Inventory of Forest-based Medicinal Plants - a Case Study in South West Bengal

Abstract

An exploration was undertaken for identification of medicinal plants frequently used by the forest fringe people of Nayagram Range under Midnapore West Forest Division of South West Bengal. A total of 75 species having medicinal value could be identified and presented along with their identifying characters like botanical name, local name, family, plant type etc. and uses of the plant components against different diseases. The species diversity in medicinal plants belongs to 34 dicotyledonous plant families and 4 monocotyledonous families. In dicotyledons, the maximum number of genera belong to the family Fabaceae and the maximum number of species belong to the genus Terminalia. In monocotyledons, the family Liliaceae is represcnted by a maximum number of genera. The medicinal utility of the plant species has also been highlighted.