Investigation through Bangladesh Flora: Critically Endangered Medicinal Species of Fabaceae

Abstract

Background: Species threatening is of great concern now-a-days, for Bangladesh as well as the whole world. Present research work has been carried out to make an inventory of the medicinal species of family Fabaceae, determine their status in the flora of Bangladesh and assess their probable threat. Methods: Research was carried out at the University of Chittagong during the period 2014-2016 by the first author as part of her thesis work. Previous records of species were collected from different literatures dating back to 1814 and their place of occurrence was recorded as well. Medicinal literatures were consulted for screening of medicinal species of Fabaceae. Herbarium specimens preserved at different herbaria were examined for updating the time of their collection. Finally field trips were made to relevant localities for assessing their status in the field condition. Result: The present study reveals that out of 254 total species, 169 species under 61 genera have medicinal properties. In this investigation, 7 species under 7 genera were identified and documented as Critically Endangered according to International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources criteria. Enumeration of these threatened taxa is provided with updated nomenclature and short annotation with data on medicinal value, recorded locality, global distribution, first and last authentic record and list of specimens available at different herbaria.