Abstract

Plants are integral source of medicine in the rural areas, particularly in the tribal communities. An ethnobotanical survey on the medicinal plants used by the Gujjar community of the Trikuta hills, one of the least explored areas of the Jammu and Kashmir state of India, was undertaken. Information on the medicinal plants was mainly gathered from local people and traditional healers through questionnaires, and formal and informal discussions by undertaking frequent field trips. Seventy plants belonging to 43 different taxonomic families were recoded in the study area. Majority of the plants were herbs, though trees, shrubs, climbers and some epiphytes were also found. Leaves were ranked as the commonest part being used followed by roots and whole plants. More than one plant part was in use for the cure of different ailments. Most of these plants were used as decoctions, pastes, herbal teas or tonics and administered orally. Some of the plants encountered in the study area were rare and endangered thus inviting the attention for their conservation and preservation.

Key words: Folk herbal remedies, Gujjar community, traditional medicines, Trikuta hills (Jammu and Kashmir).