PLANT DIVERSITY ANALYSIS IN THALAIMALAI HILLS, A PART OF EASTERN GHATS, TAMIL NADU, INDIA Thesis submitted to the BHARATHIDASAN UNIVERSITY, TIRUCHIRAPPALLI for the award of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN BOTANY Submitted by P. MANI (Ref. No. 38833/Ph.D.1/Botany/P.T/April 2009 Dated 25.03.2009) Under the guidance of Dr. R. RAVIKUMAR, M.Sc., B.Ed., Ph.D. P. G. & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY JAMAL MOHAMED COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS) College with Potential for Excellence Nationally Reaccredited with 3.6/4.0 Grade by NAAC TIRUCHIRAPPALLI - 620 021, INDIA NOVEMBER 2013 Dr. R. RAVIKUMAR Assistant Professor P.G. & Research Department of Botany Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous) Tiruchirappalli - 620 021 Tamil Nadu, India _________________________________________________________________ CERTIFICATE This is to certify that Mr. P. Mani has carried out the research work presented in this thesis entitled ‘Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills, a part of Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India’. This work has been carried out under my guidance and supervision. This work is original and no part of the thesis earlier to any other university or organisation for obtaining any other Degree or Diplomas. Dr. R. RAVI KUMAR Research Guide Place : Tiruchirappalli Date : P. MANI Research Scholar P.G. & Research Department of Botany Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous) Tiruchirappalli - 620 021 ______________________________________________________________________ DECLARATION I do hereby declare that the thesis entitled ‘Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills, a part of Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India’, which I am submitting for the award of Doctor of Philosophy to the Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli is an original work carried out by me, at the P.G. & Research Department of Botany, Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli under the guidance and supervision of Dr. R. Ravikumar, Research Guide & Assistant Professor, the P.G. & Research Department of Botany, Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli. I further declare that this work not been submitted earlier to this or to any other university and does not form the basis for the award of any other degree, diploma, associateship, fellowship and other similar titles. Place : Tiruchirappalli P. MANI Date : ACKNOWLEDGEMENT It is my privilege to thank the unique personal Dr. R. Ravikumar, M.Sc., B.Ed., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, P.G. & Research Department of Botany, Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli. The completion of this treatise shows the systematic guidance and persistent countenance of Dr. R. Ravikumar, who introduced me to the Plant Diversity research which made me fully absorbed in it starting with the field work at the Thalaimalai hills. I once my profound gratitude to him. I sincerely express my gratitude to Janab Dr. A. K. Khaja Nazeemudeen Sahib, Secretary & Correspondent; and Janab. K. A. Khaleel Ahamed, Treasurer, Jamal Mohamed College, Tiruchirappalli for giving me the golden opportunity to carry out my research work in this prestigious institution. I am very much thankful to Dr. A. M. Mohamed Sindhasha, M.Com., M.Phil., M.Sc.(Psy)., Ph.D., M.B.A., Principal, and Dr. S. Mohamed Salique, M.Sc., B.Ed., Dip.in Arabic., Ph.D., Vice-Principal, Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli for admitting me to the Ph.D. Programme and providing all the facilities during this course of work. I sincerely thank Dr. S. Ahmed John, M.Sc., M.Phil., M.Ed., PGDCA, PGDPMR, Ph.D., DLL, Head, PG & Research Department of Botany, Jamal Mohamed College, Tiruchirappalli who had kind concern and consideration regarding my academic requirements for his patience and steadfast encouragement to complete this study and the moral support. I am overwhelmed to thank Dr. S. R. Senthilkumar, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., FLS (London), Associate Professor, Department of Botany, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli and Dr. V. Nandhagopalan, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., _______________________________________________________ Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills iv Associate Professor, Department of Botany, National College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli whose had been the members of the Doctoral Committee, who by his efficiency and generating in offering his precious time and provided valuable suggestion and continuous support in my research work. It enabled me to complete the project work successfully. I would like to thank Dr. A. Khaleel Ahamed, Associate Professor; Dr. M. H. Muhammed Ilyas, Associate Professor; Dr. M. Ghouse Basha, Associate Professor; Dr. H. Syed Jahangir, Associate Professor; Dr. M. Kamaraj, Assistant Professor; and Dr. A. Aslam, Assistant Professor and Lab Assistants, Research Scholars, P.G. & Research Department of Botany, Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli for their support and encouragement. I sincerely thank Rev. Dr. S. John Britto, SJ, Director, Rapinat Herbarium and Centre for Molecular Systematics, St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli and Rev. Fr. S. Aruldoss, SJ, Director, SHEPHERD Extension Department, St. Joseph’s College to permit me for doing research work and encouraging me in various ways. I am very much grateful to Dr. D. I. Arockiasamy, Head, Department of Biotechnology, St. Joseph’s College for encouraging me for doing Ph.D. work in several ways. Dr. S. Soosai Raj, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, St. Joseph’s College for provided all my technical requirements and plant identification work to complete my treatise with a homely atmosphere. I also thank Mr. M. Joseph Stephen, Mr. P. Vijayakumar, Mr. C. Jeyachandran, Mr. A. Saravanakumar and Mr. S. Raja, Coordinators of Extension Department, St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli for their support. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills v I am indebted to Mrs. Padmavathi, I.F.S., District Forest Officer, Namakkal; Mr. Sivaji Ganesan, Former Forest Ranger; Mr. A. Kanaga Rathinam, Ranger, Mr. E. Somasundaram, Forester; Mr. K. Kandasamy, Forest Guard (North Beat), Mr, P. Govindan, Forest Guard (South Beat), Mr. M. Velusamy, Forest Watcher (North) and Mr. P. Periasamy, Forest Watcher (South) for their able assistance especially in collecting data of the area, visiting the field and local villagers, collection of plants, recording the information shared by the local traditional medicine men and informants. I specially thank all the Traditional Medical Practitioners and Villagers, Forest Protecting Council Leaders and Members, village land owners, elders of the village and all the peoples for their contribution to the information in this investigation. I am grateful to Mr. P. Manohar, BT Assistant (Maths), Mr. M. Johnson Gritto, Research Scholar, National College; Mr. Govindan and Mr. Charles, Herbalists, Anthiyodhaya Sangh, Tiruchirappalli; Mr. Dhanapal and Mr. Santhosh, PG Students, Bharathidasan University for having accompanied me in the field trip in the collection of plants and local village visits. It is my privilege to thank Mr. S. Jesudoss for typing my thesis work in time with utmost care and patience and to thank Richnet Designing Centre for making the photoplates. Above all I gratefully acknowledge my parents, wife, son and daughter who were on top of anything else endured my research work. They were an everlasting source of encouragement and offered me the greatest patronage and aspiration whenever I need. P. Mani –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills vi CONTENTS Chapter-I INTRODUCTION ... 1 1.1 Introduction ... 1 1.2 Ethnomedicine ... 2 1.3 Diversity of Medicinal Plants ... 5 1.4 Ethnomedicinal / Ethnobotanical research from aboard ... 8 1.5 Present Concept and Scope ... 11 1.6 Interdisciplinary subjects of Ethnomedicine/Ethnobotany and sub-disciplines ... 12 1.7 Ethnobotany of the Thalaimalai Hills ... 14 1.7.1 Occupation and Food habits ... 15 1.7.2 Life style ... 16 1.7.3 Religion and belief ... 17 1.7.4 Utilization of natural resources ... 17 1.8 Aims and Objective of Ethnomedicinal Plants investigations in theThalaimalai ... 20 Chapter - II REVIEW OF LITERATURE ... 21 2.1 Introduction ... 21 2.2 Origin of Ethnomedicine/Ethnobotanical Research ... 21 2.3 Definition and Expansion ... 22 2.4 Growth of Ethnomedicine / Ethnobotany as a discipline ... 24 2.5 Bibliography of Ethnomedicine/Ethnobotany ... 30 2.6 In India ... 31 2.6.1 Origin of Ethnobotany in India ... 33 2.6.2 Books and Thesis on Ethnomedicine / Ethnobotany ... 34 2.6.3 Major Ethnic Groups ... 34 2.6.4 Work on Folk Medicinal Plants ... 35 2.6.5 State-wise and Region-wise Coverage ... 35 2.6.6 Botanical Coverage ... 35 2.6.7 Researchers and their Publication ... 36 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Plant Diversity Analysis in Thalaimalai Hills vii 2.7 Studies in India on Ethnomedicine / Ethnobotany ... 36 2.8 Organised Ethnomedicinal / Ethnobotanical Research ... 38 2.9 Ethnomedicine / Ethnobotanical Research in Tamil Nadu ... 39 2.10 Conclusion ... 45 Chapter - III MATERIALS AND METHODS ... 46 3.1 Introduction ... 46 3.2 Area of Study: The Thalaimalai ... 46 3.2.1 The Eastern Ghats ... 46 3.2.2 Climate ... 53 3.2.3 Forest Types ... 53 3.2.4 Dry Mixed Deciduous type ... 53 3.2.5 Dry Deciduous scrub ... 53 3.2.6 Southern Thorn Scrub ... 54 3.2.7 Southern Thorn forest ... 54 3.2.8 Riparian forest ... 54 3.2.9 Euphorbia Scrub forest ... 55 3.2.10 Forest Plantations ... 55 3.2.11 Forest Cover Density ... 55 3.2.12 Accessibility ... 55 3.2.13 Fauna ... 56 3.3