Abstract
North-eastern region of India comprising states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim and North Bengal Himalaya (West Bengal) is very rich in forest resources and is considered as a major centre for plant diversity. It has been acknowledged as the ‘Cradle of Angiosperms’ and also as the centre of genetic diversity for species of orchids, bamboos, Hedychiums, palms, Rhododendrons, Magnolias, etc. The area has numerous wild relatives ca. 300 cultigens of plants of food, medicinal and horticultural values, e.g., Musa, Citrus, Coix, etc.
The region has by and large tribal population, e.g., Bodos, Garos, Khasis, Jaintias, Dafla, Miris, Mikirs, Lushai, Kukis, Lepchas etc., and they live in a particular socio-economic milieu. These ethnic groups are rather isolated from one another and are dependent on forests for food and medicines, etc., through the primitive knowledge which is well preserved in their respective groups. Ethnobotanical data on ca. 100 plants of North-eastern region have been highlighted along with their uses. The need for the conservation of the biological diversity of rare and threatened species of ethnobotanical importance through in situ and ex situ measures have been suggested.
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