Abstract

Investigations had been made on medicinal values of higher plants but pteridophytes are often ignored. In spite of the luxuriant growth of these plants in and around Similipal in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa, northern India, they had not been studied taxonomically or ethnobotanically. The dominant tribes involved in using pteridophyte as medicines in the district are Santhal,Kol, Bhumija, Bhuyan, Mahalis, Sounti and Saharas.  The plant parts, viz. leaves, roots, rhizomes and fronds were used in raw or cooked forms for the treatment of malaria, gonorrhea, leprosy, rheumatism etc. Mostly used genera are Adiantum, Asplenium, Lygodiumand Pteris .The present study had been designed to assess the medicinal uses of 33 pteridophyte species belonging to 21 families on the basis of field surveys and taxonomic identification of plants.

Key words: Ethnomedicinal, pteridophytes, similipal biosphere reserve, Orissa.