Abstract

Coastal dune floras play a key role in dune stabilization and restoration, a part from this, their unique important medicinal values remains unexplored to most of the people, thus results in destruction and removal of dune floras. This communication addresses the composition and distribution of CSD medicinal floras surveyed during March-December 2010 by direct interviews with ethnic groups dwelling in the proximity of CSDs, native traditional healers, Ayurvedic practitioners and botanists dealing with medicinal wild plants in selective coastal villages of Puducherry. Results enumerated with a total of 52 species belonging to 34 families. Fabaceae was found to be the most dominant family and majority of the medicinal plants were herbs. These CSD floras were under constant anthropogenic pressure due to rapid elimination of sand dunes and its associated vegetation; as a result, its associated indigenous knowledge with them is also gradually disappearing. Such biodiversity rich and useful ecosystems need immediate restoration and conservation actions.

Key words: Coastal sand dune, medicinal plants, Puducherry, traditional knowledge.