Abstract

An ethnobotanical study was conducted from March, 2011 to October, 2012 to enumerate the diversity of traditionally used threatened medicinal plants in biodiversity rich temperate Himalayan ranges of Bandipora district, Kashmir, India. Ethnomedicinal data was gathered using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and walk-in-the-woods with local knowledgeable elders, tribals (Gujjars and Bakkerwals) and Bhoeris (traditional practitioners). Results revealed that 23 threatened plant species belonging to 22 genera and 15 different families were traditionally used for curing various health disorders. Taxus wallichiana was a lone gymnosperm while all others were angiosperms. Majority of the species were perennial herbs but reports of biennial herbs and perennial trees were not uncommon. The highest number of medicinal plants were recorded in two families viz. Asteraceae (4 species, 17.39%) and Liliaceae (3 species, 13.04%). The shrinking population of these plants on account of very high demand for medicinal purposes is a matter of great concern as these plants are the backbone of our traditional medicinal system with a large population still depending on traditional medicine. Therefore, the need to conserve these plants is of utmost importance because if necessary conservation measures are not taken at the earliest, the day will not be far away when these God gifted resources will completely deplete from their natural habitats.

Key words: Threatened plants, ethnobotany, Bandipora, tribals, Kashmir Himalaya.