Some Plant Associated of Tribal Clans of Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh, India and Their Role in Conservation

Home , Khandwa district, Kukshi, Madhya Pradesh

Bioscience Discovery, 9(2):260-263, April - 2018

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Research Article

Some plant associated of tribal Clans of Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh, India and Their Role in Conservation

Alawa K S* and Sudip Ray

Department of botany, Govt. P.G. College, Dhar (M.P.) Department of Botany, PMB Gujarati Science College, Indore (M.P.) *E-mail:[email protected]

Article Info Abstract Received: 26-01-2018, Dhar district is known as tribal district of Madhya Pradesh, India and Bhil, Revised: 26-03-2018, Bhilala, Barela, Patelia are the dominant tribes of the study area. The tribals of Accepted: 30-03-2018 the district have many clans and each clan bears a totemic object that is sacred to them. Present study had been carried out regarding association of clans of tribal Keywords: people and plants. There are 27 plant species belonging to 25 genera and 20 Clan plants, Conservation, families reported from study area which are associated to different clans of Dhar district, Madhya tribal. It is believed that name of some clans have been originated from certain Pradesh, tribals. plant. Ajnaria clan was originated from Trachyspermum ammi, Amaliyar from Phyllanthus emblica, Jamniya from Syzygium cumuni, Khairiya from Acacia catechu, and Mavdafrom Madhuca longifolia.

INTRODUCTION object, or a symbol representing an animal or plant Dhar district is situated in the western most part of that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such Madhya Pradesh. And lies in between the latitude of as a family, clan, group, lineages, or tribes, 22º 00 to 23º 10’ North and longitude of 74º 28’ to reminding them of their ancestry. In other words 75º 42’ East. The total area is about 8153 sq. Km. totem is a belief in a spiritual association between The impotant tribal communities of the study areas clans and natural phenomenon. The anthrop- are inhabitating in the remote and rural areas are ologists of modern time look at totemism as a Bhil, Bhilala, Barela and Patelia. The people of this recurring way of conceptualizing relationships tribe are mostly illiterate and very poor. These tribal between kinship groups and of the natural world. peoples live close to the forest and mostly The tribal of Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh have dependent on the wild bioresources for their daily many clans and each clan bears a totemic object that requirement of food, fuel, herbs, tools and is sacred to them. Studies have been carried out implements and the Bhil is an ancient tribal regarding association of clan names and plants. The community of archers spread in many parts of India several observations have so far been made in India but presently living preponderantly in the forests of regarding the origin and name of particular clans or Madhya Pradesh and surrounding region of the sub clans. Although few related research paper are world. Bhil stands for bow and thus represents available (Jain, 1988; 1992; Gupta, 1981; Jain, archers who traditionally used bows and arrow 1981; Priyadarshi, 2013; Mishra, 2008; Tirky et al., dating back to hunter-stage of human evolution in 2006). Regarding the clan plants are no research the subcontinent. Many customs, myths, traditions paper published from the study area. Hance the first of Bhils are associated with plants. The Bhils follow attempt has been made to study the clan plants of certain tradition of totemism. A totem is a being, an Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh.

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Alawa K S and Sudip Ray MATERIALS AND METHODS Ethnobotanical survey was conducted during the Waskale clan from Aegle marmelos; Dodwa and years 2015-2017. We are collection of wild plants Muvel from Bombax ceiba; Azadirachta indica. was from forests is the main base of their economy. The worshiped by 6 clan type’s viz. Damra, Kharatia, study areas are Gandhwani, Kukshi, Manawar, Mujalda; Ficus religiosa .was worshiped by 6 clan Dharampuri and Sardarpur Tehsils of Dhar district type’s viz. Damra, Jamra, Mandliya; Jamniya & were frequently visited to 36 clans. Jamra clan worship Syzygium cuminii; Cassia Oral interviews were taken among the head and fistula. from Girwal and Ficus virens. From Jamra; communities of Bhil, Bhilala, Barela and Patelia Kalmiya, Ningwaliya and Waskale clan from Musa tribes for ethnobotanical informations. Plant paradisiaca; Acacia catechu. from Khairiya; Acacia specimens were collected, identified with the help nilotica .& Saccharum officinarum from Soliya; of Herbarium and Floras (Mudgal et al. 1997; Terminalia bellirica from Mehada; Butea Verma et al., 1993; Singh et al., 2001). Herbarium monosperma was worshiped by Pachaha and following standard method (Jain and Rao, 1977). Nerium indicum from Waskale. Due to their faith Madhya Pradesh. The tribal communities of the and beliefs these are well protected in the forests. study areas comprise 36 clans, which are related to their paternal family. Sources of Name of the plant ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and Families, local name, clan and consevation We are thankful to Dr. S. Ray, Head of Botany have been mentioned (Table-1). The name of department, PMB Gujarati Science College, Indore families is given in parenthesis. for providing research and library facilities. We extend our thank to Dr. B.L.Chouhan, Principal and RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Prof. S. Pathak, Head of Botany department, Govt. During the present paper investigation, it was found P.G. College, Dhar for help and support. We offer that the abow mentions all clans do not even touch heartiest thank to divisional forest officer, Dhar for the plant to which their clan’s name belongs. It is help and cooperation during the ethnobotanical believed that certain plant is related to origin of surveys in tribal villages of the district for important birth of certain clan. There are 36 clans associated, information’s regarding clan related plants. We are 27 plant species belonging to 25 genera and 20 indebted to tribal heads and communities for giving families was observed (Table 1). Clan has been information’s and participation during the period of formed to prevent marriages among blood relations field study. and it is imperative to remember them and pass the information’s through the generation to generation. REFERENCES The tribal belonging to particular clan does not cut, Gupta SP, 1981. plants with reference to Munda burn or harm particular plant associated their clan. culture. In Jain SK, (ed.) Glimpses of indian This phenomenon can be considered as a good ethnobotany (Oxford & IBH, New Delhi) 199-207. example of conservation as well as sustainable use Jain AK, 1988. Tribal clans in central India and of natural resources. Ajnariya clan originated from their role in conservation,J.environ.Conserve, 15: Trachyspermum ammi; Ficus benghalensis was 368. worshiped by tribal people belonging to 12 different Jain SK, 1981. Observation on ethnobotany of clans mentioning few of them are Akhadiya, tribals of central India, in Jain SK, (ed.) glimpses of Bhabariya, Chongdiya, Mujalda.; Amaliyar indianethnobotany (Oxford & IBE, New Delhi), &Waskale clan worship Phyllanthus emblica. And 193-198. Tamarindus indica.; Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. Jain AK, 1992. Clans of sor tribe of Madhya was worshiped by Askiya; Mavda, Askiya, Ginawa, Pradesh and their role in conservation (ethno- and Vasuniya clans from Bambusa arundinacea; botany) 4: 67-69. Mangifera indica. was worshiped by 14 clan type’s Khanna KK, Kumar A, Dixit RD and Singh NP, viz. Bamniya, Bhuriya, Damra, Katariya.,Bamniya; 2001. Supplement to the flora of Madhya Pradesh, Chongadiya from Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.ex DC.; Priyadarshi N, 2013. Totem is different Tribes in Bhanvra from Ficus racemosa. And Bhuria from Jharkhand stste of India, Cucurbita pepo ; Ocimum basilicum. was Mishra S, 2008. Ethnomedicinal studies of Korku worshiped by 6 clan type’s viz. Chongadiya, Jamra, tribe, with Gotra names derived from plantnames Ningwaliya; Mavda & Chongadiya clan worship from Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh, Madhuca longifolia.; Ningwaliya, Damraand, ethnobatany, 20:122-127. http://biosciencediscovery.com 261 ISSN: 2231-024X (Online)

Bioscience Discovery, 9(2):260-263, April - 2018 Tirky A and Jain SK, 2006. Tradition of clan KK, Mudgal V and Dixit RD (eds), Flora of names and conservation among the Oraons of Madhya Pradesh Vol. III (Botanical Survey of Chhattish garh, Indian Jour. of Tradi. Know, 5: India) Calcutta, 2001. 224-226. Verma DM, Balakrishnan NP, and Dixit RD Mudgal V, Khanna KK and Hajra PK (eds), (eds), 1993. Flora of Madhya Pradesh Vol.I 1997. Flora of Madhya Pradesh Vol.II (Botanical (Botanical Survey of India) Calcutta,. Survey of India) Calcatta, 9. Singh NP, Khanna

Table-1 List of Clan plants Conservation of Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh.

S.No. Name of the plant and Local Clan Conservation Families name 1. 1 Trachyspermum ammi Ajwai Ajnariya They worship the plant (L.) Sprague., Apiaceae n and do not eat its seeds. 2. 2 Ficus benghalensis Barga Akhadiya, Bhabaria, Damra, Jamra, They do not eat fruits and L.,Moraceae d Chongadiya, Dodwa, Girwal,Kiradiya, cut the wood and worship Mujalda, Ningwaliya, Rawatala, the tree. Waskale 3. 3 Tamarindus indica L., Imli Amaliyar They do not cut, harm and Caesalpiniaceae used for fuel purpose. 4. 4 Phyllanthus emblica L., Amla Amaliyar,Waskale They do not eat fruits, cut Euphorbiaceae and worship the tree. 5. 5 Diospyros melanoxylon Temru Askiya They do not cut and fuel Roxb., Ebenaceae the tree. 6. 6 Bambusa arundinacea Bans Askiya, Ginawa, Mavda, Vasuniya They do not cut and burnt (Rtz.) Willd., the plant. Bambusaceae 7. 7 Mangifera indica L., Aam Bamniya, Bhiria, Bhabaria, Damra, They do not collect the Anacardiaceae Chongadiya, Girwal, Jamra, Jhaniya, fuel purpose, cut and Katariya, Kiradiya, Lodiya, Pachaha, worship the tree. Singhadiya, Soliya 8. 8 Dalbergia sissoo Shisa Bamniya, Chongadiya They do not cut, harm and Roxb.ex DC., Fabaceae m worship the tree. 9. 9 Ficus racemosa L., Gular Bhanvra They worship the tree and Moraceae do not eat fruits. 10. 10 Cucurbita pepo L., Kaddu Bhuria They do not damage and Cucurbitaceae cut the climber. 11. 11 Ocimum basilicumL.var. Tulsi Chongadiya, Jamra, Ningwaliya, They do not cut, damage. Thysiflorabenth., Ohariya, Pachaha, Rawatala The tree is worshiped. Lamiaceae 12. 12 Madhuca longifolia Mahua Chongadiya, Mavda Wood of the plant is not (Koen.) Macbr., used. Sapotaceae

13. 13 Ficus religiosa L., Peepal Damra, Jamra, Mandliya, Ohariya, They do not harm and cut Moraceae Soliya, Waskale the tree. 14. 14 Azadirachta indica A. Neem Damra, Kharatia, Mujalda, Singhadiya, They do not use wood, cut Juss., Meliaceae Soliya, Waskale and worship the tree. 15. 15 Aegle marmelos (L.) Bel Damra, Ningwaliya, Waskale They worship the tree and Corr., Rutaceae cut the trees. 16. 16 Bombax ceiba L., Semal Dodwa, Muvel They do not use wood the Bombacaceae tree. 17. 17 Cassia fistula L., Amalt Girwal They do not use fruits. Caesalpiniaceae as Wood is not burnt. http://jbsd.in 262 ISSN: 2229-3469 (Print)

18. 18 Syzygium cumuni (L.) Jamun Girwal, Jamniya, Jamra, Ningwaliya, They do not damage and Skeels., Myrtaceae Osari, Rawatala burn the tree. 19. 19 Ficus virens Ait., Piper Jamra They do not cut worship Moraceae during harvesting. 20. 20 Musa paradisiaca L., Kela Kalmiya, Ningwaliya, Waskale They do not cut damage Musaceae and worship the tree. 21. 21 Acacia catechu L., Khair Khairiya They do not touch and Mimosaceae never goes near the plant. 22. 22 Terminalia bellirica Bahed Mehada They do not collect twigs (Gaertn.) Roxb., a for fuel purpose. Combretaceae 23. 23 Calotropis gigantea (L.) Aakda Muvel They do not cut and harm R.br., Asclepiadaceae worships the tree. 24. 24 Butea monosperma Palash Pachaha They do not use wood, (Lamk.) Taub., leaf, cut and fuel the tree. Fabaceae 25. 25 Acacia nilotica L., Baboo Soliya They do not cut and harm, Mimosaceae l fuel The tree.

26. 26 Saccharum officinarum Ganna Soliya They do not cut and eat L., Poaceae the plant and worship the tree. 27. 27 Nerium indicum L., Kaner Waskale They do not cut twigs and Apocynaceae worship the tree.

How to cite this article Alawa K S and Sudip Ray, 2018. Some plant associated of tribal Clans of Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh, India and Their Role in Conservation. Bioscience Discovery, 9(2): 260-263.

http://biosciencediscovery.com 263 ISSN: 2231-024X (Online)