The Journal of Biodiversity. Photon 114(2014) 373 -386 https://sites.google.com/site/photonfoundationorganization/home/the-journal-of-biodiversity Original Research Article. ISJN: 8359-6193: Impact Index: 3.78 The Journal of Biodiversity Ph ton Medicinal Plant Diversity and Conservation of Historical Fort, Udayagiri, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh S.K.M. Basha*, K.V. Rami Reddy, M. Johan Paul M., Uma Sankar Raju N.B.K.R. Medicinal Plant Research Centre, Vidya Nagar – 524413, India Article history: Adequate knowledge of flora is necessary for planning Received: 11 May, 2014 sustainable development of that area. The present study Accepted: 18 May, 2014 focuses on flora of Udayagiri forests located in the Available online: 03 October, 2014 northern side of Nellore district. Corresponding Author: Citation: BASHA S.K.M.* S.K.M. Basha, K.V. Rami Reddy, M. Johan Paul M., Uma Email: [email protected] Sankar Raju, 2014. Medicinal Plant Diversity and Conservation of Historical Fort, Udayagiri, Nellore, Andhra Abstract Pradesh. The Journal of Biodiversity. Photon 114, 373 - Medicinal flora is one of the important biological, 386. ecological, sociological and edaphic factors of an area. It is essential for sustaining all animal life of an area and All Rights Reserved with Photon. also for maintaining heritable environment for that life. Photon Ignitor: ISJN83596193D703903102014 1. Introduction A perusal of literature reveals that a number of Study area workers have investigated various aspects of Udaya means morning and giri means peak of Indian floristics. Brandis (1883) gave an hill. Udayagiri translated as the peak on which account of distribution of forests in India. A morning sunlight falls first. Udayagiri is a very exhaustive account of hundred years of village and a Mandal in Nellore district in the Indian forestry was given by Rao (1961). An state of Andhra Pradesh in India. Udayagiri hill illustrated account of flowering trees and ranges lay between 14 052 10” North, 79 019 10” shrubs in India was published by Cowen East. It has an average elevation of 230 (1965). meters (757 feet). Thetype of vegetation is Dry deciduous forests according to Champion and Flora of some parts of Andhra Pradesh is Seth (1968). The Udayagiri Hills is the main known right from William Roxburgh (1795- tourist attraction mingled with History. To the 1819). Floristic data of Andhra Pradesh is wonder, the water from the mountain will be available from “Flora of the Presidency of used for drinking by all the people of Madras” by Gamble (1916-1935). Flora of Udayagiri. Loddi, Kona, Tapka, Choti Masjid & Nellore District is studied by Suryanarayana, Badi Masjid are the main places to be visited and Sreenivasa Rao (2002). Floristic wealth of on the Mountain. Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Nellore district is recently studied by Basha et al., (2012). It was the capital of local kingdom of Langula Medicinal Flora of Penusila Narasimha Sacred Gajapati, chieftain to Gajapatis of Orissa in Grove is studied and reported 160 plant 14 th Century. It came under rule of Kriashna species of medicinal importance by Basha et Deva Raya of Vijayanagara around 1512. After al., (2012). This scenario motivates us to the fall of Vijayanagara Empire, it was ruled by explain the Flora of Udayagiri Fort. After chieftains of Golconda rulers. The mosque on searching the detailed review, it was found top of the hill has two Persian inscriptions that that no authentic information is available on credit the construction of mosque and planting the flora of Udayagiri Forest. Keeping this in a nearby garden to Shaik Husain, chieftain to view, floristic survey was conducted during Sultan Abdullah of Golconda. Then it came March, 2012– June, 2013. under the rule of Nawabs of Arcoty, who granted it to Mustafa Ali Khan as Jagir. His Ph ton 373 descendants controlled it till 1839, till they of dicodtyledons to monocotyledons is 11:1 for were deported by Nawabs again to species and 12.3:1 for genus. Chengalpet for their reason. Based on habit, flora comprises 143 species Materials and Methods (50%) under herbs, followed by 68 shrubs (24%), 54 trees (9%) and 20 climbers (7%). The field trips were undertaken during all the 50% of flora comprises herbs. Table .1 shows four seasons of the year – Viz. summer, rainy, the number of genera and species in respect autumn and winter. The Plant specimens were of top ten dominant families of Udayagiri collected, identified with the help of Flora of forest. Acanthaceae is the dominant family Presidency of Madras (Gamble and Fischer, comprising 33 taxa of 18 genera followed 1916-1920). During the field work, the Fabaceae with 28 taxa of 14 genera. Table.2 specimens collected for the preparation of shows the list of top ten dominant genera of herbarium were processed in accordance with the forest. Cassia is the dominant genus with the methodology adopted by Jain and Rao 9 species followed by Indigofera (7) and (1977). For each species information has Cyperus (5) repectively. been provided for valid scientific name, followed by local name, family name and Tall trees and large bushes of the forest are Habit. infested with bshy stem parasites such Dendrophthoe falcate, Viscum articulatum, ResultS and Discussion V.orientale. Cassytha filiformis is a gregarious, leafless twiner found frequently in the margins Intensive studies of this unexplored area are of forests. Species of Striga and Santalum are rendering interesting novelties of great partial root parasites found commonly in botanical and phytographical importance. grassy areas. But invasive exotic species like Angiospermic flora includes 285 species which Cassia occientalis, Cleome viscose, Croton fall under 207 genera and 70 families with bonplandianum, Lantana camera, Parthenium genus-species ratio is 1.3:1. The presence of histrophorus, Prosopis chilensis, Mimosa 285 species concludes that Udayagiri forests pudica, may cause threat to the native flora. as one of the phyto diversity rich spot of Flora of Udayagiri forests show high economic Nellore District. Dicotyledons are represented importance either for local use or for by 258 species belonging to 193 genera of 63 commercial exploitation. A comprehensive list families. Monocotyledons include 27 species of plants used for various purposes are given belonging to 14 genera of 7 families. The ratio here. List of Medicinal Plants Gathered from Udayagiri Hills Trees S.No Botanical Name Vernacular Name Family 1. Acacia catechu (L.F) wild Sandra Mimosaceae 2. Acacia nilotica L. Tella Tumma Mimosaceae 3. Acacia sinuate (Lour) Sikaya Mimosaceae 4. Aegle marmelos (L) Cor Maredu Rutaceae 5. Alangium salvifolium (L.f)Wangerin Oodugu Alanginaceae 6. Albizia amara (Roxb.) Sigara Mimosaceae 7. Albizia lebbeck (L) Benth Dirisena Mimosaceae 8. Allophylus serratus L. Erra Aavalu Sapindaceae 9. Anacardium occidentale L Jeedimamidi Anacardaceae 10. Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb. exdc ) Chiru manu Combretaceae 11. Antidesma acidum Retz Pulleru Euphorbiaceae 12. Arecha catechul L Supari Arecaceae 13. Atlanta monophylla (L) Yerra munukudu Rutaceae 14. Bambusa bambos (L) Voss. Veduru Poaceae 15. Bauhinia racemosa Lam Are caesalpinaceae 16. Bixaorellana L Jafra Bixaceae 17. Boerhavia diffusa (L) Tellaku Mokka Nyctaginaceae 18. Boswellia Ovalifoliata Bal & Henry Kondasambrani Burseraceae 19. Boswellia serrata Roxb. Ex.clkebr. Guggilam/Sambrani Burseraceae 20. Bridelia cinerasens Gehram Koramaddi Euphorbiaceae 21. Bridelia crenulata Roxb Anemtree Euphorbiaceae 22. Buchanania axillaris (Desx) Sarapappu Anacardaceae 23. Butea Monosperma (Lam) Moduga Fabaceae Ph ton 374 Careya arborea Roxb Gadava Baringtoniaceae 24. Carissa carandas L. Pedda Kalivi Apocynaceae 25. Carissa spinorum L Kalimi Apocynaceae 26. Cedrus Deodera (Roxb ) Loudeon Devadaru Pinaceae 27. Chloroxylon swietenia DC.Prodr. Billudu Finderasiaceae 28. Citrus Medica L. Madeephalam Rutaceae 29. Cleistanthus collinus Roxb. (Benth) Vodise Euphorbiaceae 30. Commiphora caudata (Wight & Arn) Kondaregu Bursaraceae 31. Cordia dichotomo Forster.f Bankipandlu/Nakkera Boraginaceae 32. Crateva magna (Lour) DC Magalinga Capparaceae 33. Cycas beddomei Dyer Peritha Cycadaceae 34. Dalbergia Lanceolata . LF Pacchari Fabaceae 35. Dalbergia paniculata Roxb.Pl.Cor.t. Jittegi Fabaceae 36. Deccania Pubscens (Roth) Kondamanga Rubiceae 37. Delonix elata (L.) Gamble Sunkesula Caesalpinaceae 38. Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Chinna veduru Poaceae 39. Diospyros Cholroxylon Roxb Ullinda Ebenaceae 40. Diospyros Exsculpata Tuniki Kaya Ebenaceae 41. Diospyros ferrea (Wild) Ooti Ebenaceae 42. Diospyros Melanoxylon Roxb. Beedi aku Ebenaceae 43. Dolichandrone atrovirens (Roth) Neruddi Begoniaceae 44. Dolichandrone falcata L Vodduguchettu Begoniaceae 45. Dryptes roxburhii (Wall) Juvvi Ebenaceae 46. Dryptes sepiaria (Wight & Arn) Manchibeera Euphorbiaceae 47. Ehretia pubescens Benth. Poka Boraginaceae 48. Erythrina variegata L. Baditha Fabaceae 49. Excoecaria agallocha L. Tilla Euphorbiaceae 50. Feronia Elephentun L Velaga Rutaceae 51. Ficus benghalensis L Pedda marri Moraceae 52. Ficus hispida L.f. Bomma marri Moraceae 53. Ficus microcarpa L.f. konda juvvi/Bill juvvi Moraceae 54. Ficus recemosa L. Atti medi Moraceae 55. Flacourtia indica L Herit Puli velaga Flacouritaceae 56. Glycosmis pentaphylla Retz DC Gongi Rutaceae 57. Gmelin Arborea Roxb Gummadi Teku Verbenaceae 58. Gyrocarpus Asiaticus .Roxb Neelinakshatralu Hernandaceae 59. Haldinia cardifolia (Roxb) Rudra ganapa Rubiaceae 60. Hardwickia binate Yepi Caesalpinaceae 61. Holarhena Antidysentrica (Roxb)