.) Amaranthaceae Sirukanpulai An erect, white Leaf, Leaf and tender shoot APM-162 Juss.ex Schult. tomentose, diffuse herb, stem decoction id taken for Leaves simple orbicular, urinary bladder stone and altenuate or cuneate at stop to burning of the male base, ciliate, obtuse or genitalia. Filtered leaf juice mucronate at apex. when poured in eyes, Flowers White, in axillary relieves smelling in the –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 69 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined spikes Seeds obovoid or face. orbicular, black. Agave americana Linn. Agavaceae Aanaikathalai Long and erect stem Whole The powder of the dry APM-275 which bears bulbils that plant. leaves of the plant in satger fall to the ground. Leaves is recommended for are smooth, having anaemia. Kidney diseases prickly edges and at the and liver problems. upper extremity, a thorny end. Ageratum conyzoides Asteraceae Vadaichedi Erect hispid herbs, 30-80 Leaf, Leaf juice put in nostrils APM-245 L. cm high. Leaves obovate. whole for headache in migrane. Heads in terminal plant Plant crused and applied to corymbs. Flower blue- fresh cuts. purple or white. Alangium salvlifolium Alangiaceae Azingi Small deciduous tree; Fruit, Seed oil is applied on boils; APM-069 (L.f) Wangerin ssp. leaves simple, alternate; seed, stem bark as poison for salvlifolium flowers in small close Leaf, fish; paste of root bark fascicles and calyx tube Bark of applied for wounds of dog usually woolly, silky Stem, biting. white; ovary inferior; Root berries black; seeds albuminous. Albizia amara (Roxb.) Mimosaceae Usilai A moderate-sized Leaves Shade dried and powdered APM-272 Boivin deciduous tree; young leaves used to clear the hair –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 70 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined shoots densely pubescent. and relieves dandruff. Leaves bipinnate; leaflets linear-oblong. Flowers yellowish-white.in globose heads. Pods thin, flat. Albizia lebbeck (L.) Mimosaceae Vagai Tall tree; leaves Root- Root powder is used to APM-256 Benth. bipinnate; heads round, bark, leaf, treating constipation bark many-flowered, short- stem, decoction is given during peduneled. 3-4 together bark, seed severe attack of Asthma from crowded upper with cough. Leaf juice is nodes, flowers small, dropped into the eyes for fragrant, yellow or night blindness. Seed greenish yellow, pods powder mixed in rice strap-shaped, yellow- powder is made into cakes brown, firm, 6-10 seeded. and given against night blindness. Root bark mixed with Capsicum seed and garlic is pound well and the juice is given for thoracic pain. Allanthus exelsa Roxb Simaroubaceae Peemaram A large, deciduous tree, Bark, 2-3 teaspoonful bark APM-102 Leaves imparipinnate; Leaves decoction is given as Leaflets alternate or sub- contraceptive. Leaf juice opposite, elliptic, oblique and fresh bark juice are –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 71 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined at base. Flowers yellow, given with rice water or in axillary or terminal coconut water or with panicles Fruit a samara, honey to stop pain after 1-seeded. delivery. Allium cepa L. Alliaceae Vengayam Bulbous herb. Leaves Bulb Three onion bulbs tied in a APM-203 radical, cylindrical and thread worn on the neck of fistilar; leaf base the person suffering from sheathing flowers white chicken pox will give in umbels Capsules small; cooling effects. paste of the seeds black. bulb applied over the fore head will relieve fever. Aloe vera L. Liliaceae Sothukattalai A herb, stoloniferous. Leaf Fresh juice is useful in APM-218 Leaves ensiform, fever and for healing succulent, spinous denate, wounds. Leaf pulp is useful Flowers scarlet or in menstrual suppression. yellowish-green in Leaf pulp and turmeric terminal recemes, paste is applied on breast to Capsules loculicidal. cure swelling during early lactation. Alpinia galanga L. Zingiberaceae Peraraththai Plants 2m high with Rhizome Slightly burnt rhizome is APM -117 turberous aromatic deep powdered and small orange-brown rootstock. quantity of powder mixed Panicles branched, and with honey and the mixture densely flowered. is administrated for
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 72 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Flowers greenish white. stomach upset and in Fruits orange red. digestion in children Alstonia scholaris (L.) Apocynaceae Ealilaikalli Large ever green tree Stem, Stem bark decoction is APM -131 R. Br. with straight and Bark, given for colic pain buttressed base; leaves Root stomach ache, and simple, whorled; flowers rheumatism. Root paste is aromatic, greenish white, applied on scabies. pendulous, in clusters. Alternanthera sessilis Amaranthaceae Ponnankanni Prostate herb, leaves Young Pain in ears is treated with APM-081 (L.) R. Br. ex DC linear or oblong or shoots young shoots of the plant lanccolate or elliptic; decoction with pepper is heads axillary, sessile, given for fever. white glistening; flowers minute with corky wings. Amaranthus spinosus Amaranthaceae Mullukeerai Perennial, erect strong Leaves, Plant used as vegetable. APM-179 L. herb; stem armed with Root Root paste is used in prickles; leaves simple. treating migraine. petiole and axils with 3 spines; spikes densely flowered; unisexual, monoecious; seeds very small, black, shinning. Ammannia baccifera L. Lythraceae Kalluruvi (Or) An erect herb, leaves Leaves Leaves are used as poultice APM-103 Neermelneruppu oblong-elliptic, narrowed in rheumatism. Leaf paste –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 73 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined at the base. Flowers in applied to relieve joint dichasial cymes. Capsule pain. globose purple Anacardium Anacardiaceae Mundri A small tree leaves Fruit, Seed coat oil applied on APM-057 occidentale L. simple obovate-elliptic, Seed cuts and heel cracks. glaburus, Flowers yellow, Ripened hypocarp edible in terminal panicles. and also used as vegetable. Fruits reniform on a large fleshy pedicel. Andrographis alata Acanthaceae Subshrub of foot hills. Leaf Used as a substitute for APM-058 (Vahl) Nees Leaves elliptic. Ovate, Andrographis paniculata. flowers white, Capsules oblong glandular hairy Andrographis Acanthaceae Nilavembu An erect herb, leaves Leaf, Plant and turmeric paste is APM-109 paniculata (Burin.f.) simple, opposite whole applied on the body for Wall.ex. Nees decussate, linear plant seven days to cure scabies lanceolate, acute at apex, and other skin diseases. flowers pink, in terminal Leaf juice is taken as paniculate racemes, preventive medicine for capsules ellipsoid malaria. Leaf paste together with paste of black pepper is given in the morning once for 7 days in their complaints jaundice
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 74 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined and stomach pain. Leaf juice as anti-cobra venom. Anisomeles indica L. Lamiaceae Pei Miratti Under shrub, stem tetra- Root Root is used as antidote to APM-194 quetrous. Leaves ovate, Leaf, poisonous bites. Leaf for hirsule on both surface. whole swelling of neck and Flowers mauve in dense plant wounds; whole plant for terminal spikes. Notlets fever, muscle pain, nervous shinong black. complaint and as veterinary medicine. Anisomeles malabarica Lamiaceae Aruvachadachi An erect shrub. Stems Leaves Leaves are used to expel APM-112 R.Br. quadrangular with soft gas from intestine. Leaf white wooly hairs. Leaves paste is applied on affected thick. oblong-lanceolate. part of scorpion sting and Flowers purple. in dense snake bite. short, bract linear. densely softly wooly. Nutlets ellipsoid compressed. Annona squamosa L. Annonaceae Seetha Shrubby; leaves spirally Fruit, Fruit is given for digestion APM-160 arranged with the base, seed and anthelmintic purpose, mostly with clustered seed powder applied on radical rosettes, often wounds of the cattle. with white glisten scales and margin. Very
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Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined frequently prickly; flowers bisexual; fruit baccate sometimes combined below into a syncrap. Anogeissus latifolia Combretaceae Vekkalli Middle sized trees; leaves Gum, In case of cold and cough APM-088 (DC.) Wall.ex Guill. & alternative, simple, stem bark used as expectorant Perr elliptic; flowers in dense globose axillary heads, tubular, greenish yellow; fruit small, long winged, yellow; seed solitary. Anthocephalus Rubiaceae Kadamba Large dediduous tree; Bark, leaf Juice of bark along with the APM-225 chinensis (Lam.) A. leaves simple. opposite; mango is given for malarial Rich. ex Walp. flowers in globose heads, fever, cholera and leaf orange coloured, scented paste is applied on ulcers. at night; fruits confluent into a fleshy globose mass of many few-seeded coriaceous pyrenes. Argemone mexicana L. Papaveraceae Ponnummattai A prickly, annual herb Root, Root extract in water is APM-157 (Or) with yellowish sap. Leaf taken to cure roundworm. Brahmathandu Leaves white variegated, It also said to purify blood. sinuate-pinnatified, Leaf juice and latex are
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Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined spinulose denate. Flowers applied for eye complaints yellow, solitary. Capsules and conjunctivitis. Yellow oblong or elliptic; seeds latex applied to cure ulcer black. on the lips. Argyreia kleiniana Convolvulaceae Onankodi A climbing shrub. Leaves Stem The wiry stem tied tightly APM-126 Roem. & Schultes simple, broadly ovate, around the forehead cordate at base, glabrous relieves headache. above, tomentose beneath. Flowers pinkish- purple, in axillary cymes, with large bracts; fruits a capsule. Argyreia speciosa Sw. Convolvulaceae Kanvalipoou Throughout India upto an Roots, Dried root powder is used APM-228 elevation of 400m. seed for the treatment of tuberculosis and gonorrhea. Aristolochia bracteolate Aristolochiaceae Adutinnappalai A slender prostrate herb. Leaf, Plant is used as vermifuge. APM-197 Lam Leaves reniform. Flowers stem It is also used to rectify purple. Capsules menstrual disorders. Leaf ellipsoid. Seed covered paste applied on the head with glands. while taking bath relieves dandruff and other infections. Leaf powder is applied on the wounds. Two spoonful of stem juice
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Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined mixed with black pepper and given for a Leucorrohea. Aristolochia indica L. Aristolochiaceae Iswaramuli Or Perennial twiner. Leaves Leaf, Leaf and root paste is APM-093 Eswarmooligai simple, oblong-ocate or Root applied in stomach ache obovate. Flowers and as an antidote for snake greenish-white, in a bite and scorpion sting. axillary racemes. Fruits a Root-paste with paste of 7 septieidal capsule, seeds long peppers is given as winged. antidote to snake bite. Lukewarm leaf-paste is applied on boils and blisters on skin. Leaf-paste used for eczema (external), decoction relieves stomach pain during menstruation (internal). Aristolochia tagala Artistolochiaceae Nallayiswari Rubest twiner with large Whole Whole plant used in bone APM-167 Cham. lanceolate, ovate- plant, fracture. Root in toothache. lanceolate leaves, Finely Root, Leaf is used in stomach acuminate at the apex. Leaf ache fits, rheumatism and Flowers in racemes, as antidote to snake bite. purple. Capsules subglobose.
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Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Asparagus racemosus Liliaceae Sathaveli A climbing, spiny Root Root decoction is used in APM-122 Willd. undershrub, leaves diarrhoea and dysentery. minute; cladodes 1.5 cm Roots with sugar and milk long. Flowers white, in are used as galactagogue. axillary racemes; pedicels Dried root powder is used joined stout. Berries as tonic. A traditional drink globose. is prepared by mixing powdered root and boiled rice. Dried root powder is taken with honey or milk to treat lactation problems. Astylosia scarabaeoides Fabaceae Nil Slender copiously branch, Root Root is used for urinary APM-033 (L.) Benth. grey pubescent climbers. problems and crushed seed Leaflets elliptic or for worms in stomach. obovate-oblong. Flowers yellow or reddish, calyx silky tomemtose. Pods linear-oblong, depressed between the seeds. Atalantia malabarica Rutaceae Kanu Large shrubs or small Leaf Fruits are used in APM-027 Tanaka Kulumichai tree. Leaves gland-dotted. fruits, rheumatism. Leaf, fruit and Flowers white. Berries Seed seed used in pain, globose. abdominal disorders, fever, cough, skin eruption, vomiting, and indigestion. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 79 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Atalantia racemosa Rutaceae Kattukozhingi Large shrub or tree. Fruits Fruit oil is used in chronic APM-016 Wight & Arn. Flower fragrant. Berries rheumatism and paralysis. large and globose. Azadirachta indica A Meliaceae Veappamaram A large tree. Leaves Flower, Warm leaves are applied APM-135 Juss. imparipinnate; leaflets fruit, on hypogastria to relieve ovate-lanceolate, asym- leaves painful menstruation. Root metrical, serrate. Flowers stem bark is crushed and the white, in axillary racemes bark, filtrate administered for panicles. Drupes avoid timber malarial fever. Roasted oblong 1 seeded. flowers is given internally for jaundice. Stem bark from old tree is pounded and the juice is given for leucorrhoea. Paste made with the cotyledons of neem and flowers of eastor is used for abortion. Bark is used against psoriasis. Azima tetracantha Lam Salvadoraceae Mulsangu Bushy Shurbs with Leaf Leaf juice to relieve gas APM-138 axillary spines. leaves problem. simple, opposite ovate- elliptic, Mucronate at apex. Flowers white, in axillary fascicles. Berries globose. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 80 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Bacopa Monnieri (L.) Scrophulariaceae Nirpirami A creeping herb, rooting Whole Whole plant is used as APM-083 Pennell at nodes. Leaves plant, leaf brain tonic. Leaf juice is decussate. Flowers blue taken twice a day to cure or white purple. Fruit fever. Plant boiled in water septicidal capsule. is used for bathing epilepsy patients. Plant extract is taken to treat gonorrhoea. Barleria prionitis L. Acanthaceae Semmulli Small herb, leaves ovate, Leaves The juice of the leaves is APM-283 obovate and simple, stem applied to feet to prevent beaming thorns. Flowers maceration and cracking in are yellowish in colour. the monsoon seasons. Solitary or in cymose. Basella alba L. Basellaceae Pasalai Perennial, much- Whole Plant decoction is given for APM-267 branched, twining herb; plant, leaf diarrhoea and leaf juice for stem fleshy but hard tumours. contains mucilage; leaves alternate, simple, fleshy, spikes, simple or branched; flowers bracteates; fruits pea- sized; seed sub-globose, erect. Bauhinia variegata L. Caesalpiniaceae Cigappu Manjari Tree; leaves alternate, Stem Stem berk decoction is APM-119 simple, 2-cleft; coryms bark given in menorrhagia.
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Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined lateral, few flowered; pure white or variegated with yellow, 3.7-5.0 cm; pods 15-30 cm long flat, hard 10-15 seeded. Benkara malabarica Rubiaceae Sirukarai Armed shrub. Leaves Whole Plant decoction for APM-128 Lam. decussate, obovate. plant, diarrhoea. Fruit in Flowers white. Fruits Root, dysentery and for treating globose. fruits boils, cholera and diarrhoea. Root is used for pimples and sores Biophytum sensitivum Oxalidaceae Nil A slender erect annual; Whole Plant extract is used in APM-075 (L.) DC. leaves abruptly pinnate, plant, curing leprosy, eye sensitive; leaflets oppsite, Root problems and convulsions. 6-12 pairs; flowers, root increases sexual dimorphic; fruits ellipsoid vigour given for children to capsules; seeds enhance sleep. prominently ridged, transversely striate. Bischofia javanica Bischoflaceae Malai Poovarasu Spreading up to 30meters Stem, Diarrhoea and stomach APM-198 Blume tall with abundant clear leaf, bark ulcers. latex when bruised. Leaves alternate, trifoliate.Flowers minute,
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Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined unisexual, cream to yellowish, borne in many axillary panicles.Fruit with flesh surrounding 3- 6 seeds. Boerhavia diffusa L. Nyctaginaceae Mukkurattai (Or) A diffuse herb with stout Root Root decoction is given in APM-054 Thatharali rootstock. leaves simple, bark, jaundice. Leaf paste is opposite ovate. Flowers Leaf prepared by mixing a pinch pink, in axillary umbels. of salt and turmeric and is Achenes 5-ribbed, applied for cuts and glandular-hairy. wounds. Root barkpaste used for eczema. Boswellia serrata Roxb. Burseraceae Kungiliyam Balsamiferous tree, Stem Stem bark paste used in the APM-257 ex Colebr nearly 7 m high, leaves bark, treatment of leucoderma alternate or nearly resin and resin to cure diabetes. opposite, imparipinnate deciduous, racemes axillary or terminal; flowers small white; drupes trigonous, contain- ing three seeded Pyrenes. Seeds pendulous. Buchanania lanzan Anacardiaceae Moreidha A tree, bark tessellated in Leaf root, Root is used in venereal APM-137 Spreng prominent squares. leaves Bark disceses. brochites and dry
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 83 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined simple broadly oblong, cough. Bark is used in obtuse. Flowers greenish- burns, cuts, inflammation white, in terminal and of gum, cholera, dyearia, axillary paniculate snake bite and insects. It is racemes. Drupes ovoid- also used skin diseases. oblong, black. Leaf is used for healing wounds. Butea monosperma Fabaceae Purasu A deciduous tree; young Leaf stem Boiled leaf vapour for APM-038 (Lam.) Taub part tomentose. Leaves 3- bark, seed cough and cold. Stem bark foliclate leaflets ash mixed with lime is coriaceous, entire obtuse. applied to relieve pain for flowers large, orange- scorpion bite. Seed ash is scarlet in racemes. Calyx mixed with equal quantity long, dark olive-green. of asafoetida and is given Corolla clothed outside with milk for abortion. with silky silvery hairy standard lanceolate; wings falcate keels heaked semi-circular. Pods stacked thickened at the solures. Byttneria herbacea Sterculiaceae Nil Branched herb with Root Root paste is given for APM-022 Roxb. perennial root-stock. muscular pain and root Leaves distant, ovate- powder with honey for lanceolate. Flowers in tuberculosis –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 84 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined axillary cymes, purplish with 2-fad appendages of the petals. Cadatra fruticosa (L.) Capparaceae Vazhivi A large rambling shrub; Leaf Leaf paste mixed with APM-190 Druce bark brown. Leaves castor oil is applied for simple, ovate elliptic or bone fracture in human obovate, entire flowers being livestock. greenish-yellow, in terminal racemes. Caesalpinia bonduc Caesalpiniaceae Kalarchikkai A large straggling, Seed Seed powder is given to APM-171 Roxb. prickly shrub leaves women suffering from hipinnate, leaflets elliptic- puerperal fever. oblong. Flowers yellow, in terminal and supra- axillary spicate racemes. Pods broadly oblong, densely clothed with sharp prickles. Cajanus cajan (L.) Fabaceae Thuvarai Shrubs with trifoliolate Leaf, Leaf and seed are used in APM-002 Mill. leaves with indistinct seed swelling, dental disorders resinous dots beneath. and stomatitis. Flowers yellow. Pod glandular pubescent Cultivated.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 85 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Calotropis gigantea (L.) Asclepiadaceae Erukku An erect bushy shrub. Latex Milky latex is applied on APM-095 R. Br. Leaves simple opposite- the wounds on the legs of decussate, obovate. livestocks. Flowers purplish-white, in umbellate cymes. Fellicles ovoid; seeds ovate flat. Calotropis procera Asclepiadaceae Velleerukku Shrubs, leaves oblong Leaf Leaf paste used for cuts APM-021 (Aiton) R. Br. cordate flowers having and wounds, latex for tooth erect lobes white with ache and fresh latex as purple blotch on upper pesticide. half, coronal process with a purple tinge; follicles recurved; seeds ovate smooth with long comas. Canavalia virosa Fabaceae Jack beams. Climbers, leaves are Seeds Seeds of this plant are used APM-284 Adans. simple. Bright pea for making glyco protein flowers, solitary and purified urease enzyme inflorescence in the biochemical research. Canjera rhcedii Opiliaceae Kallimann- Armed climbing shrub Whole Whole plant extract is used APM-046 J.Gmelin Keerai leaves ovate Flowers plant as spasmodic. yellow hairy Drupe globose.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 86 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Canthium dicoccum Rubiaceae Naluvai A thorny Shrub. Leave Root bark Root bark decoction given APM-240 (Gaertn.) Teys. & Binn simple Flowers cream in to infants for dysentery. axillary faciled cymes. Drupes yellow when ripe. Canthium umbellatum Rubiaceae Alampamaram Small tree, young Stem, Local practitioners use APM-285 (Wight) Santapu & branches are 4-sided, bark stem bark extract applied Merch leaves ovate, white externally is treating fragrant flowers occur in fractures, given internally leaf axils, umbelled on a is fever. short thick peduncle, sepal cup is egg shaped. Flower tube is hairy within, petals, 4 in number, spread out, fruit is obovate. Capparis sepiaria L. Capparaceae Sengaththari Erect or climbing shrubs. Whole Plant is used in skin APM-221 Flowers in umbels, white plant troubles. Fruits globose, smooth black when ripe. Capparis zeylanica L. Capparaceae Suduthratti Staggler, 4-8 m; leaves Roots, Snake bite is treated by APM-220 ovate, elliptic or fruit fruit and root. Tribal lanceolate. Rarely prescribe pounded root obovate, flowers in serial bark for the treatment of clusters on fresh shoots, small box.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 87 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined 4 cm across; berry globose, 3-5cm; seeds many. Capsicum annuum L. Solanaceae Milagayai Commonly cultivated Fruits Fruits used in culinary APM-269 under shrub, Fruits purposes and home oblong red. remedies Cardiospermum Sapindaceae Mudukkottan A herbaceous climber; Whole Dried Plant powder mixed APM-252 halicacabum L. stems wiry. leaves plant, leaf with coconut oil is applied bipinnate, leaflets ovate- to cure sores and wounds. lanceolate, acuminate. Plant decoction is used to Flowers white in axillary treat rheumatism. Leaf umbellate cymes. paste mixed with ghee Capsules locadividal, taken to relieve gas trigonous with 3 bladder- troubles. Leaf extracts is like wings. taken to relieve menstrual disorder and irritable oters. Careya arborea Rexb. Lecythidaceae Peithaandri Medium sized tree with Root, Stem and bark paste for APM-243 large ovate, ovate-oblong stem laueoderma. Fresh root leaves clustered at the end paste with seed oil of of the branchlets, old Azadirachta indica is used leaves often red purple; for treatment of flowers large, white and leucoderma. pink, in dense spikes; fruits, globose crowded
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 88 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined with calyx tube deciduous. Carica papaya L. Caricaceae Pappai Trees with pinnatified Fruit Fruit seed and latex are APM-143 leaves. fruit ellipsoid, seed, used for warm infestation, pulpy, cultivated latex gastritis and indigestion. Carissa carandas L. Apocynaceae Kilakkai An evergreen, diffuse and Root, Root bark paste taken APM-130 Mant. spiny shrub with rigid stem along with cooked goat dichotomous branches bark, fruit meat to cure cancer. Fruit and pair of varicate very is wrapped by the leaves strong thorns; leaves and is smoked to get relief broadly elliptic-oblong or from toothache. very obtuse; flower in cymes; berry ellipsoid, 4 or more seeded. Casearia elliptics Flacourtiaceae Naai Alangi A small deciduous tree, Fruits, Oil extracted from the APM-214 Willd. bark light grey. Leaves seeds seeds is used for culinary simple oblong.acuminate, purposes. fruit pulp edible tomentose. Flowers and is fish-poison. greenish white, in axillary fascicles, capsules yellow. Cassia fistula L. Caesalpinaiaceae Kondrai. A small tree. Leaves Stem Stem bark extract mixed APM-249 pinnate, leaflets glabrous, bark, with the seed oil of ovate, acute. Flowers leaves schleichera aleosa and –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 89 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined yellow, in axillary administered for chest pain. racemes. Pods long, Stem bark tied together cylindrical terets. and as necklace for fever. Tender leaves ground with turmeric and the paste applied for skin diseases. Cassia glanca (Rottb) Celastraceae Kaneera An evergreen tree, leaves Leaves Leaves and fruits are used APM-286 Kuntze are alternate, distichous, and Fruits for feed to cows and goats. decuseate, simple, ovate, oblong, flowers axillary or terminal corymbose, cymes green, fruits a drupe, oblong, seed 1, fruiting throughout the year. Cassia javanica L. Caesalpiniaceae Kondari Tree. Leaves compound Leaves Young leaves are muriched APM-215 flowers yellow. pods to stop bad smell of the compressed. mouth. Cassia obtuse (Roxb.) Caesalpiniaceae Nilavakai Subshrub, Leaflet ovate, Leaves, Dried leaves and pods are APM-261 Weight & Arn. Racemes yellow, stamens pods used as a laxative. ten Pods curved compressed. Cassia occidentalis L. Caesalpiniaceae Ponnavirai (Or) An annual undershrub Leaf Paste of fresh leaflets APM-251 Kattururi. leaves pinnate; leaflets warmed in grounded oil is –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 90 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined ovate-lanceolate, applied on cuts and acuminate. Flowers wounds. leaf salad for yellow, in axillary cooling effect and stomach racemes pods flat. upset. Casuarina equisetifilia Casurinaceae Savukku Tall trees with cylinderic Bark, leaf Bark is used in diarrhoea APM-186 L. or angeled branchlets and dysentery decoction of leaves scaly cultivated. leaves used in colic. Cayratia Pedata (Wall.) Vitaceae Pannikodi A large climbing shrub. Stem Stem paste is applied for APM-127 Gagurp. leaves pedately 7-9 Leaf healing bone fracture . folionate; leaflets oblong Lukewarm leaf juice (1 ml) lancerate, accumulate, is taken twice daily as ear puberulous Flowers white drop to cure fungal in axillary divaricate infection. corymbose Barries subglobose white. Celastrus paniculatus Celastraceae Valluluvai Large climbing shrub or Root, Root bark paste is given for APM-045 Willd. unarmed strangler liane seed abortion. Seed oil is rubbed upto 12m leaves alternate, to reduce leucoderma and ovate to orbicular for infalmmative on any panicles terminal flowers part of the body. Root paste polygamous, greenish given for epilepsy and white seeds, ellipsoid to headache. ovoid.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 91 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Centelia asiatica (L.) Apiaceae Vallarai A prostrate herb, rooting Leaf, Leaf juice taken for liver APM-219 Urban. at nodes. Leaves simple, whole pain. Leaves tied on the orbicular, crenate-dentate. plant chest to relieve chest pain. Flowers reddish-white, in Plant powder is given as axillary umbels. Cremo- brain tonic. Leaves of carps ribbed. centella seeds of Butea monosperma and fruits pepper are taken in equal quantities and powdered and is given for constipation due to indigestion. Leaves of Centella, lawsonia inerinis and castor are taken in equal quantities and ground into paste by mixing with jiggery and rice husk and is given for jaundice. Ceropegia juncea Asclepiadaceae Pulichakodi, Erect herbs with poorly Tubers Tubers are used in APM-176 Roxb. Somakodi developed leaves or diarrhoea and dysentery. sometimes completely absent. Flowers with purple spots, in 2- 5 flowered cymes.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 92 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Chloroxylon swietenia Rutaceae Purush A moderate-sized, Leaf Leaf paste is applied on the APM-004 DC. deciduous tree. Leaves forehead to cure head ache. paripinnate; leaflets About 2-3 spoons of leaf oblique, rhomboid- juice is given to get relief oblong, gland-dotted. from inflammation and Flowers pale white, in pains. Fresh leaves burnt as terminal and axillary mosquito repellents. panicles. capsules loculicidal. Cicer arietinum L. Fubaceae Chundakadalai A small herb, upto 30 cm Fruit Germinated gram used as a APM-012 tall. Leaves impari- prophylactic against pinnate; leaflets sessile, deficiency diseases, Scurvy elliptic, serrate. Flowers in particular. solitary, axillary purple. Pods elliptic-oblong, pubescent; seeds brownish-black, cultivated. Cinnamomum Lauraceae Elavangam Tree. Leaves leathery, Root bark Essential oil from root bark APM-079 zeylanicum BI. shining, aromatic; used in rheumatism Cultivated Cipadessa haccifera Meliaceaceae Ananthalai A much-branched shrub. Leaf Leaf juice administrated in APM-202 (Roth) Miq. Leaves imparipinnate; the eyes of livestock to leaflets elliptic- remove madness.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 93 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined lanceolate. Coarsely serrate. Flowers greenish- white, in axillary corymbose panicles. Berries globose, red. Cissampelos pareira L. Menispermaceae Appatta, A twining shrub, Root, Root paste with long APM-170 Unkkakodi. tomentose. Leaves simple Rhizome pepper (10 g) is prescribed ovate-orbicular. Male once daily for 5 days as an flowers pale green, in antidote to snake bite. axillary cymose clusters; Crushed rhizome (10 g) is female flowers pale given twice daily in chest yellow, in recemes. pain. Drupes scarlet. Cissus quadrangularis Vitaceae Pirantai A fleshy, tendrillar Stem Stem and leaf juice mixed APM-154 L. climber; stems 4-angled. Leaf with honey is used to cure Leaves simple entire or menstrual disorders. Stem lobed, ovate or reniform. juice used to cure ear ache Flowers pale brown in and swelling. Young tops short peduncled cooked and eaten to umbellate cymes. Berries remove worms in the red. stomach; leaf paste applied to relieve joint pain. Cissus vitiginea L. Vitaceae Nil A small erect shrub. Leaves Leaves used for curing APM-287 Leaves are alternate, bone fracture.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 94 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined simple, leaf shape are acuminate, flowers are umbellate, cymes, yellow, fruits - a berry, seed 1. Citrullus colocynthis L. Cucurbitaceae Peikumatti Perennial trailing herb. Root Root paste made with cow APM-201 Leaves simple, deeply milk is applied on lobed. Tendril simple. typogastrium for easy flowers yellow. Fruits delivery. globose, striped green and white when young yellow when ripe. Cleistanthus collinus Euphorbiaceae Oduvan A small, deciduous tree. Stem Stem bark paste is applied APM-275 (Roxb.) Benth. Leaves simple, elliptic- bark on wounds as antiseptic obovate, retuse. flowers and also on hoof sores of pale yellow, in axillary cattle. spikes. Capsules 3- locular. Cleodendrum Verbenaceae Kuthuvathamada Foetid shrub with deltoid- Leaves, Leaf paste is applied to APM-270 phlomides L.f. kki ovate Leaves. Flowers roots increase lactation. Root cream in panicles. Plants decoction is given in grows along fences. leucorrhoea. Leaf juice is used as an alternative, and a decoction of root which is slightly aromatic and
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 95 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined astringent is used as a demulcent in diarrhoea. It is also given to children during convalescence from measles Cleome gynandra L. Cappardaceae Thaivelai A tall, pubescent, erect Leaf Leaf juice for ear pain. APM-114 herb. Leaves digitately 3-7 foliolate; leaflets obovate, acute, Flowers white in corymbose racemes, Capsules glandular. Cleome viscosa L. Capparidaceae Naikkaduku Annual, sticky herb. Leaf, Leaf juice is used as a APM-222 Leaves 3-5 foliate; seed vermifuge. to relieve ear flowers yellow in lax ache and to cure boils. racemes. Fruits capsules, Seed paste is useful in seeds brownish black on worm infestations. ripening. Clerodendrum Verbenaceae Nil. Shrub. Leaves broad. Root Root decoction is mixed APM-193 infortunatum L. Flowers in panicles, blue. with pepper and salt and stamens 4. Fruits lobed given for asthma and drupes. bronchitis. Clitoria ternatea L. Fabaceae Sankupoo, Slender twiners. Flowers Root A crushed fresh root bark is APM-164 Karkakartan Bluish-white pod hairy. bark, seed taken with a cup of warm –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 96 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Seed subglobose. milk twice a day for two week. As purgative, 50gm of crushed seed is taken with a cup of water once a day for three days. Coccina grandis (L.) Cucurbitaceae Kovai A climbing shrub. Fruit Ripe fruit taken for cooling APM-205 Voight. Horst. Scordils simple. Leaves effect. simple. Lobed palmate. Flowers white male flowers Panicled, Female solitary, Berries oblong, red when ripe. Cocculus hirtatus (L.) Menispermaceae Kattukodi A slender Climbing Leaves, Leaves are used for APM-264 Diels. shrub, Leaves simple. root stimulating saliva ovate-oblong. obtuse, secretion. Roots are used to rarely lobed, softly treat rheumatism. Reduce branched. Flowers pale bite and burning sensation. yellow, in axillary panicles. Drupes dark purple. Coleus aromaticus Lamiaceae Omavalli An aromatic Herb. Leaves Leaves are used as a APM-152 Benth. Leaves broadly ovate. vermifuge. Leave juice is Flowers pale purplish. used for treating asthma, Many fruiting calyx cough, bronchitis and
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 97 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined subersex. abdominal pain. Leaf paste is applied on forehead to relief head ache. Colocasia esculenta Araceae Seppankizhangu A erect herb; Petiole, Juice of petiole used as APM-121 (L.) Schott. underground stem Leaf, astringment and styptic tuberous. leaves peltate- Corm corm and tender leaves are ovate. Peduncle shorter used for treating piles. than the petiole.Spate pale yellow.spadix free, shorter than the spathe. Berries oblong. cultivated. Commelina Commelinaceae Kanavalai A prostrate to creeping Whole Plant is used in treating bed APM-125 benghalensis L. herb. sparsely pilose. plant sores, brest sores and Leaves ovate obtuse. pimples. Flowers blue, in axillary cymes. capsules ovate. Commelina clavata Commelinaeae Thanneervittan Procumbent herbs with Whole Water accumulated at the APM-262 C. B. Clarke. eleistogarris flowers. plant, base of the bracts collected Leaves ovate, Flowers roots and administered for eye pale blue. pain roots laxative. Commiphora caudata Burseraceae Kiluvai A deciduous, unarmed Stem Stem bark latex applied for APM-089 (Wight & Arn.) Engl. tree with papery bark bark cracks on the foot leaves imparipinnate. (pithavedippu) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 98 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Leaflets ovate-lanceolate, orbicular, acuminate. Flowers greenish-red in long peduncled dichaxical cymes. Drupes ovoid. Commiphora weightii Burseraceae Pachaikiluvai Deciduous tree with Root, leaf Root is used as diurectic APM-107 (Arn.) Bhandari. papery bark and greenish and diabetes also in fever. soft wood. Leaves Leaf is used in rheumatism. alternate, leaflets opposite. Flowers in faseiles. Drupes globose and fleshy. Convolvulus Convolvulaceae Nil. Trailing herbs. Leaves Whole Whole plant paste with APM-100 microphyllus Sieb. ex hastate or auriculate at plant equal amount of milk is Spreng. base. Flowers pink or taken as tonic. white, capsule globose reddish-brown. Corallocarpus epigaeus Cucurbitaceae Kollankovai A climbing herb. tendrils Roots Roots used in dysentery APM-115 (Rottler) C.B Clarke. simple. Leaves simple, and rheumatism. rounded cordate. 3-5 lobed palmate. Flowers yellow, in peduncled racemes. Berries scaler
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 99 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Corchorus olitorious L. Tiliaceae Karunchatachi Much branched herb. Leaf Leaf juice of leaf applied APM-192 Leaves ellipted-oblong for boils. with serratures prolonged into a faliform appendage. flowers pale yellow. capsules linear. 5- valved. Coriandrum sativum L. Apiaceae Kothamalli Herb with lower dissected Whole Whole plant is used in APM-174 and upper entire leaves. plant cardiac diseases, eye Flowers white or purple, diseases and diarrhoea. in umbels, fruit globular. ribbed cultivated. Crataeva adansonii DC Capparaceae Mavalingam A small tree, branchlets Stem Stem bark paste applied for APM-200 glabresent. Leaves bark joint pain. lanceolate; leaflets ovate- lanceolate, base oblique obtuse. Flowers white, in terminal corymbs. Berries globose, smooth, red. Crinum asiaticum L. Amaryllidaceae Vishamungil A shrub with large Leaves, Leaves are useful in wound APM-229 tunicated bulb. Leaves root, healing. Body swelling and fleshy, linear-lanceolate. Bulbs backache. Leaves are also Flower white, in umbels. used in a preparation to Fruits obovoid treat permanent retraction
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 100 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined subglobose. of the testis. A root preparation is given to aid child birth and for postpartum. Bulbs are used as emetic and as poison antidote. Crotalaria medicaginea Fabaceae Trefoil It is small herb, flowers Leaves Fruits are used as food APM-288 L. are yellow in colour, and seeds plants by the larvae of leaves with 3 leaflets, hepidoptera. each with a notch at the apex, pods less than 1 cm long, containing only 1-2 seeds. Crotalaria prostrata Fabaceae Nil A perennial herb, clothed Leaves, Leaf used in scabies. Roots APM-189 Roxb. with short spreading silky roots are used as purgative. yellowish-brown hairs. Leaves simple ovate- oblong, cordate at base. Flowers yellow, in axillary cymes. Pods oblong, glabrous. Crotalaria verrucosa L. Fabaceae Blue flowerd An annual herb, 1 m tall, Leaves Leaves is used for treating APM-289 vattlepod leaves are simple, the scabies and impetigo. lamina is blue-green, upto
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 101 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined 16 cm long and 11 cm wide. Flwoers pea shaped, borne is a raceme, terminal or axillary, whitish hairs, 30 brown seeds per pod. Cucumis melo L. Cucurbitaceae Thumattikai A scadrid, climbing herb. Seeds, Seeds diuretie. Pulp is used APM-013 Leaves simple orbiculary fruits in eczema. tobed detale serrate. Flowers yellow, on short peduncles. Berries ovoid. Cucumis trigonus Cucurbitaceae Kattutummatti A tendrillar herb with Fruits The fruit is bitter and APM-290 Roxb. slender angled stem stem slightly sour in taste. It is measures about 0.9 to 1.5 also used to treat leprosy, m in length possessing fever, jaundice, diabetes, rough and short cough, bronchitis, anemia, rigidhairs. Leaves are constipation and other sub-orbicular and broad abdominal disorders. in shape. Flowers are yellow in colour, slender in shape. Fruits are ellipsoid in shape with green stripe and pale yellow.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 102 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Cuminum cyminum Apiaceae Shiragam Slender herb with pinnate Seed Seeds are used in APM-077 diseceted leaves. Flowers diarrhoea, leucorrhoea white or rose coloured in indigestion, piles candiac compound umbels. Fruits diseases and urinary greyish, laterlly calculi. compressed. Papillose on the ridges cultivated. Curculigo orchioides Amaryilidaceae Nilapanai An erect small herb; root Roots Tuberous roots are used in APM-068 Gaertn stock tuberous. Leaves skin troubles. Diarrhoea linear-lanceolate, plicate, piles, jaundice and asthma, sparsely softly haily. Roots are also used in Flowers yellow, in diabetes and leucoderma. axillary simple racemes. seeds black. Curcuma longa L. Zingiberaceae Manjal Rhizomatous 30-100 cm Rhizome, Rhizome for body pain APM-065 high Rhizome of deep Leaf cough headache insect orange colour, Leaves sting and leprosy. It is used elliptic, oblong or oblong. a religious symbol and in Spike short with peduncle social rites. Leaf for cold, just exciting from the leaf fever, pneumonia. Rhizome sheaths with 1-2 large is also used for various bracts below. Flowers veterinary diseases few yellow. Cultiveted.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 103 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Convolvulaceae Kodiyagundal Amarbel is an unusual Whole It also is a cause of APM-291 parasitic vine related to plant transmission of dif virus the morning glory family. diseases such as The plant is leafless and citrusmosaic and purple rootless. Initially the blotch to field crops and starter plant would have trees. Emerging threat to had somje roots. Within a the plant diversity in the few days of germination valley of flowers. the plant, which is touch sensitive, finds a host or dies. The twining stem develops Haustoria which are root like and penetrate the host stem to draw water and nourishment. The flowers are small, white, having a perfect bell shape and a fleshy calyx, attached diversity to the stem nodes. Cycelea petata Hook.f. Menispermaceae Pattakkilangu Pubescent twining herbs. Leaf Leaf decoction of the plant APM-224 & Thomson Leaves deltoid-ovate, and Urena lobata Lam is hairy beneath.Flowers given just after delivery for greenish, in slender taking care of postnatal panicels.Drupes obovate. problem, pain and
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 104 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined abdominal swellings. Cynodon dactylon (L) Poaceae Arukampillu Creeping herbs with wiry Whole Plant paste mixed with cow APM-134 Pers. slender culms. Spikes 4- plant or goat milk is gives to stop digiate bleeding from piles. Plants paste is also taken as a tonic and laxative. Plant decoction with punica granotion. Leaves is given in menstrual disorders. Plant paste mixed with turmeric is applied to cure scabies and other skin infection. Cyperus pangorei Cyperaceae Nil Perennials upto 1 m high. stem, Urinary infection, blood in APM-052 Rottb. Leaves reduced to Rhizome urine is mealed was bladeless steath. rhizome. Stem used to sometimes upper ones make mats. with blade up to 20 cm long. Spikelets linear Nuts narrowly obovoid- oblong, capsule, blackish brown. Dalbergia sisoo Rexb Papilionaceae Sisu-Itti Medium-sized tree with Tender Tender leaves made into APM-085 alternative leaves and zig- Leaves paste and are taken with
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 105 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined zag. Flowers pale yellow milk for leuorrhoea. in axillary spicate panicles. Pod narrowed at base into a big sell. Strip shape. Datura metel L. Solanaceae Vellai Ummathai An erect shrub, branches Fruit Fruits are smoked for APM-082 (Or) spreading. leaves simples petals, toothache. Powdered seed Karuoomathi broadly ovate. Shallowly Leaves mixed with warm coconut lobed, glabruos. Flowers oil is used in ear ache. purple, solitary. Capsules Petals are shade dried covered with short spines. broken into pieces and an instant beedi is prepared and smoke for asthma. Leaf juice and coconut oil is mixture in the ratio of 2:1 respectively applied for wounded healing. Deccania pubesecens Rubiaceae Periakarai Unarmed tree, Cymes Bark Bark is used in bone APM-259 (Roth ) Tirvengadam dichotonuous. Flower fracture. var. candolleana while fellia obolong. (Wight & Arn.) seeds smooth. Delonix regia Raf. Caesalpiniaceae Mayil Kondrai Medium sized tree with Leaves Leaves are used for APM-232 crimson-red scarlet- compitation orange flowers.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 106 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Cultivated in gardens and along avenues. Dendrophthoe falcata Loranthaceae Arasupulluruvi A large semiparasitic Leaves Leaves ground in cow APM-028 (L.f.) Etting shrub. Leaves simple urine and given to pregnant ovate-lanceate or oblong ladies for abortion; 50 ml flowers oranged-red in of leaf juice three a day axillary racemes arrest white discharge in ladies. Derris indica L. FAbaceae Karanj A large woody shrub. Leaf oil, Warm leaf oil is applied on APM-005 Leaves imparipinnate. whole affected parts, thrice a day Flowers pinkish-white in plant for 2 weeks, for curing skin axillary racemes. Pods diseases, In case of elliptic acute at both ends. toothpaste, plant twing is used as toothbrush, twice a day for one moth. Leaf oil is applied before hair wash once a week for two months for long or black hair. During chest pain, warm oils is messaged on the chest twice a day for 2 weeks. Desmodium Fabaceae Sirupulladi Very variable, undershrub Root, Asthma and bronchitis. APM-278 gangeticum (L.) DC. leaves 1-foliolate, whole Roots are used as
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 107 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined membranous, ovate- Plant ferbrifuge. Whole plant is oblong; flowers in used for digestive racemes, white or violet; disorders. Pods covered with minute hairs; seeds reniform, pale yellow. Digera muricata (L.) Amaranthaceae Thurali Keerai An erect herb, stems Leaves Leave as salad taken to APM-161 Mart. terete, ribbed. Leaves – Flowers, eliminate worms in the simple, ovate truncate or seed stomach. Flowers and seed oblinque at base, entire in urinary discharges. obtuse or apiculate. Flowers pink or purplish in lax spikes Utricles, minutes Subglobose. Dioscorea oppositifolia Discoreaceae Malayan Kilangu Large unarmed climber, Tuber, Hydrocele; body-ache is APM-246 L. Kodi leaves mostly opposite; fruit treated with tuber and fruit male spikes stout, densely is used to treat wounds. flowered globose, variable in size; capsules 2-lobed seeds 3-30 cm in dia meter. wing very board. Diospyros montana Ebenaceae Karunthuvalisu Tree; often spinous; Bark, Leaf paste is prescribed for APM-076 Roxb. leaves alternate, leaf Leaf, fruit fever; bark-paste in
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 108 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined blade ovate or oblong; delirium cracks in feet / flowers in short cymes. sole and fruit is also used female flowers solitary, for the same. ovary 8-celled fruits globose, supported by foliaceous lobed calyx. Diplocyclos palmatus Cucurbitaceae Iyvirali Climbing herb; tendrils Leaves, Leaf decoction is used for APM-124 (L.) C. Jeffrey extra-axillary. bifid; whole stomach pain. Leaves used Leaves simple alternate, Plant as fodder. Whole plant is lamina deeply or for constipation. shallowly palmately five- lobed; flowers yellowish. unisexual; berries spherical, nearly 1.8 cm in diameter, reddish with white vertical stripes. Dodonaea angustifolia Sapindaceae Virali Bushy shrubs. leaves Leaf Leaf paste applied for cut APM-063 L.F. simple with a yellow wounds. resin exudates. Flowers greenish-yellow, in cymes. Capsules membraneous, winged. Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. Sapindaceae Hopbush It is shrub growing to 1.3 Fruit, seri Fruits is used for making APM-292 m. Leaves are simple candlewood, narrow leaf
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 109 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined elliptical, alternate in hopbush. Seri use the plant arrangement and secrete a medicinally. Red dye from vesinous substance. the fruit. Flowers are yellow to orange-red and produced in panicles about 2.5 cm. The fruit is a capsule 1.5 cm broad red ripening brown, with two to four wings. Dolichandrone falcata Bignoniaceae Vilpadri Medium sized tree with Seed Seeds are used in APM-059 Seem. pinnate Leave; leaflets spasmodic affections. unequal at base. Flowers large. capsule cylindric, long. Eclipta prostrata (L.) Asteraceae Karichalankanni An erect or prostrate Leaves Leaves boiled in coconut APM-258 Mant. herb. Leaves simple and applied to relieve oblong-lanceolate dandruff and for blacking strigose. Flowers white or grey hair. palke blue, in heterogamous heads; pappus absent. Achenes compressed black.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 110 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Elephantopus scaber L. Asteraceae Yanaiceuvati A stiff, perennial herb Root, leaf Roots are used in abortion. APM-250 Leaves simple obovate menstrual disorders and to oblong serrate-dentate. relieve toothache. Root Flowers purple in paste with black pepper homogamous heads, (3:1) is given for 5 days as Achenes ribbed. antidysmenorhic. Leaf paste is administered to cattle in disrrhoea. Embelia ribes Burm.f. Myrsinaceae Vayuvilanga Scandent shrubs with Fruit Fruit used against APM-149 tubercles on stem. Leaves tapeworms. Decoction used gland – dotted, with in chest and skin troubles. characteristics pit on the fruits are also used in sides of the midrib. snake-bite and rate-bite Flowers white in panicles. poisonings, worm Drupes globose. infecstation and digestive disorders. Enicostemma axillare Gentianaceae Vellarugu Herbs with slout Leaf, Plant paste is Locally APM-206 (Lam) A. Raynal rootstock. Leaves linear whole applied in snake bite. Plant or Linear-oblong flowers Plant powder is applied to cure white in axillary clusters. rheumatism. Leaf juice Capsule ellipsoid. taken to arrest semen discharge in male during sleep.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 111 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Ervatamia heyneana Apocynaceae Kararali Shrub, Flowers white, whole Root stem and leaf extract APM-015 cooke Generally cultivated plant against leokemia. Erythoxylum Erythroxylaceae Chempulichan Shrubs with obovate Wood, Infusion of wood and bark APM-216 monogynum Roxb. leaves stipules semi- Bark stomachic, and useful in amplexicaul, interpetolar. dyspepsia and fever. Flower white solitary or fascicled Drupe cylindric. Eulophia epidendraea Orchidaceae Nil. Herbs with fleshy tubers Whole Whole plant used as tonic. APM-254 Fisher or rhizome Flowers pale plant Tubers are edible. yellow Euphorbia antiquorum Euphorbiaceae Vachirom A large, much-branched, Bark, Latex with margosa seed APM-276 L. succulent, xerophytic stem and oil is applied to limbs shrub which grows to latex which have become height of 4.5 to 5 meters. contracted from The plant stem is fleshy, rheumatism. The decoction spiney and green with of the stem is given to cure jointed wings. Leaves are gout. The latex is used as a small, obovate, fleshy and purgative. deciduous bearing short spiacesy at its base. Flowers small and inconscipcuous. Euphorbia cythophora Euphorbiaceae Milakai Nangai Herb with numerous Latex Milky latex is applied for APM-276 Murr branches. Leaves small, scorpion bite to relieve. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 112 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined opposite involueres small, Axillary, Capsules pubescent, seeds furrowed. Euphorbia fusiformis Euphorbiaceae Nil Tuberous succulents. Roots Root extract is medicinal. APM-094 Ham. ex G.Don. Leaves fleshy, in rosetts. Flowers unisexual. Euphorbia hirta L. Euphorbiaceae Amam- A prostrate or erect, Leaves, Leaves and flowers mixed APM-096 patchaiarisi hirsute herb. Leaves flowers with milk are given for simple ovate elliptic or increasing lactation. Latex lanceolate serrate acute. is applied on vitiligo, Cyathia greenish in pimples corn and warts. axillary cymes. Seeds 4- Leaf paste mixed with goat angled. milk and consumed for stomach upset and dysentery. Euphorbia nivulia Euphorbiaceae Nagakalli An armed deciduous tree. Leaf Leaf latex and root used in APM-166 Ham Leaves simple latex, root skin disorder and ear subsucculent eblanceolate disorder and also in worm apex broadly obtuse. infestation and purgative Cythia pale yellow, in subterminal cymes. Capsules 4-angular.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 113 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Ficus benghalensis L. Moraceae Aalamaram A large tree; branches Bark, Bark, Leaf flower and latex APM-166 spreading prop roots Leaf are used in polyuria copious Leaves simple flower diarrhoea leucorrhea, broadly ovate obtuse. fruit, dental and gum disorders, Syconia in axillary latex poisoning and ulcers. globose red when ripe. Ficus glomerata Roxb. Moraceae Atti Tree growing along Leaves The decoction of bark is APM-277 stream or rivers. Leaves used for lactating mothers are ovate-oblong. Fruits to increase the secretion of really recaptacles with milk. Leaves is used for short stalks, round in curing bronchitis. shape and pink or red in colour. Ficus religiosa L. Moraceae Arasamaram A large tree Leaves Bark Bark is used in Eczema APM-148 simple ovate caudate at leprosy rheumatism and apex, syconia in axillary ulcers paris globose, pink when ripe Ficus vireas Aiton Moraceae Atthi Large tree, Leaves thick Leaves Leave are boiled in water APM-153 figs pedunculate, globose. and water is used as a wash for women genital Firminea celarata Sterculiacaeae Malamparuthi Tree Leaves roundish Flower Sores due to mercurial APM-237 (Roxb.) R. Br. lobed, panicles numerous poisoning treated by flower covered with orange or paste. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 114 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined searlet stellate tomentose follieles 1 to 5 membranous seeds ovoid. Flueggea leucopyrus Euphorbiaceae Nil Shrub with pale grey, Leaves The leaves were boiled and APM-293 (Willd.) Koenig ex. whitish branches bearing taken orally for stomach Roxb. thorny lateral branchlets ache. obovate. Spathulate, retuse or obcordate, leaves rarely exceeding 2.5 cm in length. Gardenia latifolia Rubiaceae Kattu Tree; leaves opposite or Leaves Snake bites are treated with APM-241 Aiton Marikkalam temate deciduous flowers fruit, bark bark latex in the treatment solitary or binate white of ulcers in the feet. changing to light yello, fragrant fruit beaked greenish endocarp woody Gloriesa superba L. Liliaceae Kalappai A perennial slender Tubers Dried powdered tubers APM-169 Kizhangu climber tuber, forked mixed with Pongamia Leaves linear to ovate- pinnala Pierre are applied lanceolate, apex on the scalp to kill lice and tendrillar. Flowers red remove dandruff. below. Creamish above at anthesis solitary axillary capsules linear-oblong.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 115 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Glycosmis mauritiana Rutaceae Orange berry Large shrub to small tree Fruits The fruits are used as APM-294 (Lam.) Tanaka upto 4 m tall, bearing edible and rich in nutrient small, translucent pink for human. fruits with juicy flesh and a sort of spicy. Bark brown, smooth, leaves are compound, pinnate alternate, spiral. Flowers are born in velvety. Panicles in leaf axils, small, white, stalkless. Berry is round, pinkish, with 2-3 seeds. Gmelina asiatica L. Verbenaceae Nilakumil A shrub; branchlets spiny. Stem Stem root and leaf bits APM-244 Leaves simple ovate- root, leaf soaked in water forming a obovate glabrous Flowers glass of slimy fluid yellow in racemes. consumed to relieve Drupes ovoid yellow stomach ulcer. when ripe. Gossypium harbaceum Malvaceae Paruthi Under shrubs with stiff Root Root bark decoction is used APM-071 L. stems. Leaves 3 -7 lobed. for abortion. Flowers yellow with purplish centre, rarely white, Capsule globose, beaked, cultivated –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 116 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Gymnema sylvestre Aselepiadaceae Sirukurinchan A climbing shrub. Leaves Leaves Shade - dried leaves APM-212 (Retz.) R.Br. ex Schult. simple, ovate or elliptic, powdered and taken for acute pubescent below. diabetes to reduce sugar in Flowers yellow, in the blood. corymbose cymes. Follicles glabrous beaked cultivated. Hardwickia binata Caesalpiniaceae Acha Large deciduous Leaves Leaves is used for APM-295 Roxb. ornamental tree. Leaves headache. The leaves are small, pale yellowish- collected and by crushing it green in axillary and in watger an aqueous paste terminal lax panicled is prepared. Paste is applied racemes. Pod flat and externally on painful parts amaroid, oblong as treatment. lanceolate, coriaceous, narrowed at both ends with parallel longitudinal veins. Containing 1 seed near the apex. Heliotropium indicum Boraginaceae Telkodukkai An erect herb; branches Whole Extract of stem and onion APM-263 L. hirsute. Leaves simple Plant is drunk thrice a day to care ovate-oblong bispid rabies. Plant paste is useful above pubescent beneath, for ulcer, sores wound Flowers pale violet, in ringworm skin affections extra-axillary simple or and insect stings, –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 117 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined forked scorpioid spikes. Fruits of 4 nutlets. Hemidesmus indicus Asclepiadaceae Nannari A slender, climbing Root Root powder added with APM-159 (L.) R. Br. shrub. Leaves simple hair oil is used for hair variable, linear-lenceolate growth. Roots are used as or broadly elliptic, spice or flavouring agent in acuminate, glabrous syrup preparations. Root flowers purple, in axillary decoction relieves inflam- clustred racemoses. mation and ulcer of the Follicels in pairs, alimentary tract. Root paste divaricate. is applied an antidote for snake-bite. Hemionitis arifolia Adiantaceae Nil A small fem. Frond Fronds A handful of fronds made APM -277 (Burm,f.) T. Moore tufted, dimorphic; sterile into a paste, mixed in a fronds heart-shaped, glass of hot water, orally ovate, deeply notched at administered two times a base; fertile fronds ovate, day, for less poisonous cordate at base, sori in snake bites. Twenty grams rows along venis, of fronds-paste are applied reticulate. externally on stomach once a day for a span of three days to get relief from colic symptoms
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 118 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Hibiscus ovalifolius Malvaceae Thengaipoondu Stellately tomentose Leaf Leaf juice mixed with rice APM-247 (forssk.) Vahl undershrub. Leaves water (Neeragaram) and lobed. Flowers white. consumed for the urination. Fruit globose. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Malvaceae Semparathai. Evergreen, woody shrub Leaf, Root paste is given for APM-144 L. in cultivation. root, irregular menstruation and flower as blood purifier with black pepper. Decoction of flower buds to cattle for the growth of foetus. Hiptage benghalensis Malpighiaceae Adigam Large climbing shrub Leaf Leaves used in cutancous APM-035 (L.) Kurz with brownish bark diseases. Leaf juice peeling off in flakes. insecticidal, used in Leaves opposite, elliptic- scabies. ovate Flowers white with yellow or pink tinge. Fruit a samara, 1 to 3, equally winged. Holoptelia intergrifolia Ulmaceae Ayil A deciduous tree. Leaves Leaf Leaf juice sprayed over APM-187 (Roxb.) Planch. simple, elliptic or ovate, spider webs to eliminate acuminate. Flowers spiders. greenish, in axillary racemes, samara orbicular.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 119 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Hugomia mystax L. Linaceae Mothirakanni Straggler, branchlets, Bark Bark is aromatic and used APM-296 tommtose. Leaves as antidote for poison. oblong, elliptic, petiole to 4 mm, stipules lanceolate, cymes-terminal or axillary, lower peduncles spirally hooked, flowers 2 cm across. Seeds ca-5, compressed. Hybanthus Violaceae Orilaithamarai A small herb. Leaves Leaf Decoction from shade APM-210 enneaspermus (L.) simple. Lanceolate. dried, powdered Leaves F.Muell Flowers pink to violet used in diabetes. solitary. Capsules globose. Hygrophila auriculata Acanthaceae Neermulli Armed spiny herbs. Leaf Leaf paste applied on joints APM-234 (Schum.) Heine Leaves in whorls, to relieve pains. lanceolate. Flowers blue, in axillary whorls, encircled by thorns. Hyptis suaveolens Poit. Lamiaceae Thiruneetrupacc A tall hispid, aromatic Whole Plant paste is applied on APM-213 hai (Or) shrub. Leaves simple. plant, leaf skin infections. Leaf juice Karunchatachi ovate-lanceolate, serrate administered to relieve pain acuminate. Flowers pale from insect bite. blue in axillary umbels.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 120 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Nutlets ovoid blackish- brown. Indigofera hirsuta L. Fabaceae Ghughru An undershrub, Whole During body pain, plant APM-133 pubescent. Leaves plant paste (20 g) mixed with imparipinnate; leaflets Berris indica oil is ovate-obovate, apiculate. massaged twice a day for Flowers pinkish-red, in one week. axillary racemes. Pods straight, tetragonous, deflexed. Ingigofera tinctoria L. Fabaceae Aavuri Woody herbs or under Leaf Leaf juice consumed for APM-132 shrubs. Leaflets 9-13, lactation in nursing oblovate-oblong. Flowers mothers. red, in racemes. Pod linear, minutely hairy, slightly curved. Jasminum Oleasceae Kattumalligai Scandent shrubs with Root Root juice mixed with APM-238 angustifolium Vahl minutely pubescent boiled rice water is taken branchlets. Leaves orally as antidote for simple. Flowers white, poison. fragrant, solitary or in cymes. Jatropha curcas L. Euphorbiaceae Katalamanakku A monoecious shrub. Bark, The bark is chewed to cure APM-178 Leaves simple, broadly Seed, mouth sores. Juice is used –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 121 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined ovate. 3-5 lobed, cordate Leaf, inscabies. seed oil is used at base, acute. Flowers Latex in rheumatism and green, in branched paralytic affections. Latex dichasical cymes capsules applied over lips to heal green subgobose; seeds cracks. black carunculate. Jatropha gossypifolia Euphorbiaceae Senkattukottai A monoecious shrub; Latex, Latex is applied to relieve APM-248 L. stem reddish when young. Leaf tooth ache. Leaf paste Leaves simple 3-5 lobed, applied to heal cut wounds. cordate at base, ciliate along margins with glandular hairs, Acute. Flowers reddish-yellow, in terminal dichasial cymes. Jatropha villosa Wight Euphorbiaceae Thanakku Undershrub, leaves entire Seeds Seeds is used to produce APM-300 to shallowly 3-5 lobed, 5- the non-edible oil for nerved, pubescent along making candle and soap the nerves above, apex and as a feed stock for the acute, petiole to 12 cm, production of biodisel. cymes-terminal, stamens - 8, anthers 1.5 mm, capsule 3-lobed.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 122 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Justicia Acanthaceae Mozhimurungai Erect herbs or low under Leaf Leaf juice applied for cut APM-091 tranquebraiensis L.f. shrubs with whitish-grey wounds; two drops of leaf stem. Leaves obovate. juice poured in the eyes to Flowers white with pink cure eye infection. spots, in short or long spikes, Bracts orbicular ororbicular-cordate. Laeptadenia reticulate Asclepiadaceae Parurathalai A climbing shrub Leaves Latex Milky latex applied to APM-007 (Retz.) Wight & Arm simple elliptic oblong or eliminate pimples on the lanceolate, apex acute, face. Flowers pale yellow, in unibellate cymes. Follicles paired cylindrie. Lannea coromandeliea Anacardiaceae Uthiyamaram A large deciduous tree. Stem Stem bark decoction given APM-043 (Hautt.) Merr. Leaves imparipinnate, for severe fever Leaf lets ovate-oblong, entire acuminate. Flowers pale yellow, in terminal panicled racemes. Drupes oblique. Lantana camara L. Verbenaceae Unnichedi Armes shrubs with Whole Plant decoction is used in APM-173 var. aculeate (L.) prickly branched. Leaves plant rheumation, malaria and Moldenke ovate sparcky pubescent diarrhoea. beneath. Flowers in
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 123 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined capitate heads. Drups globose purplish. Lawsonia incrmis L. Lythraceae Maruthanai Shrub, branchlets spine- Leaves Hemna used for antiquity APM-297 tipped. Leaves decuesute, to dye skin, hair and obovate, elliptic, panicles fingernails as well as terminal, cymose, fabrics including silk, wool flowers-4, merous, seeds and leather. It also used for turbinate. cosmetic purposes of the people. Lchnocarpus frutescens Apocynaceae Udargodi, A much branched, Whole Plant paste is applied on APM-036 R.Br. Palvalli climbing shrub. Leaves plant bone fracture and latex is simple, elliptic- applied on scabies. lanceolate, acuminate. Flowers greenish-white, in dichasial cymes. Folicles divaricate. Leonitis nepetiifolia Lamiaceae Murandai An erect under shrub; Leaves, Leaves used in skin APM-116 (L.) R. Br. branchlets pubescent. Flowers problem and rheumatism. Leaves simple ovate, Ashes of flowers are serrate, acute. Flowers applied to scalps and burns. scarlet, in dense globose Leaves used to in heads. rheumatism. Leucas aspera (Willd.) Lamiaceae Sirutumbai (Or) Erect herb with diffuse Leaves Leaf decoction is massaged APM-090 Link Thumbai quandrangular branches. on forehead to relieve –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 124 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Leaves linear-lanceolate. headache. Few drops are Flowers white, in inhaled to cure sinusitis verticles, Nutlets oblong. and put in ear for ear ache. It is taken orally in asthma and also applied on genital organs to cure venereal diseases. Leaves boiled in water and the vapour is inhaled for cough and cold. Fresh salad prepared from the leaves relieves cold and fever Leaf juice also anti cobra venom livestocks. Lobelia nicotianiifolia Campanulaceae Kattupugailai Undershrubs. Leaves Whole Whole plant is used as an APM-086 Roth ex R. & S. crowed, alternate, lower plant antiseptic. ovate-lanceolate. Flowers white long in terminate racemes. Capsules subglobose, 2-valved. Ludwigia adseendens Onagraceae Hara Undershrubs. Leaves Entire External application of APM-032 (L.) H. Hara elliptic-lanceolate. plant poultices made of pounded Flowers yellow, solitary, fresh plant is prescribed Capsule ribbed. against snake bite, burns impetigo and diseases of the scalp. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 125 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Maerua oblongifolia Capparaceae Mulmurandai Scandent shrubs. Leaves Root Root is used as tonic and APM -064 (forsk.) A. Rich elliptic mucronate. stimulant Flowers greenish yellow in axillary and terminal corymbs. Berry elongate moniliform. Madhuca longifolia (J. Supotaceae Iluppai Fast growing tree, every Flowers, Flowers used as sugar. It is APM-298 Konig) J. F. Macbr. green, foliage, leaves and bark very sweet, Tamil tradition elliptic, apex acute to cautions that excessive use apiculate, Flowers march, of fuel oil. Oil is used for new foliage red, with the care of the skin to flowers. Fruits glabrous. manufacture soap or detergents, often used in sweets and chocolatges under the name illipe. Maytenus ovatus Celastraceae Nil Trees, usually spiny, Leaves Leaves is used to control APM-299 (Walp.) Loes. var. leaves alternate, flowers external parasities both in argutus hermaphro dites is domestic animals and in axillary, solitary cymes humans. dictotomous, calyx 4.5 lobed, petals 4-5 spreading. Stamen 4-5, ovary sunk in the disc 2-3 celled. Ovules 2 in each cell. Seeds avillate. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 126 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Maytenus senegalensis Celastraceae Nil An armed shrub. Leaves Leaf, Leaf paste is applied on APM-188 Lam simple, ovate or oblong, stem wounds and ulcers. Stem serrate base obtuse.apex bark extract administered retuse. Flowers white, in for dysentery. cymes. Melia azedarach L. Meliaceae Malay Vembu Medium sized tree with Root, Root, bark, Leaf and gum APM-087 dark grey longitudinally bark, are useful in worm furrowed bark. Leaves bi Leaf, infestation, sterility in or tripinnate. Flowers gum female and eczema. lilae, fragrant in panicles. Drupe ellip solid. Merremia emarginata Convolvuaceae Elikkatukirai Diffuse herbs Leaves Whole Whole plant is crushed and APM-044 (Burm.f.) Hallier f. reniform-ovate. Flowers plant applied externally to treat yellow; in cymes. wounds and boils and also Capsule subglobose. for diarrhoea and stomach disorders. Miliusa velutina Annonaceae Chakkadamaram Deciduous trees. Leaves, Bark, Bark extract is given for APM-183 (Dunal) Hook .f. & broadly ellipsoid or ovate. fruit jaundice. Wood used for Thomson Flowers in cymes. Fruits house building and carpel 1.0-1.5 cm agricultural implements. ellipsoid. fruit is edible. Mimosa pudica L. Mimosaceae Thottalchinungi A prostrate prickly Root Macerated root is taken APM-175 undershrub. Leaves thrice a day to cure bipinnate sensitive pinnae epilepsy and sexual –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 127 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined 1-2 pairs; Leaflets linear- weakness. Few drops are oblong. Flowers pink in put in eye to cure eye globose heads. Pods fist troubles. jointed. Mollugo cerviana (L.) Molluginaceae Parpadagam Erect, slender branched Leaf Leaf ground with goat milk APM-099 Ser. herbs. Leave linear and mixture taken to sapthulate fascicled. relieve burning sensation of Flowers greenish in legs at the time of children cymes capsule globose. in women. Moringa concanensis Moringaceae Kattu Murungai Small tree with thick Leaves, Leaves were collected, APM-301 Nimmo ex Dalz & bark, tree is hairless flower, washed and cooked as a Gibson except younger parts of seeds vegetable and taken infloresence. Leaves are internally twice in a week bipinnate, leaflets 4-6 will produce cooling effect pairs with an odd one of eyes and prevent sore broadly elliptic to round. eyes, and constipation. Flowers are borne in lax velvety. Panicles upto 45 cm long. Flowers are small yellowish with red or pink veins. Fruits is a pod which is green. Moringa oleifera Lam Moringaceae Murungai A medium sized tree. Whole Whole plant is used against APM-031 Leaves 2-3 pinnate plant unconsciousness. for eye
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 128 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined leaflets elliptic or obovate diseases , skin diseases and rounded at apex. Flower fever. All parts used in white in axillary panicles. venomous bites Capsules 3-valved. rheumatism and as cardiac loculicidal; Seeds and circulatory stimulant. winged. seed oil is applied in rheumatism. Mucuna pruriens (L.) Fabaceae Punaikkali Climbing shrub with Leaf, root To cure leprosy, roots paste APM-069 DC. slender pubescent mixed with Celastrus branches Leaves 3- paniculata Willd oil is folilate. Flowers purple, applied on affected parts as in pendulous racemous. bandage for 3-4 hours once Pod ‘S’ shaped, bristly. a day for 2 weeks. Root paste is also applied on swollen legs twice a day for one week. Leaf paste is used in boils blisters and ulcers. Nothopegia Anacardiaceae Pechuchrumara Shrubs or small tree. Fruits Fruits are edible. APM-098 colebrookeana (Wight) m Leaves dense, leathery. Blume Flowers crowded and cream. Fruits hairy. Nyctanthes arbortristis Verbenaceae Parrijatham Large shrub or small tree Leaves 4 – 5 Tender leaves are APM-239 L. with grey or greenish- taken pepper for
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 129 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined white rough bark. Leaves menstruation opposite, ovate, scabrid. Flowers white, fragrant, in trichotomous cymes. Capsule obcordate. Cultivated. Ocimum americanum Lamiaceae Naithulasi A erect undershrub; Leaf Leaf juice is taken for APM-062 L. branches pubescent. stomach upset. Leaves simple. elliptic- lanceolate or ovate, entire or slightly serrate aromatic. Flowers cream- white, in verticles. Fruit a collection of nutlets. Ocimum basilicum L. Lamiaceae Thiruneetrupatch Large aromatic herbs or Seed Seeds soaked in water are APM-139 ilai undershrub. Flowers rose taken for cooling or white, in whorls distantly placed in racemes cultivated. Ocimum gratissimum Lamiaceae Ramathulasi Erect, aromatic under Leaf Leaf paste is applied with APM-101 L. shrubs. Leaves elliptic- common salt (2:1) on skin lanceolate. Flowers in as cultivate to ring worm racemes whorls. Nutlets and powdered seed with subglobose lown. mustard oil on boils for
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 130 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined suppuration. Leaf juice is taken with gut and cow milk to relieve pain after delivery. Ocimum tenifiorsm L. Lamiaceae Thulasi An erect, undershrubs. Leaf, Leaf juice for cough and APM-110 Softly pubescent, seed cold. Leaf and seed are aromatic. Leaves simple, used for fever and digestive elliptic-oblong, serrate. disorders. Flowers white purplish with in verticals Fruits a collection of nutlets smooth. Oldenlandia umbellate Rubiaceae Inpura Small herb, moderately Leaf Leaf decoction of the plant APM-010 L. branched umbels white and Centella asiatica is coloured. given to remove the phlegm from the respiratory tract. Opuntia dillenil Haw Cactaceae Sappathikkalli Erect branching; joints Fruit Barked fruit juice taken APM-003 flat with many yellowish with honey is treat curved spines. Flowers gonorrhoea. bright yellow, Berry glochidiate. Introduced plant.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 131 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Opuntia monocantha Cactaceae Prickly pear Shrubs, joints glossy Fruits Fruits of common prickly APM-302 Hane. green when fresh, pear may be consumed by narrowly obovate to humans. A very strong oblong lanceolate. spirit which tastes of Flowers 7.5 to 10 cm whiskey may be distilled long. Outer perianth parts from this plant. yellow with a reddish. Median stripe, staminal filaments green to white, style green, stigma lobes 8-10. Pachygone ovate Menispermaceae Perunkattukodi Climing shrub with Fruit Dried fruit used as a APM-041 (Poiret) Hook.f. & peltate leaves. Flowers vermicide and fish poison. Thompson unisexual. Drupe reniform, red when ripe. Passiflora foetida L. Passifloraceae Sirupunaikkalai A climbing shrub Leaves, Paste prepared from the APM-208 branches family angular fruit leaves and fruits is used in tendrils axillary Leaves coating boils for 2-3 days simple palmately 3 lobed. for relief of pain and rounded a base. Flowers abortion white solitary. Berries globose orange. Pavatta tomentose Rubiaceae Pavattai Shrub Leaves elliptic- Leaf Leaf is used for treat boils. APM-047 Roxb. ex Sm oblong to elliptic-
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 132 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined lanceolate, and joined at both ends. Flowers white rather fragrant in terminal particles. Fruit black when dry some what rounded. Pavonia zeylanica (L.) Malvaceae Pazhampasi Woody herb with Leaf Leaf juice given for APM-055 Cav. shallowly or deeply reducing body heat and for palmately lobed leaves. cooling glabrous. Flowers pink or white. Cocel glabrous. Pedalium murex L. Pedaliaceae Perunerucil (Or) Suberect, fleshly herbs. Fruit, Paste prepared from the APM-172 Anai Nerunji Leaves ovate, repand- whole leaves, ginger and common denate. Flowers yellow, plant salt is given to cure Fruit letragonous, with 4 tympany. Plant mucilage sharp conical spines. administered to livestock for easy delivery of young ones. Fruit powder mixed with sugar and Ghee is taken for leucorrhoea. Pennisetum Poaceae Kambu Erect Herbs with slender Grain Grains are used against APM-018 americanum (L.) Leeke stems Leaves linear- piles lanceolate. Inflorescence a cylindrical panicle, pale
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 133 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined brown, bristled. Cultivated. Pergularia daemia Asclepiadaceae Veliparuthi A climbing shrub. Leaves Leaf, Plant extract is useful in APM-260 (Forssk.) Chiov. simple, pubescent, ovate whole uterine and menstrual cordate at base, entire at plant disorders and in facilitating apex. Flowers yellowish- parturition. Leaf juice green, in corymbose taken to relieve acute pedunculate cymes. stomach pain. Follicles paired, curved, softly echinate. Persicaria glabra Polygonaceae Sivappu Perennial herb, creeping Root, Root-paste is prescribed for APM-253 (Willd.) M. Gomez Kumbakodali at base. Ochrea tubular. Leaves snake bite and piles. Leaves elliptic-ovate or Lanceolate, gland-dotted. Racemes in termina; panicles. Perianth pink- red or whitish. Nuts glistening dark brown. Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Areceaeae Leechchamaram Trees. Leaflets in several Fruits, Fruit is given for barren APM-140 Roxb. fascicles lying in different leaf women and seed decoction planes; the lowest for blood dysentery. Fruits converted into long edible; leaf used for spines. Male flowers making mats, baskets and white scented. Female the thatching.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 134 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined inflorescence ultimately drooping. Drupes nan 15 mm long. Orange to redish brown. Phyllanthus emblica L. Euphorbiaceae Nelli Small tree cultivated. Fruit pulp Fruit pulp mixed with APM-204 Leaves compound. tribulus fruit powder is Flowers small. taken with honey. fruits are used in heart diseases. Phyllanthus reticulatus Euphorbiaceae Karunelli A straggling shrub. Bark, Bark is used in APM-042 Poiret. Leaves simple, alternate fruit rheumatism, dysentery and in main stems; distichous veneral diseases. fruit is in ultimate branchlets. used in dressing wounds Ovate-elliptic, obtuse at and also as a purgative. base entire acute. Flowers greenish axillary. Solitary or in fascicles. Berries subglobose, bluish-black. Phyllanthus urinaria L. Euphorbiaceae Keelanelli An erect or decumbent Leaf Leaf paste administered for APM-049 herb. Leaves simple, jaundice. oblong truncate at base, entire, obtuse at apex. Flowers green, in axillary fascicles. Capsules globose.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 135 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Piper nigrum L. Piperaceae Milagu Much branched climbing Root, Fruits are the source of APM-271 shrubs rooting at nodes. fruits black pepper root. Seed and Leaves entire cordate, whole plant is used in Flowers minute, in spike. fever, anaemia, cough, Fruits ovoid or globose, diarrhoea, abdominal bright red when tipe disorders, piles, cultivated. convulsion, polyuria, headache, indigestion and jaundice. Plectranthus Lamiaceae Karpooravalli Succulent, erect coarse Leaf Leaf juice used for APM-235 amboinicus (Lour.) (Or) Omavalli herbs or undershrubs. digestion. Cool and cough. Spreng. Leaves ovate. Flowers small, pale purple, Cultivated. Plumbago indica L. Plumbaginaceae Nil An undershrub. Leaves Roots Roots are used as APM-048 simple ovate-oblong, abortifacient, in acute. Flowers bright-rose leucoderma, syphilis and coloured, in long terminal leprosy. Tincture of root spikes, Capsules enclosed used in dyspepsia and other in a persistent glandular digestive troubles and in calyx. piles. Plumbago zeylanica L. Plumbaginaceae Kodivelli An under shrub. Leaves root Root decoction is used as APM-180 simple, ovate entire. abortificent even in the Flower white in terminal later stage of pregnancy.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 136 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined spikes. Capsules oblong Roots are used in enclosed in persistent diarrhoea, eczema, leprosy glandulant calyx. piles and psoriasis. Polycarpaea corymbosa Caryophyllaceae Oldman’s cap A weed of sandy soils in Leaves The leaves of the plant are APM-303 (L.) Lam open woodland and used in inflammatory grassland. It is an erect swellings and is treatment annual herb. Usually of jaundice. unbranched. Leaves are opposite. Flowers are borne in compact heads at the end of stems. Fruits is a minute ellipsoid capsule. Polygala arvensis Willd Polygalaceae Milakunankai A herb with prostrate, Leaves Infusion of the leaves is APM-304 erect stems, leaves are and roots prescribed in asthma, obovate, elliptic inverted chronic bronchitis and lance-shaped or circular, catarrhal affusions. The flowers are borne is 1 cm root possesses antiseptic long racumes. Flowers properties and to be used are tiny, yellow. Keels for fever and dizziness equal to latera is hooked. Capsule is ovoid. Pongamia pinnata (L.) Fabaceae Pungum A moderate sized tree. Leaves Leaves tied around the APM-026 Pierre. Leaves imparipinnate; seeds neck to relieve whooping
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 137 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined leaflets ovate entire, roots, cough. Root juice is used acuminate. Flowers pale Bark for cleaning teeth and pink in axillary racemes. strengthening gums. Fresh Pods obliquery oblong.1- bark is given is piles. seeded. decoction is bark is used in beri-beri seed oil is used in scabies, herbs, leucoderma and other cutaneous diseases. Portulaca oleraceae L. Portulacaceae Karikeerai A prostrate, annual herb, Entire Expect for the roots, entire APM-129 succulent. Leaves simple, plant plant is used as an obovate apex acute. antibacterial agent. Fresh Flowers yellow, in plant juice diluted with clusters. Capsules ovoid, water serves as an brown. anthelmintic against oxyuriasis and ascariasis. It is administered in the morning, for 3-5 days. Leaf poultice is used to treat mastits, boils and impetigo. Priva cordifolia (L.F.) Verbenaceae Ottuilai Erect herbs with Leaf Leaf powder spread at the APM-037 Druce quadrangular pubescent margins of the floor drive or hairy stems. Leaves away bugs and also act as ovate-elliptic, with mosquito repellent, leaf booked hairs. Flowers paste for eczema. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 138 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined white, distant in spicate racemes pyrences reticulated pitted. Pseudarthria viscida Fabaceae Selaparni / Perennial under shrub, Whole It is used in the treatment APM-305 (L.) Wight & Arn Nirmalai leaves broad, trifoliate, plant for asthma and nervous ovate, oblong, hairy and dysfunction. It also used densely grey-silky for insect bites and used beneath, flowers purplish against inflammations. or pink. Fruits, pods Vomiting. oblong, flattened, covered with sticky hairs. Seeds 4-6, compressed. Pterocarpus Fabaceae Vengai Tree; Leaves compound, Leaves, Bark extract for epilepsy. APM-223 marsupium Roxb. imparipinnate, leaflets 5- bark Wood and gum are 7 or even bilobed at apex; commercially temporent. flowers yellow in terminal panicles; pods nearly circular, flat wingled, seeds, 1-2. Pterocarpus santalinus Fabaceae Sivappu Medium-sized deciduous Wood, Wood paste is applied to APM-145 L.f. Chandhanam tree with blackish-brown fruit inflammations and to bark. Leaves forehead in headaches. imparipinnate, leaflets 3 fruits decoction used in rarely 5. Flowers yellow, dysentery.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 139 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined in racemes. Pod winged seeds reddish-brown. Pterolobium Fabaceae Nil Climbing shrubs, carry Young Young shoots are useful as APM-306 hexapetalum (Roth) pairs of thorns, bipinnate shoots. cattle fodder. Santapan & Wagh leaves, attractive inflorescenes of pinkish white flowers form a mat on tree canopies. Major source of nectar and pollen, bear colourful somaroid fruit containing one seed each. Pterospermum Sterculiaceae Vennangu Large trees with ash Flowers Influsion of petals (100 ml) APM-184 acerifolium Willd. coloured smooth bark. with sugar (3:1) is given Leaves variables in size once daily for 5 days and shape, cordate against indigestion, sometimes peltate. Whit dehydration and in tomentose beneath. haematouria. Flowers white axillary solitary or in paris. Capsule oblong, 5-andles, dark brown; woody. Pupalia Lappacea (L.) Amaranthaceae Adai-Otti Herbs or under shrubs Fruit Fruit is used in enema APM-104 Juss. var. Lappacea with diffuse sparsely preparations mixed with
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 140 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined pilose 4-angled branches. palm oil applied on boils Leaves obovate or ovate- soup used in cough and elliptic, densely hairy fever. beneath. Perfect flowers clustered in terminal, simple or branched spikes. Imperfect flowers modified into hooked bristles. Capsules globose. Randia dumetorum Rubiaceae Madhukkarai Armed shrub; Leaves Bark Epilepsy is treated with APM-273 (Retz.) poir. simple usually fasciciled bark-paste decoction. on the suppressed branches, obovate flowers at first white, later turning yellow, fragrant solitary or 2-3 together at the ends of short leaf-bearing branchless; berries globose or broadly ovoid, smooth or obscurely longitudinally ribbed, yellow, crowded with calyx limb; seeds embedded in the pulp.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 141 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Rhinacanthus nasutus Acanthaceae Nagamalli Erect mush branched Roots, Fresh roots and leaves APM-070 (L.) Kurz pubescent undershrubs. leaves bruised and mixed with Leaves elliptic-lanceolate. lime, used externally in Flowers white, sessile or eczema, ringworm and shortly pedicelled, dhobi’s itch. roots boiled in solitary or 2 to 3 together, milk and used as an in terminal compound aphrodisiac panicles. Ricinus communis L. Euphorbiaceae Amanakku A shrub. Leaves Seed, Seed oil is given to relieve APM-014 palmatifid, 6-10 lobed, Root, constipation during peltate, margin serrate, Leaves pregnancy. Decoction of apex acuminate. Flowers roots given in lumbago. pale yellow, in terminal Poultice of Leaves applied paniculate racemes. for boils and sores. Capsules 3-lobed softly, echinate Cultivated. Rivea hypocrateriformis Convolvulaceae Miduapore Creper robust woody Shoots Leaves boiled in water, APM-307 (Desr.) Choisy creeper climbing shrub. Flowers and then added to millet flour are creamy white, typical leaves which is made into bread, morning glory form. leaves and young shoots eaten as vegetable. Rubia cordifolia L. Rubiaceae Manjiti A climbing shrub, rugose. Roots Roots are antidysenteric. APM-123 Leaves simple, whorled stem, Leaf decoction and stem ovate to obovate entire Leaves used as a vermifuge.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 142 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined acute at apex. Flowers white in dichasical cymes. Drupes globose. Salacia chinensis L. Celastraceae Ponkorandi, Climbing shrub or Root Roots used in diabetes; also APM-009 Karkuvai stragglers. Leaves as an abortificient. elliptic-oblong, crenate- decoction given in serrate, Flowers greenish- amenorohhoea, yellow, 2-3 fascicled or dysmenorrhoea and on axillary tubercles. venereal diseases. Berry globose red when ripe. Salvadora persica L. Salvadoraceae Kodumaavali Large shrub or small tree Root, Fresh root bark used as a APM-105 with whitish-yellow Stem vesicant. Decoction as a wood. Leaves succulent, Leaf, tonic. Stem bark used in elliptic-lanceolate or Seeds gastric troubles and worm ovate. Flowers greenish- infestation. Leaf decoction yellow, in axillary and in asthma and cough. Fruit terminal compound in rheumatism. Seed panicles. Drupes globose, purgative. smooth, red when ripe. Santalum album L. Santalaceae Sandanam Semi-parasitic medium- Wood Wood oil is used in thirst, APM-268 sized tree; bark-reddish or venereal diseases, fever dark grey or black, rough skin eruptions herpes withdeep vertical cracks dysentery and piles.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 143 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Leaves elliptic-ovate, Flowers greenish-yellow, in axillary and terminal panicles Drupes globose, purplish-black Santalum album L. Santalaceae Sandanam Small tree with dif Wood The extract of wood is used AMP-278 colours, leaves are for skin diseases. The oil is opposite, oval or used for to relieve scabies, lanceolate and smooth cure pimples. both sides. Flowers small, odour by the wood is rapturing. Sorcostemma Asclepiadaceae Pasandi Kodi Succulent struggler with Whole Plant is used for cattle AMP-308 intermedium Decne tralling leafless jointed plant groze, and also used for stem. Flowers terminal preparing veternary umbels, cream. Fruit a medicine. follicle, smooth, oblong, seeds oblong flat, wiged and silky, fruting rare. Senna auriculata L. Caesalpiniaceae Aavaram An undershrub or shrub. Anther Paste of anthers applied on APM-066 Leaves pinnate; stipules Leaf the head before taking bath auriculate; leaflets elliptic for cooling effect. Leaf oblong. Flowers yellow, juice is poured into eyes for in axillary or terminal ophthalmic infections.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 144 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined corymbose, racemes. Pods flat. Senna italica L. Caesalpiniaceae Nil Prostrate or decumbent Leaves Powder / paste of dry of APM-118 herb / shrub. Leaves green leaves are fed to compound. Flowers pale animal against yellow. constipation. Senna tora (L.) Roxb. Caesalpinaceae Tagarai Foetid smelling herbs. Leaves, Leaf extract is applied on APM-255 Leaves with a conical seeds ringworm and itch. Seed gland between each of the paste is used in skin two lowest pairs of diseases. Seeds are given to Leaflets. Leaflets in 3 the animals for inducing pairs opposite. Flowers in fat. Leaf decoction for axillary pairs. Pod dysentery. subtetragonal apiculate; seeds rhomboidal. Sesamum indicum Pedialaceae Yellu An erect herb; branches Seeds Half grounded seeds mixed APM-226 Linn. puberulous. Leaves with ghee and sugar are simple elliptic or taken with hot milk for lancolate. Lobed or abortion. mixture of half serrate. Flower pinkish- grounded seeds sugar and white, axillary solitary or ghee is taken milk to in racemes. capsules relieve amenorrhea. oblong beaked.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 145 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Sesbania grandiflora Fabaceae Agaththi Medium-sized tree. Leaf Leaf decoction to eliminate APM-211 (L.) Poiret Leaves pinnate; leaflets worms and cure ulcer in the linear-oblong, glabrous. stomach. Flowers white, pink or crimson. in 2-4 flowered racemes. Pods pendulous Septate, cultivated. Sesbania sesban (L.) Fabaceae Chittakatti Tall shrub. Leaves Seed, root Seed paste (15 g) placed in APM-030 Merr. paripinnate Leaflets cotton swab inserted into linear-oblong, entire vergina causes abortion. mucronate to acuminate. Fresh root decoction is Flowers yellow with given twice a day for 3-4 purple stereaks, in days after menstrual phase axillary racemes pod is over as an antifertility slender, Cylindrical. agent. Cultivated and also found wild. Sida acuta Horm.f. Malvaceae Aruvammooku An erect undershrub. Leaf Leaf juice administered to APM-227 Keerai Leaves simple ovate- arrest diarrhoea in elliptic, cordate at base, livestock. serrate, acuminate at apex. Flowers, solitary, axillary.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 146 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Sida cordifolia L. Malvaceae Palampasi Slender trailing herbs Seed Seed decoction is given for APM-061 with sparely pubescent or gonorrhoea. slightly viscid branchlets. Leaves ovate, cordate at base. Leaves ovate cordate at base dentate. Flowers yellow, solitary or 3-4 in racemes. Mericaps 5 hairy at apex. Solanum nigrum L. Solanaceae Manatakkali Unarmed herbs Leaves Fruits, Root used in cough, asthma APM-020 ovate distinctly toothed. whole and chest pain. Leaf juice Flowers white, few in plants mixed with pepper and umbellate cymes. Berry rheumatism. Fruit juice globose. used in sore-throat. Seeds used for asthma and cough. Solanum surattense Solanaceae Kandangattri Diffuse undershrub. Fruits, Whole plant is used in APM-231 Burm. f. Leaves pinnatifid, Ovate, whole leprosy, piles, fever, elliptide, obtuse, at apex, plants oedema polyuria cardi flowers bluish pink disease, and rejuventt Solanum trilobatum L. Solanaceae Thuthuvalai. Much branched spiny Leaf, Leaf juice, fruits and APM -097 scandent shrubs. Leaves fruit, flowers for cough and cold. deltoid or triangular, flower, Whole plant useful for Irregularly lobed. Flowers whole bronchitis. purlish-blue, in cymes. plant
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 147 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Berry globose, red or scarlet. Solanum viarum Dunal Solanaceae Nil A perennial shrub, stem Fruits Fruits are used for curing APM-309 and leaves are prickly in intestinal worms in human nature. The fruit is golf- and leaf is also used for ball-sized with the pest control. coloration of a watermelon. Soymida febrifuga Meliaceac Semmaram Large trees with rough Bark Bark is used in diarrhoea, APM- 056 (Roxb.) A. juss. bark exfoliating in large dysentery and fever plates or scales. Leaves Decoction is used in crowded at the ends of gargles, vaginal infections, branches, paripinnate: rheumatic swellings and as leaflets 3 to 6, elliptic or enemata oblong, entire. flowers greenish-white, in larg, terminal parminal panicles. Capsule black, woody: seed winged. Spermacoce hispida L. Rubiaceae Naththaichuri Hispid diffuse herbs. Leaf Leaf juice to eliminate APM -191 Leaves subsessile, elliptic worms in the stomach: ovate. Flowers pinkish- leaves when taked increase white, in axillary fascicles laction in livestock capsule subglobose.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 148 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Sphaeranthus indicus Asteraceae Sivakaranthai A diffuse, aromatic herb, Leaf Leaf decoction for severe APM -147 L. (or) glandular hairy: stems fever Kottakaranthai winged leaves simple, elliptic-ovate, serrate or toothed, narrowed at base, amplexicaul flowers pinkish-purple, in globose heads, achenes compressed absent Spilanthes calva DC Asteraceae Palvalipoondu Erect herbs. Leaves Flowers Yellow head inflorescence APM -001 broadly ovate. Subentire, chewed and kept by the sparsely pubescent side of the teeth to relives beneath Heads conical, in severe toothache terminal and axillary panicles, florets pale yellow to white achene obovate to trigonous, ciliate. Spondias pinnata (L.f) Anacardiaceae Kattuma, Aromatic deciduous tree; Roots, Root bark-paste is APM -008 kurz Mambulich, leaves compound: flowers bark, prescribed for rickets, Akkarapattai. many, in terminal leaves muscular pain and stomach spreading panicles; problems. Tribals give drupes fleshy with woody root-paste with tuber-paste and fibrous endocarp. of sapia(Nymphaea nouchali) and leaf-paste of –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 149 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Bel (Aegle marmelos) 3:2:1 to women for the treatment of irregular menstruation. Stephania japonica Menispermaceae Pathavalli Slender climper. Leaves Roots Roots used in fevers, APM -080 (Thunb.) Miers. peltate, ovate. Flowers diarrhoca. Dyspepsia and greenish, in compound urinary disease. umbels, Drube globose, red. Strychnos nux-vomica Loganiaceae Etti A moderate-size tree. seeds Seeds crushed and soaked APM -196 L. Leaves simple, ovate- in castor oil and the orbicular, acute at apex. mixture is applied for Flowers greenish, in rheumatism. axillary cymes. Berries globous, orange when ripe Swertia corymbosa Gentianaceae Nil Erect herbs with 4-angled whole Whole plant is used against APM -108 (Griseb.) Wight ex long branches. Leaves plant fever. C.B.Clarke ovate or obovate, sessile or subsessile, mucronate. Flowers pale blue. In dense, terminal corymbose panicles.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 150 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Syzygium alternifolium Myrtaceae Naval Tree, ornamental plants, Fruits Fruits is used for preparing APM-309 L. attractive glossy foliage, jams and jellies. Seed is many branches, small also used for diabetic. white flower, fruits oval shaper. Syzygium cuminii L. Myrtaceae Naredam Tree grow over lometers Seeds Seeds used for taking care APM-279 high, many branches, of excess sugar in the leathery leaves, small blood, very effective in white flowers, fruits oval cases of diabetes. shaped, long bright, purple or black, one- seeded fruits. Tamarindus indica L. Caesalpiniaceae Puli Large tree, Leaves fruit, Diluted fruit pulp mixed APM -213 paripinnate; leaflets seed with jaggety and to reduce narrowly oblong, obtuse body heat. The seed after at base and apex. Flowers rubbing on stone kept over pale yellow, in lax the spot of scorpion bite to racemes. Pods rurgid, relieve pain falcate cultivated. Tamilnadia uliginosa Rubiaceae Nil A small, armed tree. Fruit Sliced tender fruits boiled APM -023 (Retz.) Tirvengadum Leaves simple, obovate or and water filtered out & sastre oboveat-oblong, obtuse at cooked as vegetables. apex. Flowers white, solitary, Berries ovoid.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 151 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Tephrosia purpurea Fabaceae Adasgi An erect undershrub. Whole In case of diabete, APM -120 (L.) pers. Leaves imparipinnate, plant, decocation of whole plant leaflets obovate, obtuse- root is taken early morning for retuse at apex. Flowers one month. During pink, in extra-axillary dysentery, 50 g of fresh racemes, pods flat. crushed roots are taken with a cup of water twice a day for two days. During fever, root decoction is taken thrice a day for two days. Two pills, made from leaf powder, rhizomes of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose) and turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn) are taken twice a day for two weeks for imparting strength and vigour to women after childbirth. Terminalia arjuna Combretaceae. Vellmarudhu. A large, deciduous tree; Stem Stem bark powder is taken APM -113 (Roxb.) Wight and bark grey. Smooth Leaves bark with water for Arn. simple, oblong or Leucorrhoea. obovate-oblanceolate, obtuse or subcordate at base, obtuse at apex.
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Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Flowers pale yellow, in panicled spikes, drupes 5- angled, woody. Terminalia bellirica Combretaceae. Tani. Dreciduous buttressed Seeds, Seeds is used in treating APM -073 (Gaertn.) Roxb. tree; leaves simple. fruits dysentery. Fruit powder an Alternate, broadly elipts, ingredient of ‘triphala’ flowers pale greenish used for respiratory and yellow with an offensive gestic disorder (fruit odour, in axillary spikes, powder of phyllanthus drupes avoid, obscurcly 5 emblica, terminalia angled, narrowed into a bellirica and Tcheblue) very short stalk. (4:2:1) Terminalia Chebula Combretaceae Kadukkai A large tree; bark dark- Bark, Bark is diuretic. Fruit is APM -011 Retz. brown. Leaves simple, fruit laxative. It is a constitdent ovate or elipte-obovate, at of Triphala. apex, flowers greenish- yellow, in panicled spikes, Drupes obovoid, ribbed, greenish-yellow. Thespesia populnea Malvaceae Poovarasu Large shrubs or small Root, Past of the young fruit APM -207 (L.) Soland ex. Correa. tree; bark grey-brown, Bark, applied for join pain. fissured, often scoy, Fruit, Leaves, flowers and fruits Leaves cordate-ovat, dark Leaves, used in cutaneous green. Flowers yellow, Flowers affection. Seed oil used in
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Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined with purple base, solitary skin troubles; bark, roots capsule brown, globose or and fruits and astringent, oblong. used in dysentery and haemorrhoids seeds purgative. Tinospora cordifoilia Menispermacae Amirthavalli A climbing shrub. With Leaves Warmed leaves are APM -199 (Willd.) Mires ex. (Or) Cheenthi stem, leaves simple, wrapped round fracture and Hook.f. &Thomson ovate, cordate at base, gainful joints. Leaf past acuminate at apex. applied for join pain. Flowers pale yellow, in dropping racemes drupes ovoid, red. Tragia involucrate L. Euphorbiaceae. Chenthatti Climbing hispid herb whole Plant parts are used in APM -236 with stinging hairs, leaves plant inflammation of finger root simple, alternate flowers, decoction prescribed for in terminal axillary and bronchitis. leaf-opposed racemes, male flowers many in the upper part, female flowers few at the base, capsules-3-lobed seeds globose, smooth. Tribulus terrestris L. Zygophyllaceae Nerunci Procumbent herbs with Leaf, Decoction of leaf and root APM -266 slender, cylindrical, light Root, is used to cure kidney
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Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined brown, dynamic root, whole mode plant ask is applied leaves paripinnate, plant external for rheumatism leaflets oblong, leaf past is applied on mucronate. Flowers wounds. Leaf juice is used bright yellow, axillary, for jaundice. solitary, fruit globose, of 5 to 12 woody cocci, each coccus with a use of hard unequal spins. Trichodesma indicum Boraginaceae Kavilthumbai Hispid, erect or diffuse Leaf, Fresh leaf salad useful for APM -024 (L.) R. Br. herbs. Leaves variable in Root stomach upset. Root is used shape. Flowers pale blue to dysentery. Pounded and turning pink or white, applied to swelling of solitary, drooping. Fruit joints. pyramidal. 4-lobed in dosed accrescent calyx. Trichosanthes Cucurbitaceae Shavaripalam woody climbing shrubs. Root, Root is used to treat APM -230 tricuspidata Lour. Leaves ovate, palmately fruit carbuncles, Fruits pounded var. tricuspidata 3-lobed, order male sores in coconut oil and flowers few, in racemes, applied sores. Female flowers solitary, axillary. Berry red at maturay.
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Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Tridax Procumbens L. Asteraceas Murianpacchilai A hispaid, procumbent Whole Plants juice applied to cure APM -151 (Or) Kalipoondu herb. Leaves simple, planet wounds. Leaf juice is lanceolate to was stun at applied on the head for base. Margin coarsely better growth of hairs. Leaf serrate, acute at apex. juice is applied for cut Flowers yellow in heads. wounds; juice also applied Achenesnhairy; pappus to wounds during caused white. during cock fight. Trigonella Fabaceae Vendayam Aromatic herbs, Leaves Seeds Seeds are used as tonic and APM -111 foenumgraecum L. pinnate, 3-foliolate, galactagogue, anti- leaflets oblanccolate, dysenterie, antidiabetic and obscurely denate, Flowers refrigerant. white or yellowish-white, axillary, Pod 10-20 seeded, greenish-brown. Tylophora indica Asclepiadaceae Nayppalai Or Much branched twining Leaf Leaf extract of the plant APM -067 (Burm.f.) Merr. Nangilaippirattai or prostraete undershrubs. and Tinospora-cordifolia Leaves ovat-oblong to with goat milk is given elliptic-oblong, pubescent orally in insect bite. Leaves beneath, rounded or taken raw or cooked to subcordate at base. relieve asthma. Flowers with purple blotches, in lateral umbellate cymes. Follicle paired, divaricate. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 156 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Urginea indica (Roxb.) Liliaceae Narivengayam Buelbose scapigerous Leaf, Leaf past used for bone APM -078 kunth. herbs. Leaves linear-lorat. Bulb fracture. Bulb is used for Flowers greenish-purple, snake-bite poisoning and on slender scapes. cardiac diseases. Capsule ellipsoid. Vanda tessellate (Roxb) Orchidaceae Naguli A small epiphytic herb. Root, Snake bites are treated by APM -057 Hook. f. ex G.Don Root white, shiny, silvery Leaf root. Warm leaf juice is grey coloured. The plant applied in the ear for-ache. develops two kinds of root, the clinging roots and aerial root. Leaves Coriaccous in two root oblique at apex; flowers axillary racemes or solitary Ventilago Rhamnaceae Vempadam, Wondy climber. Leaves Bark, Unconsciousness and APM -142 madraspatana Gaertn. Pappili. simple, alternate. Oblong Seed, stomach ulcer are treated - lanceolate or elliptic- Root with stem-bark decoction. ovate. Flowers greenish Seed oil with past of with an offensive odour terminal (5:2) on head to in terminal particles, nuts promote hair growth, Root supported by the decoction for general persistent calys, winged, weakness and renal rounded at the apex. problem.
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Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Viena indica (L.) dc Asteraceae Limikkipoo An erect herb. Leaves Leaf, Leaf decoction for stomach APM -181 simple. Lanceolste or Root, upset and dysentery whole oblong Lanceolate, whole plant shows antifertility serrnlate amplexicanl and plant activity. Roots used in auriculate at base acute at scorpion cring apex. Flowers yellow in heads. Achenes obovate, obtuse at apex. Vigna munga (L.) Fabaceae Ulundu Erect hairy herbs. Leaves Fruit Fruit used in rheumatism, APM-265 Hepper 3-foliolate; leaflets entire, nervous disorders and thomboid-ovate. Flowers hepatic diseases. yellow, on short peduncles. Pod cylindrical, erect or spreading, hairy with a short hooked beak. Vitex altissima L.f. Verbenaceae Mayilaadi A medium-sized tree; Bark Malaria is treated by the APM-029 Leaves 3-foliolate, petiole bark, Externally applied the winged towards the apex. rheumatic swelling. Panicles axillary and terminal, corolia whitish- purple to violet. Fruit subglobose, 5-8 mm in diameter, bluish-black when mature. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 158 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Vitex negundo L. Verbenaxeae Nochchi A large shrub. Leaves 3-5 Leaves Sun dried powdered leaves APM-146 foliolate; leaflets (3 g) after overnight lanceolate, acuminate making in water is Flowers bluish-white, in prescribed once in the pedunculate cymes. morning for one month to Drupes globose black cure rheumatism. Leaves boiled and the vapour is inhaled to relieve cough, Body pain and headache. Waltheria indica L. Sterculiaceae Sembudu Erect or procumbent Whole Whole plant is purgative. APM -158 pubescent herbs or plant, Roots chewed to control undershrub Leaves ovate- root internal Hemophagocytic elliptic. Cordate or syndrome. Root decoction rounded at base Flowers is used for inducing yellow, in axillary foundry in women. fascicles. Capsule 2- valved, enclosed in the calyx. Wattakaka volubills Aselepiadaceae Karincha, Large climbing shrub Root, Roots and lender takes APM-050 (L.f.) Kodippalai, with lanceolate Leaves emetic and purgative. branchlets. Leaves ovate, Leaves used in boils and truncate or shallowly abscesses. cordate. Flowers greenish, in axillary umbellate cymes. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 159 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Foliolate 2-Lanceolate mealy, Ferruginous- tomentose forgid. Wedelia chinensis Astraceae Manjal Karisalai Procumbent hairy rooting Whole Decoction of the plant used APM-136 (Osbeck) Merr. at pricks. Leaves plant in menorrhagia and uterine opposite, subsessile haemorrhages. Whole plant Lanceolate entire or is used in jaundice and skin irregularly ovate-serrate. diseases. Head solitary bright yellow, on long axillary peduncles. Archese acute prebescent. Withania somnifera Solanaceae Amukkira Erect much branched Root, Root paste is used in APM-019 (L.) Dunal tomentose undershrub stem rheumatism and painful with stout, fleshy, swelling stem, bark whitish-brown root. powered is taken to Leaves ovate. Simple regulate menstrual Flowers small greenish or disorders. yellow in axillary umbellate fascicles. Berry small globose red enclosed in calyx. Wrightia tinctoria Apocynaceae Veipalai A moderate-sized tree. Leaf, Leaf soaked in coconut oil APM-185 (Roxb.) R.Br. Leaves simple, Bark,, for few hours and applied
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Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined distichous, elliptic, seed for eczema, psoriasis and acuminate, flowers white, other skin diseases. Bark in dichotomously branch, and seeds used in terminal cymes. Follicles flatulence. cylindric, joined at apex. Seeds linear, silky-hairy at base. Zea mays (L.) Sweet Gramineae Machacholam Erect herb; culms 2-3 m Grains Half ripe grains are APM-165 high. Leaves flat, prescribed in increase lanceolate, base sheathed, lactation. apex acute or acuminate. Male flowers pale yellow, in terminal spiciform racemes. Female flowers yellow, in axillary spikes. Grains oblong, yellow cultivated. Ziziphus xylopyrus Rhamnaceae Kottei A large straggling shrub; Root, Root bark and fruit are APM-182 (Retz.) Willd young shoots rusty bark, used for bronchial asthma, tomentose. Leaves simple Fruits diarrhoea, and gastric ovate-elliptic. Flowers problems. pale yellow, in axillary and extra-axillary cymes. Drupes 3-loculed, ovoid grey tomentose. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 161 Chapter - IV Results and Discussion
Parts Preparation and Specimen Botanical Name Family Local Name Description Used Administration Examined Ziziphus nummularia Rhamnaceae Korgodi Thorny shrubs with Leaves Leaves used in scabies and APM-163 (Burm.f) Wight & Arn spearding branches. cutaneous diseases Dried Leaves ovate or orbicular, leaves are burnt and smoke denate, tomentose inhaled to relieve cough beneath; stipular thorns in and cold. paris. Flowers pale yellow, in axillary cymes. Drupe globose, red, glabrous. Ziziphus oenoplia (L.) Rhamnaceae Suraimullu Thorny straggling shrub; Stem, Dysentery. Tribals APM-156 Mill. Leaves alternate, bark, root prescribe root decoction distichous, ovate to ovate- with paste of long peppers lanceolate, often oblique; (3:1) to women for flowers green in hastening child birth, stem subsessile pubescent bark for inflammation of axillary cymes. Drupes mucous membrane of globose or obovoid, ulcers. shinning; seeds woody or horny.
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The traditional knowledge system in India is fast eroding. There is an urgent need to record all ethno botanical information among the diverse ethnic communities before the traditional culture is completely lost. Often traditional medical practitioners are exploited by the modern societies and they are forbidden to use the forest resources with which their lives are strongly interwoven. As a result of present study the ethno medicinal use of 309 plant species belonging to
94 families 247 genera have been reported from the Thalaimalai hills. Some important medicinal plants occur in the region are Abrus precatorius, Urgenia indica, Aristolochia bracteolata, Ficus benghalensis, Solanum nigrum, Asparagus racemoses, Helicteres isora, Celastrus paniculatus, Pedalium murex and Withania somnifera. From among 309 plant species several diseases such as digestive system and related ailments, skin diseases respiratory related ailments, blood and liver related diseases, urinary system related problems, sex related disorders animal bites and parasitic nature of maladies rheumatics, sprains and swelling, ear, eye, teeth and hair related ailments, weakness and debility, skin diseases and related ailments find remedies. About 14 species are useful for digestive disorders.
Hence the role of ethno medicinal surveys and field work are of crucial importance as some miraculous medicines for incurable diseases are known to the local vaidyas and aboriginals and such acquired knowledge through the ages is usually passed on from generation to generation as a guarded secret of certain families. There is necessary to popularize the identity and utility of these medicinal plants.
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The abbreviation enumeration from the present survey need to be substantiated with pharmacies-chemical studies in order to evaluate their effectiveness. However, for about some species, there is evidence in the literature that the mode of application being proceed by the tribal people is likely to be effective. For example several alcoids have been isolated from the extract of whole plant of Argemone mexicana (Clang et al., 2001) on the traditional medicine of Southern Rajasthan. The seed powder of Aprus precatorius is used as abortifacient (Singh and Pandey, 1998) which oxichides by the pharmacological validation (Sethji et al., 1990).
4.2 Ethno Pharmacology of the Thalaimalai
This section aims at presenting a cogent account of local practices shared by medicine men and women. Wherever data were divulged on preparation, they were carefully recorded and here presented. Gender based participatory discussions in small homogenous groups separately with males and females encouraged them to participated and discuss freely. A concerted effort to gather information from women especially the elderly was significantly rewarding.
4.2.1 Pharmacology of Ethno species
Abrus precatorius L. ssp. precatorius (Fabaceae)
For voice clearance, 4-5 Leaves are chewed. Root decoction is taken internally as a remedy for swelling of legs and hands. As the seeds are poisonous, a very small quantity of seed powder is given orally to women for abortion. If acts as an abortifacient. During ethno botanical survey, the local vaidyas informed that
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 164 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion seed of this plant are used as an antifertility drug both in male as well as female.
The seed powder is taken orally either along with the seed extract/powder of
Indigofera cordifolia or stem powder of Tinospora cordofolia, twice a week.
Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet ssp. indicum (Malvaceae)
The leaves and seed are crushed with water to form a paste which is applied to penis to cure syphilis.
Acacia catechu (L.f) Willd. (Mimosaceae)
Extracts of bark act as abortifacient while the latex is mixed with water or milk and given orally to the pregnant ladies at the time of childbirth for easy delivery.
Acacia nilotica (L.)Willd. ex Del. ssp indica (Benth.) Brenan (Mimosaceae)
Half tea spoon of powder inner bark of tree is kept in the mouth for half an hour for relief from tooth ache. Decoction prepared from outer bark is used as gargle to stop bleeding gums.
Acalypha indica L. (Euphorbiaceae)
Extract of leaves (one cup) is taken once in a day for two days to cure stomach pain and cough.
Achyranthes aspera L. (Amaranthaceae)
About 10 gm leaf with 7 black pepper seeds is ground, small tablets of about 2 gm are made and is taken for 7 days to cure bilious fever and typhoid. In rheumatic fever, paste of leaves and root is fried in castor oil and tied on the cuts –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 165 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion and wounds with the help of a cloth for a healing. Root paste with sugar candy powder is prescribed for 21 days in empty stomach against dog and jackal bite.
Leaf juice with salt is applied on ringworms. Root-paste and black pepper is administered during cholera, indigestion and diarrhoea. In the decoction made from 50 gm seed of the plant with 10 gm fresh Eclipta prostrata leaves in 1 litre and reduced 250 ml, which is applied to stop alopecia (hair fall), lie and dandruff.
This oil also cures headache, migraine, scabies itches eczema and different types of skin diseases, paste of roots of Achyranthes aspera and Cassia sophera is applied externally on scabies to get relief. This paste with cow urine is applied on leprosy wound daily 2-3 times for one month for cure. One cup leaf extract mixed with 10 gm of refined camphoris is applied on face daily twice to clear acne, black spot and leucoderma.
A handful of fresh leaves are made into paste with small quantity of water.
This paste is mixed with a pinch of lime and is applied externally on the spot once a day for three or four days for dog bite. About 2-3 fully-grown plants boiled in 2 liters of water are reduced to 200 ml. The filtered extract is orally administered in empty stomach in early hours for one time only to relieve joint pains.
Dried plants are burnt and made into ash, which is mixed with common salt and used to massage the gum and tooth area for relief from tooth ache. Stem also is used as tooth brush.
Acorus calamus L. (Araceae)
Rhizome is made into paste and applied to painful teeth and gums.
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Actiniopteris radiate (Sw.) Link (Pteridophyte)
The paste of about twenty grams of fresh green fronds is applied externally on the stomach especially around the navel area for three days once or twice to reduce colic pain even among adults.
Adhatoda zeylanica Medik (Acanthaceae)
Plant decoction with honey is prescribed in empty stomach twice daily for 7 days to cure jaundice. Leaf juice, long pepper powder and 2 teaspoon honey is taken in empty stomach for 2-3 days to cure cough, cold and catarrh. Root bark decoction with honey is taken orally in empty stomach to cure asthma. For chronic patients, medicine is prescribed twice daily for one month. It is also cures tuberculosis, chest pain and respiratory diseases. Plant decoction with honey is taken twice daily in empty stomach to cure cold, fever and rheumatic fever.
Flowers fried in cow ghee, along with one-teaspoon long pepper powder or 2- teaspoon ginger juice is taken twice daily, in empty stomach, for 7 days to cure phlegm. A cloth dipped in warm leaf juice is tied on body to get relief from body ache. Decoction of roots of the plant, Stephania japonica root and fruits of
Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica and Emblica officinals with one drop of cow ghee is taken orally thrice a day for one month in empty stomach to cure diabetes.
Aegle marmelos (L.) corr. (Rutaceae)
Decoction of apical bud made with jaggery is taken in sexual debility both by men and women for 7 days.
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Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae)
Leaf juice is applied to cure abscess, boils itches, cuts and wounds for checking bleeding and for healing. Paste of leaf mixed with turmeric is given to children to cure fever and all types of skin diseases. Leaf and black pepper paste is prescribed to stop dysentery. Leaf juice and fresh leaf juice of Cyprus rotundus mixed with small amount of sugar candy is taken in case of vomiting and diarrhoea.
Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boiv. (Mimosaceae)
Ten grams of fresh bark of the stem is made into paste with salt and taken orally with water two times a day for a span of three days to get relief from stomach-ache.
Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin ssp. salviifolium (Alangiaceae)
One teaspoon of root extracts is given to women for two days early in the morning to abort foetus of upto 5 months pregnancy but an excess amount is poisonous to women.
Aloe vera (L.) Burm. (Liliaceae)
Fresh leaves paste with crushed turmeric is taken internally once in a day for three days to cure chest pain. Fresh leaves paste with sugar is taken internally thrice a day to reduce body heat.
Andrographis paniculata Nees (Acanthaceae)
Leaf extract is taken orally for 7 days to cure diseases and intestinal worms.
Leaf paste is prescribed in empty stomach for blood purification. Dry leaf powder –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 168 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion is used as insecticide. Leaf paste and turmeric is applied on itches. Andrographis paniculata. Melia azedarach and Azadirachta indica are together boiled in water to get 200 ml decoction. One teaspoon of this decoction with one teaspoon of honey is taken twice a day in empty stomach for 15 days to cure rheumatic fever and cholangitis. For stomach pain, two pills made from a handful of leaves crushed with sugar, are taken internally every day for two days. Fresh leaves paste with table salt is taken internally as laxative.
One teaspoon of fresh plant juice or 1-2 g of shade plant powder is consumed twice a day for 7 days for snake bite and scorpion sting.
Anogeissus latifolia (DC.)Wall. ex Guill.& Perr. (Combretaceae)
Sweet locally known as ‘Ladoos’ is prepared from the gum and given to women after delivery to get rid of back pain and to cure the damaged tissue.
Argyreia speciosa Sw. (Convolvulanceae)
Fifty grams of peeled tubers are roasted or boiled and taken orally two times in a day for two days to treat gastric disorders.
Aristolochia indica L. (Aristolochiaceae)
Fresh or shade dried leaves are crushed with Piper nigrum and made into pills. Two pills taken internally twice a day as remedy for snake bite and scorpion bite. About 5 gm of the fresh roots are made into paste with few drops of water and the paste is applied externally on the spot or 2-3 gm of shade dried root powder is taken orally with 100 ml of cold water two times a day for five to seven
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 169 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion days for snake bite and scorpion sting. Juice is prepared from ten to fifteen grams of fresh root with hot water and taken orally in empty stomach for three days in a single dose to get relief from stomachache.
Aristolochia tagala Cham. (Aristolochiaceae)
About 1-2 g of shade dried root powder is taken orally along with 100 ml of urine of a child of opposite sex twice a day for five to seven days for snake bite.
Asparagus racemosus Willd. (Liliaceae)
For Galactagogue and seminal weakness, two teaspoonful of root crushed with sugar is taken once a day for 15 days. Fresh tubers are pounded with buttermilk. The filtered juice made to 50 ml by adding extra buttermilk and given to women at bed time after the monthly menstrual cycle for 5 days for sterility.
Root powder is taken orally by the tribal ladies to cure body ache and leucorrhoea.
Half cup root extract is given to women early in the morning for seven days to increase fertility and conceive.
Atalantia racemosa Wight & Arn (Rutaceae)
About 2 gm of fresh leaves and 2 gm of fresh turmeric are made into paste is applied on the spot two or three times a day for two to three days of honey bee sting.
Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae)
Leaf extract is given to women to stop excessive bleeding during menstrual period, while seed oil is used as contraceptive by the women.
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Azima tetracantha Lam. (Salvadoraceae)
Leaves are ground to get juice and the same is dropped into the ear. Some leaves are crushed and placed on painful tooth.
Benkara malabarica Lam. (Rubiaceae)
About 2 gm of fresh stem bark is made into paste and is applied externally on the spot once a day for two days or the cut end of a small piece of fresh stem is rubbed on a rough floor, the rubbed end is then shown to the smoke of incense stick and is pressed on the spot of scorpion sting.
Boerhavia diffusa L. (Nyctaginaceae)
Plant paste with black pepper is given orally and applied on the snake bite area. Root powder with equal amount of sugar candy is taken to cure cough. Leaf juice with black pepper powder is taken orally in empty stomach twice a day for 7 days to cure anasarca. Leaf juice with cow milk is applied on the eyelids to cure opthalmia, conjunctivitis and swelling of eyes.
Borwellia serrata Roxb. ex. Colebr (Burseraceae)
A handful of stem bark is mixed with 2 or 3 small onions, ground into paste and orally administered for indigestion.
Buchanania lanzan Spreng. (Anacardiaceae)
Two teaspoonful extract of fresh leaves and stem bark (in equal proportion) crushed and mixed in a cup of milk is taken internally once in a day for 7 days to cure temporary male sterility and also to purify blood.
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Butea monasperma (Lam.) Kuntze (Fabaceae)
For menorrhagia and leucorrhoea one teaspoonful powder of stem bark crushed with Cuminum cyminum mixed in water is taken internally once in a day for 4-5 days.
Fried gum is mixed in sweet preparation locally called ‘Laddus’ and given to women in leucorrhoea. ¼th cup warmed bark extract is given orally to ladies to stop excessive bleeding after child birth.
Calotripis gigantean (L.) R.Br. (Asclepiadaceae)
Cotton is wetted with plant latex and placed on painful tooth area. Dried plant is brunt to get ash which is used to massage the tooth and gum after brushing the teeth for curing plaque, caries and pyorrhea.
Calotropis procera (Ait) R.Br. (Asclepiadaceae)
One teaspoonful of flower powder along with Piper nigrum powder is mixed in a glass of water and is taken internally, daily twice for two days to cure stomach pain. For dog bite, 2-3 drops of plant latex is applied at the affected parts.
Cansjera rheedii J. Gmelin (Opiliaceae)
Leaves cooked with dhal Cajanus cajan and eaten like green vegetable to get relief from postnatal pains.
Cathium dicoccum (Gaertn.) Teijsm. & Binn (Rubiaceae)
Stem bark and leaves pounded with leaves of Hemionities arifolia and the extract mixed with buttermilk of hot water. About 200 ml of filtrate is orally given
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 172 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion once a day for 3 days as an abortificant. It is claimed that this extract can abort the three month old foetus. A handful of stem bark boiled in 1 liter of water till it is reduced to 100 ml. The filtered extract orally administered morning and evening for one day in order to get relief from gas trouble.
Capparis sepiaria (Capparaceae)
Dried leaves are brunt and pound to a fine powder. Ash of cotton cloth is mixed with it and applied on tooth ache area.
Casearia elliptica Willd. (Flacourtiaceae)
A few pieces of stem bark with a small piece of sandal wood, ground in to a fine paste with buttermilk. The resultant paste applied on the dog bitten spot, three times, for only one day. Diet - avoid salt, oil and tamarind till recovery.
Cassia fistula L. (Caesalpiniaceae)
For snake bite, one teaspoonful of fruit powder is taken internally. For breast cancer and wounds, paste of fruit crushed in water is applied at the affected parts till it cures. A piece of stem-bark is ground with juice of 1-2 lemon fruits.
About 50 gm of the resultant paste is orally administered for snake bites of less poison. A little of the above paste can also be applied on the snake bitten spot.
Diet - avoid salt and chilli till recovery.
Casuarina equisetifolia L. (Causarinaceae)
The whole plant is crushed and the paste is applied at the affected parts for four days as a remedy for bone fracture.
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Ceropegia juncea Roxb. (Asclepiadaceae)
About 4-5 drops of stem latex is applied externally on the spot of any insect bite three times a day for five or six days.
Chloroxylon swietenia DC. (Rutaceae)
Two to three pieces of stem bark mixed with that of Anogeissus latifolia
(DC) Walt. ex Bedd.and Disopyros montana Roxb. in equal amount, boiled in one litre of water till the same reduced to 200 ml. The filtered extract is orally administered for the treatment of snake bites, repeated till poisonous effect reduces. Simultaneously, 50 ml of leaf extract of Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link and a handful of leaves of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall ex Nees and A. alata (Vahl) nees should also be orally admisistered.
Cissampelos pareira L. (Menispermaceae)
Ten to fifteen grams of fresh root paste is taken along with 100ml of hot water in empty stomach for three days in single dose to cure stomach-ache.
Cleome gynandra L. (Capparaceae)
The juice extracted from the leaves is dropped into the ear to get relief from tooth ache.
Clitoria ternatea L. (Fabaceae)
White flower plant ash (along with root) with cow butter is taken orally for one month to clean pimples and facial spots. Purple flower juice 4-5 drops is poured directly into eye to cure conjunctivitis, and eye pain. Fresh root paste of
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 174 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion purple flower plant is taken orally with honey to cure lumbago and colic. Leaf juice with little rock salt is applied directly to the eye to get relief from eye swelling night blindness and blurred diseases.
Cucculus hirsutus (L.) Diels (Menispermaceae)
For spermatorrhoea, shade dried whole plant is powdered, one teaspoonful of powder mixed with in a glass of water is taken internally, daily once for three days.
Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott (Araceae)
The fresh leaves pounded with buttermilk and fed to cattle to revert the induced sterlity and to reproduce.
Commelina benghalensis L. (Commelinaceae)
For wounds and scabies, paste of whole plant is applied at the affected parts till it cures.
Corallocarpus epigaeus (Rottler) C. B. Clarke (Cucurbitaceae)
One teaspoonful of tuber paste mixed with 100 ml of hot water, orally administered for snake bite, for only one time. No diet restriction.
Crotalaria prostrata Roxb (Fabaceae)
For leucorrhoea, the whole plant is crushed in buttermilk and is taken internally, one cup every day for three days, for snake bite, 10 gm fresh leaves crushed in water is taken internally. Paste of whole plant is applied all over the body as a remedy for improper circulation of blood. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 175 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Cucumis mela L. (Cucurbitaceae)
A few fruits crushed and the juice given orally to those who consumed poison in order to make quick and full vomiting.
Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. (Amaryllidaceae)
Paste of fresh rhizome with equal amount of sugar candy is given empty stomach with cold water for 21 days to cure blood-setting piles. Rhizome powder with raw cow milk is prescribed for improvement of memory power in children.
Leaf juice with a little amount of honey is prescribed for intestinal worms, indigestion, gastric ulcer and stomach disorders of children. One teaspoon of rhizome powder is taken with warm water, twice a day in empty stomach for all types of skin disorders. Two or three teaspoons full of decoction of fresh rhizome is taken with one teaspoon of honey in empty stomach for 21-30 days to cure kidney stone and rheumatic fever.
About 100 gm of dried tuber powder is mixed with one kg semi solid form of milk (prepared after extensive boiling of buffalo milk) and taken early in the morning for 7 days as an eye tonic and also to increase potency. Tuber extract is applied locally in gonorrhoea and syphilis.
Cynodon dactylon Pers. (Poaceae)
The leaf juice is taken orally along with one teaspoonful of cumin powder in empty stomach in single dose for a period of three to five days to improve digestion.
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Deccania pubescens (Roth) Tirveng var. candolleana (Wight & Arn.) Triveng (Rubiaceae)
The Fruits are shade dried and powdered. This is mixed in goat milk and orally administered to women for 5-6 days for total sterility.
Dolichandrone falcata Seem. (Bignoniaceae)
For menorrhagia and leucorrhoea, one class extract of stem bark is taken internally once a day for three days.
Embelia ribes Burm.f. (Myrsinaceae)
Decoction of seed powder of the plant and Coriandrum sativum (50 gm each) along with 2 teaspoon of honey is taken in empty stomach early morning and evening for 15-20 days to cure headache, migraine and dizziness. Seed decoction with honey is also taken in empty stomach twice daily for 15 days to cure haematemesis gastric, bile and lumbago (stabbing backache). Two to three fruits of this plant are chewed in case of acidity.
Enicostema axillare (Lam.) A. Raynal (Gentianaceae)
For blood purification, one glass extract of fresh leaves is taken internally every day for 15 days.
Ficus benghalensis L. (Moraceae)
One or two drop of latex is taken orally by men upto one or two months daily to make semen thick and to regain sexual potentiality.
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Gloriosa superba L. (Liliaceae)
For piles, paste prepared from tuber and zinger in equal proportion is applied at affected parts for 3 days. For skin diseases, the tuber crushed and the paste is applied at the affected parts once every two days till it cures. Root extract of Solanum surratanse is mixed with tuber extract of this plant and is given orally to women as Obortifcient.
Hemidesmus indicus R.Br. (Asclepiadaceae)
Paste prepared with about 10 gm root with 2-3 black pepper is taken in three doses daily to cure diarrhoea of small kids. A small root piece with seven rices and a little turmeric powder is tied around right hand with the help of seven thread pieces to cure cold, fever and stomach ache. One teaspoon root powder with honey is prescribed for 3-4 days to small kids to cure mouth infections, stomatitis, herpes and diarrhoea. About 20 gm root, 20 gm stem bark of Soymida febrifuga and 10 gm Terminalia bellirica fruit together is prescribed twice daily in empty stomach for 21 days for treating indigestion, stomach disorder and acidity.
Hemionitis arifolia (Burm.) T. Moore (Hemionitidaceae)
A handful of fronds made into a paste, mixed in a glass of hot water, orally administered two times a day, for less poisonous snake bite.
Twenty grams of leaf paste is applied externally on stomach once a day for span of three days to get relief from colic symptoms.
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Hisbiscus rosa-sinensis L. (Malvaceae)
Handful of leaves and flowers crushed in ghee and the paste is applied over the head part where hairs have been lot as a remedy for reformation of hairs.
Hiptage benghalensis (L.) Kurz (Malpighiaceae)
About 50 to 100 ml of plant sap (when the stem cut, water will be oozing drop by drop) orally administered in empty stomach during early morning as a cooling agent reduce body heat.
Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit (Lamiaceae)
A spoonful of 10 gm seeds extract is taken internally once a day for 3 days as a remedy for menorrhagia, leucorrhoea and temporary male sterility.
Jatropha gossypifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae)
Decoction of root is given to women orally in ulerus diseases.
Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr. (Anacardiaceae)
Stem bark with that of Cassia fistula, Spandias pinnate, Holoptelea intergrifolia and leaves of Dendrocalamus strictus ground together and boiled with garlic and pepper. 100 ml of this decoction is given orally for women on empty stomach for 3 days after menstruation between 2nd and 5th day as an antifertility drug.
Leonotis nepetiifolia (L.) R.Br. (Lamiaceae)
The whole plant is roasted and crushed the paste is applied at the affected parts till it cures as a remedy for wounds, head sores and dark patches. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 179 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Laucas aspera Spreng (Lamiaceae)
One or two drops of leaf juice poured in one of the months to cure migraine and headache. Pellets made from the plant leaf and black pepper is prescribed for
7 days in empty stomach to cure cold and fever. Leaf juice and honey is taken twice a day to cure phlegm, rheumatism, bilious fever, cough, asthma, fletula and gastric disorder. Leaf paste with black pepper is given for snake bite as an antidote and leaf juice is poured into nostrils. Leaf paste in milk with honey is taken thrice daily for 7 days to cure typhoid.
Maytenus senegalensis Lam (Celastraceae)
For leucorrhoea and menorrhagia, one cup of root extract is takes once a day for 3-4 days.
Mimosa pudica L. (Mimosaceae)
Warmed root paste is plastered with the help of a cloth on boils to get relief. Paste of root fried in castor oil is applied on deep cut wounds to stop bleeding and for healing. Warmed leaf paste is applied around foreache and to release of pain. Leaf paste is applied on forehead to get relief from headache and migraine. Leaf paste with honey is prescribed twice a day in empty stomach for 3 to 4 days for stomach-ache and intestinal worms.
Nothopegia colabracokiana (Wight) Blume (Anacardiaceae)
5-10 few seeds or 1 or 2 g of shade dried leaf powder is consumed along with 100ml of milk twice a day for seven day for snake bite.
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Pachygone ovata (poiret) Hook. f & Thompson (Menispermaceae)
One teaspoonful of root-powder mixed with an equal amount of leaf- powder of Hemionitis arifolia, mixed in a glass of hot water, given orally for treating snake bites.
Pedalium murex L. (Pedaliaceae)
When 8-10 fresh leaves are rotated in half liter water. The water becomes mucilaginous. Half cup of this water is taken once a day for seven days to cure gonorrhoea by the tribals.
Pergularia daemia (Forask.) Chiov. (Asclepiadaceae)
Ten to fifteen grams of fresh leaves are made into paste along with ten to fifteen grams of garlic and applied externally three times on stomach and on the dorsal area of the stomach for one day to control gastric trouble. Plant latex is taken on cotton and placed on affected area relief from tooth ache.
Phyllanthus fraternus Webster (Euphorbiaceae)
Root-powder with black-pepper is taken with water to cure amoebic dysentery and diarrhoea of children. Plant-juice is taken with water in empty stomach in the morning for 7 days to cure jaundice. Leaf or root extract with black pepper and cow urine is taken twice a day for 15 days in empty stomach to cure dropsy, anasarca, rheumatism and body ache. Decoction of root of the plant, root of Piper longum, rhizome of lotus and stem of Pterocarpus santalinus is taken with one cup of cow urine in empty stomach for 7 days during intermittent fever and fever due to cold.
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Phyllanthus reticulates poiret. (Euphorbiaceae)
A handful of leaves added with equal amount of P. amarus leaves, ground into a fine paste, mixed in 200 ml of cow’s milk, orally administered 3 times a day for 3 days to cure venereal diseases and also to reduce excessive body heat.
Plumbago indica L. (Plumbaginaceae)
Tablets made from paste of equal amount of root of Plumbago indica
Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta. Caesalpinia boudue flowers of Pterospermum acerifolium and black pepper seeds is taken with water in empty stomach for
21 days to cure stomach ache, acidity, bile constipation and lower abdomen pain.
In case of cuts, wounds, sprain and body ache, castor or seasame oil is first applied on the affected area and then a paste of 3-4 leaves of the plant is applied for relief.
Plumbago zeylanica L. (plumbaginaceae)
Fresh or dried roots are powdered with jaggery without adding water.
About 100gm of the paste is given orally in a single dose for pregnant women on empty stomach for abortion of up to 2 month old foetus.
Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (Fabaceae)
Root bark of Pongamia pinnata with stem bark of Carica papaya,
Holoptelea intergrifolia, Azandirachta indica, Moringa pterygosperma is pounded and boiled with pepper and garlic. The filtered concoction given orally on empty stomach thrice a day for 2 days as abortifacient.
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Pupalia lappacea (L.) Juss. var. lappacea (Amaranthaceae)
About 3 gm of tender shoots and 3 gm of inflorescences are made into paste. This paste is applied externally on the spot three times a day for five to seven days for any unknown insect bite.
Senna auriculata L. (Caesalpiniaceae)
Ten gm young leaves crushed in curd are taken internally for two days to keep body cool. Five to ten grams of grains of sepals and petals removed from flowers, ground with little amount of asafoetida and papavar along with cheese using hot water is given orally for two days in single dose to relieve colic pain.
Flower and young shoots are tied over the stomach at least two times in a day for three continuous days to get relief from colic pain even among adults.
Solanum nigrum L. (Solanaceae)
Leaves are ground and juice is extracted by filtering through cotton and issued as an ear drop for relief from tooth-ache.
Soymida febrifuga (Roxb.) A. Juss. (Meliaceae)
Shade dried plant are powdered and one teaspoonful of powder is taken orally along with water in empty stomach for a period of two or three days to get relief from stomach ache.
Swertia corymbosa (Griseb) Might ex. CB Clark (Gentianaceae)
The decoction of 100 g stem bark with 10 g jaggery is given for 1-3 days to regularize menstruation.
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Tamilnadia uliginosa (Retz.) Tirvengadum & Sastre (Rubiaceae)
Fresh fruits pounded with buttermilk, given orally for women for total sterlity.
Terminalia chebula Retz. (Combretaceae)
The pericarp of the fruit along with turmeric is made into a paste and taken orally three times a day for a period of two to three to arrest dysentery.
Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook.f. & Thomson (Menispermaceae)
Stem powder with equal amount of honey is taken in empty stomach twice daily to cure headache and migraine. Decoction of stem and Embelia ribes fruits with honey is taken twice daily in empty stomach to cure headache. To cure arthritis, rheumatism and inflammation. One teaspoon of stem decoction with half teaspoon honey is taken in empty stomach for one month. Stem decoction sesame oil is applied on body to get relief from rheumatism. Body pain and inflammation.
Leaf powder with black pepper powder is taken with raw milk twice daily in empty stomach to cure jaundice. Juice from equal amount of water in empty stomach for 7 days to cure rheumatism, body ache due to gastric ulcer and colic.
The decoction of fresh leaves is considered very effective against leucorrhoea by the women when taken orally.
Tribulus terrestris L. (Zygophyllaceae)
Fruits are haked and made into powder with common salt powder is massaged into teeth and gums for relief from teeth ache. The fruit powder is taken orally to cure renal disorder and leucorrhoea. The mucilaginous infusion of plant –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 184 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion is taken orally by men to cure impotency and for vitality. The fruits are powdered with the seed of sesamum and taken orally with milk to cure impotency and increases the number of sperms.
Tridax procumbens L. (Asteraceae)
For kidney stones and heel cracking 10 gm fresh leaves are crushed and a cup of extracts is taken once a day for 3 days.
Vitex negundo L. (Verbenaceae)
Crushed and warmed leaves are plastered on the body part with in cloth to get relief from pain. Water sap from warmed stem is given to children to cure cough, calarrh and cold fever. Stem sap with sesame oil is poured into ear to cure otalgia and supurative otitis media. Crushed leaves fried in cow ghee are applied on wounds for healing. Root decoction is prescribed twice a day in empty stomach to cure rheumatism. Leaves are crushed together with common salt and placed on painful tooth to get relief from tooth ache.
Waltheria indica L. (Sterculiaceae)
Fifty grams of fresh bark of the root is soaked in 200 ml of water for twice hours and the filtrate is taken orally in empty stomach for three days in single dose to get relief from bowel disorder.
Wattakaka volubilis (L.f.) Stapf. (Asclepiadaceae)
A handful of leaves added to that of Gymnema sylesra ground into a paste mixed with porridge made from the seed of pennisetum (L.) Leeke (Poaceae.
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Ciombu) orally administered for treating eruptions over body and face due excessive heat.
Wedelia chinesis (Osbeck) Merr. (Asteraceae)
Teaspoonful of leaf-powder added to 200 ml of goat’s milk or hot water and orally administered in early hours for three days to treat jaundice. Handful of cooked leaves eaten as raw followed by a glass of buttermilk with a pinch of ground dry ginger is taken internally for 3 days for treating jaundice. Diet: Oily and hot stuffs and tamarind should be avoided.
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Solanaceae)
The tribal give root powder orally to male patients with asthma and bronchitis; but not to ladies since it produced a narcotic effect and act as an abortifacient. Decoction made from tubers of Chlorophytum borivillianum, whole plant of Withania somnifera, root of Asparagus officinalis seeds of Mucuna pruriens seeds of Phaseolus mungo and selageet stone is given to men to increase sexual potency and fertility.
Ziziphus xylopyrus (Retz.) Willd. (Rhamnaceae)
50 gm of fresh bark of the stem is soaked in 200 ml of water for 12 hours and the filtrate orally in empty stomach for a period of three days in single dose to relieve stomach ache.
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4.2.2 Forms and Preparations of Medicine
The researcher had with medicine man and women of the Thalaimalai. The discussion that emerged revealed the forms of medicine which they adopted in their preparation. When compared with tribal medicine men in other hills of Tamil
Nadu the data are nearly similar.
Preparation of medicine
The preparation of drug and medicine among the Thalaimalai communities is realy an art. Most of the local medicines are prepared either as a single drug occurred from single plant or plant parts. The tribal medicine is not uncommon.
Forms of Medicine
(i) Infusion (ii) Decoction (iii) Mixture (iv) Syrup (v) Paste (vi) Powder
(vii) Pills and small cakes (viii) Extract – both in water and in alcohol (ix) Fresh juice by squeezing fresh materials (x) Fomentation (xi) Medicated oil both from plant and from animal fats (xii) Drops (xiii) Massage balm (xiv) Fruits (xv)
Burning ash (xvi) Plaster (xvii) Alkali etc.
Dose: In general, the dose prescribed for each medication is the adult dose.
It is proportionally reduced to the age of the patient. Pounding the plant or plant parts into paste or steeping the pounded material in water to get the extract or squeezing them for juice and fomentation are common practices among the santal communities. Pounded products are generally administered directly or in the forms of pill and cake. For rheumatic swelling and boils, either boiled root. Bark leaf or the paste of plant parts is applied as poultice. Dry plant parts are usually –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 187 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion made into powder. In certain cases barks or roots of medicinal are chewed and sucked.
Fresh juice: It is the extract made by squeezing any fresh medicinal plant.
It is believed that the extract have highest potency.
Paste: Both fresh and dried plants or plants parts in general, are made into paste on a same and used both internally and externally.
Extract: (Both water and alcoholic) The aqueous extract made generally from fresh plant is used internally.
Infusion: It is practically the soaking of dry medicinal plants or plant parts in fresh water at normal temperature.
Decoction: It is the preparation of the boiling of both dry and fresh raw materials in water 1:10 ratio and reduce the quantity of the water into about ¼ of the original volume.
Mixture: This is either the combination of powder of dried materials or the combination of the decoction and extracts of plant materials in a certain ratio. It has specific formula and it can be preserved for a signification period of time.
Powder: The dried materials are pounded and made into fine powder.
Pills and small Cake: It is practically the tablet from of powder drug.
Syrup: It is a liquid tonic prepared as per prescription in combination with honey for making it easy.
Fomentation: In general, fresh leaves after heated on fire are applied externally. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 188 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Medicated Oil: The medicated oil is a product obtained after boiling some specific plant or plant parts in the specific oil. It is used for specific purpose only as prescribed.
Ointment: It is the preparation of extract from animal fats, bee-wax, oils and gum-resin.
Drops: The fresh juice of plant and fresh seed oil are used as drops in eye and for ear diseases.
Fume: The fume is obtained after burnibg the dried material of the specific medicinal plants or plant parts. It can also be obtained by putting fresh medicinal plants in boiling water. In general, it is applied and inhaled as medicine.
Plaster: It is practically a combination of the paste of fresh plant materials in a specific ratio. Some times lime is added in it.
Alkali: It is a decoction of burned plant materials
4.2.3 Beliefs and Taboos regarding medicinal Plants.
The Thalaimalai Nattu Vaidyas have certain beliefs and taboos about medicinal plants.
1. Plants with latex have medicinal value.
2. Green plants before flowering are more effective as curative agents than the
dried plants
3. Roots are considered more effective medicine than the aerial parts of the
plants.
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4. Plants for the uses of medicinal purpose in various diseases should be
collected in different times as in the morning, midday or in the afternoon.
5. They considered than in combination with fruits of long pepper (piper
longum) the medicine becomes more effective.
6. The bark in medicinal uses are taken from the plant on which the rising sun
shines.
7. The traditional practitioners believe that the violation of any taboo makes the
medicine ineffective.
The data collected in this section are those shared by local medicine men and women of the Thalaimalai villages. These data were compared with those practiced by the Paliyans, the Irulas and the Malayalis of the hills of Tamil Nadu.
The general pattern seems to be similar expect the local preparation modalities and dosage administered. Since the tribal use of these age-old practices are on the wane especially among the younger generation, There is a need to validate the practices with phytochemical analysis. Thalaimalai hills are exposed to the impact of many welfare schemes and developed programmes sponsored by Governmental agencies, there is an urgent need to collect the indigenous health care methods.
The local people have to be motivated to conserve the fast depleting medicinal plant resources and use them sustainably. Globally, ethno pharmacology has played an important role in the development of conventional medicine and is likely to play more significant role in future also. In the light of data presented in this chapter. A team work among ethno botanists, ethno pharmacologists,
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 190 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion physicians and phytochemists is essential for truthful outcome on ethnomedicinal research in the Thalaimalai.
4.3 Ethnoveterinary Practices in the Thalaimalai
Ethno veterinary research and development is a holistic interdisciplinary study of indigenous knowledge and associated skills, practices, beliefs and social structures pertaining to the healthcare and husbandry of income producing animals. Though traditional uses of medical plants have been in vogue since time immemorial, only a few reports are available in India, for ethno veterinary practice. During the field trips, some villagers around the hill and veterinary practitioners, known as Mattu vaidyars were interviewed. This section aims at a systematic presentation of data gathered in the field and also information gathered from Mattu vaidyars.
4.3.1 Ethnoveternary Practices
Acacia chundra willd. (Mimosaceae)
Stem bark (3-4 glasses) decoction is administered once daily for 3-4 days for stomach ailments.
Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del. ssp. indica (Benth.) Brenan
Stem bark is boiled with water and applied to clean the Wounds. Pod mixed with fodder is given during delivery time to promote lactation and gum is used to cure matitis.
Acacia sinuate (Lour.) Merr. (Mimosaceae)
Seeds are crushed with buttermilk and given orally to cure food poison. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 191 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Achyranthes aspera L. (Amaranthaceae)
Fresh seeds mixed with ghee and sugar is boiled to make into slurry for treating stomach swelling.
Adhatoda Zeylanica Medik. (Acanthaceae)
Leaf extract is given to the cattle for curing swellings and fever.
Aegle marmelos (L.) corr. (Rutaceae)
Fruit pulp is applied locally to cure mouth diseases.
Ailanthus excels Robx. (Simaroubacceae)
Leaf decoction (250 ml) is given orally to cure fever.
Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (Liliaceae)
Fresh leaf juice is applied to skin to kill ticks and parasites. It is also used to treat rheumatism.
Anacardium occcidentale L. (Anacardiaceare)
Latex is applied for foot diseases.
Anisomeles indica L. (Lamiaceae)
Leaf decoction (2-3 glasses) is administered once daily for three days to cure fever.
Annona squamosa L. (Annonaceae)
Leaf extract is externally applied on worms in the wounds.
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Aristolochia bracteolata Retz. (Aristolochiaceae)
Paste to green leaves is applied to kill ticks and maggots and also applied locally to cure foot disease.
Atalantia malabarica Tanaka (Rutaceae)
Stem bark (250 gm) past with sufficient quantity of pepper and garlic is administered daily twice for a week in mouth diseases.
Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae)
Fresh leaf juice is fed to cure fever.
Caesalpinia bonduc (L.)Roxb. (Caesalpiniaceae)
50 gm seed powder is given orally to cure fever, worms and flatulence.
Calotropis procera (Aiton) R.Br. (Asclepiadaceae)
Warmed leaf along with sesame oil is applied locally to cure boils and swellings.
Capsicum annuum L. (solanaceae)
Dried fruit powder with oil is applied locally to cure foot disease.
Carum copticum Hiem. (Apiaceae)
150 gm crushed seed is given orally to cure tympanies and indigestion.
Dried powdered fruit is applied on part bitten by dog.
Cicer arietinum L. (Fabaceae)
Fresh leaf juice is fed to animal against constipation.
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Cinnaamomum zeylanicum Blume (Lauraceae)
Dry stem bark powder mixed with clove is fed to animals to help expel the
Placenta after delivery.
Cipadessa baccifera (Roth) Miq. (Meliaceae)
Stem bark extract (100- 120 ml) is administered twice daily for three days.
Cissus quadrangularis L. (Vitaceae)
Paste of stem is applied locally to cure sprains and swellings.
Citrullus colocynthis (L.) sch. (Cucurbitaceae)
Boiled fruits, mixed with onion juice or equal quantity of boiled fruits, sugar and ghee is fed for at least 6 months to horses to treat constipation and stomach pain.
Clerodendrum multiforum Baker. (Verbenacceae)
Leaf paste is applied locally to cure speticemia, worms and foot diseases.
Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari (Burseraceae)
Chopped stem and leaves mixed with buttermilk, kept in earthen pot are fed to animals to treat rheumatism.
Datura metel L. (Solanaceae)
Leaf paste is applied locally to cure swellings and sprains.
Delonix regia Raf. (Caesalpiniaceae)
Stem bark extract with pepper and garlic is administered by local vaidyas twice daily until cured.
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Derris indica (Lam.) Bennett (Fabaceae)
Seed oil is applied locally to cure eezema.
Ervatamia heyneana Cooke (Apocynaceae)
Some times cattle suffer from loss of hair from the body and flaking of skin
(a thin layer of skin starts getting out) takes place, at that time the bark along with the Anacaridum occidentiale L. bark added in the animal feed prepared from the rice, boiled water fed to the cattle was found to be effective against such skin diseases.
Euphorbia fusiformis Ham. ex G. Don(Euphorbiaceae)
Tuber paste (200 gm) with sufficient quantity of pepper and garlic powder is administered twice daily for three days against constipation in animals.
Euphorbia nivulia Ham. (Euphorbiaceae)
Chopped stem and leaves boiled with water are fed to animal to treat infected gums.
Eulophia epidendraea Fischer (Orchidaceae)
Paste of fistful of pseudobulbs crushed with sufficient quanitity of pepper and garlic is administered daily once for a week.
Ficus benghalensis L. (Moraceae)
Paste of bark and root is applied on the fracture part.
Ficus religiosa L. (Moraceae)
About 250gm of crushed fruits are given orally to cure constipation –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 195 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr. (Anacardiaceae)
Stem bark decoction (250 ml) is administered for fever daily twice.
Laucas aspera Spreng. (Lamiaceae)
Leaf extract is given to cattle for consumption during stomach pain disorders. Half a cup of juice prepared from the plant leaves along with Leucas leaves and stephania japonica roots is given for consumption during snakebite.
Lawsonla inermis L. (Lythraceae)
Fresh leaf paste is applied on the fractured bones on camels. Paste of leaves is applied locally to cure foot and mouth diseases.
Lobelia nicotianiifolia Heyne (Campanulaceae)
Mixture of leaf extract and little amount of soil is applied externally on wounds during bleeding in cattle limbs. When the limbs of cattle and pigs especially the hoof part get infected with worms. Leaf extract is applied. When animals get unconsciousness due to food poisoning, leaves or whole plant are rubbed near the nose and mouth of the cattle to make them conscious.
Maerua oblongifolia (forsk.) A. Rich. (Capparaceae)
Plant is fed as fodder to increase lactation.
Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae)
Paste of leaves and stem bark is fed with sugar to increase lactation.
Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke (Poaceae)
Boiled seeds mixed with jaggery are given to animals during delivery.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 196 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Polyalthia cerasoides (Roxb.) Bedd. (Annonaceae)
Stem bark crushed with cappers sepiaria (150 gm), 10-12 pepper and garlic is administered twice daily for two days for indigestion.
Rubia cordifolia L. (Rubiaceae)
During or after parturition the leaves are fed to cattle to remove wastes from the body.
Salvadora persica L. (Salvadoraceae)
Leaf paste is applied locally to cure wounds and mastitis.
Senna auriculata L. (Caesalpiniceae)
Leaf paste is applied locally to cure boils, swelling and wounds.
Senna italica L. (Caesalpiniaceae)
Powder / paste of dry of green leaves are fed to animal against constipation.
Sesamum indicum L. (Pedaliaceae)
Dry seed powder and mixed with ghee are fed to animals to treat foot and mouth diseases.
Solanum surattense Burm. L. (Solanaceae)
Seed and leaf extract is applied on the sores and wounds of cattle.
Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers (Fabaceae)
Roots are fed to animals against general swelling and rheumatism.
Terminalia bellirica Gaertn. (Combretaceae)
Pounded fruit is applied in foot and mouth diseases.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 197 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Terminalia chebula Retz. (Combretaceae)
Crushed fruits are given orally to cure asthma.
Trichodesma indicum (L.) R.Br. (Boraginaceae)
Leaf extract is fed to treat fever and body ache.
Vitex altissima L.f. (Verbenaceae)
Stem bark and that Anogeissus latifolia (DC) Guill. & Perr. (1:1 ratio) besides 12-15 pepper and garlic crushed is administered twice daily for two days.
Vietx negundo L. (Verbenaceae)
Paste of leaves is applied locally to cure foot diseases and swellings. Leaf extract is used to apply whenever cattle suffer from limb pain, swellings, cracks and wounds.
Zizyphus nummularia (Burm.f.) wight & Arm. (Rhamnaceae)
Root crushed and mixed with water is applied on the paining shoulder of the bullock, used for plough.
Zizyphus xylopyrus (Retz.) Willd. (Rhamnaceae)
Roots crushed with Calotropis gigantean (L.) R. Br. stem barks
Erythroxylum monogynum Roxb. and Pterocarpus marupium Roxb and 10-12 dry chilies is administered for 2-3 days with one litre of water once daily for swellings and wounds.
Though the traditional wisdom is on the decline, a substantial proportion about 41% of the sampled population showed knowledge of traditional ethno
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 198 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion veterinary practices in the region. Animal husbandry is the second major occupation in the region, after agriculture and contributes significantly to the regional economy. However despite its sizeable contribution to the regional economy, the development of veterinary infrastructure in the region has not been in proportion to the increasing livestock population over the years. Setting up of veterinary centers at a few selected locations restricted the accessibility of veterinary facilities for common man. Due to drought, large proportion of livestock population remains on the move. Lifestyle also forces cattle herders to own some basic knowledge about the use of medicinal plants for veterinary purposes.
The majority of the treatment procedure are based on the traditional wisdom and beliefs of the local people and such a practice exists for many years.
Such vast treasure of traditional knowledge in the Thalaimalai needs to be recognized, documented and validated scientifically. Efforts to document this knowledge need to be enhanced. Scientific validation should investigate how to maximize and standardize the efficacy of such traditional remedies. Moreover, the use of certain animal products in veterinary diseases also needs to be validated.
Research efforts are also needed to understand the active principles, evidence of synergism and find out whether a defined mixture of plant-derived compounds can replace the use of the crude herbal preparation.
From ecological conservation point of view, such efforts will help in unnessary harvesting of some of the plants. Moreover the plants having medicinal properties need to be promoted through ex-situ conservation practices in –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 199 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion agriculture fields, gardens and nurseries. A blending of traditional wisdom and modern scientific methods of such cultivation could reap better harvest of medicinal plants, which would help the build up of wild population. Proper strategies are to be adapted to list out the important plants, prioritize them and develop suitable cultivation techniques. Parallel to this scope for rewarding traditional wisdom should also be formulated, if conservation of traditional values and wisdom are to be crushed.
4.4 Ethnomedicinal species diversity and knowledge in the Thalaimalai
In the study, a total of 309 species belonging to 247 genera and 94 families were documented. Monocotyledens are in 11 families, 22 genera with 24 species.
The Dicotyledens are in 81 families, 223 genera with 283 species. The pteridophytes is in two families with two genera and two species (Table 4.1, Chart
4.1) and Out of the total plant species documented the 72 (23%) were trees, 85
(27%) were shrubs, 115 (37%) herbs, 3 (1%) climbers and 3 (1%) rhizomes. The details are given in the Chart 4.4.
Among the 309 plant species, 7 of them were found to be enlisted in the red list of ICUN. The species are Santalum album (endangered) Cissus vitiginea
(endangered), Moringa cancanensis and Gloriosa superb (vulnerable),
Hemidesmus indicus (endemic), Aristolochia bracteolata (least concern),
Pseudarthria viscida (near threatened) of these Rubia cordifolia were observed as a single population in the Thalaimalai hills.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 200 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
The largest number of species diversity is in Fabaceae (24) followed by
Euphorbiaceae (17). Caesalpiniaceae (13), Rubiaceae (14), Mimosaceae (12) and
Lamiaceae (11) species. The next is Asclepidaceae, with 9 species followed by
Malvaceae, Asteraceae and Verbenaceae have 8 species each. Then
Cucurbitaceae, Capparaceae, Acaathacease, Solananceae 7 species each and then
Amaranthaceae, Convoluaceae, Menispermaceae have 6 species each. Another set of four families namely Rutaceae, Anacardiaceae, Apocynaceae and Celastraceae are with 5 species each. Four species are recorded in Combrertaceae, Liliaceae,
Meliaceae, Moraceae, Rhamnaceae and Sterculiaceae respectively (Table 4.2) and the largest number of species in the family are given in Chart 4.2.
Acacia have 9 species Euphorbia 6 species and while Cassia, Ocimum,
Ficus, Solanum have 4 species each. List of higher number of species in a Genus is presented in Table 4.3 and in the Chart 4.3.
Table 4.1: Ethnomedicinal species diversity
Family Genera Species Monocot 11 22 24 Dicot 81 223 283 Pteridophytes 2 2 2 Toal 94 247 309
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 201 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Table 4.2: List of Families having more than 4 Species
S. No. Name of the Family No. of Species 1. Fabaceae 24 2. Euphorbiaceae 17 3. Caesalpiniaceae 14 4. Rubiaceae 13 5. Mimosaceae 12 6. Lamiaceae 11 7. Asclepiadaceae 9 8. Asteraceae 8 9. Malvaceae 8 10. Verbenaceae 8 11. Acanthaceae 7 12. Capparaceae 7 13. Cucurbitaceae 7 14. Solanaceae 7 15. Amaranthaceae 6 16. Convolunaceae 6 17. Menispermaceae 6 18. Anacardiaceae 5 19. Apocynaceae 5 20. Celastnaceae 5 21. Rutaceae 5 22. Combretaceae 4 23. Lilliaceae 4 24. Meliaceae 4 25. Moraceae 4 26. Rhamnaceae 4 27. Sterculiaceae 4
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 202 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Table 4.3: List of High Number of Species in a Genus
S. No. Genus No. of Species 1. Acacia 9 2. Euphorbia 6 3. Cassia 4 4. Ficus 4 5. Ocimum 4 6. Solanum 4
Plant Parts Used
The plant parts used for medicinal preparation were leaf, stem, root, bark, sap, flower, seed, fruits and underground parts. There were instances of whole plant being used also. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves from 147 species, root from 81 species, flowers, fruits, seeds from 80 species and whole plant usage from 44 species (Table 4).
Table 4.4: Plant Parts used and the number of Species
S. No. Plant Part Used No. of Species 1. Leaves, Latex 147 2. Root, Root Bark, Rhizome, Bulb and Tubers 81 3. Flowers, Fruits and Seeds 80 4. Wood, Exudates, Stem, Bark 59 5. Whole plant 44
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 203 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Chart 4.1: Ethnomedicinal species diversity
283 Family Genera Species
223
81
22 24 11 2 2 2
Monocot Dicot Pteridophytes
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 204 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Chart 4.2: Families having more than 4 Species
24
17
14 13 12 11 9 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 205 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Chart 4.3: High Number of Species in a Genus
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 206 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Chart 4.4: Percentage of distribution of different habits
72 85 115 31 3 3
Tree Shrub Herb Climber Rhizome Bulbs
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 207 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Table 4.5: List of Species and Families
Name of the Species Families Abrus precatorius L. ssp. precatorius Fabaceae Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet ssp. indicum Malvaceae Acacia caesia (L.) Willd. Mimosaceae Acacia catechu (L.f) Willd. Mimosaceae Acacia chundra Willd. Mimosaceae Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. Mimosaceae Acacia horrida (L.) Willd. Mimosaceae Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd. Mimosaceae Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del ssp. indica (Benth) Brenan Mimosaceae Acacia polyacantha Willd. Mimosaceae Acacia sinuate (Lour.) Merr. Mimosaceae Acalypha fruticosa Frossk Euphorbiaceae Acalypha indica L. Euphorbiaceae Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthaceae Acorus calamus L. Araceae Actiniopteris radiata (Sw.) Link. Pteridophyte Adhatoda zeylanica Medik. Acanthaceae Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa Rutaceae Aerva lanata (L.) Juss.ex Schult. Amaranthaceae Agave americana L. Agavaceae Agave cantala L. Agavaceae Ageratum conyzoides L. Asteraceae Alangium salvlifolium (L.f) Wangerin ssp. salvlifolium Alangiaceae Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boivin Mimosaceae Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. Mimosaceae Allanthus exelsa Roxb Simaroubaceae Allium cepa L. Alliaceae Aloe vera L. Liliaceae Alpinia galanga L. Zingiberaceae Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. Apocynaceae Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R. Br. ex DC Amaranthaceae Amaranthus spinosus L. Amaranthaceae Ammannia baccifera L. Lythraceae –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 208 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Name of the Species Families Anacardium occidentale L. Anacardiaceae Andrographis alata (Vahl) Nees Acanthaceae Andrographis paniculata (Burin.f.) Wall.ex. Nees Acanthaceae Anisomeles indica L. Lamiaceae Anisomeles malabarica R.Br. Lamiaceae Annona squamosa L. Annonaceae Anogeissus latifolia (DC.) Wall.ex Guill. & Perr Combretaceae Anthocephalus chinensis (Lam.) A. Rich. ex Walp. Rubiaceae Argemone mexicana L. Papaveraceae Argyreia kleiniana Roem. & Schultes Convolvulaceae Argyreia speciosa Sw. Convolvulaceae Aristolochia bracteolata Lam Aristolochiaceae Aristolochia indica L. Aristolochiaceae Aristolochia tagala Cham. Artistolochiaceae Asparagus racemosus Willd. Liliaceae Astylosia scarabaeoides (L.) Benth. Fabaceae Atalantia malabarica Tanaka Rutaceae Atalantia racemosa Wight & Arn. Rutaceae Azadirachta indica A Juss. Meliaceaceae Azima tetracantha Lam Salvadoraceae Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell Scrophulariaceae Barleria prionitis L. Acanthaceae Basella alba L. Basellaceae Bauhinia variegata L. Caesalpiniaceae Benkara malabarica Lam. Rubiaceae Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC. Oxalidaceae Bischofia javanica Blume Bischoflaceae Boerhavia diffusa L. Nyctaginaceae Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Colebr Burseraceae Buchanania lanzan Spreng Anacardiaceae Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub Fabaceae Byttneria herbacea Roxb. Sterculiaceae Cadatra fruticosa (L.) Druce Capparaceae Caesalpinia bonduc Roxb. Caesalpiniaceae Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill. Fabaceae –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 209 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Name of the Species Families Calotropis gigantea (L.) R. Br. Asclepiadaceae Calotropis procera (Aiton) R. Br. Asclepiadaceae Canavalia virosa (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. Fabaceae Canjera rhcedii J.Gmelin Opiliaceae Canthium dicoccum (Gaertn.) Teys.& Binn Rubiaceae Canthium umbellatum (Wight) Santapu & Merch Rubiaceae Capparis sepiaria L. Capparaceae Capparis zeylanica L. Capparaceae Capsicum annuum L. Solanaceae Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Sapindaceae Careya arborea Rexb. Lecythidaceae Carica papaya L. Caricaceae Carissa carandas L. Mant. Apocynaceae Casearia elliptics Willd. Flacourtiaceae Cassia fistula L. Caesalpinaiaceae Cassia javanica L. Caesalpiniaceae Cassia obtuse (Roxb.) Weight & Arn. Caesalpiniaceae Cassia occidentalis L. Caesalpiniaceae Cassine glauca (Rottb.) Kuntze var. glauca Celastraceae Casuarina equisetifilia L. Casurinaceae Cayratia pedata (Wall.) Gagurp. Vitaceae Celastrus paniculatus Willd. Celastraceae Centelia asiatica (L.) Urban. Apiaceae Ceropegia juncea Roxb. Asclepiadaceae Chloroxylon swietenia DC. Rutaceae Cicer arietinum L. Fabaceae Cinnamomum zeylanicum BI. Lauraceae Cipadessa haccifera (Roth) Miq. Meliaceaceae Cissampelos pareira L. Menispermaceae Cissus quadrangularis L. Vitaceae Cissus vitiginea L. Vitaceae Citrullus colocynthis L. Cucurbitaceae Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.) Benth. Euphorbiaceae Cleodendrum phlomides L.f. Verbenaceae Cleome gynandra L. Capparaceae –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 210 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Name of the Species Families Cleome viscosa L. Capparaceae Clerodendrum infortunatum L. Verbenaceae Clitoria ternatea L. Fabaceae Coccina grandis (L.) Voight. Horst. Cucurbitaceae Cocculus hirtatus (L.) Diels. Menispermaceae Coleus aromaticus Benth. Lamiaceae Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott. Araceae Commelina benghalensis L. Commelinaceae Commelina clavata C. B. Clarke. Commelinaeae Commiphora caudata (Wight & Arn.) Engl. Burseraceae Commiphora weightii (Arn.) Bhandari. Burseraceae Convolvulus microphyllus Sieb. ex Spreng. Convolvulaceae Corallocarpus epigaeus (Rottler) C.B Clarke. Cucurbitaceae Corchorus olitorious L. Tiliaceae Coriandrum sativum L. Apiaceae Crataeva adansonii DC Capparaceae Crinum asiaticum L. Amaryllidaceae Crotalaria prostrata Roxb. Fabaceae Crotalaria medicaginea L. Fabaceae Crotalaria verrucosa L. Fabaceae Cucumis melo L. Cucurbitaceae Cucumis trigonus (Roxb.) Cucurbitaceae Cuminum cyminum L. Apiaceae Curculigo orchioides Gaertn Amaryilidaceae Curcuma longa L. Zingiberaceae Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Convolvulaceae Cycelea petata Hook.f. & Thomson Menispermaceae Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers. Poaceae Cyperus pangorei Rottb. Cyperaceae Dalbergia sisoo Rexb Papilionaceae Datura metel L. Solanaceae Deccania pubesecens (Roth ) Tirvengadam var. candolleana Rubiaceae Delonix regia Raf. Caesalpiniaceae Dendrophthoe falcata (L.f.) Etting Loranthaceae Derris indica L. Fabaceae –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 211 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Name of the Species Families Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC. Fabaceae Digera muricata (L.) Mart. Amaranthaceae Dioscorea oppositifolia L. Discoreaceae Diospyros montana Roxb. Ebenaceae Diplocyclos palmatus (L.) C. Jeffrey Cucurbitaceae Dodonaea angustifolia L.F. Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa auct. non Jacq. Sapindaceae Dolichandrone falcata Seem. Bignoniaceae Eclipta prostrata (L.) Mant. Asteraceae Elephantopus scaber L. Asteraceae Embelia ribes Burm.f. Myrsinaceae Enicostemma axillare (Lam) A. Raynal Gentianaceae Ervatamia heyneana cooke Apocynaceae Erythoxylum monogynum Roxb. Erythroxylaceae Eulophia epidendraea Fisher Orchidaceae Euphorbia antiquorum L. Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia cythophora Murr Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia fusiformis Ham. ex G.Don. Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia hirta L. Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia nivulia Ham Euphorbiaceae Ficus benghalensis L. Moraceae Ficus glomerata Roxb. Moraceae Ficus religiosa L. Moraceae Ficus vireas Aiton Moraceae Firminea celarata (Roxb.) R. Br. Sterculiacaeae Flueggea leucopyrus Willd. Euphorbiaceae Gardenia latifolia Aiton Rubiaceae Gloriosa superba L. Liliaceae Glycosmis mauritiana (Lam.) Tanaka Rutaceae Gmelina asiatica L. Verbenaceae Gossypium harbaceum L. Malvaceae Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br. ex Schult. Aselepiadaceae Hardwickia binata Roxb. Caesalpiniaceae Heliotropium indicum L. Boraginaceae Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br. Asclepiadaceae –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 212 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Name of the Species Families Hemionitis arifolia (Burm,f.) T. Moore Adiantaceae Hibiscus ovalifolius (forssk.) Vahl Malvaceae Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Malvaceae Hiptage benghalensis (L.) Kurz Malpighiaceae Holoptelia intergrifolia (Roxb.) Planch. Ulmaceae Hugonia mystax L. Linaceae Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F.Muell Violaceae Hygrophila auriculata (Schum.) Heine Acanthaceae Hyptis suaveolens Poit. Lamiaceae Indigofera hirsuta L. Fabaceae Indigofera tinctoria L. Fabaceae Jasminum angustifolium Vahl Oleasceae Jatropha curcas L. Euphorbiaceae Jatropha gossypifolia L. Euphorbiaceae Jatropha villosa Wight Euphorbiaceae Justicia tranquebraiensis L.f. Acanthaceae Laeptadenia reticulate (Retz.) Wight & Arm Asclepiadaceae Lannea coromandeliea (Hautt.) Merr. Anacardiaceae Lantana camara L. var. aculeate (L.) Moldenke Verbenaceae Lawsonia inermis L. Lythraceae Lchnocarpus frutescens R.Br. Apocynaceae Leonitis nepetiifolia (L.) R. Br. Lamiaceae Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link Lamiaceae Lobelia nicotianiifolia Roth ex R. & S. Campanulaceae Ludwigia adseendens (L.) H. Hara Onagraceae Madhuca longifolia (L.) Macbr. Sapotaceae Maerua oblongifolia (forsk.) A. Rich Capparaceae Maytenus ovata L. Celastraceae Maytenus senegalensis Lam Celastraceae Melia azedarach L. Meliaceaceae Merremia emarginata (Burm.f.) Hallier f. Convolvuaceae Miliusa velutina (Dunal) Hook .f. & Thomson Annonaceae Mimosa pudica L. Mimosaceae Mollugo cerviana (L.) Ser. Molluginaceae Moringa concanensis Nimmo ex Dalz & Gibson Moringaceae –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 213 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Name of the Species Families Moringa oleifera Lam Moringaceae Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. Fabaceae Nothopegia colebrookeana (Wight) Blume Anacardiaceae Nyctanthes arbortristis L. Verbenaceae Ocimum americanum L. Lamiaceae Ocimum basilicum L. Lamiaceae Ocimum gratissimum L. Lamiaceae Ocimum tenuifiorsm L. Lamiaceae Oldenlandia umbellate L. Rubiaceae Opuntia dillenil Haw Cactaceae Opuntia monacantha (Wild.) Haw. Cactaceae Pachygone ovate (Poiret) Hook.f. & Thompson Menispermaceae Passiflora foetida L. Passifloraceae Pavatta tomentose Roxb. ex Sm Rubiaceae Pavonia zeylanica (L.) Cav. Malvaceae Pedalium murex L. Pedaliaceae Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke Poaceae Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov. Asclepiadaceae Persicaria glabra (Willd.) M. Gomez Polygonaceae Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Roxb. Areceaeae Phyllanthus emblica L. Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus reticulatus Poiret. Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus urinaria L. Euphorbiaceae Piper nigrum L. Piperaceae Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. Lamiaceae Plumbago indica L. Plumbaginaceae Plumbago zeylanica L. Plumbaginaceae Polycarpaea corymbosa (L.) Lam. Caryophyllaceae Polygala arvensis Willd. Polygalaceae Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre. Fabaceae Portulaca oleraceae L. Portulacaceae Priva cordifolia (L.F.) Druce Verbenaceae Pseudarthria viscida (L.) Wight & Arn. Fabaceae Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. Fabaceae Pterocarpus santalinus L.f. Fabaceae –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 214 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Name of the Species Families Pterolobium hexapetalum (Roth) Santapau & Wagh. Caesalpiniaceae Pterospermum acerifolium Willd. Sterculiaceae Pupalia Lappacea (L.) Juss. var. Lappacea Amaranthaceae Randia dumetorum (Retz.) poir. Rubiaceae Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz Acanthaceae Ricinus communis L. Euphorbiaceae Rivea hypocrateriformis (Desr.) Choisy. Convolvulaceae Rubia cordifolia L. Rubiaceae Salacia chinensis L. Celastraceae Salvadora persica L. Salvadoraceae Santalum album L. Santalaceae Sarcostemma intermedium Decne. Asclepiadaceae Senna auriculata L. Caesalpiniaceae Senna italica L. Caesalpiniaceae Senna tora (L.) Roxb. Caesalpinaceae Sesamum indicum Linn. Pedialaceae Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poiret Fabaceae Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. Fabaceae Sida acuta Horm.f. Malvaceae Sida cordifolia L. Malvaceae Solanum nigrum L. Solanaceae Solanum surattense Burm. f. Solanaceae Solanum trilobatum L. Solanaceae Solanum viarum Dunal Solanaceae Soymida febrifuga (Roxb.) A. juss. Meliaceaceae Spermacoce hispida L. Rubiaceae Spermacoce pusilla Wall. Rubiaceae Sphaeranthus indicus L. Asteraceae Spilanthes calva DC Asteraceae Spondias pinnata (L.f) kurz Anacardiaceae Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers. Menispermaceae Strychnos nux-vomica L. Loganiaceae Swertia corymbosa (Griseb.) Wight ex C.B.Clarke Gentianaceae Syzygium alternifolium L. Myrtaceae Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels Myrtaceae –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 215 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Name of the Species Families Tamarindus indica L. Caesalpiniaceae Tamilnadia uliginosa (Retz.) Tirvengadum & sastre Rubiaceae Tarenna asiatica (L.) Kuntze ex. Schumann Rubiaceae Tephrosia purpurea (L.) pers. Fabaceae Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight and Arn. Combretaceae. Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. Combretaceae. Terminalia chebula Retz. Combretaceae Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland ex. Correa. Malvaceae Tinospora cordifoilia (Willd.) Mires ex. Hook.f. &Thomson Menispermacae Tragia involucrate L. Euphorbiaceae. Tribulus terrestris L. Zygophyllaceae Trichodesma indicum (L.) R. Br. Boraginaceae Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. var. tricuspidata Cucurbitaceae Tridax procumbens L. Asteraceas Trigonella foenumgraecum L. Fabaceae Tylophora indica (Burm.f.) Merr. Asclepiadaceae Urginea indica (Roxb.) kunth. Liliaceae Vanda tessellate (Roxb) Hook. f. ex G.Don Orchidaceae Ventilago madraspatana Gaertn. Rhamnaceae Viena indica (L.) dc Asteraceae Vigna munga (L.) Hepper Fabaceae Vitex altissima L.f. Verbenaceae Vitex negundo L. Verbenaceae Waltheria indica L. Sterculiaceae Wattakaka volubills (L.f.) Aselepiadaceae Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. Astraceae Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal Solanaceae Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R.Br. Apocynaceae Zea mays (L.) Sweet Gramineae Ziziphus xylopyrus (Retz.) Willd Rhamnaceae Ziziphus nummularia (Burm.f) Wight & Arn Rhamnaceae Ziziphus oenoplia (L.) Mill. Rhamnaceae
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 216 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Table 4.6: List of Families and Species
Families Name of the Species Acanthaceae Adhatoda zeylanica Medik. Acanthaceae Andrographis alata (Vahl) Nees Acanthaceae Andrographis paniculata (Burin.f.) Wall.ex. Nees Acanthaceae Barleria prionitis L. Acanthaceae Hygrophila auriculata (Schum.) Heine Acanthaceae Justicia tranquebraiensis L.f. Acanthaceae Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz Adiantaceae Hemionitis arifolia (Burm,f.) T. Moore Agavaceae Agave americana L. Agavaceae Agave cantala L. Alangiaceae Alangium salvlifolium (L.f) Wangerin ssp. salvlifolium Alliaceae Allium cepa L. Amaranthaceae Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthaceae Aerva lanata (L.) Juss.ex Schult. Amaranthaceae Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R. Br. ex DC Amaranthaceae Amaranthus spinosus L. Amaranthaceae Digera muricata (L.) Mart. Amaranthaceae Pupalia Lappacea (L.) Juss. var. Lappacea Amaryilidaceae Curculigo orchioides Gaertn Amaryllidaceae Crinum asiaticum L. Anacardiaceae Anacardium occidentale L. Anacardiaceae Buchanania lanzan Spreng Anacardiaceae Lannea coromandeliea (Hautt.) Merr. Anacardiaceae Nothopegia colebrookeana (Wight) Blume Anacardiaceae Spondias pinnata (L.f) kurz Annonaceae Annona squamosa L. Annonaceae Miliusa velutina (Dunal) Hook .f. & Thomson Apiaceae Centelia asiatica (L.) Urban. Apiaceae Coriandrum sativum L. Apiaceae Cuminum cyminum L. Apocynaceae Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. Apocynaceae Carissa carandas L. Mant. Apocynaceae Ervatamia heyneana cooke –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 217 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Families Name of the Species Apocynaceae Lchnocarpus frutescens R.Br. Apocynaceae Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R.Br. Araceae Acorus calamus L. Araceae Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott. Areceaeae Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Roxb. Aristolochiaceae Aristolochia bracteolate Lam Aristolochiaceae Aristolochia indica L. Artistolochiaceae Aristolochia tagala Cham. Asclepiadaceae Calotropis gigantea (L.) R. Br. Asclepiadaceae Calotropis procera (Aiton) R. Br. Asclepiadaceae Ceropegia juncea Roxb. Asclepiadaceae Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br. Asclepiadaceae Laeptadenia reticulate (Retz.) Wight & Arm Asclepiadaceae Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov. Asclepiadaceae Sarcostemma intermedium Decne. Asclepiadaceae Tylophora indica (Burm.f.) Merr. Aselepiadaceae Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br. ex Schult. Aselepiadaceae Wattakaka volubills (L.f.) Asteraceae Ageratum conyzoides L. Asteraceae Eclipta prostrata (L.) Mant. Asteraceae Elephantopus scaber L. Asteraceae Sphaeranthus indicus L. Asteraceae Spilanthes calva DC Asteraceae Viena indica (L.) dc Asteraceas Tridax procumbens L. Astraceae Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. Basellaceae Basella alba L. Bignoniaceae Dolichandrone falcata Seem. Bischoflaceae Bischofia javanica Blume Boraginaceae Heliotropium indicum L. Boraginaceae Trichodesma indicum (L.) R. Br. Burseraceae Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Colebr Burseraceae Commiphora caudata (Wight & Arn.) Engl. Burseraceae Commiphora weightii (Arn.) Bhandari. Cactaceae Opuntia dillenil Haw –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 218 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Families Name of the Species Cactaceae Opuntia monacantha (Wild.) Haw. Caesalpinaceae Senna tora (L.) Roxb. Caesalpinaiaceae Cassia fistula L. Caesalpiniaceae Bauhinia variegata L. Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpinia bonduc Roxb. Caesalpiniaceae Cassia javanica L. Caesalpiniaceae Cassia obtuse (Roxb.) Weight & Arn. Caesalpiniaceae Cassia occidentalis L. Caesalpiniaceae Delonix regia Raf. Caesalpiniaceae Senna auriculata L. Caesalpiniaceae Senna italica L. Caesalpiniaceae Tamarindus indica L. Caesalpiniaceae Hardwickia binata Roxb. Caesalpiniaceae Pterolobium hexapetalum (Roth) Santapau & Wagh. Campanulaceae Lobelia nicotianiifolia Roth ex R. & S. Capparaceae Cadatra fruticosa (L.) Druce Capparaceae Capparis sepiaria L. Capparaceae Capparis zeylanica L. Capparaceae Crataeva adansonii DC Capparaceae Maerua oblongifolia (forsk.) A. Rich Capparaceae Cleome gynandra L. Capparaceae Cleome viscosa L. Caricaceae Carica papaya L. Caryophyllaceae Polycarpaea corymbosa (L.) Lam. Casurinaceae Casuarina equisetifilia L. Celastraceae Cassine glauca (Rottb.) Kuntze var. glauca Celastraceae Celastrus paniculatus Willd. Celastraceae Maytenus ovata L. Celastraceae Maytenus senegalensis Lam Celastraceae Salacia chinensis L. Combretaceae Anogeissus latifolia (DC.) Wall.ex Guill. & Perr Combretaceae Terminalia chebula Retz. Combretaceae. Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight and Arn. Combretaceae. Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. Commelinaceae Commelina benghalensis L. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 219 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Families Name of the Species Commelinaeae Commelina clavata C. B. Clarke. Convolvuaceae Merremia emarginata (Burm.f.) Hallier f. Convolvulaceae Argyreia kleiniana Roem. & Schultes Convolvulaceae Argyreia speciosa Sw. Convolvulaceae Convolvulus microphyllus Sieb. ex Spreng. Convolvulaceae Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Convolvulaceae Rivea hypocrateriformis (Desr.) Choisy. Cucurbitaceae Citrullus colocynthis L. Cucurbitaceae Coccina grandis (L.) Voight. Horst. Cucurbitaceae Corallocarpus epigaeus (Rottler) C.B Clarke. Cucurbitaceae Cucumis melo L. Cucurbitaceae Cucumis trigonus (Roxb.) Cucurbitaceae Diplocyclos palmatus (L.) C. Jeffrey Cucurbitaceae Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. var. tricuspidata Cyperaceae Cyperus pangorei Rottb. Discoreaceae Dioscorea oppositifolia L. Ebenaceae Diospyros montana Roxb. Erythroxylaceae Erythoxylum monogynum Roxb. Euphorbiaceae Acalypha fruticosa Frossk Euphorbiaceae Acalypha indica L. Euphorbiaceae Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.) Benth. Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia antiquorum L. Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia cythophora Murr Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia fusiformis Ham. ex G.Don. Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia hirta L. Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia nivulia Ham Euphorbiaceae Flueggea leucopyrus Willd. Euphorbiaceae Jatropha curcas L. Euphorbiaceae Jatropha gossypifolia L. Euphorbiaceae Jatropha villosa Wight Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus emblica L. Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus reticulatus Poiret. Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus urinaria L. Euphorbiaceae Ricinus communis L. Euphorbiaceae. Tragia involucrate L. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 220 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Families Name of the Species Fabaceae Abrus precatorius L. ssp. precatorius Fabaceae Astylosia scarabaeoides (L.) Benth. Fabaceae Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub Fabaceae Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill. Fabaceae Canavalia virosa (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. Fabaceae Clitoria ternatea L. Fabaceae Crotalaria prostrata Roxb. Fabaceae Crotalaria medicaginea L. Fabaceae Crotalaria verrucosa L. Fabaceae Derris indica L. Fabaceae Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC. Fabaceae Indigofera hirsuta L. Fabaceae Indigofera tinctoria Fabaceae Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. Fabaceae Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre. Fabaceae Pseudarthria viscida (L.) Wight & Arn. Fabaceae Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. Fabaceae Pterocarpus santalinus L.f. Fabaceae Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poiret Fabaceae Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. Fabaceae Tephrosia purpurea (L.) pers. Fabaceae Trigonella foenumgraecum L. Fabaceae Vigna munga (L.) Hepper Fabaceae Cicer arietinum L. Flacourtiaceae Casearia elliptics Willd. Gentianaceae Enicostemma axillare (Lam) A. Raynal Gentianaceae Swertia corymbosa (Griseb.) Wight ex C.B.Clarke Gramineae Zea mays (L.) Sweet Lamiaceae Anisomeles indica L. Lamiaceae Anisomeles malabarica R.Br. Lamiaceae Coleus aromaticus Benth. Lamiaceae Hyptis suaveolens Poit. Lamiaceae Leonitis nepetiifolia (L.) R. Br. Lamiaceae Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link Lamiaceae Ocimum americanum L. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 221 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Families Name of the Species Lamiaceae Ocimum basilicum L. Lamiaceae Ocimum gratissimum L. Lamiaceae Ocimum tenuifiorsm L. Lamiaceae Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. Lauraceae Cinnamomum zeylanicum BI. Lecythidaceae Careya arborea Rexb. Liliaceae Aloe vera L. Liliaceae Asparagus racemosus Willd. Liliaceae Gloriesa superba L. Liliaceae Urginea indica (Roxb.) kunth. Linaceae Hugonia mystax L. Loganiaceae Strychnos nux-vomica L. Loranthaceae Dendrophthoe falcata (L.f.) Etting Lythraceae Ammannia baccifera L. Lythraceae Lawsonia inermis L. Malpighiaceae Hiptage benghalensis (L.) Kurz Malvaceae Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet ssp. indicum Malvaceae Gossypium harbaceum L. Malvaceae Hibiscus ovalifolius (forssk.) Vahl Malvaceae Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Malvaceae Pavonia zeylanica (L.) Cav. Malvaceae Sida acuta Horm.f. Malvaceae Sida cordifolia L. Malvaceae Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland ex. Correa. Malvaceae Soymida febrifuga (Roxb.) A. juss. Meliaceaceae Cipadessa haccifera (Roth) Miq. Meliaceaceae Azadirachta indica A Juss. Meliaceaceae Melia azedarach L. Menispermacae Tinospora cordifoilia (Willd.) Mires ex. Hook.f. &Thomson Menispermaceae Cissampelos pareira L. Menispermaceae Cocculus hirtatus (L.) Diels. Menispermaceae Cycelea petata Hook.f. & Thomson Menispermaceae Pachygone ovate (Poiret) Hook.f. & Thompson Menispermaceae Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers. Mimosaceae Acacia caesia (L.) Willd. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 222 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Families Name of the Species Mimosaceae Acacia catechu (L.f) Willd. Mimosaceae Acacia chundra Willd. Mimosaceae Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. Mimosaceae Acacia horrida (L.) Willd. Mimosaceae Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd. Mimosaceae Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del ssp. indica (Benth) Brenan Mimosaceae Acacia polyacantha Willd. Mimosaceae Acacia sinuate (Lour.) Merr. Mimosaceae Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boivin Mimosaceae Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. Mimosaceae Mimosa pudica L. Molluginaceae Mollugo cerviana (L.) Ser. Moraceae Ficus benghalensis L. Moraceae Ficus glomerata Roxb. Moraceae Ficus religiosa L. Moraceae Ficus vireas Aiton Moringaceae Moringa concanensis Nimmo ex Dalz & Gibson Moringaceae Moringa oleifera Lam Myrsinaceae Embelia ribes Burm.f. Myrtaceae Syzygium alternifolium L. Myrtaceae Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels Nyctaginaceae Boerhavia diffusa L. Oleasceae Jasminum angustifolium Vahl Onagraceae Ludwigia adseendens (L.) H. Hara Opiliaceae Canjera rhcedii J.Gmelin Orchidaceae Eulophia epidendraea Fisher Orchidaceae Vanda tessellate (Roxb) Hook. f. ex G.Don Oxalidaceae Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC. Papaveraceae Argemone mexicana L. Papilionaceae Dalbergia sisoo Rexb Passifloraceae Passiflora foetida L. Pedaliaceae Pedalium murex L. Pedialaceae Sesamum indicum Linn. Piperaceae Piper nigrum L. Plumbaginaceae Plumbago indica L. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 223 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Families Name of the Species Plumbaginaceae Plumbago zeylanica L. Poaceae Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers. Poaceae Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke Polygalaceae Polygala arvensis Willd. Polygonaceae Persicaria glabra (Willd.) M. Gomez Portulacaceae Portulaca oleraceae L. Pteridophyte Actiniopteris radiate (Sw.) Link. Rhamnaceae Ventilago madraspatana Gaertn. Rhamnaceae Ziziphus xylopyrus (Retz.) Willd Rhamnaceae Ziziphus nummularia (Burm.f) Wight & Arn Rhamnaceae Ziziphus oenoplia (L.) Mill. Rubiaceae Anthocephalus chinensis (Lam.) A. Rich. ex Walp. Rubiaceae Benkara malabarica Lam. Rubiaceae Canthium dicoccum (Gaertn.) Teys.& Binn Rubiaceae Canthium umbellatum (Wight) Santapu & Merch Rubiaceae Deccania pubesecens (Roth) Tirvengadam var. candolleana Rubiaceae Gardenia latifolia Aiton Rubiaceae Oldenlandia umbellate L. Rubiaceae Pavatta tomentose Roxb. ex Sm Rubiaceae Randia dumetorum (Retz.) poir. Rubiaceae Rubia cordifolia L. Rubiaceae Spermacoce hispida L. Rubiaceae Spermacoce pusilla Wall. Rubiaceae Tamilnadia uliginosa (Retz.) Tirvengadum & sastre Rubiaceae Tarenna asiatica (L.) Kuntze ex. Schumann Rutaceae Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa Rutaceae Atalantia malabarica Tanaka Rutaceae Atalantia racemosa Wight & Arn. Rutaceae Chloroxylon swietenia DC. Rutaceae Glycosmis mauritiana (Lam.) Tanaka Salvadoraceae Azima tetracantha Lam Salvadoraceae Salvadora persica L. Santalaceae Santalum album L. Sapindaceae Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Sapindaceae Dodonaea angustifolia L.F. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 224 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Families Name of the Species Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa auct. von. Jacq. Sapotaceae Madhuca longifolia (L.) Macbr. Scrophulariaceae Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell Simaroubaceae Allanthus exelsa Roxb Solanaceae Capsicum annuum L. Solanaceae Datura metel L. Solanaceae Solanum nigrum L. Solanaceae Solanum surattense Burm. f. Solanaceae Solanum trilobatum L. Solanaceae Solanum viarum Dunal Solanaceae Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal Sterculiacaeae Firminea celarata (Roxb.) R. Br. Sterculiaceae Byttneria herbacea Roxb. Sterculiaceae Pterospermum acerifolium Willd. Sterculiaceae Waltheria indica L. Tiliaceae Corchorus olitorious L. Ulmaceae Holoptelia intergrifolia (Roxb.) Planch. Verbenaceae Cleodendrum phlomides L.f. Verbenaceae Clerodendrum infortunatum L. Verbenaceae Gmelina asiatica L. Verbenaceae Lantana camara L. var. aculeate (L.) Moldenke Verbenaceae Nyctanthes arbortristis L. Verbenaceae Priva cordifolia (L.F.) Druce Verbenaceae Vitex altissima L.f. Verbenaceae Vitex negundo L. Violaceae Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F.Muell Vitaceae Cayratia pedata (Wall.) Gagurp. Vitaceae Cissus quadrangularis L. Vitaceae Cissus vitiginea L. Zingiberaceae Alpinia galanga L. Zingiberaceae Curcuma longa L. Zygophyllaceae Tribulus terrestris L.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 225 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
4.5 Mode of Plant Use
In an ethnomedicinal plant, various parts namely root, stem, leaves, fruit, flower, bark, seed, etc. are used in one way or other. Often the same plant is used for several preparations by using different plant parts. It is inferred from the interviews that not all parts contain the same quality of ingredient that is beneficial for the preparation of the medicine. Discovering that part which has high content of component is very vital for preparation and administration of medicine to cure any disease and for its efficacy.
In the interviews it was observed that there were highly significant differences between age of respondents and their knowledge of medicinal plants.
Respondents who were 50 years and above were generally more knowledgeable than those who were younger. The most knowledgeable respondents were women who had much information to share since they were used to prepare the medicinal combination as home practices. The local medicine men known us Nattu Vaidyas were very cooperative in sharing their knowledge in preparation and administration of medicine. The Ethnopharmacology and Ethnoveterinary medicine in this thesis are chiefly the result of their sharing.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 226 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
4.6 Important medicinal plants used by the traditional medical practitioner in and around Thalaimalai
The 309 ethnomedicinal species documented of the Thalaimalai is used against 38 kinds of ailments (Table 4.7 and 4.8).
Table 4.7: Diseases list with number of species used
S. No. of Name of Diseases No. Species 1. Gastric: dyspepsia, flatulence, colie pain, ulcer, constipation and laxative 50 2. Gynaecology: menstrual, leucorrhoea, menorrhagia, amenorrhaea, breast pain, lactation, etc. 45 3. Dermal: cutaneous, eczema, leprosy, herpes, psoriasis, scabies, itch 41 4. Fever, malaria 37 5. Rheumatism, lumbago, paralysis 25 6. Cuts and wounds 24 7. Boils, Blisters, Bedsores, Pimples 22 8. Cough and Cold 21 9. Dysentery 21 10. Worm infestation, vermifuge 21 11. Diaorrhoea, cholera 20 12. Dental: mouth sores, bleeding gums 16 13. Insect bite 16 14. Snake bite 16 15. Venereal diseases 16 16. Abortifacients 15 17. Asthma and bronchitis 15 18. Urinary: Renal, dysuria, diuretic, calculi 15 19. Jaundice, Liver 12 20. Piles, haemorrhoids 11 21. Epilepsy, convulsion, spasmodic 10 22. Obsterics: delivery, labour pain, post natal, placental 10 23. Cardiac problems, chest pain 9 24. Eye diseases, conjunctivitis, ophthalmie 9 25. Bone fracture 8 26. Diabetes 8 27. Ear problems 7
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 227 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
S. No. of Name of Diseases No. Species 28. Inflammation, swelling 7 29. Joint pain, arthritis, goitre 7 30. Anticancer 3 31. Piscicide 3 32. Chicken pox, small pox 2 33. Mosquito repellents 2 34. Thoracic pain 2 35. Tubuculosis 2 36. Carbuncle 1 37. Haematuria 1 38. Rickets 1
Table 4.8: Major ailments and number of species used
S. No. of Name of Diseases No. Species 1. Gastric: dyspepsia, flatulence, colie pain, ulcer, constipation and laxative 50 2. Gynaecology: menstrual, leucorrhoea, menorrhagia, amenorrhaea, breast pain, lactation, etc. 45 3. Dermal: cutaneous, eczema, leprosy, herpes, psoriasis, scabies, itch 41 4. Fever, malaria 37 5. Rheumatism, lumbago, paralysis 25 6. Cuts and wounds 24 7. Boils, Blisters, Bedsores, Pimples 22 8. Cough and Cold 21 9. Dysentery 21 10. Worm infestation, vermifuge 21 11. Diaorrhoea, cholera 20 12. Dental: mouth sores, bleeding gums 16 13. Insect bite 16 14. Snake bite 16 15. Venereal diseases 16 16. Abortifacients 15 17. Asthma and bronchitis 15 18. Urinary: Renal, dysuria, diuretic, calculi 15
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 228 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
4.7 Analysis of Usage
As whole plant, 44 species are used for treating various diseases and roots of about 81 species are used as medicine. This is a factor to be considered since distribution of the above species in the wild would become vulnerable and threatened in the course of time. Though the Thalaimalai traditional medical practitioners are aware of the effects of destructive collection, yet they need to be motivated regarding sustainable use of the above species.
In the present study, it is observed that from plants belonging to 94 families and 309 species about 71 species are used by the traditional medical practitioners to cure various sexual diseases such as syphilis, leucorrhoea, menorrhagia, gonorrhea, to regularize menstruation, to increase fertility in men and women and for the family planning either to check spermatogenesis or to check oogenesis.
The knowledge of Nattu vaidhyas people on the abortifacient and female contraceptives, which is one of the important information shared by them and is quite relevant to the present day situation. In this context Gloriosa superb, Abrus precatorius, Acacia catechu, Aegle marmelos, Alangium salviifolium, Anogeissus latifolia, Asparagus racemosus, Azadirachta indica, Butea monesperma,
Curculigo orchioides, Ficus benghalensis, Pedalium murex, Soymida febrifuga,
Tribulus terrestris, Withania somnifera and Ziziphus xylopyrus are used by the
Nattu vaidhyas to develop sterility and are used also as abortifacients. The seeds of Abrus precatorius are used by them to check both spermatogenesis and oogenesis while Cocculus hirsutus is used to check spermatogenesis. Herbs like
Asparagus racemosus and Ceropegia bulbosa are used to increase fertility in both –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 229 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion men and women, while Soymida febrifuga is used to increase sexual vitality in women. Ficus benghalensis, Ocimum americanum, Pedalium murex and Tribulus terrestris are used to cure sexual debility in men. Clitoria ternata and Curculigo orchioides are used to cure infectious sexual diseases.
Among the list of diseases, those pertaining to gastric disorder or stomach ailments are very significant since 50 species are used against these ailments. The other sickness prominent among the traditional medical practitioners pertains to various kinds of skin problems and it involves use of 40 species. Another significant aspects is the data on Gynaecological disorders for which about 45 species are put to use by women (Table 4.7 and 4.8) enumerate the most prevalent diseases among the traditional practitioners and the species used by them.
4.8 Comparison with other tribal areas
The present ethnomedicine survey indicate that more than 16 plant species are used by local people to treat various oral ailments. A comparison with earlier works (Nadkami, 1976; Jain, 1991; Anon, 1995; Yoganarasimhan, 1996; Farooqi et al., 1998; Rao, 2000; Kirtikar and Basu, 2001) indicated that most species make new claims to the system of Indian ethnomedicine. Plants like Azadirachta indica,
Salvadora persica, Acacia catechu, Acacia ritotica, Ficus benghalensis and
Jatropha curcas are reported as a source for chewing sticks (Farooqi et al., 1998).
Achyranthes aspera used in the study area is an addition to this list. Acasia nilotica seems to be active against various bacteria found in the oral cavity.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 230 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion
Valuable data were gathered from the local traditional medical practitioners during the interviews on ethnopharmacology. There is an impressive list of 73 species for which information could be gathered on mode preparation and administration. Noteworthy among them are data given for Achyranthes aspera,
Adhatatoda zeylanica, Andrographis paniculata, Chloroxylon swietenia, Emblia ribes, Hemidesmus indicus, Tirospora cordifolia, etc.
Many of the medical remedies were mono therapics based on preparations from a single plant as in Caseavia elliptica. However there were others where more than one plant was used. In Plumbago indica, Cissampelos pareira,
Caesalpiria bouduc, flowers of Pterospermum accrifolium and Piper nigrum. For treating headache and migraine, root paste of Gloriosa superb seasoned with oil of
Madhuca longifolia is used. For Menorrhacia and Leucorrhoea one teaspoonful powder of stem bark of Butea monosperma is crushed with Cuminum cyminum and mixed in water and is taken internally. There are several methods of preparation which include decoction, infusion, paste from leaf, stem and bark and others.
4.9 Administration of Medicine
These methods are varied. Several were oral and others in the form of poultice and still others are inhalation, rubbing or massaging. There are also instances of magical religious beliefs associated with administration of medicine.
However the distinction between religious belief and magical power of plants is not distinct. For people suffering from delirium the leaf paste of Polygala arvensis
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 231 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion is applied on the forehead. But the particles should not full on the sides of the patients while paste is being applied. This is considered and illman and patient might die.
4.10 Discussion
The present survey have provided information about 309 species of ethnomedicinal plants of the Thalaimalai hill. The percentage of distribution of different habits are represented in Chart 4.4. The study also has shown how different interviewing methods can enhance the scape and quality of information obtained on the uses of each species. Interviews based on plants collected by the person being interviewed had the least number of species, whereas the house to house interviews among the elders identified most species. The field interviews were the most effective in use of time as they took less time than the house to house interviews. Field interviews have also proved very useful in other ethnobotanical studies in Jain (1991). It is of interest that the interviews with the medicine men and women (Nattu Vaidyas) were the most productive.
Though the latter did not divulge same information, it was clear that they possess a good knowledge of the local flora, especially the habitats of some of the important medicinal plants. The elderly women carefully explained the mode of preparation of the plant extracts. Most of the species mentioned and the information presented here are not contradicted by data conducted elsewhere in
Tamil Nadu by other ethnobotanists. Their publications which have been mentioned in Review of Literature from Tamil Nadu corroborate this aspect. The
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 232 Chapter - IV Results & Discussion majority of the herbal preparations identified in this study involved varied kinds of preparation and a significant mode refers to boiling the plant material and drinking the extract. However, rarely the people interviewed provided any information about how they might ‘standardize’ treatments and the amounts used for preparation lacked exactness. Thus the quality could vary among prescriptions.
This lack of standardization and quality control is seen as one of the main demerits of ethnomedicine (Sofowora, 1982; Evans-Anfom, 1986). Some species were also used as mixtures, which makes it more complex to standardize. It is also to be noted that the most common plant parts used were leaves, twigs, fruits and harvesting of roots and barks can easily threaten the local diversity and density of plants.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 233
Chapter-V
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION . .
The Thalaimalai hills in taluks of Namakkal District are a part of the eastern
ghats of Tamil Nadu. The population chiefly is Thottiyanayackar. The
majority being Uraligoundar, Kattunayakan, Ambalakarar and Kurumbas on
all the villages around the hills. The use of about 309 ethnomedicinal plant in
94 families, though still is in vogue for treatments of ailments in humans and
animals, the traditional wisdom is definitely is on the one among the younger
generation.
The number of human ailments amounts to 38 kinds for which medicinal
plants are used. About 11 kinds of ailments are higher percentage of plants are
used.
Elderly women practitioners have valuable information on gender related
ailments and health care prescriptions. There are unique plant species useful
as abortifacients.
The native practitioners, known as Nattu Vaidyas also possess sound
knowledge of the practices, but they are not frequented by villagers as in the
past. There is a likelihood that their traditional practice would eventually
vanish in the near future. This situation necessarily warrants a scientific
validation of the Thalaimalai hills in sight, mode of preparation of drugs and
______Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 234 Chapter - V Summary & Conclusion
their administration. The several toboos and beliefs need to be shifted to make
traditional wisdom objective.
Traditional practitioners as well endowed in knowledge about the
distributional status of ethnomedicinal plants. However, the destructive mode
of collecting ethnomedicinal plants from the wild has to be discouraged by
proper motivation.
Every year in September and October (Puratasi in Tamil month) 5 Saturdays
plenty of people go up for worship by doing regular pooja. During that time
many people collect medicinal plants and destruct the habits of plant species
in all the four routes. Therefore Forest Department take step to educate people
not to disturb plants and save the forest.
Biodiversity conservation of indigenous medicinal plants is an important
activity for preservation, sustainability, popularization, education and
environmental conservation. It is therefore recommended that people need to
be encouraged to cultivate indigenous medicinal plants in and around their
domestic garden through education. So that hill will be protected from
destruction.
Total of 20 villages situated in and around the Thalaimalai hills, only 5
villages, the Forest department established ‘Vana Padukappu Kulu’ and
provided various government schemes for people. It created very good impact
among target villages. The remaining 15 villages not yet established.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 235 Chapter - V Summary & Conclusion
It is therefore, recommended that Forest Department need to be established
‘Forest Protecting Council’ and educate the remaining villagers for protecting
medicinal plants / natural resources of the Thalamalai hills by establishing
Nursery raising and planting tree in the lower region. So that the diversity
richness will be protected and maintained.
There is a dire need to promote ex situ conservation practices. A blending of traditional wisdom and modern scientific methods of conservation and cultivation will enable the appropriate harvest of such plants. There is also a need to list out the important ethnomedicinal plants. Priorities them and develop suitable cultivation techniques. A system of rewarding traditional wisdom, if formulated, would motive the traditional medical practitioners to launch into cultivation of ethnomedicinal species leading to sustainable livelihood.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills 236
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____
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APPENDIX . .
A sample questionnaire adopted version from Jain, S. K. (1987)
Serial No. : Voucher Specimen Ref. No. : Recorded by : Date : Remarks :
1.0 Proforma for background information 1.1 Village: 1.2 Subdivision: 1.3 District: 1.4 Altitude: 1.5 Area of the Village: 1.6 Population: 1.7 Ethnic Group: 1.8 Religion: 1.9 Literacy: 1.10 Language Spoken: 1.11 Occupation: 1.12 Economic Status: 1.13 Rainfall, humidity, temperature, soil conditions: 1.14 Area under forest and nature of forest: 1.15 Farming and agriculture:
2.0 Proforma for information to be collected in the field 2.1 Village: 2.2 Subdivision:
2.3 Place of collection: 2.4 Name of the informant: 2.4.1 Community: 2.4.2 Clan: 2.4.3 Age: 2.4.4 Sex: 2.4.5 Language spoken: 2.4.6 Field of expertise:
3.0 Proforma for background information 3.1 The collected specimen is wild or cultivated: 3.2 Tribal name of the plant: 3.3 Local names: 3.4 Scientific name of the plant: 3.5 Name of the family: 3.6 Parts used: 3.7 Mode of Usage: 3.8 Symptoms/Diseases used for: 3.9 Other ethnobotanical importance: 3.10 Harvesting or gathering of the plant (Time of the year):
4.0 Pharmacology as practiced by them:
5.0 Belief and Superstition:
6.0 Reasons for declining of Ethnomedicine in the area:
Name of the Informant : Signature :
CHAPTER - I
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER - II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
CHAPTER - III
MATERIALS AND METHODS
CHAPTER - IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CHAPTER - V SUMMARY & CONCOUSION
REFERENCES
APPENDICES