Medicinal plants of the high altitude cold desert in India: Diversity, distribution and traditional uses

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Distribution patterns and traditional uses of medicinal plant species were studied in the high-altitude cold desert of India (Indian trans-Himalaya), with the help of indigenous medical practitioners (locally called amchis). Unstructured and semi-structured questionnaire surveys were conducted with 83 amchis living in Ladakh and Lahaul-Spiti. To study the distribution pattern of medicinal plants, 70 sub-localities were surveyed and grouped into 8 broad localities. A total of 335 medicinal plant species were recorded, of which 45 were rare and endangered. The main plant part used in preparing medicine was the leaf, followed by the flower, root, shoot, seed and fruit. The distribution pattern of the medicinal plants was, generally, localized because most (27%) were restricted to marshy and moist areas, followed by dry scrub (13%), rocks (12%), boulders (10%) and undulating land or alpine meadows (9%). Within the study area, the highest numbers of rare and medicinal plants were found in the Pin valley, followed by the Zanskar valley and the Leh valley. Factors related to conservation and management of medicinal plants in the cold desert of India are discussed.