Floristic Diversity and Ethnobotany of S
Floristic Diversity and Ethnobotany of S
Floristic Diversity and Ethnobotany of S
A floristic study was carried out in Senhsa, District, Kotli, Azad Kashmir. Ethnobotanical data of plants were obtained
from local key informants, mainly based on semi-structured interviews. The study area is floristically very rich having thick
vegetation cover. A total of 112 plant species distributed in 97 genera and 51 families were documented. Of these 84 species
(42.71%) are used in medicine, followed by as fodder (35 spp., 18.23%), marketing (26 spp., 13.54%), fuel (24 spp.,
12.50%) and ornamental (14 spp., 7.29%). The most frequently used plant parts are leaves (77 spp., 27.50%) followed by
stem (49 spp., 17.50%), fruits (46 spp., 16.43%), seeds (40 spp., 14.29%), flowers (36 spp., 12%) and roots (32 spp.,
11.43%). Habit of medicinal plants includes herbs (56 spp., 50%), followed by trees (32 spp., 18.75%), shrubs (21 spp.,
18.75%), and climbers (3 spp., 2.68%). The area is rich in vegetation and blessed with a variety of resources. The people are
dependent on these natural resources especially for their food, shelter, fodder, timber, fuel, and health-care.
Results and Discussion trees 32 spp. (18.75%), shrubs 21 spp. (18.75%), and
climbers 3 spp. (2.68%).
Conservation status, viz., critically endangered, The present study of ethnobotanical inventory about
endangered, vulnerable and least concern was recorded on plants allows us to draw some possible conclusions about
the basis of density in accordance with IUCN Red List the impacts of their uses and the likely near future needs
Database. Medicinally important species like Ajuga and planning that should be done for conservation and
bracteosa, Mallottus philippinensis, Butea monosperma, development. A large proportion of the population, living
and Zanthoxylum armatum are critically endangered not in remote areas, rely on medicinal plants for health of the
only locally, but also in the whole region. Among local flora such as Justicia adhatoda, Acacia nilotica,
endangered species, Cissus carnosa, Juglans regia, Olea
Calotropis procera, Ricinus communis, Morus nigra,
ferruginaea,, Phyllanthus emblica, Viola canescens are the
Dodonaea viscosa, Achyranthus aspera, Ipomoea carnea,
notable species, which are at high risk of being endangered.
A total of 112 plant species belonging to 97 genera Taraxacum officinale, Eriobotrya japonica, Cissuss
and 51 families were documented (Table 1). Of these 84 carnosa, Melia azedarach, Eucalyptus citriodora and
spp. (42.71%) species are used in medicinal (Fig. 2), Ficus carica, to meet almost every need of their lives.
followed by fodder 35 spp. (18.23%), marketing 26 spp. Similar reports have come from nearby areas of Azad
(13.54%), fuel 24 spp. (12.50%) and ornamental 14 spp. Kashmir such as District Muzaffarabad (Saghir et al.,
(7.29%). The most frequently used plant parts are leaves 2001), Samahni Valley, District Bhimber (Ishtiaq, 2006)
77 spp. (27.50%). They are followed by stem 49 spp. and Poonch Valley (Ajaib et al., 2010). Knowledge of
(17.50%), fruits 46 spp. (16.43%), seeds 40 spp. medicinal plants does not appear to be homogenous
(14.29%), flowers 36 spp. (12%), and roots 32 spp. (11.43 among the native people of the area. Men are more
%, Fig. 3). The analysis of the data (Fig. 4) showed that informative of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants
majority of plants are herbs 56 spp. (50%), followed by than the women in the area (Hamayun, 2003).
FLORISTIC DIVERSITY AND ETHNOBOTANY OF SENHSA AZAD JAMMU & KASHMIR 197
Table 1. Ethnobotanical uses of plant species in Senhsa, district Kotli (Azad Jammu & Kashmir).
Ethnobotanical
Family Botanical name Local name Part used
uses
Acanthaceae Justicia adhatoda L. Kora bakar Fl,S Me
Adiantaceae Adiantum venustum D. Don. Fern L,R Me
Agavaceae Agave cantala Roxb. Sandal L O
Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. Kanwar gandal L Me
Amaranthaceae Achyranthes aspera L. Pootha kanda L,S,R,F,Fr Me
Amaranthus spinosus L. Ganhar L,Fr,Sd Me,Fo,M
Amaranthus viridis L. Ghanhari L,Fr,Sd Me,M
Apiaceae Anethum graveolens L. Soya L,F,Fr,Sd Me,O,M
Coriandrum sativum L. Dhania L,S Me,M
Anacardiaceae Mangifera indica L. Aam Fr M
Apocynaceae Carissa opaca Stapf ex. Haisnes Granda L,R,Fr Me
Nerium oleander L. Gandeera L,S,R Me,M
Asclepiadaceae Calotropis procera (Willd.) R.Br. Akk L,R,F Me,O,M
Astraceae Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kit. Chahoo L,F Me,Fo
Helianthus tuberosus L. Arvi Fr Me
Launaea procumbens Roxb. Methi hand R Me
Taraxacum officinale Weber. Hand L Me
Xanthium strumarium L. Unknown L,S,R,F,Fr,Sd Me,Fo
Bombacaceae Bombax ceiba L. Sinmbal S,F M
Boraginaceae Cordia myxa L. Lasura L,Fr Me
Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk. Lunduri L,R Me,Fo
Trichodesma indica (L.) R.Br. Doosi L Me
Brassicaceae Brassica compestris L. Sersoon L,S,Sd O,M
Lepidium pinnatifidum Ladeb. Halian L,Sd Me
Raphanus sativus L. Mooli L,S Me,Fo
Cactaceae Opuntia dillenii Haw. Thor L,Fr Me,M
Caesalpiniaceae Bauhinia variegata L. Kalyar Sd Me
Cassia fistula L. Amaltas L,S,Sd Me,Fu,M
Cannabinaceae Cannabis sativa L. Bhang L,S,R Me,M
Celastraceae Maytinus royleanus Wall. Patakhi L,R,F,Fr,Sd Me
Convolvulaceae Ipomoea carnea Jacq. Jangli baker L,S,R Fo,O
Ipomoea pentaphylla (L.) Jacq. Aair Sd Fo,O
Cucurbitaceae Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. Kali tori R,Fr Me
Momordica balsamina L. Jangli karalla Fr Me
Cuscutaceae Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Neeli dari L,S,R,F,Fr Me
Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris ramosa (Hope) C. Chr. Fern L,R Me
Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia helioscopia L. Doodal L,S,R,F,Fr,Sd Me,Fo
Euphorbia hirta Forssk. Unknown L, R,F,Fr,Sd Me
Mallottus philippinensis (Lam.) Muell-Arg. Kamila R,Fr Me,Fo,Fu
Phyllanthus emblica L. Amla L,S,R,Fr Fu
Ricinus communis L. Hrnoli Sd Me
Fumariaceae Fumaria parviflora L. Papra L,R,F,Fr,Sd Me
Juglandaceae Juglans regia L. Akhrot L,S,Fr,Sd Me,Fo,Fu,O,M
Lamiaceae Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth. Kori booti L,S,R,F,Fr,Sd Me,Fo,M
Anisomeles indica (L.) O.Ktze. Unknown L,R,F,Fr,Sd Me
Mentha longifolia L. Chitta pudina L,S Me,Fo,M
Mentha royleana L. Kala pudina L,S Fo
Micromeria biflora Benth. Baburi L,R,F,Fr,Sd Me,Fo
Ocimum basilicum L. Niazboo. L Me,Fo,M
Otostegia limbata (Benth.) Boiss Chitta jand L Me,Fo
Liliaceae Allium cepa L. Piyaz L Me
Allium sativum L. Thoom L Me
Lythraceae Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz. Tawi F Me
Malvaceae Malva sylvestris L. Sonchal L,R,F Me,Fo,O
Malvastrum coromandelianum L. Gogi booti L Fo
Meliaceae Melia azadirchta L. Dreak L,S,R Me,Fu,O
198 KHAWAJA SHAFIQUE AHMAD ET AL.,
Table 1. (Cont’d.).
Ethnobotanical
Family Botanical name Local name Part used
uses
Mimosaceae Acacia modesta Wall. Pulai L,S Me,Fu,O
Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd.ex Del. Kiker L,S Me,Fu
Albizia labbek (L.) Benth. Seree S,Sd Me,Fu,M
Moraceae Brossonetia papyrifera Vent. Jangli toot L,S,F,Fr Fu
Ficus carica L. Tosa Fr Me,Fu
Ficus palmata Forssk. Phagwari L,S,Fr Me,Fu
Ficus religiosa L. Pipal S Me,Fu
Ficus virgata Roxb. Runbul Fr Fu
Morus nigra L. Kala toot L,S,Fr Me,Fo,Fu
Musaceae Musa paradisiaca L. Kela L,S,Fr Me
Myrtaceae Callistemon ctirinus (Curt.) Stapf Bottle brush S Fo
Eucalyptus citriodora Pakere. Safeda L,S,F Fu
Nyctaginaceae Boerhavia diffusa L. Sanati L,S,R,F,Fr,Sd Me
Oleaceae Jasminum officinale L. Chanmbeli R,F Me,O
Olea ferruginaea Royle Kahoo L,S,Sd Me,Fo,Fu
Oxalisdaceae Oxalis corniculata L. Jandoro L,S,R,F,Fr,Sd Me
Palmae Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Roxb. Khajoor Fr Me
Papilionaceae Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. Chichra L,S Me
Dalbergia sisso Roxb. Tahli L,S Fu,M
Lathyrus aphaca L. Jangli matter F,Sd Me,Fo,M
Lathyrus odoratus L. Phool matter F,Sd Fo
Trigonella foerum -gracium L. Methi L,S,Sd Me,Fo,M
Pedaliaceae Sesamum indicum L. Til Sd Me
Pinaceae Pinus roxburghii Sarg. Cheer S,Sd Fu,O,M
Poaceae Arundo donax L. Kana L Fo
Chrysopogon serrulatus Trin. Bari gass L Fo
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Khabal L Me,Fo
Heteropogon contortus L. Sariyala gass L,S Me,Fo
Saccharum spontaneum L. Kai L Fo
Sorghum bicolor L. Bajra Sd Me,Fo
Sorghum halepense L. Bru gass L,R,Sd Fo
Zea mays L. Makai L,S,Sd Fo
Polygonaceae Parsicaria nepalensis (Meissn.) Gross. Choora L,R,F,Fr,Sd Me
Rumex nepalensis Spreng. Aliphiri L Fo
Punicaceae Punica granatum L. Daroona S,F,Sd Me,M
Rhamanaceae Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. Bairi L,S,R,F,Fr,Sd Me
Zizipus nummularia (Burm.f.) Wight & Arn. Jand L,S,F Me,Fu
Rosaceae Eriobotrya japonica (Thumb.) Lindl. Locat L,Fr,Sd Me,Fu,M
Prunus armeniaca L. Aari Fr,Sd Me,Fu
Prunus persica (L.) Bat Sch. Rawara L,S,F,Fr Fu
Pyrus pashia Ham. ex D.Don. Tangi Fr Fu
Rosa brunonii Lindl. Tarnari F Me,O
Rosa chinensis Jacq.. Gulab F Me,O
Rubus ellipticus Hook.f. Akhra L,S,Fr Me
Rutaceae Citrus limonum (L.) Burm.f. Nimbo Fr Me,M
Zanthoxylum armatum DC. Timber S,Fr Me,Fu
Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa L. Snatha L,S Me
Scrophulariaceae Verbascum thapsus L. Gidder tammako L,R,F,Fr,Sd
Solanaceae Capsicum annuum L. Surkhmirch Fr,Sd Me,M
Nicotiana tabacum L. Jangli tammako L,F,Sd Me
Solanum nigrum L. Kach mach L,S,R,F,Fr,Sd Me,O
Solanum surattense Burm. f. Mokri Fr Me
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. Aksun R Me
Tiliaceae Grewia tenax (Forssk.) Fiori Taman L,S Me,Fo
Violaceae Viola canescens Wall. ex Roxb. Banafsha L,S,F Me,Fo
Vitaceae Cissus carnosa L. Daakh L,F,Fr Me,M
L: leaves, S: stems, R: roots, F: flowers, Fr: fruits, Sd: seeds, M: medicinal, Fo: fodder, Fu: fuel, O: ornamental, M: market
FLORISTIC DIVERSITY AND ETHNOBOTANY OF SENHSA AZAD JAMMU & KASHMIR 199
Fig. 3. Usage of plant parts for different economic purposes in Senhsa, district Kotli.
Fuel wood is likely one of the main causes of forest heavy snow fall in upper mountainous areas. Overgrazing
destruction in the study area, because the winter season is is a common practice in such mountainous areas, as
long and very harsh. People need fuel for heating and reported by Jabeen (2006) in the moist temperate forest of
cooking. The most often reported fuel woods, e.g., Nathia Gali. As a result, highly nutritious and palatable
Dalbergia sissoo, and Pinus roxburghii are under species are being gradually replaced by less palatable
immense pressure. Similar study was conducted by ones (Table 2). One of the effective solutions is the
Shinwari & Khan (1999) in Margalla Hills National Park, rotational grazing, which will be very helpful in
who reported a number of species under high pressure of conservation practices. It is the need of the hour to focus
over-exploitation. The leading threat to the trees and an immediate attention for plant conservation from the
shrubs of the Sulaiman Range is the fuel shortage and that government and NGO's with the help of local people by
during long and severe winter season a huge amount of creating awareness in them.
wood is used as fuel (Martin, 1995). Alternate sources of
energy will prove very encouraging for conservation of Conclusion and Recommendations
floral health in addition to reforestation and sustainable
utilization of available resources. Constructive and The study showed that the area has plenty of
captivating conservation activities should be based on medicinal plants to treat a wide spectrum of human
ethnobotanical study of the area, because it provides basic ailments. Lack of compassion in the present generation
platform for conservation and community development has wiped out many rich wild flora of the area. It is an
activities (Martin, 1995). urgent need to take action and create awareness about the
usefulness of the flora so that people can save this wealth.
Local communities depend on farming and livestock
Cultivation of threatened medicinal plants should be
rearing. Thirty five species were identified as fodder
encouraged by the local community in order to relieve
species in the area. In the summer season, livestock graze pressure on these plants. It is hoped that this study and
upper lands. During the winter season, the livestock is will provide a useful information on the conservation and
kept inside the sheds or even within the houses due to sustainable use of the natural resources of the area.
FLORISTIC DIVERSITY AND ETHNOBOTANY OF SENHSA AZAD JAMMU & KASHMIR 201