Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Ethnobotanical Usages of Hydrophytes of Purulia District, West Bengal


Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, Raghunathpur College, Purulia - 723133, West Bengal, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Altogether thirty one aquatic and semi aquatic plants of ethnobotanical importance have been recorded from water bodies like lakes, ponds, canals, dams, rivers and its tributaries of Purulia district, West Bengal. These plants possess different medicinal properties and are used by the local herbal healers to cure dysentery, cough and cold, indigestion, elephantiasis, skin diseases, insect bite, leprosy, anaemia, urinary disorders, gout, impotency, etc. A number of plants are also used to treat cattle diseases and also used for preparing local wines. It is also important to note that most of the traditional uses of aquatic plants are novel and they need both popularization and preservation.

Keywords

Ethnobotany, Aquatic Plants, Tribal People, Fodder, Purulia.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Agarwal, V. S. 1986. Economic plants of India. Kailash Prakashan, Calcutta, India.
  • Anonymous. 1985. West Bengal District Gazetteer, Puruliya, Govt. of India.
  • Bennet, S. S. R. 1987. Name Changes in Flowering Plants of India and Adjacent Region. Triseas Publication, Dehradun, India.
  • Clegg, J. 1986. Observer's Book of Pond Life. Frederick Warne and Co. Ltd. London. pp 460.
  • Cook, C. D. K. 1996. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of India. Oxford Publication, London, U.K.
  • Keddy, Paul A. 2010. Principles and Conservation in Wetland Ecology (2nd Edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 497.
  • Mahesshwari, J. K. 2000. Ethnobobany and Medicinal plants of Indian subcontinet. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, India.
  • Mandal, S. K. and Mukherjee, A. 2007. Wetlands and their macrophytes in Puruliya district, West Bengal. Environment & Ecology, 25(3): 564-570.
  • Prain, D. 1903. Bengal Plants. Govt. of India, Central Publication Branch, Calcutta.
  • Subramanyam, K. 1962. Aquatic Angiosperms. CSIR, New Delhi, India.
  • Schneider, S. and Melzer, A. 2004. Sediment and water nutrient characteristics in patches of submerged macrophytes in running waters. Hydrobiologia, 527: 195-207.
  • Tremolieres, M., Carbiener, R., Ortscheit, A. and Klein, J. P. 1994. Changes in aquatic vegetation in Rhine fl oodplain streams in Alsace in relation to disturbance. Journal of Vegetation Science, 5: 169-174.

Abstract Views: 498

PDF Views: 1




  • Ethnobotanical Usages of Hydrophytes of Purulia District, West Bengal

Abstract Views: 498  |  PDF Views: 1

Authors

Subrata Raha
Department of Botany, Raghunathpur College, Purulia - 723133, West Bengal, India
Harasourav Mallick
Department of Botany, Raghunathpur College, Purulia - 723133, West Bengal, India

Abstract


Altogether thirty one aquatic and semi aquatic plants of ethnobotanical importance have been recorded from water bodies like lakes, ponds, canals, dams, rivers and its tributaries of Purulia district, West Bengal. These plants possess different medicinal properties and are used by the local herbal healers to cure dysentery, cough and cold, indigestion, elephantiasis, skin diseases, insect bite, leprosy, anaemia, urinary disorders, gout, impotency, etc. A number of plants are also used to treat cattle diseases and also used for preparing local wines. It is also important to note that most of the traditional uses of aquatic plants are novel and they need both popularization and preservation.

Keywords


Ethnobotany, Aquatic Plants, Tribal People, Fodder, Purulia.

References