Ethnobotanical Survey of Forest Flora in the Shekhawati Region of Rajasthan: Traditional Knowledge and Its Role in Local Healthcare and Daily Life
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2026/v152i2/171083Keywords:
Ethnobotany, Shekhawati region, Traditional medicine, Medicinal plants, Forest flora, Indigenous knowledge, Rajasthan.Abstract
The Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, encompassing the districts of Jhunjhunu, Sikar, and Churu, harbors a rich diversity of semi-arid forest vegetation and traditional knowledge systems maintained by local communities. This study documents the ethnobotanical uses of forest flora among rural populations inhabiting forest-adjacent villages of Shekhawati. Fieldwork conducted between 2023–2025 employed participatory rural appraisal, semi-structured interviews, and guided transect walks with 60 informants, including local healers, elderly women, and pastoralists. A total of 38 plant species belonging to 32 genera and 25 families were recorded. These plants are employed in treating common ailments such as fever, cough, digestive disorders, skin infections, and wounds, as well as for household and nutritional purposes. Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and Euphorbiaceae were the most represented families. Statistical analyses revealed moderate Informant Consensus Factors (ICF) for digestive (0.52) and respiratory (0.53) categories, indicating fair agreement among informants, while higher ICF values (>0.60) were recorded for oral hygiene and reproductive categories. The study emphasizes the importance of conserving ethnobotanical knowledge and integrating it into biodiversity management and community-based healthcare strategies.
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