CHAPTER NO.VT CLASSIFICATION OF WILD FOOD ACCORDING TO THEIR EDIBLE PARTS

'm^:

•i- -•?^""'*^--i-"--" :••.>• •.i .

•-' -i- •> • - -- f.

"•^- V'* ;^." > I '^^ri>m,- -407-

CHAPTER VI

CLASSIFICATION OF WILD FOOD PLANTS ACCOmiNG TO THEIR EDIBLE PARTS SUCH AS UNDERGROUND PORTION ROOTS.TUBERS. RI-ilZOMES. SHOOTS. STEMS.. LEAVES. FLOWERS. FRUITS AND

SEEDS. NUTS. KERINIELS ETC.

An over all survey of the use of wild plants in the Indian sub-continent has revealed that about 600 species of flowering plants and ferns of the total wealth of about 20,000 species of higher plants are used by the tribal and poor people(Singh et al.,1978). Several of these plants cater to basic human needs such as food, including drinks, masticators, tonics, animal stupifiers etc. The primitive man, through a process of trial and error, screened in his ov/n way, the wild growing plants that gave edible parts, and domesticated most of them. In recent times man has neither domesticated theLleft :bver nor has he identified any new } food plants, which would be widely acceptable. The wild edible plants are particularly useful during famine and under similar scarcity conditions. Even during normal times, they provide articles of diet to the tribal population who generally inhabit the hilly and other less accessible areas in both the developed an^l developing countries. In India, approximately 7 percent of the population is constituted of the tribal people. From about 300 plants listed, at least 42 wild plant species, of which roots, tubers, rhizomes, corms, bulbs :. •' are eaten in various parts of the hilly region of the Western -408-

Ghats. These areas belong to different climatic regions. The giant surans and yams are eaten raw or cooked after repeated washings to get rid of the bitterness and pungency, or in some cases ground to flour for cakes and puddings, I) PLANTS WITH EDIBLE UNDERGROUND PARTS : The underground parts of many wild plants fort)m an important source of starchy foods consumed by the tribal inhabitants living nearer to the forest tracts where such edible kinds occur. Dioscoreaceae and Araceae supplying wild edible yams and surans are more important because of the hugeness of their tubers and of their wider -: occurrence and availability, particularly in the humid tropical^subtropical tracts. As compared with these plants groups like Cypepaceae (Cyperus spp,), Asclepiadaceae(Ceropegla spp,) and F V\ ^(V <-&-^fe- (Vign a spp. and Puparia spp,) possess much smaller tubers. Different from these starchy types are the rhizomes of some Zingiberaceae which are usually hard and fibrous and there are some of the aquatic types like Nymphaeaceae and Alismaceae which though fibrous are often porous and pithy. All these kinds are, however, eaten. Though widely distributed in different regions of the country, much varied types in these starchy foods occur particularly in the humid parts of Western Ghats, Goa etc. The wild edible types in genera like Dioscorea, Alocasia, Colocasia, Vi^ia, Ceropegia, Curcuma, Zingiber and other occur in abundance while most of these occur widely, Cerope^ia types are mainly found in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra and -409-

further southwards, the tubers of Vigna capensis(L), Pueraria tuberosa Roxb., Curcuma pseudomontana Grah.;? Curcuma zedoria Rose, Hitchenia caulina Baker, Curculigo orchioides Fract. are eaten. Dioscorea. Colocasia,Alocasia spp, are eaten more often after boiling and cooking as vegetable. This is largely practised because of the presence of calcium oxalate crystals in these tuberous forms. Boiling removes acridity and renders the tubers edible as a vegetable. Occasionally the tubers of some types are also pickled or canned.

Curcuma. Asparagus racemosus var..iavanicus Baker, sometimes these are also made into preserves as the rhizomes of Costus speciosus Koenig, Another use to which some of these forms are put in as condiments. The thick underground rhizomatous stocks of Curcuma, Zingiber species are consumed in this way. Processing of dry tubers to extract starchy content in which these forms are rich is also carried on. Thus edible flour is sometimes prepared from the starchy tubers of Dioscorea hispida Denn. In Cyperus bulbosus Vahl, the dried tubers are pounded into flour and baked into bread or even

cooked as pudding. Another category is of the less starchy types which is also consumed as vegetable. More prominent among these are the rhizomes of Nelumbo spp., Pteridium aquilinum Linn., Angiopteris erecta Forst., Alocasia indica Schott, which are eaten cooked. Nelumbo spp. appears to be a favourite plant particularly of the North Indian people. Apart from being eaten -410-

raw or cooked as vegetable, occasionally the tubers of some esculent types like Cyperus esculentus L.are ground to powder and used as a substitute for coffee or cocoa (Singh _et_ al. ,1973) The tubers of Vigna capensis L, have been found to be rich in phosphorus and calcium. Some of the promising: species of this g:roup wortK : trying for cultivation are(Underground parts roots, tubers rhizomes etc.) 1. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, Syn. Nelumbium speciosum Willd., Mymphaea nouchali Burm., Nymphaea pubescens V/illd. - All these are aquatic herbs found throughout monsoon ponds of the Western Ghats. Mostly rhizomes of these are consumed as main vegetable food. They are very nutritive. In addition to rhizomes, leaves, flowers, buds, fruits, and seeds are also eaten. Many tasty dishes are prepared out of these parts. 2. Amorphophallus cowxwwjoHc-HA-sC'^chfttf.jj A stout herb found wild in humid parts of Western India. Underground corms after washing and prolonged cooking are used as vegetable. Though it is a wild form,some less acrid varieties are cultivated as staple food. 3. Ceropegia tuberosa Roxb., Ceropegia hirsuta Wt.& Am. Ceropegia attenuata Hook., Ceropegia indicus R.Br., Ceropegia oculata Hook., Ceropegia media(Huber) Ansari; Most of the Ceropegias are climbers or twiners, few are erect herbs with tubers of various sizes. All the species are edible. Though found in small quantity it is a favourite food of tribals. If it could be grown on large scale, it may give very nutritious

food. -411-

4, Costus speciosus Koenig.: A tall herb found in the humid tropical and subtropical tracts. The rhizome, is edible and favourite among local people. 5. Dioscorea in general are very promising plants, A large genus of annual twining herbs, distributed throughout the moist tropics of the world. About 50 species are found in India. A large number among them occur in the v/ild state. A few are cultivated for their edible tubers; the true yams. There is still confusion relating to the identity and the nomenclature of many of the Indian species. Particularly of the cultivated species has been largely resolved by the work of Prain and Burkill. These authors have classified the genus into 2 broad divisions: (1) those with stems twining to the right and (2) those with stems twining to the left. In the former,^ D.alata Linn., D.oppositifolia L. Iflie second division is sub-divided into sections according to morphological characters. Economically important species included in this division are D.esculenta Burkill; D.bulbifera L,, D.pentaphylla L. D.hispida Dennst. Dioscoreas(yams) form a cheap source of carbohydrate food and are extensively used by hill tribes. They are of inestimable value during periods of scarcity. For use as food, they are washed, either whole or in slices, and cooked or baked to eliminate alkaloids or other poisonous principles present in most of them. The acridity is due to crystals of calcium oxalate. Some of the species of Dioscorea are reported to be rich in Vitamin B1, B2 and B6 and also in other members of |3cm i:

^^^

Remusatia vivipara Scht.

tI/»*»Q/»! «»ii m r\-{nAa FlalX. Pl.No. 6-2

E>

cpoR? 30 -^fu^ ^

Hanger depressing Plant Colocasia esculenta Sch. Snsete superbum.cheesm.

tt sr^ ^Jt#5[T^25

Poisonoas edible plant Sweet edible tuber Arisaema murrayl Hk» 0 Dloscorea peataphylla L. B

*jfL

l^'- '•. •'

* Tit

f^23

Mature tuber of Vendor selling wild Vigna Vexillata. L. edible plants.

t^sror

Young plant Puararia tiitifixosa DC. Vigna Vexillata L, D P'.No. 6-4 PI.No.1 6-5

f^^>4iob

Zanthoxylum rhetsa DC, The ripe seed and leaves are used as a condiment

Piper nigrum. L. A branching,climbing perennial . Fruits used as whole or?*^*^^^^

\ -413-

Shatavari. 3) BoerhT^via diffusa Linn. (Punarnava-) 4) Careya arborea Roxb, 5) Borassus flabellifer L. 6) Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker. 7) Curcuma zedoria Rose 8) Calonvction muricatum G.Don. 9) Ipomoea eriocarpa R.Br. 10) Leea edgeworthii Santapau, 11) Meloth-^ria heterophvlla Lour. II. PLANTS vaTH EDIBLE SHOOTS VIHICH ARE PROMISING AND WORTH FOR CULTIVATION : There are about 35 plants, of which young shoots are eaten. as vegetable, ^ut of 35 plants 5 to 6 plants from the family Amarantaceae. Polygonaceae. Portulacaceae . Cqjralluma. n Dendrocalamus t Commelina (SK''°+s a-Ae- e-ot+en- 1. Amaranth is a multipurpose crop. It is said to be the native of S.America, now growing wild in India. It is the most common indigenous leafy vegetable in this country. This crop requires a warm weather and hence it is primarily a summer crop in the plains, although it grows well in rainy season. It grows in every type of soil but the best crop is harvested from loamy soils. Besides, Amaranths are capable of producing several generations in one year. The duration being 45 to 90 days. The nutritive value of Amaranthus viewed in terms of protein vitamins A^ C and iron. Amaranthus is one of the vegetable rich in above components, •'•^lis is a :::- rich but cheap source of proteins and minerals which could be valuable in the under-nourished areas of world. Amaranthus blitum L., Amaranthus polYgamous. L., A.spinosus. L. A.tricolor L., Ajternanthera s^easiLU R.Br., Celosia arepentea L. 'These are important herbaceous plants which could be grown on -414- \

large scale.

2. PolY^onuiD £labrum WUld. (Polygonaceae): A tall herb common in wet lands. Young shoots cooked and eaten. A common species found everywhere in shallow ponds.

3. Pqrtulaca oleracea L.(Portulacaceae): A herb common as weed throughout India. Young shoots used as vegetable. 4. Caralluma adscendens, Br. (Asclepi^aceae) : A fleshy plant occurring in Western Peninsula. Mostly in drier areas. The shoots are eaten, cooked. They are also pickled.

5. Dendrocalamus strictus Nees(Bamboo) : A densely tufted bamboo. After thorough boiling it is cooked and then used as vegetable.

6. Connnelina obligua Bucht.Ham.(Commelinaceae);A sub-erect herb occurring throughout India. The shoots are used as vegetable. If the above plants are cultivated on large scale it would be more useful for the tribal community. It would help their need of food to some extent.

Some of the few plants from the above group are often used as vegetable in drought affected areas; I) Tetrastigma lanceolarium Roxb. 2) Leea indica Merrill, 3) Srythrina variegata Linn., 4) Entada pursaetha DC, 5) Asparagus adscendens Roxb., 6) Clerodendrum serratum Linn. 7) Bauhinia malabarica Roxb., 8) Cissus quadrangularls Linn. 9) Sonchus aspera Hill, 10) Sonchus oleraceus Linn. II) Ipomoea eriocarpa R.Br. III. V>'ILD PROMISING PLANTS WITH EDIBLE GREENS (LEAVES) I Many wild occurring annuals are used as greens. They belong to botanically different groups like Amarantaceae. -416-

Chenopodiaceae. Polygonaceae. Araceae, Nymphaeaceae. Colocasia, Ipomoea etc. Green leaves used as vegetable play an important role in human diet. Chemical analysis of many leafy vegetables like Spinach, Asparagus, Beat, greens. Coriander, Garden cress. Lettuce, Water cress, Amaranthus etc. are proved to be rich in carbohydrates, proteins and essential mineral matters and vitamins. Some leafy vegetables like palak, drumstick leaves etc. are rich source of calcium, iron, carotene, vitamin, riboflavin and folic acid. These vegetables are, therefore, very essential as a source of many nutrients which are essential for growth and maintenance of normal health. Leaf cellulose of the green vegetable acts as a roughage and helps the bowels smoothly working. Persons with constipation troubles have been always advised to consume more vegetables. The difficulty of overcoming the nutritional deficiency in poorly fed country like ours could be solvedi* by the cultivation bf numerous leafy vegetables. 'J-'here are nearly 20 common leafy vegetables grown in the area under study and nutritional value of most of these have been studied and published (Gopalan et al,1977). 'I'he advantages in growing these leafy vegetables are, easy to grow and could be raised all the year round. All these annual crops are propagated from seed sown directly in the field where the crop is to stand. People should be encouraged to grow these green leafy vegetables into kitchen garden, school premises. Every effort should be made to set an example by planning ideal vegetable gardens -416-

in public enclosures for demonstrations.

Tribal communities or aborigines have been often to face food problems but still they do show enough strength and stamina to undertake any strenuous jobs. Use of various wild leafy edible greens could have perhaps helped to give these people more nutritional reinforcement. The most popular vegetable in tribal areas especially after monsoon is various species of Amaranthus. The protein quantity of Amaranthus leaf is quite promising being high in lysin. Different kinds of preparations made from Amaranthus tasted to be quite palatable. Incidently Amaranthus are photosynthetically more efficient plants being C4 type. Unfortunately in our country, traditional importance of this crop is not sufficiently recognised. It still remains a minor crop without much attention from most of the agricultural experts. Other wild plants giving fairly good leafy vegetables are : (2) Chenopodium album L., (3) Portulaca oleracea L. (4) Polygonum p;labrum Willd. (5) Colocasia esculenta 3ch., (6) Oxalis comiculata L. (7) Acacia concinna DC. (8) Alternanthera sessillis R.Br., (9) Boerhavia diffusa L., (10) Cardamine hirsuta L. (II) Cassia tora L., (12) Cissus adnata Roxb. (13) Commelina benghalensis L., (14) Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., (15) Smithia sensitiva Att. and many other Smithia species; (16) TamarIndus indiea L. and (17) Wrightia tomentosa Roem etc. IV. WILD EDIBLE INFLORSSCENCE 8( FLOWERS : There are about 33 wild plants of which flowers are eaten -417-

either rav* or cooked. Madhuca indica Gmel, Pavetta indica L. are used as vegetables. Amongst them flower buds of Bai^iinia^ species particularly B.variegata L. are being sold in the local markets. The tribals collect flowers of Madhuca indica J.F.Gmel. which constitute an important article of food being eaten raw or cooked. Sweet flower buds of Periploca aphylla Decne. and Capparis spinoaa L. are used as vegetable after cooking and the buds of C.spinosa L. are pickled. the scarlet flowers of Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz. are used in preparing fermented drinks. Some other examples from the same groups are :

(1) Clerfodendrum serratumn Spr.. (2) Dillenia indica L., (3) Dillenia pentagyna Roxb. (4) Ensete superbum Roxb., (5) Holostemma annularis Roxb. (6) Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., (7) TamarIndus indica L., (8) Dioscorea pentaphvlla L. etc. If the above plants are tried on large scale for cultivation, somehow or the other it will solve some difficulty of food problem of tribals. V. WILD EDIBLE FRUITS : The fruits of about 126 and are gathered and eaten largely because of their sweet pulp or succulent aril. The wild fruits of tropical-subtropical tracts are mainly from Anacardiaceae. Annonaceae, Guttiferae, Tiliaceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Vitaceae. Myrtaceae. Moraceae. Euphorbiaceae. Rutaceat and Rhamnaceae. The availability of these kinds varies in different regions. In humid areas of V/estem Ghats, Solanum, Etaeocarpus. Citrus. Syzygium, Vitis are prominent in the -4ia-

evergreen forests. Vfliile some kinds commonlji^ccur throughout the country like laxiflora Robyns, Carissa congesta Wight. Majority of the wild fruits are eaten raw when ripe. It is the sweetish pulp or the fleshy palatable pericarp of the ripe berries or drupes that is generally consumed. If these are cultivated on large scale it would help in the food problem of poor classes. 1) Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb., 2) Buchanania lanzan Spr,, 3) Cordia dichotoma Forst , (4) Shretia laevis Roxb. (5) Meyna ^^yiS^lcYA R«kvjv,s.(6) Bridelia retusa Linn. , (7) Careya arborea Roxb., (8) 3olanum indicum Linn. VI. EDIBLE SEEDS AND GRAINS : Wild plants with edible seeds belong to the families like Nymnhaceae, [^f\^f^c^f\E^- and other legume types, Gramineae etc. Only a few species are such whose seeds, nuts or kernels are consumed quite often as food by the tribals; a large percentage of such kind however, has found usage mainly as scarcity foods during famine. Seeds of about 72. v/ild plants and grains of about 19 wild plants are edible. Many of the seeds of wild plant species are found along Western Ghats and]v/orth trj^ing food for agriculture. 1, Amaranthus is mostly grown for leaves as well as seeds. It is an ancient crop plant known to be cultivated for more than 6000 years. It is rich in minerals. Vitamin A and C. The protein quality from Amaranthus grains as well as leaf is good being high in lysin. Certain Amaranthus could be grovm for dual purpose v/here one could harvest the grains after the -4l&- leaves. The grains are pov/dered into flour and used for bread, 2. Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk : The tall evergreen . The seeds are rich in starch and are eaten after roasting and boiling. 3. Impatiens balsamina L. : A succulent much leafy herb. Seeds edible. 4. liucuna monosperma DC. : A climber found in the tropical areas of VJestem Ghats, Seeds used as vegetable. 5. Sterculia ^Attata Roxb. : A deciduous tree found in V/estem Ghats, The seeds are eaten roasted. 6. Vigna capensis V/alp. : A climber occunV^ chiefly in humid tropical areas. The seeds are eaten cooked more like pulses. '7' Cassia tora L.: Seeds eaten and also used as substitute of coffee. Few more examples of this group are : 1) Semecarpus anacardium L.,2) Echinochloa colona Link., 3) Bauhinia vahlii Wt.& A,m, , 4) Erythrina variegata L. 5) Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. , 6) Indigofera glandulesa Roxb. If more attention is given on plantation^some of these promising plants, i+ would help to solve the food problem of tribals to certain extent. Aborigines and tribal communities living in ranote hilly areas do know, how to control hunger or thirst during severe drought period. During famine when there is no food available, salted dried bark pieces of wild Banana (Snsete superbum Cheesman) have been often consumed. Munching of these pieces resulted in -42D-

complete dejection of hunger. Aborigines could withstand

several days without food of course with gradual ^^^C\

There are some tubers Karanda(Dioscorea spp.) which act as tranquilizers or like sleeping pills. Child drugged with few pieces of these tubers may remain sleepy^hours together and therefore forget about food.

There are number of thirst quenching fruits like Karvanda (Carissa congesta V/t.), Toran(Zizvnhus rugosa Lamk.), Avla (Onbgiica officinalis Gaertn.), Amguli(Slaegnus latifolia L.) etc. which are greedily eaten by shepherd and other jungle wanderers.

These peculiar climbers and lianas which could provide few cups of drinkable water by giving oblique cuts to certain places, i.e. Vatoli (Diploclisia glaucescens DielsV Gend'^al (Cissus repanda Vahl) and Nandena (Ampelocissus latifolia Planch*). Plant source which may not be directly used as food but consumed as condiments;;beverage, stimulants, appetizer, tonic etc. are as follows: A) Alcoholic drinks: Flowers of Madhuca longifolia Gmel., rhizome of Impaerta cylindrica. Fruits of Syzygium cumini L. Fruits of Vitis spp. are used in the fermentation of rice beer by Kol. Phoenix. Borassus, Caryota are often tapped for Neera and Toddy. B) Non-alcoholic beverages : A preparation like tea is made from leaves of Cymbopogon citratus and roots of Hemidesmus indiea L, Cool drinks are made from hairy seeds of Ocimum basilicum L. and -421- fruits of wild lemon, chinch and Amguli, Garc'i nia etc, C) To wrap tobacco : Leaves of Holarrhena antidysenterica Wall, Carcya arborea Roxb. (for charoots), Diospyros tomentosaCpyb.., D.melanoxvlon Roxb., Bauhinia racemosa Lamk. and B.vahlii Wight tjL Arr etc. are used to wrap tobacco. D) For fragrance in curries : Leaves of Murraya jcoenigii L, and Premna [atifoliaiare used to flavour curries. E) Condiments and splces ; Wild cardamoms, rind of fruit of Garcinia. ripe seeds of Zanthoxylum rhetsa Jloxb, as pepper and also its aromatic bark, ripe fruits of Piper nigrumiP.HookeriV\\o^• The leaves of Cinamomum tamala.and C. zeylaniciftj^ ^l- bark is used to flavour rice or curry and also used in some preparations of vegetarian dishes as well as non-vegetarian dishes. F) Substitute for betelnut : Parched seeds of Gnetum ula Brong. and half ripe seeds of Caryota urens L. have been used as substitute for betelnut. Chewing in large quantity may !•-• prove fatal, PLANTS WHICH ARE USED INDIRECTLY FOR PROCURING FOOD : 1. Hunting : Bows are made from thin bamboos. Bow strings are made from fibre of Marsdenia tenacissima V/.& A. and Calotropis ^igantea Br. The arrow tip poison is derived from the stem juice of Antiaris toxicaria Lesch., Sapgum, Insignis Benth- etc. Milky latex or gum of the species like Ficus racemosa L. and others for trapping birds. 2. Fishing : Fishing nets are made from fibre derived from bark of Abroma augusta L.f., Boehmeria nivea Gaud., Marsdenia tenacissima W.& A. and Calotropis ^i/^antea Br. and -422- floats for fishing nets are made from the fruit of Adansonia digitata L, and pith of Aeschynomene aspera L, and Erythrina spp. For intoxicating fish, the root and bark of Spinosa Keay , bark of Lasiosiphon eriocephalus Decne , Barringtonia acutanpula Gaertn. and the fruit of Xeromphis. Seed of Careya arborea Roxb., Pongamia pinnata Pierre and root of Tephrosia purpurea Pers. are used to poison or to intoxicate fish. Fishing rod is made from thin Dendrocalamus strictus Nees and Phragmites Karka Trin. CONCLUSION :

V/hereas the poor man and the tribals have been all along experimenting with wild plants, the sophisticated man has adopted a few of them and has ever since been trying to improve upon them and the efforts today seem to continue mainly in that direction. Improved cultivars of the superior cereals(wheat, rice)^oil and fibre plants have been created, which are disease- resistant and hi^ yielding, requiring large amount of specially created conditions like artificial fertilisers etc. It is not only essential to conserve this wealth of information on useful wild plant, but also to apply modem biochemical and agricultural techniques to determine the utility of adaptability of the most useful among them to meet modem requirements. Among several wild plants, Coix I acryma^/iobi L. may be mentioned as an example for gertiPpl^sm. It is nutritively richer than any of our major cereals. It can be improved upon suitably and adapted on a large scale. Likewise the cultivation of some of the yams should be encouraged and their use as food be -42a- popularised on each sub-topic*Some of the names of promising wild edible plants are given. If more research is done on cultivation of some of these plants it would be more beneficial not only for tribals but for others also. A large number of plants used for medicinal purposes is highly essential to develop the indigenous sources for the utility of natural products against the synthetic ones. If this can be achieved, the object of ethnobotanical . surveys could realised.

Wild plants have become a part of this culture, apart from their mere importance in their subsistence upon them. V/ild plants\used for hunting,, an antidote., for bites by animals and insects. The roots of Anogeissus, latifolia DC., Flacourtia indica(Burm.f.)Merr.. leaves and flowers of Mesua ferrea L. . For scorpion bite Anogeissus latifolia DC.^ Leucas cephalotes Spreng, are used. Fishing nets are made from fibre derived from bark of Pandanus. Abroma an^!:usta L.f. etc, Oil from wild plants : Oil used as luminant and cooking medium is obtained froKy) seeds of Schleichera oleegay Linn., oil from bark of Cinamomum tamala \ is used for the manufacture of soap. Carthamus tinctorius L. is cultivated for its edible oil. There are number of uses of wil4 plants. But in this Chapter we are mainly concerned with wild edible plants which are most promising and beneficial in our future life. CHAPTER VI

FLORISTIC ANALYSIS OF EDIBLE PLANTS FROM WESTERN GHATS. MAHARASHTRA AND GOA In the following pages statistical analysis of the wild edible plants have been y-i^c5en-V«-<^ with reference to number of families, genera, species and various parts of the plant used as food. Table No.6.1: SYNOPSIS OF THE RELEVANT FLORISTICS OF V/ILD FOOD PLANTS FROM THE AREA No. Family Genera Species Under Flowers Other ground Tender Leaves & Fruits Seeds parts parts shoots buds I. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1. Dilleniaceae 1 2 2 2. Annonaceae 2 2 2 Menispermaceae 1 3. 1 1 4. Nelumbonaceae 1 1 1 Nymphaeaceae 2 5. 3 1 2 6. Brassicaceae 1 1 1 7. Cruciferae 2 2 2 8. Capparidaceae 3 5 3 3 9. Cochlospermaceae 1 1 10. Flacourtiaceae 1 2 2 11. Caryophyllaceae 1 1 1 12. 1 Portulac^aceae 2 2 5 13. Guttiferae 2 5 14. Malvaceae 2 2 2 15. Bombacaceae 1 2 1 1 16. Sterculiaceae - 3 5 2 1 17. Tilliaceae 4 6 2 13. Elaeocarpaceae 1 1 1 19. Zygophyllaceae 1 1 1 No, Family- Genera Species ^2™^H Tender ^^^J shoots' Leaves Flowers Fruits Seeds Parts ^^^s ^ & buds - 5 _ 6 7 8 q 10 11 20. Oxalidaceae 1 1 1 1 21. Balsaminaceae . 1 1 1 22. Rutaceae 6 6 2 5 1 23. Burseraceae 1 1 1 24. Meliaceae 3 3 3 25. Olacaceae 1 1 1 26. Celastraoeae 1 1 1 27. Rhamnaceae 1 4 3 1 28. Vitaceae 4 11 4 7 29. Sapindaceae 2 2 1 1 33. Anacardiaceae 5 5 1 3 2 31. FftpflceAE 11 21 11 10 32. Caesalpiriaceae 3 11 9 4 7 33. Miniosaceae 2 4 2 2 1 34. Combretaceae 2 3 2 1 35. i'lyrtaceae 1 1 1 36. Lecythidaceae 1 1 1 37. I'-ielastoinaceae 1 1 38. Lythraceae 1 1 39. Onagraceae 1 1 1 40. Cucurbitaceae 5 5 1 3 41. I'iolluginaceae ' 1 1 42. Umbelliferae 1 1 1 43. riubiaceae 8 8 2 1 1 44. Compositae 5 6 4 1 1 Under­ Tender Flowers Other No. Family Genera Species ground shoots Leaves & Fruits Seeds Parts parts buds 1 2 S 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 45. Myrsinaceae 2 2 1 2 46. Sapotaceae 3 3 47. Ebenaceae 1 1 1 48. Oleaceae 3 3 1 2 49. Apocynaceae 2 3 2 1 2 1 50. Asclepiadaceae 6 13 10 1 1 1 1 51. Boraginaceae 2 2 1 1 1 52. Gonvolvulaceae 3 4 2 2 2 1 1 53. Jolanaceae 2 5 1 2 5 1 54. Big^noniaceae 1 1 1 1 55. Acanthaceae 2 2 56. Verbenaceae 3 3 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 57. Lavn\«>.^*--^«- s 58. Nyctaginaceae 2 2 2 59. Amaranthaceae 4 8 6 8 3 60. Chenopodiaceae 1 2 1 2 61 . Polygonaceae 1 3 2 2 1 62. Piperaceae 1 0 2 63. Lauraceae 1 1 1 64. Elaeagnaceae 1 1 1 65. Euphorbiaceae 6 9 1 3 8 66. bTmaceae 1 1 1 67. Urticaceae 5 7 6 1 68. Moraceae 1 4 1 69. Zingiberaceae 3 4 3 1 70. Mus^ceae 1 1 1 1 Under Tender Flowers Genera No. Family Species ground shoots Leaves & Fruits Seeds Other parts buds o parts 1 2 3 4 6 7 9 10 71. Hypoxidaceae 1 1 1 72. Taccaceae 1 1 1 73. Dioscoreaceae 1 6 6 74. Liliaceae 5 6 2 4 75. Commelinaceae 2 4 3 2 76. Palmae 3 3 1 3 77. lyphaceae 1 1 1 78. Araceae 6 6 1 5 1 79. Cyperaceae 3 4 4 80. Grail ineae 18 25 3 1 20 81. Adiantaceae 1 1 1 1 82. Gleicheniaceae 1 1 1 83. Marattiaceae 1 1 1 1 84. Marsileaceae 1 1 1 1 85. Ophioglossaceae 1 1 1 86. Polypodiaceae 3 3 1 4

Total : 188 294 40 34 38 23 103 73 6 Table No.6.2: STATISTICAL SYNOPSIS OF THr: V/ILD FOOD PLANTS FROM WESTERN GHATS OF MAHAflASHTRA AND GOA

Dicot P(5rcentag e Monocot Percentage Total M No, No. Families 69 85.19 12 14.81 81 Genera 15^ 78.58 42 21.42 196 Species 225 79o23 59 20.77 284

Table No.6.5; ONLY FROt-i FIRST TEN PLAI'-JT F^H^aLIES GIVING V/ILD EDIBLE PLANTS ViHICH ARE ARRAI'IGSD SEPARATELY ACCORDING TO THEIR MAXIMUIV] NO.TO LOV/EST NOT OF GENERA AND SPECIES "

Nosy Families Genera Families Species

1. Gramineae 18 Gramineae 25 2. Fabaceae 11 Fabaceae 21 3. 8 Asclepiadaceae 9 4. Rutaceae 6 Vitaceae . 12 5. Asclepiadaceae 5 Caesalpinpiceae 11 6. Eupho rbiaceae 6 Eupho rbiaceae 9 7. Araceae 6 Rubiaceae 8 8. Anacardiaceae 5 Amarantaceae 8 9. Cucurbitaceae 5 Urticaceae 7 10. Liliaceae 5 Tiliaceae 6

ajjar\0»-s >-l y enough just like the floristic studies of the Western Ghats in order of dominance of genera and species, according to priority of the first three dominant families such as Gramineae, Fabaceae, and Asclepiadaceae remained same while studying wild edible plants.