Ethnobotany

March 4 2024

Saramasi

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An ornamental perennial herb with erect stem, flexible branches bearing leaves which are simple cauline, opposite, exstiputate, petiolate and glossy. Flower 2-3, in axillary cymes and in terminal clusters, white to pinkish purple. Fruit is a cylindrical follicle with many black seeds (two varieties var. alba white flowered and var. rose us pink coloured flowers). Flowering and fruiting almost through out the year.

Part used: Whole plant

Usage : Maximum concentrations of alkaloids like vincristine and vinblastin found in root bark particularly during flowering. All parts have hypoglycaemic properties and are used to treat diabetes. Plant infusion if gargled, is said to relieve sore throat and laryngities. Extract of leaves is applied as antidote to wasp stings. Decoction of stem and leaves is used for regulating menstruation, urine and kidney problem. Leaves are emetic and diaphoretic. The alkaloid vincristine derived from leaves is used for the treatment of acute leukaemia including lymphocytic
leukaemia.

Agrotechniques : It can be raised directly by seeding in the field @ 2.5 kg/ha. 1/2 kg seeds are required to prepare plants in nursery. Plants should be transplanted after 60 days of sowing at 30 cm x 45 cm. One to three irrigations required, along with weeding. After 6 months of growth, the picking of leaves can be done and thereafter picking can be done every 3 months. The leaves should be dried in the shade. Roots should be harvested after 8-10 months.

March 2 2024

Salaran

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Commonly found in the rocky areas, it is a deciduous, medium to large tree with ash coloured smooth papery bark. Leaves alternate imparipinnate; leaflet 8-15 pairs, opposite, pubescent, dark green and variable in shape. Flowers small, white in axillary racemes. Fruit trigonous, hard and winged. Flowering and fruiting in April December.

Part used: Stem bark, Flower and Gum

Usage : The yellow coloured gum exudes from the bark is an effective stimulant, expectorant, diuretic, in the treatment of ulcer, tumours, diarrhoea and dysentery, piles and skin diseases. Decoction of stem bark cures chronic cough and cold. Powdered flowers also cure cold and fever. Gum is used in the preparation of an ointment for sores and skin eruptions.

Agrotechniques : Seeds, root suckers, branch cuttings can be used to propagate it. Nursery raised saplings can be planted during rains in pits 60 cm even on rocky slopes with shallow gravelly and skeletal soils. Root suckers and branch cuttings can be planted directly in pits. Irrigation and weeding required frequently in first 3 years of its protection and care.

March 2 2024

Santi

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Wild all over desertic area in slightly sandy soil or around dumping places, now cultivated also. A deep rooted spreading perennial herb, with a stout root-stock and many erect or spreading branches. Stem is creeping often purplish. The leaves are simple, thick and brittle usually whitish and smooth beneath and rough green on upper surface. Flowers white or pink in long stalked umbels. Fruits oval. 5-ribbed and green or brown in colour. Flowering and fruiting in through out the year, but maximum in rainy season.

Part used: Whole plant

Usage: The whole plant fresh or dried, is the source of drug ‘Punamava’. it is diuretic, antipyretic and laxative. Fresh boiled herb or liquid extract of the fresh or dry plant is very effective in the treatment of dropsy, inflammatory renal diseases and ascites. Fresh juice given as a blood purifier and to get relief from muscular pain. The leaves eaten as vegetable to cure night blindness.

Root powder effective in stomach disorder, particularly intestinal colic and in expelling intestinal worms, curing asthma, kidney and heart problem, gonorrhoea, anaemia, cough, nervous weakness and paralysis. The roots are considered useful for jaundice. A paste of the root can be applied in several skin diseases.

March 2 2024

Narkanto

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A straggling much branched spinous perennial climber on open rocks and hills. It has many finger like tuberous roots. Leaves scaly membranous on the main stem with a conical, spinous straight or curved spur. Flowers white small, arranged in long raceme. Fruit a globose berry, red in colour with black seeds. Flowering and fruiting in May to December.
Part used : Tuber

Usage: Fresh juice from tuber is given orally in dysentery, acidity and to increase the breast milk after delivery. The juice and tuber paste is applied externally to the burning feet and to heal the wounds. Tuber powder an
aphrodisiac, diuretic, demulcent and cures leucorrhoea and gout. Medicated oil prepared using tubers is beneficial for nervous and rheumatic complaints. Fresh tubers eaten to give strength, beat the heat and cure body ache, boils, cough and urinary infection.

Agrotechniques : Seeds collected in February to April, dried in the sun and soaked for 2 days in water and then sown in poly bags or beds. Saplings are transplanted in July. Root suckers can also be planted in rainy session. Regular watering and weeding at monthly interval essential. After 12-18 months of planting when leaves become dry, tubers harvested and disc (small roots) should be separated from tubers so that it can be grown within 20 days in the field and a new crop can be taken. Root tubers washed in water and dried in shade.

March 2 2024

Ghav-bel

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A large climbing shrub grown as an ornamental in the gardens. Stem
tomenose white. Leaves ovate, cordate, glabrous with lower surface white
tomentose. Flowers silky pubescent funnel shaped and purple. Fruit globose
and apiculate with black seeds. Flowering and fruiting in August – December.
Part used: Root and Leaf

Usage: The roots are diuretic, aphrodisiac and used as a tonic. The decoction of roots purifies the blood and cures rheumatic pain. The lower hairy surface of leaves is tied over tumour, boils and wounds for early suppuration and healing. Poultice of leaves is used to reduce the swelling. The upper surface of leaves has cooling properties.

Agrotechniques : It grows on all types of soils. Seeds can be sown direct in the field or polybags during June July and saplings are transplanted after one month and irrigated every 10-15 days with regular weeding. Roots and leaves harvested and dried in shade.

March 2 2024

Kateli

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Naturalized throughout as weed of waste places, croplands, gardens and drains. A prickly annual whitish green herb with erect usually branched stem. Leaves sessile with slightly incised undulate margins and white veins.
Sharp, yellow prickles on leaf margin and mid rib. Flowers yellow solitary, axillary. Fruit a prickly capsule, oblong or elliptic with many seeds. Seeds small round, blackish brown and pitted. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year in moist localities but mainly from January to April.

Part used: Whole plant

Usage: Plant juice is used in eye infection, cataract problem, to increase eyesight and to relieve rheumatic pain, cutaneous affections and jaundice. Roots are useful in chronic skin diseases. The leaves are rubbed on the skin to cure scabies. Seeds laxative, expectorant, demulcent and cure cold, cough, asthma and other respiratory problems. Seed oil is used externally for skin diseases. Seed paste applied for tooth decay and pyorrhea.

Agrotechniques : Not Available as it is collected directly from the wild.

March 1 2024

Kalmegh

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An erect branched annual herb in moist and shady plains of uncultivated fields it is also cultivated now. Stem quadrangular, branched with longitudinal furrows.
Leaves dark simple, opposite, green and lanceolate. Flowers pale purple in axillary and terminal, panicle racemes. Fruits almost linear-oblong compressed capsules. Seeds subquadrate or oblong, numerous and yellowish brown. Flowering and fruiting from August to February.

Part used: Whole plant

Usage: The extract of whole plant is useful in jaundice, liver troubles, bronchitis and diabetes. Many household medicines known as “Alvi” is prepared from the leaves and is given to children suffering from stomach
complaints. A decoction of plant is considered a blood purifier and its extract or infusion is reportedly used to relieve fever. The dried leaves and tender shoots constitute the well known drug ‘Kalmegh’ or ‘green chiretta’ used as bitter tonic and febrifuge.

Agrotechniques : Seeds sown during May-June. Seedling transplanted at a distance of 60×60 cm and irrigated 2-3 times with regular weeding. Whole plant harvested during November to January.

March 1 2024

Kantio-chandelo

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An erect armed annual herb grows as weed of waste places, fields and gardens. Stem branched, angular, green or reddish. Leaves long petioled ovate elliptic or lanceolate. Flowers monoecious, minute, grayish green in dense axillary clusters or in terminal dense or interrupted spikes. Fruit dehiscent and ovoid. Seeds are shining black and compressed. Flowering and fruiting in August to November.

Part used: Whole plant
Usage : The plant is diuretic, subdrific and febrifuge. It is used in treating fever and colic pains. The pou1tice of leaves is applied to bruises, bums, inflammation and infusion as diuretic. Leaves are eaten as vegetable to
dissolve calculi. The decoction of root is given to cure stomach ache and externally applied on wounds and boils. In Ayurveda root is used to treat uterine disorder. Root paste also applied over the scorpion bite.
Agrotechniques : Directly collected from the nature and hence no Agrotechniques are available.

March 1 2024

Gwarpatha

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A perennial erect, succulent shrub found almost throughout the area. It has multiple tuberous roots. Stem is very small and leaves are pale green, fleshy, radical, sessile, tapering to a blunt point with horny prickles at the margins. Yellow or orange coloured cylindrical flowers on leafless scapes appear in December to February.

Part used: Juice and Leaf pulp

Usage: Fresh juice of leaves is cooling, cathartic and treats dermatitis, burns and other skin problems. It is a hair conditioner and additive in skin creams. A yellowish coloured juice from the cut leaves is concentrated to make commercial drug “aloes”. The juice of roasted leaves is valuable in colds, coughs, sciatica, rheumatism and stomach disorders. Aloe is externally applied on inflamed painful parts of the body. Pulp of leaves is applied externally to expel the guinea worms. It also cures jaundice, disturbed menstruation, earache, eye diseases, liver and spleen problems. Poultice of pulp tied over boils and tumour hastens suppuration. A tooth paste containing the Aloe gel has been prepared for preventing gingivitis and other bacterial infections. Leaves are eaten as vegetable
and as pickle.

Agrotechniques : Propagated through Root suckers in July August, preferably in sandy soil. Plant to plant distance should be 50x5O cm and row to row, 75-100 cm. The field should be ploughed and farm yard manure added at 2.S t/ha. Irrigation increases growth of plant. In rainfed areas, growth is slow. Weeding after one month. After one year of plantation leaves can be cut and used as such.

March 1 2024

Sares

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A deciduous tree with spreading crown occurs commonly in wastelands and also planted along road sides. Leaves are bipinnate. Pinnae usually 1-4 pairs and leaflets 5-10 pairs, elliptic oblong with oblique base. Flowers fragrant, white or greenish yellow born in globose umbellate heads. Pods wide, linear, oblong, pointed, thin, green turning straw coloured on maturity. Seeds smooth shining, pale brown and compressed. Flowering and Fruiting in August to December.

Part used: Whole plant

Usage: Paste of stem bark is used to treat boils, pimples and ulcer. Leaves are used to treat night blindness. The leaf paste is applied in snake bite and scorpion sting. Flowers are used as a cooling medicine and used externally
in treating boils, skin eruptions and swellings. Root paste is used to cure Opthalmia, skin diseases and inflammations. The powdered root bark and root gum used for strengthening the gums. Seed oil is applied externally for leukoderma.
Agrotechniques : Propagation is best by seeds, can be also by stump planting. Nursery raised saplings are planted in 60 cm pits at 5×5 m during rainy season.