An Ecological Study of Medicinal Plants in Aloor Grama Panchayath, Thrissur District, Kerala

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted at ten sites in Aloor grama panchayath, Thrissur district, Kerala. The assessment of the flora was done for four months during the pre‐monsoon period from February to May 2015. 80 plant species under 34 families were identified from the study area, during the period of investigation. Of these 45 medicinal plants belonging to 27 families were observed of which 10 were shrubs, 4 are climbers and 31 are herbs. Seven species namely Ageratum conyzoides L., Amaranthus spinosus L., Chromolaena odorata (L.) King&Robins, Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit., Lantana camara L., Mimosa pudica L. and Physalis minima L. are the invasive species found in the area. Sixteen species of these medicinal plants namely Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R. Br. ex DC., Amaranthus viridis L., Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell, Cleome viscosa L., Clerodendrum infortunatum Wight, Commelina benghalensis L., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Cyperus rotundus L., Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC., Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk., Euphorbia thymifolia L., Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum.) Heine, Leucas aspera L. (Willd) Spreng., Mollugo pentaphylla L., Phyllanthus Amaras Schumach&Thonn. and Scoparia dulcis L. are the weeds recorded during the period of study. Ageratum conyzoides L. and Chromolaena odorata (L.) King&Robins are the more frequent medicinal plants, Commelina benghalensis L., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Chromolaena odorata (L.) King&Robins and Ageratum conyzoides L. are the more dense medicinal plant species and Killinga monocephala Nees. and Cleome viscosa L. are the most abundant species in the study area.