Ethno botanical study of medicinal plants in BR Hills region of Western Ghats, Karnataka

An ethnobotonical survey of plants species in Biligiri Rangana hills (BR hills) of Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka, India. This survey revealed some of the important medicinal plants used by the tribes and local practioners for their health care practices. Around 38 medicianl plant species belongs to 26 families, in which 17 species of herbs (45%), 10 trees (26 %), 9 shrubs (24 %) and the 2 climbers (5%) were identified and documented. According to our observations traditional healer’s use different parts of the plants (leaves, bark, fruit etc.) to cure various diseases. Among the recorded, 10 species belonging to 9 families were categorized as highly prioritized due to their potentiality in curing various diseases and gradually these species are at the verge of extinction due to its over exploitation, encroachment of their natural habitat etc., thus there is an urgent need to protect these species for their sustainable utilization.

Author(s): J. Gireesha and N. S. Raju*

Abstract | PDF

Share This Article