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Ethnobotanical Leaflets 13: 1504-08, 2009. Taxus wallichina
( Himalayan Yew; Loth salla) in Indigenous
Uses, Conservation and Agenda for Sustainable Management Kunjani
Joshi Department of Botany, Patan Campus, Email: kunjanijoshi@ gmail.com Issued 01 December, 2009 Abstract
During the ethnobotanical study of the mountainous regions of Key words: Ethnobotanical
uses, Taxus wallichina, Tinjure. Introduction Taxus wallichina Zucc. (Syn. Taxus
baccata L; Taxus baccata L. subsp. wallichina (Zucc.) Pilger) (local names: Loth salla, Talispatra,
Silange, Barme salla) is one of the notable species of
Fig. 1. Taxus wallichina Zucc.:
a multipurpose useful coniferous tree. Recently more attention has been
paid to this species due to its usefulness to cure cancer. As a matter of
fact, this valuable resource is being exploited by the collectors, traders
and industrialists recklessly beyond its regeneration capacity. The present
rate of exploitation has rendered it
to the status of threatened species. Therefore priority should be
given to conservation of this species and its exploitation should also ensure
its sustainability. During the fieldwork from
Basantpur to Mirmi of Eastern Development Region, ethnobotanical information
was collected from Tinjure of Terathum district using field techniques such
as direct interview, discussion with local people and direct observation on
the way the useful parts of this
species were being collected and used. Ethnobotanical Uses Various parts of this species are used for
food, medicine, fuel and other domestic purposes as given below: ·
Food: The bright-red berry-like fruit ripens
in November. The red and fleshy cup-shaped aril that surrounds the seed is
eaten by villagers. ·
Wood: The wood is hard, fine and
even-grained and moderately heavy. Wood is used as fuel. The wood of this
species has poor timber value, but widely used as timber and for making
doors, windows etc. ·
Medicine: Leaf and bark are the source of
taxol, which is said to be used as anti-tumour agent and also to cure cancer. In the studied village, decoction
of leaves is given for cough, bronchitis, and asthma. Kayastha (2002)
reported a tincture made from young shoots that was used for treatment of
headache, giddiness and diarrhoea. ·
Others: Some other utilization of wood is
for making of agricultural tools; the wood is also burnt as
incense. Green twigs are used to decorate houses in Conservation Status and Agenda for Sustainable Management In
the study area of Tinjure of Terathum district, this taxa is overexploited
(Joshi, 2000; Joshi et al., 2002; Fig.
2). The plant is looped and cut for domestic uses as well as for trading. The
Government of Nepal has already banned this plant for export under the Forest
Act (1993). However, by obtaining permission from the Government its
processed material can be exported. Appropriate conservation measures for
this species are urgently needed.
Fig 2. Habitat destruction in
Tinjure. Some
important measures for its sustainable management are recommended as
follows: 1. There is an urgent need for a national policy with concrete action plan
and program with the objective of sustainable management of the useful
species facing severe threats; 2. Emphasis should be laid on the development of
an intensive inventory of the plants including their distribution, biomass,
chemical constituents, regeneration capacity and ecological aspect of the
suitable habitats and their potential utilization as food, drugs,
insecticides etc. 3. Priority should be given to the
conservation (in-situ or ex-situ)
of this plant. 4. Awareness creation programme aiming
at sustainable management and
utilization of the species will have to be implemented targeting the local rural people as major
stakeholders. Conclusion In conclusion, Taxus wallichina has multiple uses of
high value while fulfilling the basic needs of the local people. Therefore,
urgent strategic plan of action will have to be formulated and implemented
with the objective of protection and sustainable use of this species. References
Press, J.R., Shrestha,
K.K. and Sutton, D.A.2000. Annotated
Chicklist of the
Flowering Plants of Kayastha, B.P. 2002. A Handbook of Trees of Joshi, A.R. 2002. IEE of Proposed Rhododendron Conservation
Area, Report submitted to MOPE,
Joshi, A.R., Shrestha,
S.L. and Joshi, Kunjani, 2003.
Environmental Management and Sustainable Development at the Crossroad, AnKuS, |
