International Journal of Botany Studies

International Journal of Botany Studies ISSN: 2455-541X Impact Factor: RJIF 5.12 www.botanyjournals.com Volume 2; Issue 6; November 2017; Page No. 09-17

Edible wild resources of Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Una districts of Himachal Pradesh,

*1 Jyoti Bhardwaj, 2 MK Seth 1 Research Associate, Division of Plant Exploration and Germplasm Collection, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, India 2 Professor (Retired), Guest Faculty Member, Department of Bio-Sciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract An ethno-botanical survey of lower parts of Himachal Pradesh (Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Una districts) was carried out. Some of the important plant species used as supplementary food among the native communities of these areas. Utilization of different plant parts was also observed. Presence of 107 species belonging to 92 genera and 52 families was documented. Amongst 107 documented species fruits (42), leaves (43), rhizome (2), roots (5), flowers (17), twigs (3), shoots (11), seeds (28), tubers (2), inflorescence (1), bark (5) and kernel (3) were found to be used as supplementary food by local inhabitants of studied areas.

Keywords: wild edible plant, exploration, Himachal Pradesh, supplementary food

1. Introduction with altitude ranging from 350 - 6500 m above the sea level. It Wild edible have played vital role in human life since has a deeply dissected topography complex geological ages. Throughout the history, wild edible plants have structure and a rich temperate flora in the sub-tropical sustained human populations in each of the inhabited latitudes. From the administrative point of view the state has continents (Khyade et al. 2009) [15]. “Ethnobotany”, the term been divided into twelve districts, namely Bilaspur, Chamba, coined by John Hershberger in 1895, is the study of “plants Hamirpur, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul & Spiti, Mandi, used by primitive and aboriginal people” (Balick and Paul Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan and Una. 1996) [3]. The human society has developed close association Bilaspur was merged into Himachal Pradesh as the fifth with the plant life (De JN 1980) [9] since time immemorial. district on 1st July, 1954. The district Bilaspur lies between The relationship between the indigenous people and their 31012’30” and 31035’45” North latitudes and between surroundings forms the subject of ethnobotany, a science (De 76023’45” and 76055’40” East longitudes in the outer hills of JN 1968) [8], which deals with the study of plants used by the Himalayas. The forests of the Bilaspur district can be tribes for food, medicine and clothing (Jain & De JN 1966) divided into three broad categories viz; Pine forest (dominated [12]. Most of the ethanobotanical reviews and surveys are by Pines), Scrub forest (dominated by Sheasum and Tun) and concentrated merely around medicinal plants. Food security is Bamboo forest (dominated by Bamboo varieties like small the main concern in recent scenario therefore, use of wild khirri, large bans and nal bans. edible resources can be a great alternative footstep towards Hamirpur as a separate district appeared on the map of balancing human demand and utilization of resources. Wild Himachal Pradesh on the 1st September, 1972 as a result of edible plants can be used not only a staple food but can be reorganization of the districts. Hamirpur district is situated used as supplement food as well as a source of income to between 76018’ to 76044’ East longitudes and 31052’30” native communities. Comparatively little attention was given North latitudes. The tract is hilly covered by the Shivalik for documentation of wild edible plants of Himachal Pradesh, ranges. Elevation of the district varies from 500-1500 m. The because the information is scattered, sparse and has various soil is usually deficient, shallow and at times severely eroded. gaps (Arora and Pandey, 1996) [1]. This study was taken to Recent deposits comprise of alluvian fans and terraces of congregate data related to traditional knowledge, diversity, unassorted sand, silt, clay, rock fragments and boulders in utilization and enumeration of wild edible plants of Bilaspur, varying proportions. The principal forest types found in this Hamirpur and Una districts of Himachal Pradesh. region (i.e. sub-montane or sub-tropical region) are: (a) Sal forests (dominated by Shorea robusta); (b) Riverine Khair and 2. Methodology Sisham forest; (c) Shivalik chil or Chir pine forests; and (d) 2.1 Area of Study Lower moist broad-leaved forests. The principal species The word Himachal derives its origin from two Hindi words, forming a part of this forest type are Acacia catehu, Aegle ‘Him’ and ‘Achal’ meaning “Snow” and “Lap” respectively. marmelos, Anogeissus latifolia, Feronia limonia, and Himachal Pradesh is situated between 30022’40” to 33012’40” Flacourtia indica. Bamboo brakes occur in Himalayan North latitude and 75047’55” to 79004’ 22” East longitude and foothills (viz. in parts of Solan, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Una, etc.) has an area of 55,673 Km. It is almost wholly mountaineous under dry and harsh conditions. The main species is the

9 International Journal of Botany Studies common bamboo or Dendrocalamus strictus. A number of [16], and Flora of Sirmaur by Kaur and Sharma (2004) [13], shrubs that are usually a part of the dry deciduous forests also Flora of Chamba district (Himachal Pradesh) by Singh and occur in the district. Sharma (2006) [25] Flora of Pin Valley National Parkby Una is a small foothill district located on the southwestern Chandra Sekar and Srivastava (2009) [4], and Flora of Cold border of the state. Una, as an independent district, came into Deserts of Western Himalaya Vol. 2 by Srivastava and Shukla existence on 1st September, 1972. It lies within North latitudes (2015) [26]. Information was also collected from Seth (2003, 31021’ and 35050’ and East longitudes 71055’ and 76028’. The 2006) [19], Seth and Kumar (2007) [20], Seth and Usha Devi total area of district is 1,540 sq. Km. The important species of (2013) [8], Devi et al (2013) [10], Seth and Thakur (2013 a, Una forests are cheel, khair, bamboo, eucalyptus, mulberry 2013 b) [22, 23], and Seth et al (2014) [21], Swaran Lata, Seth and and other species. The forests are under intense biotic pressure Kaushal (2016) [14] and Kaushal, Seth and Swaran Lata (2016) in the form of grazing and lopping. [27].

2.2 Data collection 3. Result & Discussion Exploration trips were carried out to collect the plants for Out of 107 species of angiosperms belonged to 52 families herbarium and preserved in Himachal Pradesh University, and 92 genera were distributed into different life forms, with Shimla. Local inhabitants of the selected study areas were trees and shrubs having the most number of species (Figure 1). interviewed for making sustainable use of plant resources. An Few plant species also listed simultaneously in two categories attempt was made to get the useful information on edible like can be tree or shrub. The genera represented by the plants growing in wild and few of them cultivated highest number of species were Ficus and Diospyros (4 sporadically. Information was also collected from different species), Bauhinia and Setaria (3 species) and Teminalia, floras namely: Flora Simlensis by Collett (1902, 1921) [6, 7], Grewia, Dendrocalamus, Polygala and Brachiaria (2 species) Flora of Bushar Himalayas by Nair (1977) [17], Flora of Lahaul which is followed by rest of genera comprising only one and Spiti by Aswal and Mehrotra (1994) [2], Flora of Kullu by species. A list of plant species along with their vernacular Dhaliwal and Sharma (1999) [11] Flora of Cold Deserts of name, family, distribution, part used and life form (habit) is Western Himalaya Vol. 1 (Monocotyledons) by Murti (2001) given in Table 1.

Fig 1: Frequency of wild edible plants arranged by life forms

Table 1: List of plant species with part/parts used for edible purpose Common Botanical name Family Distribution -World/India/Himachal Part used Habit /Vernacular name South China, Pacific Island, Tropical Africa, West Abrus precatorius Linn. Indies, all tropical countries Throughout India Chamba Gunchi, Rati Fabaceae leaves climber (Dalhousie), Hamripur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur (Paonta Sahib, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Acacia nilotica Delile spp. Temperate Himalaya Throughout India Bilaspur, tree/ indica (Benth) Brenan Black babool, Kikar Fabaceae Hamripur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur (Nalagarh, Rajgarh), leaves shrub Solan (Kunihar), Una Sub-Himalayan tract of, Burma Throughout India Aegle marmelos (L.) Bael tree, Golden Rutaceae Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamripur, Kangra fruits tree Correa. ex Roxb. appel, Stone apple (Nurpur), Mandi (Nachan, Suket), Kinnaur, Solan

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(Kunihar), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Una Albizzia odoratissima Black siris, Kala Tropical Asia Throughout Indian Subtropics Mimosaceae tree Benth. siris Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamripur, Sirmaur leaves

(Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Alisma Plantago-aquatica Water plantain, Alismataceae Bihar, West Bengal, Himalaya from Kashmir to Manipur rhizome and herb L. Mad-dog weed Chamba, Hamripur, Kangra , Kinnaur , Mandi , Shimla roots Anthocephalus cadamba / Wild cinchona, Sub-Himalayan tract from Nepal, eastward to Burma Rubiaceae flowers and Anthocephalus indicus A. Kadamba South India to Andhra Pradesh, Western Ghats tree fruits Rich Bilaspur(Deoli Lake), Mandi Argemone mexicana L. Prickly poppy, Papaveraceae Native to America Throughout India Una leaves herb Mexican poppy Western Asia, North Africa, Europe Great reed, Spansih Poaceae leaves and woody Arundo donax L. Bor. Lower Himalayas from Kashmir to Assam, Nilgiris cane,Branal twigs reed Bilaspur, Chamba, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi , Shimla Sparrow grass, Safed Throughout Western Himalayas Throughout Tropical Asparagus adscendens Liliaceae roots and musli Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamripur, Kangra, Mandi (Joginder shrub Roxb. shoots Nagar, Nachan, Karsog), Solan. Azadirachta indica A. Neem tree, Nim Meliaceae Sub-tropical regions Throughout India Kangra (Nurpur), fruits and tree Juss. Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar) leaves Myanmar, Srilanka introduced into West Indies Bambusa arundinacea Throughout India Including Assam, Manipur, Willd. Thorny bamboo, shoots and Poaceae Meghalaya Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamripur, tree Bans seeds Kangra, Mandi (Nachan, Suket), Kinnaur , Shimla,

Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan (Kunihar), Una Butter fly tree, Sub-Himalayan tracts, Nepal Assam, Andhra Pradesh, flowers, Bauhinia purpurea Linn. Khairwal Fabaceae Khasia Hills, West Bengal Bilaspur, Hamripur, Kangra, leaves and tree Sirmaur, Solan, Una seeds Bauhinia racemosa Lam. China, the Malay isles, Timor Throughout India flowers, Purple bauhinia, Fabaceae Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra (Nurpur), Kinnaur, Mandi leaves and tree Kachnal (Nachan), Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan, Una seeds Sub-Himalayan tract from the Indus astwards Bauhinia variegata Linn. Bauhinia, mountain Dry forests of Eastern, Central, South India flowers, ebony, Kachnar Fabaceae tree Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamripur, Mandi (Joginder Nagar, leaves

Sunder Nagar, Nachan), Sirmaur, Solan, Una Tropical eastern Himalaya, Java, Sumatra Throughout hotter parts of India Bilaspur, Chamba Bombax malabaricum Dc. Silk cotton tree, Bombaceae flowers, (Dalhousie), Hamripur, Kangra (Nurpur), Kinnaur, tree Sembal seeds Mandi (Nachan, Suket), Shimla, Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Brachiaria ramosa(L.) Poaceae Srilanka, several tropical parts of the old world Stapf. Makraghas Throughout the plains of India Bilaspur, Hamripur, seeds grass Kinnaur , Una Brachiaria reptans (L.) Srilanka, other Tropical parts of the world from Gard. Polynesia to N. Australia Tamilnadu, Jammu & Poaceae Shani pillu Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, W. Bengal, seeds grass

Orissa, Assam, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujrat Una Throughout Himalaya to Ceylon Warmer parts of India Chamba (Dalhousie), Bilaspur, Hamripur, Kangra Bryonia laciniosa Linn. The bryony Cucurbitaceae fruits and (Nurpur, Murtgarh, Chotidhar, Mahndhar, Tatal, climber leaves Malkbal, Dhedukuthed), Kinnaur, Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Butea monosperma (Lam) Himalaya to Ceylon, Burma, Myanmar Sub-tropical Flame of the forest, Fabaceae leaves and Kuntze. regions of India Bilaspur, Kangra (Nurpur), Sirmaur tree Dhak, Palas roots (Nahan), Solan (Kunihar), Una Careya arborea Roxb. Sub-Himalayan tract, Bengal, Burma Throughout India Kumbi Lecythidaceae fruits and Bilaspur, Kangra (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan tree leaves (Kunihar), Una Papaya, Papeta Native of Tropical Central America Commonly in India Carica papaya Linn. Caricaceae Bilaspur, Kangra (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), leaves tree

Solan (Kunihar), Una Carissa opaca Stapf. ex Pakistan, Mynmar, Sri Lank Drier parts of India Kangra, Karaunda, Gan Apocynaceae fruits shrub Haines. Mandi, Una Cassia fistula Linn. Golden shower, Myanmar, Himalaya, Srilanka Throughout India flowers and Fabaceae tree Amaltas Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamripur, Kangra, Kinnaur, Mandi leaves

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(Sundernagar, Jogindernagar, Karsog), Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, Una Celastraceae Sub tropical parts of Himalayas Bombay, Gujarat, M.P., Celastrus paniculatus flowers and Black oil, Malkangni South India Kangra (Nurpur), Mandi (Jogindernagar, climber Willd fruits Nachan), Sirmaur (Nahan), Una Indigenous to Europe, Baluchistan North-Western India, Cichorium intybus L. Chicory, Wild leaves and Asteraceae grown in Bombay, Punjab. herb Hook. endive, Kasni shoots Chamba , Una Clerodendrum serratum Ceylon, Malay, Peninsula Decan Carnatic, West-coast flowers, Spreng. Verbenaceae district of Tamil Nadu state, Kumaon, Sikkim, Assam to Barangi leaves and shrub Tenasserium Hamripur, Kangra, Sirmaur (Nahan-Paonta seeds Sahib, Nalagarh), Una Coccinia grandis (L.) Cucurbitaceae fruits and Ivy gourd, Kunduri Throughout India Una herb Voigt. shoots Burma, Sub-Himalayan tract Siwalik tract in the east of the Punjab and frequently seen planted at wells, as far as Crataeva religiosa Hook. fruits and Barna, Bilari Capparidaceae Jhelum, South Multan Bilaspur, Hamripur, Kangra tree leaves (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Dactyloctenium aegyptium Myanmar, Srilanka, Africa, Afghanistan etc., introduced (L.) P. Beauv. Makra, Makri Poaceae into America Throughout tropical regions of India seeds grass Bilaspur, Hamripur, Kinnaur, Mandi ,Una Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Pecha. Bambusaceae Eastern Himalaya Kumaon, Assam Hamripur, Kangra shoots bamboo Nees & Arn. Pashing.,Kaghsiban Dendrocalamus strictus Nepal, Myanmar, Java All over India including Assam, seeds and Nees. Male bamboo, Bans Poaceae Meghalaya Bilaspur, Kangra (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan), bamboo shoots Solan (Kunihar), Una Sub-tropical Himalaya Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Dioscorea belophyla Voigt tubers Zamin-kand Dioscoreaceae Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Orissa, climber ex Hains. South India Bilaspur, Chamba, Mandi ,Shimla Diospyros cordifolia fruits and Bistendu, timru Ebenaceae Sub-Himalayan tract Throughout India Hamirpur, Una tree Roxb. Parker. leaves Diospyros embryopteris Gaub persimmon, Ceylon, Siam, Malayan Peninsula Bengal Kangra Ebenaceae fruits tree Pers Kalatendu. (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan (Kunihar), Una Sub-Himalayan tract from Ravi to Nepal Madhya Diospyros melanoxylon Coromande ebony bark and Ebenaceae Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, tree Roxb persimmon fruits West Peninsula Kangra (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan), Una Diospyros tomentosa Nepal ebony Ebenaceae Plains of India Una fruits tree Roxb. persimmon, Tendu Most warm countries Throughout India Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Sapindaceae Bilaspur ,Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamirpur, Kangra Jacq. Sanatha, Mehndi seeds shrub (Nurpur), Kinnaur, Mandi (Nachan, Suket), Shimla,

Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan , Una Emblic myrobalan, Euphorbiaceae Throughout tropical and subtropical India Emblica officinalis Gaertn Indian goseberry, Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamirpur, Kangra, fruits tree Amla, Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Burma Tropical Regions of India Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Erythrina indica Lam. Indian coral tree, leaves and Fabaceae Kangra (Nurpur), Kinnaur, Mandi (Nachan, Suket), tree Mandara shoots Shimla, Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Sub – Himalayan regions Throughout India Ficus bengalensis Linn. Banyan, Bar, Moraceae Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamirpur, Kangra bark and tree Bargad, Bor (Nurpur), Kinnaur, Mandi (Nachan, Suket), Shimla, fruits Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Outer Himalaya, Ceylon, Burma Rare in Punjab plains, Ficus glomerata Roxb. Moraceae occasionally wild in eastern parts of Punjab, Siwalik Gular, Umar fruits tree tract, Salt Range Kangra (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan (Kunihar), Una Himalayas from Kashmir to Nepal, Westward to Egypt- Moraceae Abyssinia, Afghanistan North-West India, U.P., Mount Ficus palmata Ferrk. fruits and Anjiri, Bedu Abu Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), Kangra (Nurpur), tree shoots Kinnaur, Mandi (Nachan, Suket), Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan (Kunihar), Una Pakistan to Bhutan Punjab, Eastern parts of Siwalik tract Moraceae Ficus religiosa Linn. Peepul tree, Peepal Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamirpur, Kangra fruits tree

(Nurpur), Kinnaur, Mandi (Nachan, Suket), Shimla

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(Kotgarh), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Flacourtia rhamontchii L. Governor’s plum, Suliman range Delhi, to the west, in the Salt range fruits and Herit. Madagascar Plum Flacourtiaceae Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamirpur, Kangra tree leaves (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan (Kunihar), Una North-western, Central Himalaya Warmer parts of India Fabaceae shrub Flemingia congesta Roxb. Bara-salpan, Bhalia Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan), flowers

Solan (Kunihar) Grewia asiatica L. Mant. Dhamin, Phalsa, Tiliaceae Sub-Himalayan tract, Burma Throughout India, fruits tree Parsuha especially in Punjab, UP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra Una Grewia optiva Drummond Tiliaceae North-Western Himalaya from Indus to Nepal ex Burret. Biul, Biung, Bhimal Punjab to Bengal Chamba, Hamirpur , Kangra , Kinnaur, fruits tree Shimla, Solan, Una Helicteres isora Linn. Siwalik tract, Ceylon Punjab, throughout central and East indian screw Sterculiaceae western India, Jammu, central Peninsula Bilaspur, fruits shrub tree, Marorphali Kangra (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan (Kunihar), Una Holarrhena Sub Himalayan tract Throughout India Bilaspur, antidysenterica Wall. Kurchi Bark, Karchi, Apocynaceae Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamripur, Kangra (Nurpur), flowers and tree Karra Mandi (Sarkaghat), Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan (Kunihar), seeds Una Holoptelia intergifolia The entire leaved Sri lanka, Burma, China Throughout India fruits, leaves Ulmaceae tree Planch. elm, Kanju, Papri Kangra (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan, Una and seeds Tropical and sub-tropical countries Throughout India Umbelliferae Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamripur, Kangra herb Hydrocotyle asiatica Linn. Indian pennywort leaves (apiaceae) (Nurpur), Kinnaur, Mandi (Nachan), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Impatiens balsamina L. Balsam, Balsaminaceae Native of South-East Asia, China, Malaya, Nepal leaves and herb gulmendhi Throughout India Shimla , Una seeds Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Sri Lanka Bengal, Punjab and Sind, Uttar Pradesh, Thatch grass, Dabh, Poaceae inflorescence Beauv. Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, N.E. India, Tamil Nadu, grass Siru and rhizome Karnataka Hamripur, Kullu , Shimla , Una Throughout the Himalayan tract Plains of North India Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamripur, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu flowers and Indigofera pulchella Roxb. Hakna, Sakena Fabaceae shrub (Siraj), Mandi (Nachan, Suket), Shimla (Chopal, leaves Kotgarh, Rohru), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan, Una Ipomoea carnea Jacq. ssp. Walaiti ak, Pahariak Convolvulaceae Native of tropical America, Nepal, Mexico, West Indies, fistulosa (Mart. ex Choisy) leaves shrub Brazil Jammu Una D. Don. Ischaemum rugosum Himalaya, China, Malaya Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Bar, Bardi, Bher Poaceae seeds grass Salisb. Tripura Bilaspur ,Kangra, Kinnaur Indigenous to tropical America, West Indies Throughout India, Andaman Bilaspur, Chamba Physic nut, Eurphorbiaceae shrub/ Jatropha curcas Linn. (Dalhousie),Hamripur, Kangra (Nurpur), Kinnaur, leaves Purging Nut tree Mandi (Nachan, Suket), Shimla, Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una South East Asia, Africa Subtropical parts of Bengal, grass Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Poaceae Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chanhel seeds Nees. West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya,

Orissa, Maharashtra, Delhi Una Leucas mollissima Wall. Getta-kushir, Lamiaceae Throughout India Shimla , Una leaves herb ex Benth. Gitilarak Rutaceae Warmer and moist regions of India Kangra (Nurpur), Limonia crenulata Roxb. Beli fruits shrub Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan (Kunihar), Una Tropical Himalaya Throughout warmer parts of India Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamripur, Kangra Mango, Aam fruits tree (Nurpur), Kinnaur, Mandi (Nachan, Suket), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Wild in Nepal, Burma Cultivated throughout India Michelia champaca Linn. Champak, Champa, Magnoliaceae Bilaspur, Chamba (Bhatiat, Dalhousie), Hamripur, fruits tree Champaca Kangra (Nurpur), Kinnaur, Mandi (Nachan), Sirmaur

(Nahan), Solan (Kunihar) Momordica dioica Roxb. Cucurbitaceae Himalaya to Sri Lanka Throughout India leaves, fruits Kaksa climber ex Willd. Shimla, Una and roots Moringa pterygosperma Drumstick tree, Moringaceae Western Himalaya Wild in the Siwalik region in the flowers, tree

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Gaertn. Munga Eastern Punjab Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), leaves and Hamripur, Kangra (Nurpur), Kinnaur, Mandi (Nachan, twigs Suket), Shimla, Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan (Kunihar), Una Tropical regions of Africa, America All over India Common cowitch, Bilaspur, Kangra (Bharwain, Dehra, Jwalamukhi, fruits and herb Mucuna pruriens (L.) Dc. Fabaceae Cowhage, Goncha Nurpur), Mandi (Sarkaghat), Shimla (Tattapani), seeds Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan (Nauni-Khaltoo) Srilanka, China, Laos, Java, Cambodia Throughout India in warmer regions, Andaman Bilaspur, Chamba Curry leaves tree, Rutaceae fruits and shrub Murraya koenigii Spreng. (Dalhousie), Hamripur, Kangra (Nurpur), Kinnaur, Kullu Gandhela, Kathnim leaves (Siraj), Mandi (Nachan), Shimla (Kotgarh), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Sub-Himalayan, Burma and Ceylon Common in West Nyctanthes arbortristis Weeping tree, Night Oleaceae Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Central India, Andhra Pradesh, leaves and shrub Linn. jasmine Tamil Nadu Hamripur, Kangra, Kinnaur, Mandi, twigs Sirmaur, Solan, Una Himalaya Throughout the hotter parts of India Jhingan, Wodier, Anacardiaceae Odina wodier Roxb. Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamripur, Kangra (Nurpur), Kaimil leaves tree Mandi (Suket), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan

(Kunihar), Una Native of Mexico, South America Throughout India Prickly pear, Slipper Cactaceae Opuntia dillenii Haw. chiefly in dry regions Bilaspur, Hamripur, Kangra fruits shrub thorn (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan (Kunihar), Una Burma, Ceylon, Malaya, Malacca, China. (Kunihar), bark, Throughout India Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamripur, Kangra Bignoniaceae flowers, Oroxylum indicum Vent. Arlu, Soona (Nurpur), Kinnaur, Kullu (Siraj), Mandi (Nachan), tree fruits and Shimla (Kotgarh), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan seeds (Kunihar), Una Throughout outer Himalayas, Bhutan Ougeinia oojeinensis Sandan, Panjan Fabaceae Central India, Deccan Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), shrub/ Roxb. Hotch flowers Hamripur, Kangra (Nurpur), Kinnaur, Mandi (Nachan), tree

Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan (Kunihar), Una Sri Lanka, S.E. Asia, China, Africa Commonly Panicum trypheron Schult. Bhatur Poaceae seeds grass distributed Una Paspalidium flavidum Tropical Asia, Australia Throughout India Baunr, Dhanera Poaceae seeds grass (Retz.) A. Camus Hamripur, Mandi , Una Paspalum scrobiculatum Kodo millet Poaceae Srilanka, Singapore Tropical and sub-tropical parts of seeds grass L. India. chiefly in Assam, Madras Hamripur, Kangra , Una Pennisetum typhoides Pearl millet, Bajra Poaceae Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, seeds herb (Burma. F.) Stapf. Maharashtra Una Wild date palm, Burma Throughout india Bilaspur, Kangra (Nurpur), Phoenix sylvestris Roxb. Arecaceae fruits tree Khajur Solan (Kunihar), Una Kashmir to Bhutan Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), Pinus roxburghii Sargent. Pinaceae Three leaved pine, Hamripur, Kangra (Nurpur), Kinnaur, Kullu (Siraj), seeds tree Chir Mandi (Nachan, Suket), Shimla (Chopal, Kotgarh,

Rohru), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Pistacia khinjuk Stew. ex Himalayas Indus to Kumaon, occur in Kashmir, Punjab fruits and Kakar, Kakru. Anacardiaceae Brandis. Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamripur, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, kernel tree

Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan Cultivated in Indian gardens Chamba (Dalhousie), Plumbago zeylanica Linn. White flowersed Plumbaginaceae Hamripur, Kangra (Nurpur), Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, leaves shrub leadwort, Chitra Una Polygala arvensis Willd. Polygalaceae Throughout plains of India, Nicobar Bilaspur, Chamba, Meradu leaves herb Hamripur, Kinnaur,Mandi, Shimla, Una Polygala crotalarioides Polygalaceae Temperate Himalaya Throughout India Gaighura kathi leaves herb Buch-Ham. ex Dc. Chamba , Hamripur , Lahul & Spiti , Shimla , Solan plebeium R. Africa, China, South-East, Western Asia, Australia Polygalaceae Br. Macheti Throughout tropical India Kangra, Kullu, Lahul & Spiti, leaves herb

Shimla, Una Portulaca pilosa L. Jangali gajar Portulaceae Throughout India Hamripur roots herb Deccan Peninsula, Eastern India Bilaspur, Hamripur, Premna latifolia Roxb. Verbenaceae bark, leaves Basota Kangra (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan tree and shoots (Kunihar), Una Himalayan wild Temperate Himalayan Kashmir to Bhutan, Akai and fruits Prunus cerasoides D. Don Rosaceae tree cherry, Paddam Khasi hills in Assam, Manipur Bilaspur, Chamba,

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Hamripur, Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, Una Mexico to Columbia, Peru, possibly including Brazil Cultivated throughout India Bilaspur, Hamripur, Kangra Psidium guajava Linn. Guava ,Amrud Myrtaceae fruits tree (Nurpur), Kinnaur, Mandi (Nachan), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Pueraria tubersosa Dc. Fabaceae Western himalayas, Nepal Throughout India Hamripur, Indian kudzu, leaves and shrub/ Kangra, Mandi (Karsog), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Bankumra tubers herb Solan (Nalagarh, Niharhand, Prithipur, Saloi), Una Native of Iran, Afghanistan, Baluchistan Cultivated Punica granatum Linn. Pomegranate, Punicaceae throughout India Bilaspur, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, leaves tree Anar Mandi (Gumma, Seri And Drang Areas Of

Jogindernagar), Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan (Solan-Giripul) Randia dumetorum (Retz.) Java, eastern tropical Africa, south china, Sumatra. Common emetic nut, Rubiaceae shrub/ Poir. Throughout India Hamripur, Kangra, Mandi (Sarkaghat), fruits Maniphal tree Sirmaur (Nahan - Paonta Range), Solan (Nalagarh), Una Throughout the tropics, indigenous to Africa Throughout Ricinus communis Linn. Castor oil plant, Euphorbiaceae india. Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), Hamripur, Kangra fruits shrub Erandi (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan, Una Rivea hypocrateriformis Midnapore creeper, Convolvulaceae leaves and North-western India Una shrub (Desr.) Choisy. Phang shoots Setaria glauca (L.) P. Pigeon or bottle America, Australia Warmer parts of India Bilaspur, seeds Poaceae grass Beauv. grass, Bandra Hamripur, Kangra, Knnaur, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla ,Solan Myanmar, Sri Lanka extending to Malaysia, Polynesia Setaria intermedia Rome. Arranki gaddi seeds Poaceae Plains and hills of India Bilaspur, Chamba ,Kinnaur grass et Schult. ,Mandi ,Shimla,Una Setaria vertlcillata (L.) P. Rough bristle-grass, Pakistan, Sri lanka, Africa, introduced into America seeds Poaceae grass Beauv. Kulta Widely distributed throughout India Bilaspur, Kinnaur Bangladesh, Sri lanka Tropical parts of India, Punjab, Sorghum halepense (L.) seeds Johnson grass, Jwari Poaceae west bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, grass Bor. Bihar, Orissa Bilaspur, Chamba, Kinnaur Syzgium cumini (L.) Myrtaceae China, Australia, Srilanka Throughout india Jambol, Jaman fruits tree Skeels. Chamba, Hamripur, Mandi , Sirmaur , Una Pakistan, Srilanka, indo Malaysia, Malacca Throughout Combretaceae Belliric myrobalan, greater parts of India Bilaspur, Chamba (Dalhousie), seeds Terminalia bellirica Roxb. tree Bahera Hamripur, Kangra (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), and kernel

Solan (Kunihar), Una Ceylon, Burma Occasional in Karnataka, Karla, Tamil Terminalia chebula Retz. Black myrobalan, Combretaceae Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, U.P., West Bengal Hamripur, fruits tree Harar Kangra, Mandi, Una Trapa natans L. Var. Water chest nut, Trapaceae Throughout the hotter parts of India kernel herb bispinosa (Roxb.) Makino. Singhara Bilaspur, Sirmaur Trema politoria (Planch.) Khardol Ulmaceae Subtropical Himalaya Bilaspur, Chamba fruits tree Blume Trichodesma indicum (L.) Baluchistan, Ceylon, Afghanistan, Persia Throughout fruits and Chhotakulpha Baraginaceae herb R. Br. India Chamba, Kangra, Kinnaur, Mandi, Shimla, Una leaves Urginea indica (Roxb.) Western Himalaya Bihar, Konkan, Coromandal coast Kunth. Jangli piyaz Liliaceae Bilaspur, Hamripur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur, Solan leaves herb (Herbal Garden at Nauni) Vallaris solanacea (Roth.) Chmari-ki-vel, Tropical Himalaya Grows in Karnataka Apocynaceae seeds shrub O. Kuntze. Ramsar Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur , Una Tropical regions, Afghanistan to Bhutan, China, South Eastern Asia Throughout India Bilaspur, Chamba Common chaste tree, shrub/ Vitex negundo Linn. Verbenaceae (Dalhousie), Hamripur Kangra (Nurpur), Kinnaur, flowers Shambalu tree Mandi (Nachan, Suket), Shimla, Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), Solan (Kunihar), Una Baluchistan, Ceylon Drier parts of India Bilaspur, Withania somnifera Dunal Punir Solanaceae Chamba (Dalhousie), Kangra (Nurpur), Sirmaur fruits shrub (Nahan), Solan, Una Baluchistan Throughout India Bilaspur, Chamba Woodfordia floribunda Red bell bush, (Dalhousie), Hamripur, Kangra (Nurpur), Kinnaur, flowers and Lythraceae shrub Salisb Gulbaha Mandi (Nachan, Suket), Sirmaur (Nahan, Rajgarh), shoots Solan(Kunihar) ,Una Ziziphus oenoplia (L.) Tropical Asia, Australia Throughout hotter parts of India Jackal jujube Rhamnaceae fruits tree Mill. Una

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A high number of food plants belonged to Poaceae family with 4 spp. in each family, Apocynaceae (Holarrhena with 17 spp. (Arundo donax, Bambusa arundinacea, antidysenterica, Vallaris solanacea, Carissa opaca), Brachiaria ramosa, Brachiaria reptans, Dactyloctenium Cucurbitaceae (Momordica dioica, Bryonia laciniosa, aegyptium, Dendrocalamus strictus, Imperata cylindrica, Coccinia grandis), Polygalaceae (Polygala arvensis, Polygala Ischaemum rugosum, Leptochloa chinensis, Panicum crotalarioides, Polygonum plebeium), Rutaceae (Aegle trypheron, Paspalidium flavidum, Paspaalum scrobiculatum, marmelos, Limonia crenulata, Murraya koenigii), Pennisetum typhoides, Setaria glauca, Setaria intermedia, Verbenaceae (Clerodendrum serratum, Premna latifolia, Vitex Setaria verticillata, Sorghum halpense) followed by Fabaceae negundo) with respective 3 spp. in each, Liliaceae (Asparagus with 13 spp. (Abrus prectorius, Acacia nilotica, Bauhinia adscendens, Urginea indica), Euphorbiaceae (Ricinus purpurea, Bauhinia racemosa, Bauhinia variegata, Butea communis, Emblica officinalis), Myrtaceae (Psidium guajava, monosperma, Cassia fistula, Mucuna pruriens, Pueraria Syzgium cumini), Rubiaceae (Anthocephalus cadamba, Randia tubersosa, Flemingia congesta, Indigofera pulchella, dumetorum), Tiliaceae (Grewia asiatica, Grewia optiva) Ougeinia oojeinensis, Erythrina indica) and Ebenaceae Ulmaceae (Holoptelia intergifolia, Trema politoria) with 2 (Diospyros cordifolia, Diospyros embryopteris, Diospyros plant species and afterward rest of the families with one melanoxylon, Diospyros tomentosa), Moraceae (Ficus species representative. Frequency of consumption of various bengalensis, Ficus glomerata, Ficus palmata, Ficus religiosa) plant parts in surveyed area is given in Fig.2.

Fig 2: Frequency of wild edible plant parts.

There is a scope of exploration, conservation, utilization and completely lost. cultivation of our natural resources to contribute towards food security and traditional sustainability 5. References 1. Arora RK, Pandey A. Wild edible plants of India. 4. Conclusion Diversity, Conservation and Uses. ICAR and NBPGR, Traditional, indigenous and local communities conserve and New Delhi. 1996, 294. use domestic and wild species sustainably, which helps to 2. Aswal BS, Mehrotra BN. Flora of Lahaul-Spiti (A cold ensure food security, improved livelihoods, incomes and desert in North West Himalaya). Bisen Singh Mahendra participation in markets. These communities also provide food Pal Singh, Dehradun, India. 1994, 761. to other societies all over the world. They can reduce food 3. Balick MJ, Alan CP. Plant, People and Culture: The insecurity risks by complementing their traditional knowledge Science of Ethnobotany. Scientific American Library, and practices with information and support from governments USA, 1996. and other agencies including rapid response systems and 4. Chandra Sekar K, Srivastava SK. Flora of Pin Valley capacity building for disaster preparedness, mitigation and National Park, Himachal Pradesh. Botanical Survey of management. It is expected that the database generated could India, Kolkata, India. 2009, 296. contribute in filling the gaps for the compilation of a local 5. Chowdhery HJ, Wadhwa BM. Flora of Himachal Pradesh: biodiversity register, a key gadget for achieving the goals of An analysis. Department of Environment, Government of regional and global biodiversity conservation and sustainable India, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, India. 1984; 1- development. In view of seeing the exploitation of the 3:860. biodiversity, traditional knowledge in developing countries 6. Collett H. Flora Simlensis. Thacker Spink and Co., like India is eroding at a faster rate. Therefore, it is imperative London (Reprinted 1971). Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal to document all the ethnobotanical information available into Singh, Dehra Dun, India. 1902, 652. diverse ethnic communities before the traditional culture is 7. Collett H, Hemslev. Flora Simelensis, Thacker, Spink &

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Co. 1921, 652. 26. Srivastava SK, Shukla AN. Flora of cold deserts of 8. De JN. Ethnobotany a newer science in India. Science and Western Himalaya. Bot. Surv. India, Calcutta, India. 2015; Culture. 1968; 34:326-328. 2:571. 9. De JN. Relationship between ethnic group (Tribal) and 27. Swaran Lata, Seth MK, Kaushal P. Ethnobotanical Studies their plant life in Purulia district, West Bengal- A study. on Wild Edible Plants of Tidong Valley of District Vanyajati New Delhi. 1980; 28:26-30. Kinnaur (H.P). International Journal of Scientific 10. Devi U, Seth MK, Sharma P, Rana JC. Studies on Research. 2016; 5(8):1790-1792. ethnobotanical plants of Kibber Wild Life Sanctuary: A cold desert in Trans Himalaya, India. Journal of Medicinal Plant Research. 2013; 7(47):3400-3419. 11. Dhaliwal DS, Sharma M. Flora of Kullu District (Himachal Pradesh). Bisen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun India. 1999, 744. 12. Jain SK, De JN. Observations of Ethnobotany of Purulia West Bengal. Bull. Bot. Surv. India. 1966; 8:237-251. 13. Kaur H, Sharma M. Flora of Sirmaur (Himachal Pradesh). Dehradun: Bisen Singh Mahendra Pal Sing. 2004, 770. 14. Kaushal P, Seth MK, Swaran Lata. Medicinal plants used for skin diseases in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. International Journal of Scientific Research. 2016; 5(9):286-287. 15. Khyade MS, Kolhe SR, Deshmukh BS. Wild EdiblePlants Used By the Tribes of Akole Tahasil of Ahmednagar District (Ms), India. Ethnobotanical Leaflets. 2009; 13:1328-1336. 16. Murti SK. Flora of Cold Deserts of Western Himalaya Vol. I (Monocotyledons). Bot. Surv. India, Calcutta, India, 2001, 452. 17. Nair NC. Flora of Bashahr Himalayas. International Biosciences Publishers, Hissar, Madras, India. 1977, 360. 18. Seth MK. Trees and their economic importance. The Botanical Review (New York). 2003; 69(4):321-376. 19. Seth MK. Gymnosperms of India. In: Plant -An Overview (Eds. I.B. Prasher and A.S. Ahluwalia), Botany Department, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014 (India). 2006, 73-78. 20. Seth MK, Kumar S. Pteridophytic flora of Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. Part I: A general account of Bilaspur district and 13 most common pteridophytes. In: Achievements and Prospects in Pteridophytes (Eds. I.B. Prashar and A.S. Ahluwalia). Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun. 2007, 19-45. 21. Seth MK, Negi HC, Goel AK. Some ethnobotanically important plants of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh In: Diversity and Conservation of Plants and Traditional Knowledge (A Felicitation Volume of Prof. A.P. Das). (Eds. Panda, S. & Ghosh, C.) Bishen Singh Mahendera Pal Singh, Dehradun. 2014, 397-407. 22. Seth MK, Thakur P. Sacred plants used in Phagli festival of village Malana. 2013(a); 25(1-2). 23. Seth MK, Thakur P. Sacred plants used in Phagli festival of village Malana of district Kullu of Himachal Pradesh. Ethnobotany. (2013b); 25(1-2). 24. Seth MK, Devi U. Medicinal plants of Tehsil Spiti of Himachal Pradesh. In: Current Trends of Medicinal Botany. (Eds. M. Iqbal and Altaf). IK International, New Delhi, 17-60. 25. Singh H, Sharma M. Flora of Chamba district (Himachal Pradesh). Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, India. 2006, 881.

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