Diversity of wild edible plants traditionally used by the Galo tribe of Indian Eastern Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh

Tajum Doni,Padma Raj Gajurel

doi:10.14719/pst.2020.7.4.855

Tajum Doni, Padma Raj Gajurel

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.2020.7.4.855

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Abstract

Wild edible plants are found very useful in the fulfilment of food and nutritional requirements. Because of the availibity and cultural preference, the consumption of these plants among the tribes is high. To find out the diversity, utilisation pattern and sociocultural importance of the wild plants, a study was conducted in the state of Arunachal Pradesh selecting the Galo tribe, and accordingly the wild edible plants consumed are documented here. Data were collected through extensive field surveys and interviews with the community in the selected 12 villages in Upper Subansiri and West Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Overall, 125 wild edible plant species under 99 genera and 54 families are reported. These species are consumed mostly as leafy vegetables, fruits, medicine, spices and condiments and as a substitute to food grains. The Urticaceae with ten species is the most utilised family followed by Asteraceae, Moraceae and Lamiaceae with at least five species in each. Herbs with 47 species were found to be the most dominant growth form followed by trees with 44 species. Based on parts used leaves with 66 species were recorded to be the most used plant parts followed by fruits. The highest edibility index of 50 % was reported in Solanum americanum. The analysis of relative frequency of citation revealed that total 78 species exhibits more than 0.50 relative frequency of citation value with highest value in Pouzolzia hirta (0.95). It has been found that the wild plant resources play a vital role in the socio-economic aspects of the Galo tribe.

Highlights

Wild edible plants are the non-cultivated plant species available in their natural habitat and are being used as a source of nutrition, food, medicine and various other purposes by the majority of indigenous and rural communities across the world [1]
To find out the diversity, utilisation pattern and sociocultural importance of the wild plants, a study was conducted in the state of Arunachal Pradesh selecting the Galo tribe, and the wild edible plants consumed are documented here
A total of 125 wild edible plant species belonging to 99 genera and 54 families have been reported to be used by the tribe to meet the food and nutritional requirements

Summary

Introduction

Wild edible plants are the non-cultivated plant species available in their natural habitat and are being used as a source of nutrition, food, medicine and various other purposes by the majority of indigenous and rural communities across the world [1]. In Indian subcontinent alone, about 9500 wild plant are utilised for food, medicine and other purposes of by 553 different tribal communities [3]. Tribal and rural communities have acquired a unique knowledge, about the use of wild edible plants, through age-old experiences, which are being transferred orally from one generation to another. The knowledge on the uses of wild edible plants is diminishing due to large-scale migration of population towards urban areas, a rapid decline of natural resources and changing cultural tradition [4,5,6]

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