Abstract

Conservation of biodiversity and germplasm of important plant species, particularly rare and endangered medicinal plants, has assumed greater significance especially when harvesting potential from the wild fall short of the demand for commercial exploitation. In general, considering the increasing demand for herbal drugs, the consequent depletion of several species from the Himalaya, since half of the medicinal plants of the Indian flora occur in the high altitude of Himalaya. Therefore, it is imperative to initiate urgent steps to assess the status of occurrence and quantum availability of these plants in natural habitats.
The present paper enumerates 30 species belonging to 20 families of flowering plants and were selected for cultivation according to prevailing agro-climatic conditions and their depleting status from this part of Himalaya. Thus, present report will help in collection of germplasm for further studies and would promote awareness among the public of Himalayan regions to protect and preserve the plant wealth, particularly medicinal plants. The species have been arranged alphabetically followed by family name, local name, brief description of habit pertaining to flowering and fruiting period, their methods for propagation, distribution and brief medicinal uses.

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