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Ethnobotanical Leaflets 10: 82-91. 2006. Ethnobotanical Observations on some Endemic Plants of Ch. Sudhakar Reddy1*, K. N. Reddy2,
Chiranjibi Pattanaik1 and Vatsavaya S. Raju3
1Forestry
& Ecology Division, National Remote Sensing Agency, Balanagar,
2Laila Impex, R&D
Centre, Unit-1, Phase-3, Jawahar Autonagar, Vijayawada 520 007, India 3Department of
Botany, *Corresponding
author Email: csreddy_nrsa@rediffmail.com Issued ABSTRACT The present paper
reports ethnobotanical usage of 28 endemic plant
species used by the tribes of INTRODUCTION
The Eastern Ghats
are isolated hill ranges in Peninsular India, harbours
primarily tropical Deciduous vegetation, which represents species of high
economic, timber, medicinal potential, lies in 110 30' to 210
0' N Latitudes and 770 22' to 850 20' E Longitudes. Based on geological and tectonic
considerations, the Eastern Ghats are formed of
four sections (Meher-Homji, 2001): the
portion north of the Mahanadi river covering Mayurbhanj and the adjoining territory (Keonjhar, Angul, Jajpur, Balasore districts of Orissa); the portion between the Mahanadi
and the Godavari where the mountainous character of
the Eastern Ghats is most clearly marked (Phulbani, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Bolangir, Baragarh, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri
districts of Orissa; Srikakulam,
Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam,
East Godavari, West Godavari
and Khammam districts of Andhra Pradesh), the third
section lies between the Krishna river and the Chennai city along the arcuate eastern margin of the Cuddapah
basin. This section includes the Nallamala hills of
ENUMERATION
Taxa
are alphabetically arranged. The botanical name of the species is followed
with family name in parenthesis, vernacular name, habit, habitat, information
on ethnic uses and notes. 1. Albizia thompsonii Brandis (Mimosaceae) Vernacular Name: Velugu Chinta Habit:
Large Tree Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Skin diseases: Stem bark paste
used as an external application. Ulcers:
Leaf paste used as an external application. Note:
In Red Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under Vulnerable (VU)
category. It is found in parts of Anantapur, Cuddapah, Mahabubnagar
districts of Andhra Pradesh and Angul, Dhenkanal districts of Orissa. 2. Atylosia
cajanifolia Haines (Papilionaceae) Vernacular
Name: Adavi Kandi Habit: Undershrub Habitat:
Tropical Moist Deciduous forests Uses:
Food: Seeds used for curry as a
vegetable. Note:
In Red Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under Vulnerable (VU)
category. It is found in hilly areas of parts of 3. Boswellia
ovalifoliolata Balakr.
& Henry (Burseraceae) Vernacular Name:
Guggilam Habit:
Large Tree Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Scorpion sting: Resin used as an
external application; Children’s
diseases: Gum burnt and fumes spread out in home. Note:
It is found in hilly areas of parts of 4. Ceropegia
spiralis Wight. (Asclepiadaceae) Vernacular Name:
Nimmati gadda. Habit:
Tuberous Climber Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests among grasses Uses:
Indigestion: A teaspoon of tuber
paste taken daily once for three days. Note:
In Red Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under Vulnerable (VU)
category. It is found in hilly areas of parts of 5. Cleome chelidonii L.f.
var. pallai V.S. Raju
& C.S. Reddy (Cleomaceae) Vernacular Name:
Adavi Aavalu Habit:
Erect Herb Habitat:
Margins of lakes Uses:
Condiment: Seeds were used as a
condiment. Note:
It is restricted to Pakhal 6. Crotalaria paniculata Willd.
var. nagarjunakondensis Thoth. (Papilionaceae) Vernacular Name:
Gutta Vempali Habit:
Erect Herb Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Eczema: Handful of roots crushed
with common salt and turmeric (Curcuma longa) and extract applied externally. Note:
It is restricted to type locality in Nagarjunakonda
hill of Nalgonda district. 7. Curcuma inodora Blatter (Zingiberaceae) Vernacular Name: Chara Pasupu Habit:
Tuberous Herb Habitat:
Tropical Moist Deciduous forests Uses:
Swellings due to wounds: Slightly
warmed tuber paste used as an external application. Note:
It is found in hills of 8. Cycas
beddomei Dyer (Cycadaceae) Vernacular Name:
Paireetha Habit:
Shrub Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Debility: It is learnt that people
cut the Cycas plant and take out the pith and make
it into pieces and used in their diet in case of debility. Note:
It is restricted to Seshachalam hills of Chittoor and Cuddapah districts
of Andhra Pradesh. In Red Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under
Vulnerable (VU) category. 9. Cycas
sphaerica Roxb.
(Cycadaceae) Vernacular Name:
Potteetha Habit:
Shrub Habitat:
Tropical Moist Deciduous forests Uses:
Flour: Pith pieces are used to
make ‘sago’ flour. Note:
It is found in northern part of Srikakulam district
of Andhra Pradesh and eastern part of Orissa. 10. Decalepis hamiltonii
Wight. & Arn. (Asclepiadaceae) Vernacular Name:
Nannari Habit:
Climber Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Tonic: Root extract is taken
orally to rejuvenate the body and it is the popular health tonic for rural
people. Note:
It is found in Rayalaseema districts of Andhra
Pradesh. 11. Decaschistia cuddapahensis Paul & Nayar (Malvaceae) Vernacular Name:
Magasiri Gadda Habit:
Shrub Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Aphrodisiac: Half teaspoonful of
root paste taken with jaggory (Saccharum officinarum) daily once 15 days. Note:
It is restricted to Seshachalam hills of Chittoor and Cuddapah districts
of Andhra Pradesh. 12. Eriolaena quinquelocularis
(Wight & Arn.) Cleghorn (Sterculiaceae) Vernacular Name:
Habit:
Small Tree Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Fibre:
Stem bark fibre used as ropes. Note:
It is found in Karimnagar and 13. Glochidion tomentosum
Dalz. (Euphorbiaceae) Vernacular Name:
Pageri Habit:
Medium Sized Tree Habitat:
Tropical Semievergreen forests Uses: Wounds: Leaf paste applied as an
external ointment. Note: It
is found in 14.
Habenaria roxburghii (Pers.)
R.Br. (Orchidaceae) Vernacular Name:
Malle Leena Gadda Habit:
Erect Herb Habitat:
Tropical Moist Deciduous forests Uses: Wounds: 10-15 g tubers are crushed
with 2-3 g each pepper and garlic. The extract is given orally in snake-bite
by Konda Reddis of Khammam district. Note:
It is found in Khammam, Karimnagar,
15. Heterostemma deccanense (Talb.)
Swarup. & Mangaly (Asclepiadaceae) Vernacular Name: Pedda Joola pala Habit:
Climber Habitat:
Tropical Semievergreen forests Uses:
Stomach ache: Stem bark juice is
used for stomach ache and gas troubles. Note:
In Red Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under Endangered (EN)
category. It is found in Maredumilli hills of 16.
Hildegardia populifolia
(Roxb.) Schott. &
Endl. (Sterculiaceae) Vernacular
Name: Gali Budda Habit:
Small Tree Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses: Dog bite: 4-5g of upper epidermis of
stem bark removed from finger nails, crushed with equal quantity of garlic (Allium sativum)mixed
in 100 ml of water, mixture taken twice in a day for three days; Malaria: 3-4 teaspoons of stem bark
extract taken daily twice for 5 to 7 days. Note:
In Red Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under Endangered (EN)
category. It is found in Anantapur, Chittoor, Cuddapah districts of
Andhra Pradesh and Villupuram, 17. Hypericum gaitii
Haines (Hypericaceae) Vernacular Name:
Jangli Kaly Habit:
Shrub Habitat:
Tropical Moist Deciduous forests Uses:
Skin eruptions: Leaf paste used as
an external ointment. Note:
It is found in Simlipal Biospehere
Reserve of Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. 18. Memecylon jadhavii
K.N. Reddy, C.S. Reddy & V.S. Raju (Memecylaceae) Vernacular Name:
Konda Alli Habit:
Shrub Habitat:
Tropical Moist Deciduous forests Uses:
Fuel: Stem branches are used as
fuel wood. Note:
It is found in Sapparla hills of 19.
Oryza jeyporensis Govind.
& Krish. (Poaceae) Vernacular Name:
Dhani Habit:
Erect Grass Habitat:
Tropical Moist Deciduous forests Uses:
Food: Cultivated for its grain by
natives. Note:
It is found in Biorgumma, Boipariguda
areas of Koraput district (Orissa). 20.
Phyllanthus indofischeri
Bennet (Euphorbiaceae) Vernacular
Name: Konda Usirika Habit:
Small Tree Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Food: Fruits edible. Note: It is found in Chittoor,
Cuddapah, Kurnool
districts of Andhra Pradesh. 21. Pimpinella tirupatiensis Balakr. & Subram. (Apiaceae) Vernacular Name:
Konda Kottimeera Habit:
Small Tree Habitat:
Tropical Moist Deciduous forests Uses:
Scorpion sting: Root paste applied
over the bitten area and tied with bandage. Note:
It is found in Chittoor and Cuddapah
districts of Andhra Pradesh. 22. Premna calycina Haines
(Verbenaceae) Vernacular Name: Naguru Habit:
Small Tree Habitat:
Tropical Moist Deciduous forests Uses:
Stomach ache: 4-5 teaspoons of
stem bark decoction taken twice in a day. Note:
It is found in Mayurbhanj, Angul,
Nayagarh districts of Orissa. 23.
Pterocarpus santalinus
L.f. (Papilionaceae) Vernacular Name: Erra chandanam, Raktha chandanum. Habit:
Large Tree Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Diabetes: A
pinch of stem bark powder taken with a cup of hot water daily once to
till cure. Note:
It is found in Chittoor and Cuddapah
districts of Andhra Pradesh. 24. Rhynchosia beddomei
Baker (Papilionaceae) Vernacular Name:
Adavi Kandi Habit:
Undershrub Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Abortifacient:
Half cup of leaf decoction taken twice in a day for two days. Note:
In Red Data Book of Indian Plants it was included under Vulnerable (VU)
category. It is found in parts of Cuddapah, Chittoor, Anantapur districts
of Andhra Pradesh. 25. Shorea tumbuggaia Roxb. (Dipterocarpaceae) Vernacular Name: Thamba Jalari Habit:
Large Tree Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Ear ache: Leaf juice is used as
ear drops for children. Note:
It is found in parts of Chittoor, Cuddapah, 26.
Syzygium alternifolium
(Wight) Walp. (Myrtaceae) Vernacular
Name: Thamba Jalari Habit:
Large Tree Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Diabetes: One teaspoon dried fruit
powder taken with honey daily once to 15 days. Dry cough: Leaves fried in cow ghee and used as a curry. Note:
It is found in parts of Chittoor, Cuddapah, 27. Terminalia pallida Brandis (Combretaceae) Vernacular Name: Tella Karakkaya Habit:
Large Tree Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Dysentery: 10-12 grams of fruit
powder taken twice in a day. Piles:
10-15 ml of fruit decoction taken daily once to till cure. Note:
It is found in parts of 28.
Torenia indica
Saldanha (Scrophulariaceae) Vernacular
Name: Chinna Mogakura Habit:
Erect Herb Habitat:
Tropical Dry Deciduous forests Uses:
Ear ache: Leaf juice is used as
ear drops for children. Note:
It is found in parts of The investigations revealed the medicinal
properties of 28 endemic species of 27 genera belonging to 20 families. Papilionaceae is the dominant family (4 spp.), followed by Asclepiadaceae,
Sterculiaceae, Euphorbiaceae
and Cycadaceae, each with two species. The other
families contributed with one species each. Among all the species, trees are
found to be more (11) followed by herbs (7), shrubs (7) and climber (3). Out
of 28 species, seven species are included in Red Data Book of Indian Plants
(Botanical Survey of India). DISCUSSION The present work is
the result of intensive systematic ethnomedicinal
survey conducted in three states of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Authors
are thankful to Deputy Director (RS & REFERENCES Meher-Homji,
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