Pleione 7(1): 84 - 93. 2013. ISSN: 0973-9467 © East Himalayan Society for Spermatophyte Taxonomy Wild edible plants sold by the Zeme Nagas at the makeshift market of Mahur, Dima Hasao district of Assam P. Medhi1 and S. K. Borthakur Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati-781014, Assam, India E-mail: [email protected] 1Present address & Corresponding author: epartment of Botany, Haflong Govt.College, Haflong- 788819, Assam, India E-mail: [email protected] [Received revised 21.06.2013; Accepted 22.06.2013] Abstract The Mahur town of Dima Hasao district of Assam is located between 25.18011° N latitude and 93.11604° E longitude and at the elevation of 565 m amsl. The present paper is the output of an investigational survey undertaken during the year 2010 and provides a comprehensive account of 83 species of edible plants sold by the Zeme Nagas in the makeshift markets of Mahur town of the district. The botanical name, vernacular name(s), parts used/ mode of use and also their local market values has been eneumerated. Study reveals that out of the total 83 recorded species; 29 are eaten as cooked vegetables (leafy vegetables and tubers), 21 are eaten cooked fruits, seeds and inflorescences, 8 are eaten cooked wild edible mushrooms, 7 are spices and condiments and 18 are fruits and seeds eaten raw. The total recorded 83 species those belong to 69 generas and 49 families and can be grouped into fungi (8 spp.), pteridophyte (1 sp.), gymnosperm (1 sp.), monocotyledons (16 spp.) and dicotyledons (57 spp.). INTRODUCTION The present paper is the output of an investigational survey work undertaken during the year 2010 with an aim to document of the wild edible plants and their products sold in the makeshift weekly markets on Tuesdays at Mahur town of Dima Hasao district of Assam by the Zeme Nagas. Wild plants consumption by the hill dwelling ethnic groups is mainly for sustenance and also intrinsically linked to their traditional and cultural life. These are their major dietary supplement and sales in the local makeshift markets for additional income (Angami et al 2006 ). Description on edible plants both cultivated and wild from the Isle of Java, Indonesia (Osche 1977); native food plants of Northeastern India (Arora 1990); wild edibles from Arunachal Pradesh (Kar 2004); Meghalaya (Kayang 2007); Assam (Barua et al 2007); Tripura (Majumdar & Dutta 2009); Ukhrul district in Manipur (Salam et al 2010); Darjeeling hills (Sharma, 2012) and other published works of Bhujel et al 1984; Haridarsan et al 1990; Schultes 1992; Mahanta & Gogoi 1998; Sinha & Lakra 2005; Arora & Pandey 1996; Kala P. Medhi & S. K. Borthakur 85 2007, Medhi & Borthakur 2011; Medhi & Borthakur 2012b; Sarkar & Das 2012 etc. were considered as current literature for the study. Publication works on edible plants sold at markets of Haflong (Medhi & Borthakur 2012a); Karbi Anglong (Kar & Borthakur 2007); Assam (Borthakur 1996) and Lall market of Gangtok (Hajra & Chakraborty 1981) are also important references in this aspect of present study. The Zeme Nagas The Zeme Nagas commonly known as Zemes, belong to Tibeto-Burmese racial stock. The Zemes of Dima Hasao district follow the patrilineal system of family structure. They have six clans viz. Npame, Nkuame, Heneume, Nriame, Sogame and Panme. The Zeme villages are mainly located on the breezy hill tops and the village council headman is called Matai. In each village there is the boys’ and girls’dormitory (Morung) called Hangseuki and Leoseuki respectively. The Morung life makes them self reliant, disciplined and also instills in them a sense of service to corporate body. The most important community festivals celebrated are Heleibambe- celebrated prior to the starting of Jhum cultivation sometime in mid April for appeasement of Suhprai, the God of crops and the other is Siami-the harvesting festival celebrated by holding of grand feasts. The Jhum cultivation, collection of forest products and weaving in loin looms with cotton yarns spun are the main occupation of the Zemes (Lalsim 2005). As per the population census 2001, total population of the Zemes in the Dima Hasao district is 11,469 which occupy 6.16% of total population of the district. In termS of population Zemes are the second largest ethnic group in the district (Anonymous 2005). MATERIALS AND METHODS The Mahur town of Dima Hasao district of Assam is located between 25.18011° N latitude and 93.11604° E longitude and at the elevation of 565 m above msl and about 35 km away towards east of district head quarter town Haflong. Asalu, Tungje, Laisong, Hajuichok, Thingje, Leike, Hangrum and Songkai, etc are the Zeme inhabitated localities directly communicates to Mahur town. During the market survey the edible plants/plant parts collected and vernacular name(s), used plant parts, method of preparation and makeshift market rate of the plant resources were recorded and verified carefully from vegetable vendors of market and also by the assistance of local informants. Collected plants were made into herbarium following standard techniques (Jain & Rao 1977) and later identified with the help of local floras and other available references. The voucher specimens on which this study is based were deposited in the Herbarium of Department of Botany, Gauhati University (GUBH) for future reference. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION During the present investigational study a total of 83 species were recorded and the findings can be broadly categorized as into the following: A. Eaten cooked: leafy vegetables and tubers 29 species (Table 1.a); fruits, seeds and inflorescences 21 species (Table 1.b); wild edible Mushrooms 8 species (Table 1.c) and spices and condiments 7 species (Table 2). 86 Wild edible plants sold by Zeme Nagas at the market of Mahur B. Eaten uncooked or raw: fruits and seeds of 18 species (Table 3). Wild edible plants sold at makeshift markets of Mahur town: A. Eaten cooked: Table: 1.a: Leafy vegetables and Tubers Botanical name [Family]; Exsiccatae Zeme name Parts used/Mode Price in local of use market Amaranthus viridis Linnaeus Inhmuntiek Young shoot - Rs.5/ bundle of ± [Amaranthaceae]; PM – 862 Vegetable 250 g Amorphophallus bulbifera (Roxburgh) Kebei Tuber- Rs.10/ kg Blume [Araceae]; PM – 863 Vegetable Aralia armata (Wallich) Seemann ex Kurz Ture/ Saifok Young shoot - Rs.5/ bundle of [Araliaceae]; PM – 864 Vegetable ±5 shoots Bambusa balcooa Roxburgh [Poaceae]; Hepai/Pum Shoot- Rs.10-15/ kg PM – 868 Vegetable/ fermented chutney Begonia palmate D. Don [Begoniaceae]; Mping Leaf/ Shoot- Rs.5/ bundle of PM – 895 Vegetable ±10 shoots *B. roxburghii De Candole [Begoniaceae]; Mping i. Leaf/ Shoot- Rs.5/ bundle of ± PM-865 Vegetable 10 shoots ii. Juice antidysenteric Blumea lacera De Candole [Asteraceae]; Peau Leaf-Vegetable Rs.5/ bundle of ± PM-875 (mostly 10 shoots preferred with Brinjal) Calamus rotang Linnaeus [Arecaceae]; Heart Soft pith- Rs.20 /stick of PM-883 Vegetable/ 100-120 cm Chutney Centella asiatica (Linnaeus) Urban Krimbua Entire Rs.5/ bundle of ± [Apiaceae]; PM-884 plant/Leaf- 150 g Vegetable/ Chutney Chenopodium album Linnaeus Geteuheu Entire Rs.5/ bundle of ± [Chenopodiaceae]; PM-866 plant/Leaf- 150 g Vegetable/ Chutney Chonemorpha macrophylla G. Don Peau Leaf-Vegetable Rs.5/ bundle of ± [Apocynaceae]; PM-911 krimbua 250 g *Clerodendrum colebrookianumWalpers Mpingbua i. Leaf- Rs.5/ bundle of ± [Verbenaceae]; PM-896 Vegetable 250 g ii. hypertension medicine Crassocephalum crepidloides (Benthum) Impingi Leaf-Vegetable Rs.5/ bundle of ± Moore [Asteraceae]; PM-867 250 g Diplazium esculentum (Retzius) Swartz Nchubua Leaf-Vegetable Rs.5/ bundle of ± [Polypodiaceae]; PM-912 500 g Dysoxylum gobara (Buchanan-Hamilton) M’bukbua Young shoot Rs. 10/ bundle of Merrill [Meliaceae]; PM-919 with ± 500 g inflorescences as vegetable Eurrya acuminata De Candolle Misimbua Leaf cooked Rs.5/ bundle of ± [Theaceae]; PM-920 with Pork meat 500 g Gnetum gnemon Linnaeus [Gnetaceae]; Keigi Leaf-Vegetable Rs.5/ bundle of ± PM-869 500 g *Homalomena aromatica Schott Kebeib i. Leaf sheath- Rs.10/ 500 g [Araceae]; PM-870 vegetable ii. Consumes boiled stock after childbirth Lasia spinosa Linnaeus [Araceae]; PM- Kebeibua Young shoot- Rs.5/ bundle of ± 871 /Nchew Vegetable 400 g Melocanna buccifera (Roxburgh) Kurz Kaucheu i. Shoot- Rs.10-15/ kg [Poaceae]; PM-928 Vegetable ii. fermented Chutney *Paederia foetida Linnaeus [Rubiaceae]; Hebeheu- i. Leaf- Rs.5/ bundle of ± P. Medhi & S. K. Borthakur 87 Botanical name [Family]; Exsiccatae Zeme name Parts used/Mode Price in local of use market Eurrya acuminata De Candolle Misimbua Leaf cooked Rs.5/ bundle of ± [Theaceae]; PM-920 with Pork meat 500 g Gnetum gnemon Linnaeus [Gnetaceae]; Keigi Leaf-Vegetable Rs.5/ bundle of ± PM-869 500 g *Homalomena aromatica Schott Kebeib i. Leaf sheath- Rs.10/ 500 g [Araceae]; PM-870 vegetable ii. Consumes boiled stock after childbirth Lasia spinosa Linnaeus [Araceae]; PM- Kebeibua Young shoot- Rs.5/ bundle of ± 871 /Nchew Vegetable 400 g Melocanna buccifera (Roxburgh) Kurz Kaucheu i. Shoot- Rs.10-15/ kg [Poaceae]; PM-928 Vegetable ii. fermented Chutney *Paederia foetida Linnaeus [Rubiaceae]; Hebeheu- i. Leaf- Rs.5/ bundle of ± PM-929 Nria Vegetable 500 g ii. Used to cure gastritis Persicaria perfoliata (Linnaeus) H. Gross Heganturia Leaf -Vegetable Rs.5/ bundle of ± [Polygonaceae]; PM-913 300 g Portulaca oleracea Linnaeus Krimbua Young shoot- Rs.5/ bundle of ± [Portulucaceae]; PM-931 Vegetable 300 g Rhynchotechum ellipticum (Wallich ex Endroigi Leaf-Vegetable Rs.5/ bundle of ± Dietrich) A. de Candolle [Gesneraceae]; 10 shoots PM-933 Sarchochlamys pulcherrima (Roxburgh) Endaugi Young leaf- Rs.5/ bundle of ± Gaudichaud [Urticaceae]; PM-872 Vegetable 300 g preferred with Banana inflorescence Smilax china Linnaeus [Smilacaceae]; Reucheu Tuber- Rs. 20/ kg PM-930 Vegetable & boiled stock as revitalizer Solanum spirale Roxburgh [Solanaceae]; Nkabua Young shoot- Rs.5/ bundle of ± PM-932 Vegetable 350 g Spilanthes acmella var. oleracea Klungbua i. Leaf- Rs.5/ bundle of ± (Linnaeus) Hooker f.