Ethnobiology of Wild Leafy Vegetables of Sikkim
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Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 14(2), April 2015, pp. 290-297 Ethnobiology of wild leafy vegetables of Sikkim Sudhan Pradhan1 & Jyoti Prakash Tamang2* 1Department of Botany, Sikkim Government College, Tadong 737 102, Sikkim; 2Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Sikkim University, 6th Mile, Tadong 737102, Sikkim E-mail: [email protected] Received 12 March 2014, revised 10 October 2014 This paper is aimed to study the ethnobiology of wild leafy vegetables (WLV) consumed by the ethnic people of Sikkim. Traditional knowledge of the people on the ethnic value, foraging, mode of consumption, socio-economy of less familiar WLVs was documented. A wide range of adaptability with specific ecological habitat of some WLVs (Amaranthus viridis, Chenopodium album, Diplazium esculentum, Nasturtium officinale and Urtica dioica) were also recorded. Keywords: Wild leafy vegetables, Ethnobiology, Sikkim IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K 36/00, A01G 1/00, A01G 3/00, A01G 9/00, B26B, B26D, A01D, B65B 25/04, A23N, A47J, A23B Diversity of uncultivated plant species, their Methods occurrence and relationship with cultivated species Field survey was conducted in randomly selected and their use by human has rarely been studied 280 households in different villages of four districts 1 systematically . Many publications have emphasized of Sikkim, viz. North district (40 households), 2 on the diversity and value of wild edible plants . The West (70 households), South (70 households) and systematic documentation of indigenous knowledge East (100 households), representing the major ethnic regarding the identity and use of wild foods by rural communities, namely Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha. communities is now an urgent need because both Information was collected on ecological distribution, indigenous knowledge and the biological resources traditional knowledge, foraging, ethnobotany are diminishing with habitat destruction and a information, ethnobiological importance, mode of 3 disinterest among the younger generation . consumption, culinary and socio-economy of WLVs Sikkim is the Himalayan state of India with an area using questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, of 7096 sq km and the altitude ranges from 300 m to participant field collection and direct observation. 8500 m. The state comprises of 4 districts: North, Local names, uses, availability season, and trade East, South and West with a total population is of WLVs were also recorded. Taxonomical 6,07,688 lakh out of which 4,55,962 is rural identification of WLVs was studied following the population and 1,51,726 population is urban, keys described by Quinlan10. The listed taxa were 4 respectively . It is populated by three major ethnic identified using transect walks for cross-checking of groups of people, Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha. The the gathered herbarium specimens from Botanical ethnic people of Sikkim consume roots, tubers, Survey of India, Sikkim circle, Gangtok, and semi- 5,6 rhizomes, leaves and fruits of wild plants . structured interviews with key informants. Herbaria of Taxonomical description, distribution and ethnical collected plants were deposited at Department of importance of some wild edible plants have been Botany, Sikkim Government College, Gangtok. 7,8,9 previously documented . However, detailed ethnobiological study of wild leafy vegetables (WLV) Results and discussion of Sikkim has not been carried out. The present paper Documentation of traditional knowledge is aimed to document ethnobiological importance of some lesser-known WLVs of Sikkim. Based on personal observation and interviews with —————— the key informants, village elders, farmers, vegetable *Corresponding author vendors, consumers, vegetable middle man Kharitey, PRADHAN & TAMANG: WILD LEAFY VEGETABLES OF SIKKIM 291 26 species of WLV from Sikkim were documented, Table 1—Major villages and markets of Sikkim in different out of which, 5 less familiar and common WLV climatic zones species were prioritized for detail assessment. Climatic zone Altitude *Areas Prioritization was done using a set of criteria (feet) considered to be the main drivers of consumption and Sub-tropical 1000-2900 Rongpo, Mazitar, Kumrek, Kamling, their availability in wild. These criteria are (a) taste, Zone Singtam, Jorethang, Jitlang, Mamring, (b) frequency of occurrence, (c) ethnic consumer, (Low lands) Suntalay, Sirwani, Ranipool, 32 mile, Melli, Rongli, Legship, Makha, (d) edibility acceptance, (e) medicinal value, th Samramsa, Rongli, 9 mile, Reshi (f) quantity used, (g) market demand, (h) supply Temperate 2900-6500 Khamdong, Namthang, Maniram, volume, (i) supply source, (j) availability season and Zone Sadam, Turuk, Ahoe, Rumtek, Mulukay, intensity and (k) preference by younger generation. (Mid hills) Ranka, Namchi, Tadong, Linding, Duga, Rhenock, Bermoik, Rakdong (1) Amaranthus viridis L. Tintek, Central Pendam, Martam, Sang, Dikchu, Pendam, Assam Family: Amarantheceae; English name: pig weed; Lingey, Bhusuk, Mangan, Phodong, Nepali name: Lattey sag/Lunde sag. Phensong, Chungthang, Kabi lungchok, Leaves of Amaranthus viridis L. (Fig. 1a) are used Pangthang, Aritaar, Pakyong, Gangtok, 6th Mile, Rawtey, Rumtek, as vegetable and are consumed by all ethnic people of Sang, Tashiding, Soreng, Sombaria, Sikkim as side dish. People prefer to cook lattey sag Namchi, Temi Tarku, Lingey Payoong, either with potato or meat. Kewzing, Kaluk, Darmadin, Hee- Bermiok, Dzongu, Kabi, Okhrey, Geyzing, Chujachen, Lamaten, Ecological distribution Sombaria, Naga, Sipgyar, Kartok. Amaranthus viridis L. is found luxuriantly growing Temperate 6500-9000 Pelling, Rabongla, Ben, Hilley as seasonal weed in the crop fields, around domestic zone livestock shed complex, waste lands, organic manure (High hills) deposits and soil with no standing water, uncultivated Alpine Zone 9000-16000 Lachen, Lachung, Barsey, Nathang, fields, and home gardens of urban, peri urban and Changu, Phadamchen, Parts of Dzongu. rural ecological environments. It is distributed within *Areas with italics were surveyed for collection of data and an altitudinal range in between 2500–6000 ft and is information. found growing in low hill, mid hill, low mid hill and mid upper hill (Table 1). Foraging Foraging of Amaranthus viridis is done from Ethnobiological importance waste lands, field margins, cultivated crop fields Ethno-medically Amaranthus viridis is found to and furrows. Tender shoots and young leaves as act as antipyretic, analgesic, laxative, increase in edible parts are being collected from its natural appetite, antifungal and in the treatment of asthma. habitat during the month of April to July (varying In traditional system Amaranthus viridis is also used at different places based on altitude and climatic as medicine to reduce labour pain. The Nepali uses conditions). Based on the requirement, whether this plant to treat several ailments such as malaria, for home consumption or sale in the vegetable hepatic disorders, jaundice, scanty urine or wounds, market, two different patterns of collection are body ache, diabetes and to induce abortion. The practiced by the ethnic people of Sikkim. Elderly Lepcha and Bhutia use the plant to treat diarrhoea, women are expert in plucking the edible parts gastroenteritis and arthritis. They believe that curry for consumption. prepared from lattay sag can stop diarrhoea. Seeds, ground into powder, are mixed with water and are Market chain analysis and socio- economic profile taken as an infusion to cure general gastric problems. A study on the market chain and socio–economy Beaten seeds are fried with butter and fed to pregnant of Amaranthus viridis L. was conducted. There is a women to lessen pregnancy pains. Root paste is proportionate, unidirectional socio-economic gain applied on minor bone fracture and dislocation. involved in lattey sag market chain. For sale in the Root and seed decoction is taken to treat diarrhoea market and local periodical haats, the young plants and cough. are uprooted or plucked and carried to the tap water 292 INDIAN J TRADIT KNOWLE, VOL 14, NO. 2, APRIL 2015 or dhara, a traditionally designed, common washing etc., Some ethnic people in Sikkim believe that the and bathing place along, some nearby stream or bethu seeds fall to the ground from the sky. This kitchen courtyard. The washed materials are tied into could be attributed to its anemophilic mechanism of bundles and inserted in a sack or bamboo-stripe seed dispersal. made back-pack basket locally called doko and carried to the market locally called haat and other Ethnobiological importance places for sale. If the villager is not a vegetable In ancient times, as reported by some elderly seller then it is either sold to vegetable vendor in the informants, seeds of Chenopodium album L. were market or to the vegetable supplier, middle man also used for baking bread. Lachungpa community of locally called kharitey who purchases the vegetable Bhutia in Lachung valley of North Sikkim uses in large scale from the villagers and supplies to C. album seeds in the preparation of chhyang, a the vendors at the market. Kharitey transports the traditionally prepared alcoholic beverage from finger vegetable load from village to the town by public millets, to enhance the taste of the product. carrier such as bus or taxi. From the terminus at Chenopodium album is commonly used both as food the town, the load is transported to the vegetable and medicine. It is used to cure piles and clearing vendor at the vegetable market place manually by worms, to enhance