Traditional and Ethnobotanical Uses of Plants in Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)

Indian Journal of Traditional Kn ow ledge Vol. 1( 1). October 2002, pp. 7-19

Traditional and ethnobotanical uses of plants in Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)

Sanjay Kr UniyaJ* ; Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S Rawat Wildlife In stitute of India, P.O. Box No. IS, Chandrabani , Dehra Dun-24S001 (Uttaranchal), India E-mail: suni [email protected] Received 22 January 2002

The local inhabitants in th e upper catchment of ri ver Bhagirathi, Garhwal Himalaya have inherited a rich trad iti onal knowledge on the use of wild plants. This kn ow ledge appears to be erod in g gradually owing to rapid changes in socio-economics and lifestyl e. The traditional knowledge of local people on the use of wild plants in their soc ial, cultural and economic milieu has been studied and documented. Local people had informati on on uses of 2 11 wild plant species, which is discussed here.

Keywords: Bhagirathi Valley. Himalaya. Traditional Kn owledge, Useful plants

The use of numerous plant species for culturally and geographically diverse food, medicine, fuel, timber and various landscape, the Himalayan region exhibits other purposes by mankind has been well a rich array of ethnobotanical practices. J 2 documented in ancient Hindu literature - . But traditional knowledge of these plants Traditional knowledge on medicine since has not been documented from several the time of Great sage Charak has led to areas of this region. This paper deals with the discovery of many important drugs of the traditional uses of wild plants by the modern era (e.g. Reserpine from local people in Bhagirathi valley, where Rauvolfia serpentillo, Quinine from recent developmental projects and mass Cinchona pubescen.s). Besides food and tourism have strongly influenced the medicine, human beings also use various lifestyle leading to the detriment of other natural resources on day-to-day traditional knowledge of local people. basis_ Conservation of such resources was a part of their culture. However, with Methods of survey increasing modernization, rich cultural The study was conducted 111 the heritage and traditional knowledge is fast Bhagirathi valley located in Western 3 4 declining in many parts of the world - as Himalaya and was based on interviews, 6 7 also in the HimalayaS. Owing to a informal discussions and observations • . The inhabitants of the valley belong to *Correspondent author Indo-Aryan and Indo-Mongoloid races 8 INDIA J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE. VOL I . No. I. OCTOBER 2() () ~

and ha \'c agro-pastoral li fes ty le preferred as fuelwooc at lower alti tudes dcpencl:l1ll on the surrounding forests '. A «2000111) while at higher alti tudes total of 329 h O ll ~e holds distributed in six (>2200m ) Qllerclls .Ielliecarpij'otiu vi lIages \Vere surveyed . III forrn ~lli()n was (kharsu). Hew/a IIf itis (bhoj ) and l't)lIcckcl on th e spec ies, plan t parts used I? hodurle nd ron co III pm 11 t! {/ f 111 11 (s i III ru ) and their uses. The uses of plant <; were were preferred due to th eir easy divided into R categories vi z. , ruc lwood, avai lability in th e surrou nding fore sts. fockler. fibre. ed ible, timber. oilseeds, The shrubs preferred for fu el wood at mcdicinal and miscellaneous. The las t lower altitudes were spec ies of Berberis ca tegory includes uses suc h as and CO foneasfer whi le at hi gher altitudes agricult ural impleme nts, decorati ve items, species of Vi/ml'l/II//l were used more. Dry dyes. household item s, na rcotics and culms of two hill ba mboos ,VI Z. sacred plants. The in forma t ion th us !\mndinaria fa/cala (rin gal) and co llected has been co llated and discussed T!wl//I/Uca/al//lIs spa/hi/1oms (tham ) were in li ght of changing lifesty le. hi ghly preferred for igniting fire at lower and higher altitudes, res pectively. The Results bamboo culms w r..; re es pec ially dried and It was found th at th e loca l peop le had stored for rai ny .tIld wi nt er seaso ns. kno\V ledge rega rding uses of 2 11 plan t SYlllp/OCOS chinew,i,\ (lodh), I?/II/S species Cr ab le I ). A lthough maxi mum pllnjabensis (a khweria), /\ escII/IIs indica in format ion was avai lable on th e (pangar) and Jug /ails reg ia (akhrot) we re medicina l uses of wi ld plants. th ey are also used as fu el wood but were less se ldom in practice now. The maj or uses preferred. T he preference for certain are descri bed below: specIes as fuel wood revea ls th e * l) Fuelwood: More than 90% of th e ex peri ence- bas ed knowledge of loca l population depends on fu el wood. The peopl e. reasons for this range from poor socio­ 2) Fodder: The local peopl e rear cows, econom ic statu s of loca l peo ple to harsh buffaloes, sheep and goat largely for climat ic conditions. The cool and supporting ag ri culture. They used forty­ temperat e climate requires round the se ven plant species as fodder for their clock burning of fuel wood to kee p th eir cattle. Amongst th e tree species oaks hou ses warm. The most preferred were highly preferred becau se of their fuelwood species were of oaks (Quercus high nutrient content and palatabilit/ and spp). The reason for thi s could be th e were exploited heavi ly. However, th e good hea ti ng and coal formi ng property newly emerging leaves of oaks were not 9 of oaks . Qllercus /ellco/richop/lOra fed. According to the local peopl e very (banj), A/nilS nepa/ensis (utis), young leaves of oaks harm the milk Rhododendron arborelllli (burans) and yielding cattle and also are poisonous. Lifsea chinensis (yeru) were more This again, showed the tradi tional knowledge base of the local people. Other * Locnl nam es nrc givcn in paranthes is preferred fodder spec ies were Carpinus UN IYAL 1'1 al: TRADITIONAL AND ETHNOBOTANICAL USES OF PLANTS 9

Table I- Ethn obotani ca luses of different pl ant spec ies from Bhagirathi Valley Spec ic: s Medicine Edible Constructi on Fodder Fu el Oil Fiber Miscellaneous Abies pilltiruw + + Acer IIClllllilla/1II11 + Acer cllesilllll + + Acer IlIel'igllllllll + Acer obioilglllll + Achvrlllllhe.l' USpl'l"I1 + IICO llillll 1l F tfcolleri + AC(lIIilllll1 hel erophr l/lIIl1 + AC(lIIil llll1 l'iolacelllll + Jlcor lls calalllils + Adhallltill \lasica + + AesclIllI s illdiclI + + + Agroslis pilosl/la + Ail/ga bmcI('osa + Albi:il! ci,ill('l/sis + A Ib i:ill jl/librissill + AI/iI/III bllllldlllll + AI/illlll gOl'(llliulIl/1II + AI/illlll sl m c!, eyi + AIIIIIS lIepalellsis + + AlIIlIl"lllIlhlls l'i ritiis + A llllp/wlis CO lltor/ 1I + Allaphalis Iripl illerris + AlltiroPOgOIl 1l11111 roi + Allgelica gloll('{/ + + Apllltill lllllliclI + + A rlelllisia lIilagirica + + A m llt/illllrill f alcaw + + + + + + A rl/l /{lilll'lIl1 l1 epalellsis + A,I,!Hlmglls P/icillllS + ASler rholllsollii + ASli/be rivil/uris + ASlmga/lls cOlldo//ealllls + Bar/eria cristata + BOllhillia relll.l'o + + BOllhillia voriegata + +

(Collld) 10 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL I. No. I. OCTOBER 2002

Table I-Etllnobolanical uses of different plant sp<:c ies from Bilagiratili Valley-Colltd Species Medi cine Edible Construction Fodder Fuel Oil Fiber Mi scell aneous Benthalllidia capitola + Berberis aristata + + + + Berberis asiatica + Berberis chit ria + Berberis jaesc/lkealla + Berberis /yCilllll + + + + Berberis pselldolllllbe//a/a + BerRellia cilia/a + Belli/a a/ll oh/es + Be/II/a II/ilis + + + + + Bidells pi/osa + Boe/I/ll eria p/myphy//a + + Boehllleria rugu/osa + Boellllilighausellia + a/bij7om Boerhavia d(flil.w + BOlllbax ceiba + + Buxu.\' wa/lichialla + + Caesa/pillia decape/a/a + + + Ca/licarpa lIIacrophyl/a + + Call1labis sa/iva + + + Capi//ipediulII assillli/e + Capsel/a bursa-pas/oris + Carex brevicu/lllis + Carex cOlldellsa/a + Care.\' il([lIscata + Carex lI eiogYlla + Carex lIiva/is + Carex IIlIbig ella + Cllrex obscurtl + Carex se/igera + Carpillus villlillea + + + Carvopteris adora/a + Cedrus deudam + + + -r- Celtis alls/ralis + Cell/e//a asiatica + Chellopodilllll a/buill + (Call/d) UNIY AL el al: TRADITIONAL AND ETHNOBOTANICAL USES OF PLANTS 11

Table l-Ethnobotanical uses of different plant species from Bhagirathi Valley-CrJllld Species Medicine Ed ible Construction Fodder Fuel Oil Fiber Mi scell aneous Chl},sopoNon grylllls + CilllwlI/omwn lamala + Cissalllpelos pareira + Clelllalis No uriana + C/in opodiwn wnbroslIlII + Colebrookea Opposilijo/ia + Colocasia f!SC lllenla + CO llllll elina pailldosa + Coria ria nepalensis + CO n/liS lJI acrophylla + + COI)'/lI s jacqllelllonlii + CO loneasler aCllm inala + COTOneaSler bacillaris + + Colon eaSIer lIIicrophyllus + + Coroneasi er r.)sea + Crowlaria albida + CupresslI.'· loni/o.I'a + + CII SC llla rej1exa + Cynodon da clylon + + Cynoglossllm gloci1 idial/l11/ + CynoglossulII lan ceolallllll + Cypems nivells + Dac()'lorhiza haragirea + Daphne papyracea + + DaphniphyllulII + hilllalayense Debregeasia salicifo/ia + + + DelphiniulII denlldal/ l11/ + Deslllodiwn elegans + + Deslllodilllll RangeliclIlII + + + DeslI/ odiulII laxi{lorllln + + De.w /O dilllll Irif/orwn + + + Delll zia corYlllbosa + Deulzia slalllin ea + Dioscorea delloidea + + Diplazilllll esclllenWIII + Ephedra gerardiana + + (Co nld) 12 INDIAN J T RADIT IONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL I. No. I, OCTOBER 2002

Table I- Ethnobotani cal uses of differe nt pl ant species fro m Bhagirathi Va ll ey- Collld Species Med icine Ed ible Constructi on Fodder Fuel O il Fiber Mi scellaneous EupaloriulIl atielllJphomlli + FagopyrulII esculelllulIl + + FiCli s selll icordala + + + Fragaria lIubicola + Fraxillus lIIicrallll/(/ + + Galillill aparill e + Galillheria Irichophyl/a + GeraniulI1 lI epalellSe + Geralliulil (J cel/allllil + Geralliulil pralell se + GeralliulI1 wallichialllllll + Girardillia diversif olia + Hedychilllll spicallllll -I- Hippophae salicifolia + IchllocarplIs f mlescell s + -I- fl ex dipy rello -I- + Ill digof era heleralllha + -I- Juglalls regia + + + + + + Jll ll ipem s COllllllllllis + + Jll rill ea lIlacrocepllala + Kydia calycilla + + -I- + LaC/ lI ca dissecta -I- Lilldera pulcilerrillla + Lilsea lIl ol1 opetala + + Lyollia ovallfolia + Mal/olus philippell sis + + + Melia azedaracll + + Meillha IOJlglf olia + Mom s serrata + + + My rica esculellla + Nartios/(lcll ys grandijlora + Oxalis comiclliata + + Paeollia elllodi + + + Papaver sOll1l1iferulll + Phylolacca acill osa + Picrorhiza kllrrooa +

(Colltd ) UN IY AL el al: TRADITIONAL AN D ET HNO BOTAN ICAL USES OF PLANTS 13

Table I-Ethn obotani caluses of different plant species from Bhagirathi Valley- CO/lid Species Med icine Ed ible Constru cti on Fodder Fuel Oil Fiber Mi scell aneous Pin liS roxburghii + + + + + Pin liS wallichiana + + + PodophyllulII hexandrulll + Polvgonalul11 cirrhifo liulII + POlygOllatll1ll verticillalulII + Popuills ciliata + Prillluia macrophylla + PrillSepia utilis + + + + PrwllIs cerasoides + + Prunus carmi/a + + + + Pyracanlha crenulma + + Pyrus pashia + + + + Quercus jloribunda + + + + Quercus /eucolrichophora + + + + + Quercll s semecarpijolia + + + + Rhellm auslrale + Rhododendron arboreul1l + + + + Rhus parvijlora + + + Rhus punjabensis + Rhus wallichii + Ribes orienlale + Rosa sericea + + + + Rosa brunonii + Rubia l11anjilh + + Rubus ellipliclIs + Rublls niveus + Rubus paniculalus + RUlll ex haslalUs + + Rumex nepalensis + + Saussllrea obvallata + Skillll1lia laureola + Solanum indicum + Spiraea canescens + Swerlia chirayita + SYl11plocos chinensis + + Tageles minllta +

(Contd) 14 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL I, No, I. OCTOBER 2002

Table I-Ethnobotanicaluses or different plant species frolll Bhagirathi Valley-Conld Species Med icin e Edible Constructi on Fodder Fuel Oil Fiber Miscellaneous TanaCelll/ll sp, + Taraxacum officillale + Taxus baccata + + + Telrasligll/a sermla/lI/lI + Thaliclmll/ foliolo,\'ulI/ + Thall/nocalwllus + + + + + + spalhij70ms Thlaspi anJense + Toona sillellSis + + + Trid(/x proculI/bells + Trill/llfella rholllboidea + UIII/us wallichialla + + + + Urlica ardells + Urlica parvij70ra + + Valeriana hardwickii + + Va leriana ja/all/allsi + + Val/aris .I'olallacea + Ve rb a,S'Cll/1I Ihapsu,l' + Vibu/'IIu lI/ cOlinifoliulI/ + + Vibu/'IIulI/ cylilldric/.IIII + + ViburnulI/ foelells + Vib u/'III/II/ lIerVO.l'l/111 + + Vibur/lulI/ l/1ul/aha + + Viola bijio/'{/ + Viola callescell s + Viola pilo.l'(l + Wend/cllldia pubemla + Wikslroell/ia Cl/ll escell s + Woodforelia ji'u I icosa + + XyloslI/a IOllgifoliulI/ + ZanlhoxylulI/ anllalul/1 + + Ziziphus lI/aUrilialla + += used. - = not used vililinea (chamkharik), Debregeasia (chamal) were also used as fodder salicifolia (syaru), VIm,US waflichiana especially in the temporary settlements (yammar) and Celtis ausl ralis (kharik). and in high altitude vi ll ages, !lex Species of Acer (kanjal) and Desmodiwn dipyrella (kandaru) was lopped by the UNIYAL el 0/: TRADITIONAL AND ETHNOBOTANICAL USES OF PLANTS 15 mi gratory graziers for their sheep and and Tetrastigma serrulalum goats. The bamboo shoots were also (panchpatyala) as edible pl ants is fast extiacted by the locals for their li vestock. declining. This is because more and more 3) Fibre: Local people used eleven peopl e now go for cultivated vegetables plant species for extracting fibre. avail abl e in the market. Use of wild Girardinia divers~fo lia (dholan), species as vegetable is limited to their Cannabis sativa (bhang) and Urtica stay at temporary settlements in th e alpine parviflora (kaidi) were once hi ghly and sub-alpine meadows where preferred for making ropes. Their bark transportati on of market products is was peeled after the plant had dried and expensive and difficult. Local peopl e, was made into ropes. Culms of bamboos during their stay at temporary huts, also (Arundinariafalcata and Thall1nocalamus collect Allium stracheyi Uimbu) and spafhijlorus) provided raw material fo r Angelica glauca (chora), for use as different household articles. Some of condiments in various di shes. Besides these articles such as baskets, mats, and these, leaves of Cillnamomum lamala hats were prepared by th e local people (tejpat) were also collected from the during their stay at temporary settlements. forest. A delicious salad locall y known as Some of these arti cles were sold at the 'Athana' prepared by mixing flowers of local markets. In recent years, the nylon Rhododendron arborel/fI/, leaves of ropes available in the market are Rumex hastatus (almoda), coriander and prefelTed over locall y made ropes. spices is much relished by village women 4) Edible plants: Over sixty plant especially when they go for fuelwood species were edible in one form or other. collection in the forest. Local people also Some of them were preferred as vegetable consumed ripe fruits of Berberis spp., while others were eaten raw as fruit or as Rubus spp., Pyracalltha crenulata subsidiary food. Roots and leaves of (ghingaru), Prunus cerasoides (chuli ), several species were consumed as spices Viburnum lIlullaha (mayan), Ribes and condiments. orientale (kirmo\a), Pyrus pashia (mol) Local people used many pl ant species to and Myrica esculenta (kaphal). Prullus supplement their di et. These wild pl ants, cerasoides and Myrica esculenta were which once formed a part of their daily also sold in the local markets besides self­ menu , are now occasionally consumed. consumption. Fruits of Viburnum Some of the commonly used plant species mullaha, Prunus cerasoides, Rihes and in the villages were Urtica parviflora, Rosa brunonii (rangeela) were used in Paeonia emodi (dhandra), Fagopyrum preparing jams and pickles. Use of tender esculentwl/ (kaulai), Phytolacca acin osa shoots of Arundinaria falcata and Uarkya) and Diplazium esculelltum Thalllnocalamus spathiflorus for making (Ii ngra). Use of Phytolacca, Paeollia, pickles and vegetables has almost Urtica and Fagopyrum is widely known vani shed from the study area. to the old as well as younger generation 5) Timber: Wood forms an important but knowledge of Capsella bursa-pastoris construction materi al for houses, cattle 16 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL K OWLEDGE, VOL I , No. I, OCTOBER 2002

sheds and temporary se ttlements in th e available common plant spec ies to cure area. Ea rl ier, permanent houses were various ailments. A lthough th ey were ch iefly made up of PilillS rox/}{/rg /lii aware of th e uses of eighty-five plant (c hi r), Pill liS wa//ichialla (kai l) and spec ies for curing human and animal Cedms deodoro (devdar). But, temporary diseases, th eir use was limited for human se ttlements in th e alpine and sub-alpine beings . For most of th e animal related areas were mainly cons tructed with th e problems th ey still go for wild Illedicinal woods of Ahies pilldro\\ ' (rai), Taxlls plants because of th e unavailabil ity or /)o('('o/{/ (thuneI') and Qllerclls veterinary hos pitals in the nea rby locality selllec(lI jJllo/ia. The roofs of these and th eir reluctan ce to spend money on se ttlements were thatched with animals. On th e other hand due to rhe Cilly.I"O/JOgOIi g IY//IIS (sa lem) and ava ilabi lity of med icines and drugs in the T/wllllloca/ollills spa /hi/1om .l· for th e Illarkets, wi ld plants are no Illore use e! as co llec ti on of wh ich people travelled long med ici nes for sel f-use. distan ces and climbed steep slopes. Of th e eight plant spec ies used to treat Storerooms known as " kOl/wrs" were di rferent diseases of livestock, fo ur were totally made up of C deodara due to its used for healing bone i'ractures . Bark of high durabi I i ty and pest res istant qual i ty. Boelllllel io p/o/yphy/la. D ehreg e({s ia These houses we re cl imatica lly sui tab le salic(/olio, U /IIIlIS lI 'allichialia and for both th e people and th e enviro nlllent. PmllllS cerasoides were applied on 6) Oilseeds: Seeds of spec ies such as fractured bon es after making paste . Leaf Prillsepio II/ilis (bhikal), PrllIllIS and root ex tracts of Allaplwlis /ripliner vis cerosoides, Pmlllls cart/II/a (jamni) and (bach) and R 11111 ex /ws/o /IIS res pec ti ve l y Jllg /CIII S regia were once highly preferred were app l ied to cure the lacera ti on of foot fo r ex tracting edible oil. Use of Jllg /anl' (K/II I1 :va). Seeds of Rhlls pllnjabellsis reg ia and PmllllS CO rtlll/a for thi s purpose were fed to combat poison ing ca used due has diminished with time, but, PmllllS to intake of Rhododendroll arborelllli cerasoides and Prill sepia II/ilis are still leaves whereas roots of RheulII alls/rale processed to procure oil in few interior (dolu ) were applied on th e cu t ~ and villages. After consuming the ripe fruits wounds of animal. of PrllIllIS cerasoides the seeds are sun­ Of the total pl ant spec ies used for dried and later ground to ex tract oil. curing human ailments, ma ximum Seeds of P. IItilis are separated after nu mber of spec ies ( I S) were used to cure washing off the juicy pulp with water, cuts and burns followed by stomach and th en crushed to ex tract oil. Use of disorders and fever. A few decades ago, these spec ies for ex tracting ed ible oil is Aconitlllll he/erophy //1/I1/ (ati s) and decl ining very fast due to the easy Swerfia chirayi /a (chirata) were most ava ilab ility of refined vegetable oils and frequently used for curing fever. Leaves Va llospoti Ghee in th e market. of Qllerclls /euco/richop/lOra were also 7) Medicinal plants: Local people in used for curing a fever locally called th e prese nt study area used loca lly " Ghichak" . Bark and seeds of UN IYAL el al : TRADITIONAL Al'<() ETHN080 TANICAL uSES OF PLANTS 17

ZanthoxylulI1 anllatulIl (timru) were also (mas i) and Celltella aSlOtlca (brahmi ) fo und useful in several ai lments. For cuts were most preferred. These species were and burns Rheum australe and al so used as stimulant to rej uvenate the Eupalorium adenophorum (bas ing) were body system. In most of the cases root the most preferred species. In mos t of the ex trac t was used as a toni c, whil e in the cases paste of leaves was applied on the case of C. asiatica leaves were chewed. affected part bu t in the case of R. australe For skin di seases, fruits and seeds of and Doctylorhiza hatagirea (hath ajari ) Melia azedarach (daik an) and Daphne roots and tuber paste were used. Bergenia papyracea were used. Although these ciliata (gheepati ) and Mentha IOl/ g(fo lia. spec ies are common in th e area, local once commonl y used for stomac h peopl e seldom use th em. The roots disorders have now given way to ex tract of Berberis Iycilllll (k ilbod) and all opathi c med icin es. The use of Betliia Geranilllll wallichialHllJl (karkphool) and IItilis was fo und to be a novelty fo r such leaf ex tract of Oxalis corniculala diso rders. It was burnt in a steel tumbl er, (kh attibuti ) were used as eye dro ps. whi ch was then massaged over stomach. However, now the roots of Berberis spp. However, now very few peopl e know its are co ll ected not fo r using as eye-dro ps medi cin al va lues. In additi on, seeds, fruits but for selling in the market. The local and fl owers of Querclls leucotric/t opllOra, peopl e now prefer eye drops avail abl e in Pyrus pashia and Rosa sericeo (rangeela), the market. For urinary and related respecti ve ly were also used but probl ems decocti on of roots of Va leriano occasionall y. Earli er, in most of the cases hardwickii and V. jalalllansi were taken root ex tract of th e pl ant was consumed to and th e bark and roo t paste of C.deodara cure co ugh and cold but now cough and ThalictrulI1 foliolosulII (mamira) were sy rups are being used. Species such as ex tern all y appli ed for piles. Thus it was Angelica glauco, Adhatoda vasica observed th at know ledge base of local (basak) and Picrorhiza kurrooa (kutki ), peopl e was very ri ch as regards the uses whi ch were once preferred by everyo ne, of medi cinal herbs but now th ey have are now used onl y by the older peopl e fo r started going for medi cines such as th e treatment of cough and cold. For body painkillers and ointments ava il abl e at the pain , headache and tooth ache Swertia chemi st shops and hos pitals. Thus chirayila, Berberis ciliata, Rhell/'ll traditi onal knowledge is bein g ignored in all s! role. bark of ZanthoxylulI/ anl/atulII favo ur of modern medi cin es. and luglans regia were commonl y used. 8) Miscellaneous uses: This category Oil of Cedru s deodara and Daphne inclu des pl ants used fo r ag ri cultural papyracea (satpura) is sti II used for implements, household items, decorati ve rheum ati c pain s by few famili es. Earli er items, narcotics, dyes and species around thirteen spec ies were used as concerning reli gious bel iefs. toni cs and bl ood purifiers in the area. Of For makin g ag ri cultural implements these, Picrorhiza kllrrooa, Swertia twelve species were used, of whi ch all the chirayita, Nardoslaclzys grandiflora three species of oak are used frequentl y. 18 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL I , No. I, OCTOBER 2002

Pyrus pashia was specificall y made in the whereas stem of Zantho.xylum armatum shape of a harrow (l ocally called sina) to was kept in houses to ward off evil coll ect leaf litter from the forest. The spirits. Flowers of Primula macrophylla handl es of axes and sickle were made up (jayan) and Saussurea obvallata of Cotoneaster bacillaris (raeans). As (brahmakamal) were specially collected thcse are necessary for thei r occupati on for local festival kn own as Fulal in the and no easy substitute is avail able the month of August. Jurinea lI1 acrocephala local people still use th em. (dhoop), Juniperus spp. (dhoop-lakkad), Cones of Cedrus deodara and Pinus Tanacelu111 longifoliul1l (Guggal), roxburghii were made into different Skill/Illia laureola (kedarpati) and artifacts, which were often sold in the Va leriana spp. were used as incense. market and local fairs. Use of such plant parts has increased recently to meet th e Discussion demands of tourists for souveni rs. ]n th e present study it was found that To store curd, buttermilk and milk, people still utilize many species for their pots and vases made up of Taxus baccata daily needs. However, with market were used. For furniture, wood of Toona facility and easy avail ability of sinellsis (daid), Pinus roxburghii, ready made products, now there is less P. wallichiana and Cedrus deodara was dependence on wild resources. On one prefened. For arti cles of dail y need such hand, people still depend on forest for as basket for coll.ecting litter (swayata) their basic needs and on the other, they go and manure (g heda), basket for keeping for hi gh-value market products, whi ch chapatis and wool (kandi), mat (muraitii), h s not only increased ecological and broom and winnow (Supa) both the economic pressures but also resulted in species of hill bamboo (Arundinaria th e loss of their traditional lifestyle. fa/cala and Tlz al11n ocalarnus falconeri) were used as no better substitute is Conclusions available in th e market. Besides, bamboo The people of Bhagirathi valley have culms were also used to su pport been associated with the forests from very Frenchbean seedlings grown as a cash earl y times. They utilized these natural crop in the area. resources for various purposes, the Several pl ants are used in religious knowledge of which has relevance in rites, festivals and superstitious beliefs. In modern times also. The present all , nineteen pl ant species were documentation on ethnobotanical consi dered sacred by th e local people, of knowledge will help in wider whi ch, Aescu/us indica, Quercus di ssemination of this knowledge and its j70ribullda (moru) and Taxus baccata long-term conservation. were the most revered trees species. These were used for making palanquins Acknow]edgement (Devta doli) for the local deity. Bark of We are thankful to the Director, Betula utilis was used to make charms Wildlife Institute of India for providing UNIYAL (-'I 01: TRADITIONAL AND ETHNOBOTANICAL USES OF PI.AN TS 19 the facilities. Shri U.S. Rana and Shri 4 Frankel 0 H, Genetic conserv ation of plants B.S. Panwar ate acknowledged for their use ful to man, Biological Conservation. 2(3) ( 1970) 162. help in the field. The authors are grateful 5 Agrawal D P, Traditional know ledge system to the villagers of Bhagirathi valley for and western science, Current Science. 73(9) their kind co-operation. (1997) 731. 6 Jain S K and Mudgal V, A handbook of References ethnobolany, (Bi shen Singh Mahendra Pal I Tul sidas, Ram charitmanas ( 1631, samvat). Singh. Dehra Dun), 1999. 2 Charak and Drdhbala, Th e Charak sOli/hila, 7 Martin G J, Ethnobo((lIlY: A II/ ethods II/anual. ex plained by K. Sastri and G.N. Chaturvedi, (Chapman and Hall, London), 1995. edited by R Sastri, Y Upadhayaya, G S 8 Burman B K R, Population and society in the Pandeya, B Gupta and B Mi sra, (Chaukhamba Himalaya, in : Th e Hill/alaya: Aspecls of Bharti Academy, Varanasi, 22nd Rev ised Change. (India Internati onal Centre, New editi on) , 1996. Delhi ), 1981. 403. 3 Bates D M, Plant utilization: Patterns and 9 Singh R V, Fodder trees of India. (Oxford and prospec ts , Economic Botany, 39(3) ( 1985) 24 1. IBH , New Delhi), 1982.