Ethnobotanical study in a village at Rukum District, Nepal L. R. Bhatta1 The present study gives information on the indigenous use of various plants locally available at Vijayashori Village Development Committee (VDC) of Rukum District. Forty- four species have been reported to be used for various purposes that include medicine, food, furniture making, agricultural implements, etc. Keywords: Ethnobotany, Rukum District, Nepal P lant have been utilised for various purposes in Nepal since prehistoric times. Majority of rural population depend on plants for fodder, construction, food, firewood and to cure ailments. The country has more than 800 species reported to be of medicinal value; about 100 for fodder; 70 for fibre and 450 species for food or as a food substitute by the country’s rural communities (Manandhar 1995) . In developing country such as this, majority of population depend on traditional remedies. This is party due to poverty, and partly because the traditional systems are more culturally acceptable. However, not always plants used by the local community for a variety of purposes may suited them, but they are the one best available locally. It is therefore, compulsion, rather than choice become sometimes, the factor for a particular use (Jain 1991). Previous studies on ethnobotany have been carried out at different places of Nepal. Important among them are that of Banerjii (1957), Sacherer (1979), Manandhar (1980, 1992, 1995, 1996), Shrestha (1987), Kaphle (1988), Bhattarai (1989, 1993) etc. But, the same for the Rukum District, especially that of Vijayashori Village Development Committee (VDC) was lacking. The present study is, therefore expected to fill this gap for the district. Methods Site Rukum, a hilly district (area is 2877 sq. km) of mid- western development region, is situated between 754 to 6072 m. Vijayeshwari VDC lies at the southern most part of the district. Most part of the VDC is occupied by a small valley of Chaurjahari. Population of the VDC is 6897 with 1248 households (Sharma and Vaidya 1997) and is inhabited by several ethnic/caste including Brahmin, Thakuri, Kshetri, Magar, Kumal, Kami, Damai, Sharki etc. Rural economy is based on agriculture and animal husbandry. People depend upon forest resources for fuel, fodder, construction, furniture, fibre, medicine, basketry, etc. The vegetation consists of riverine forest which includes- Bombax malbericum, Acacia catechu, Syzygium cum ini, Shorea robusta, Mallotus philippensis etc. along with hill sal and Pinus roxburghii forests. Much of the forest has been degraded by forest fire which is accelerated at an alarming rate in recent years especially after the Maoist activities in the district. The information on indigenous use of plants were gathered from local people especially from traditional healers, elderly people of households, women and other knowledgeable persons. In addition, group discussions, individual interviews were also carried out. For reliability, further crosschecking of data was also done. Specimens were examined and identified with the help of available literature and was cross-checked at the National Herbarium, Godawari. Herbarium of the cited species have been deposited at the Department of Botany, Patan Multiple Campus, Lalitpur. The plant species have been arranged in alphabetical order with botanical names followed by family and local names. Results and discussions Forty-four species were reported to be used by the local people for various purposes. Eighteen of them are used as medicinal uses; twelve for fodder; ten for construction, furniture and making agricultural implements. Leucaena leucocephala, Grewia oppositaefolia and Litsea monopetala were preferred for fodder. Shorea robusta, Toona ciliata, Syzygium cunini, Bassia butyracea and Dendrocalamus hamiltonii are used for 1 Department of Botany, Patan Multiple Campus, Lalitpur Banko Janakari, Vol. 9, No. 2 Bhatta construction whereas Dalbergia sissoo, Mangifera making. Engelhardtia spicata, Mortis alba are used for indica, Pinus roxburghii are used for furniture making agricultural implements (Table 1). Table 1: Plants used for various purpose by the local residents S. No. Species Family Local Name Use Medicinal plants 1. Acacia catechu Leguminosae Khayar Red thick syrup from boiled wood used for 2. Adhatoda vasica Acantheceae Ashuro body pain and skin diseases (externally), relaxed sore throat, loss of voice. Dried leaves are smooked and eaten by the 3. Aegle marmelos Rutaceae Bel patient of asthma. Thich pulp is eaten for curing diarrhoea, 4. Barberis asiatica Barberidaceae Chutro dystentery constipation and abdominal disorders. Leaf for diabetes. Root decoction is eaten during abdominal 5. Bassia butyracea Sapotaceae Cheuri pain. Seed oil is applied on skin to prevent 6. Bauhinia varicgata Leguminosae Koiralo dryness during winter; Oil is edible Flowers are boiled and eaten in diarrhoea 7. Bombax malabaricum Bombacaceae Simal and dysentery, bark used in skin diseases. Leaf decoction used in cut, wound. 8. Calotopis gigantea Asclepiadaceae Ank Sap is used in case of bone sprain. 9. Centella asiatica Umbelliferae Ghorta Fresh leaves have marked stimulating and 10. Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae pre Anap healing action and Sarbat (cold drinks) for summer season. Fruits edible; bark extract is used in 11. Mentha spicata Labiatae Pudena haemorrhages. Leaves stimulant, stomachic 12. Myrica esculenta Myricaceae Kaphal Fruits for diarrhoea and dysentery. Bark 13. Phyllathus emblica Euphorbiaceae Amala decoction used in bronchitis. Thirst, cooling and refrigerant an astringent 14. Punica granatum Rosaceae Darim medicine in diarrhoea, haemoptysis, laxative Rind decoction with cloves used in 15. Sapindus mukorossi Sapindaceae Rittho diarrhoea and dysentery. Fruit pulp is used for hair tonic. 16. Semecarpus Anacardiaceae Bhala Fruit rind used in piles and skin diseases 17. anacardimn Solanum Solanaceae Kande, Fruit is used in headache, body pain, 18. xanthocarpum Woodfordia fruiticosa Lythraceae Bhatkan de Dhange teethache, Root decoction used in abdominal pain. Flower decoction used in fever. 19. Zizyphus mauritiana Rhamnaceae ri Bayar Bark juice used in diarrhoea. Fodder plants 1. Bassia butyracea Sapotaceae Cheuri Tree 2. Bauh in la variegata Leguminosae Koiralo > j 3. Engelhardtia spicata Juglandaceae Mauwa ,, 4. F.Semicordata Khanyu 5. Ficus auriculata Moraceae Nibaro >> 6. Garuga pinnata Ransin ,, 7. Grewia oppositifolia Tiliaceae Bhimal 5 1 8. Leucaena leucocephala Leguminosae Epil-epil 41 Banko Janakari, Vol. 9, No. 2 Bhatta 9. Litsea monopetala Lauraceae Kothemouro > > 10. Mai lotus philippensis Euphorbiaceae Ruino >> 11. Syzygium cumini Myrtaceae Jamun >> 12. Toona ciliata Meliaceae Tuni >> Construction works, furniture and agricultural implements 1. Bassia butyracea Sapotaceae Cheuri Tree 2. Dalbergia sissoo Leguminosae Sisso > > 3. Dendrocalamus hamiltoni Gramineae Bans > 5 4. Engelhardtia spicata Juglandaceae Mauwa >> 5. Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae Amp )) 6. Morus alba Moraceae Kimu 7. Pinus roxburgii Pinaceae Sallo > J 8. Shorea robusta Dipterocarpaceae Sal y y 9. Syzygium cumini Myrtaceae Jamun y y 10. Toona ciliata Meliaceae Tuni y y Edible fruits 1. Aegle marmelos Rutaceae Bel Tree 2. Bassia butyracea Sapotaceae Cheuri Tree 3. Bauhinia vahlii Leguminosae Malu Climber 4. Berberis asiatica Berberidaceae Chutro Shurb 5. F. palmata Moraceae Bedu Tree 6. F. semicordata Moraceae Khanyu Tree 7. Ficus auriculata Moraceae Nibao Tree 8. Grewia oppositifolia Tiliaceae Bhimal Tree 9. Morus alba Moraceae Kimu Tree 10. Myrica esculenta Myricaceae Kaphal Tree 11. Phyllanthus emblica Euphorbiaceae Amala Tree 12. Prunus persic a Rosaceae Aru Tree 13. Punica granatum Rosaceae Darim Tree 14. Rubus ellipticus Rosaceae Ainselu Shrub 15. Semecarpus anacardium Anacardiaceae Bhala Tree 16. Syzygium cumini Myrtaceae Jamun Tree 17. Zizyphus mauritiana Rhamnaceae Bayar Shurb Plants for miscellaneous uses 1. A brus precatorius Leguminosae Ratgedi Climber 2. Arundinaria falcata Gramineae Nigalo Shrub 3. Bauhinia vahlii Leguminosae Malu Climber 4. Colebrookea oppositifolia Labiatae Dhuesd Shrub 5. F. religiosa Moraceae Pipal Tree 6. Ficus benghalensis Moraceae Bar Tree 7. Grevillea robusta Proteaceae Kangio Sallo Tree 8. Thysanolaena maxima Gramineae Amriso Shrub ^Plants used for basketry, fibre yielding religious and cultural purposes, fish poisoning, ornamental etc. 42 Banko Janakari, Vol. 9, No. 2 Bhatta References Banerjii, M. L. 1957. Some Edible and Medicinal Plants From East Nepal. J. Bomb. Nat. Hist., 53: 153-155. Bhattarai, N. K. 1989. Ethnobotanical Studies in Central Nepal: The Ceremonial Plant Foods. Contribution to Nepalese Studies, 16(1): 35- 41. Bhattarai, N. K. 1993. Folk Herbal Medicines of Dolkha District, Nepal. Fitoterapia, 64(5): 387-395. Jain, S. K. 1991. Dictionary of Indian Folk Medicine and Ethnobotany. Deep publicaions, India. Kafle, S. K. 1988. Nepal Ka Kehi Upyogi Rukhharu {Some Useful Trees of Nepal). Kafle Publication, 186 p. (In Nepali). Manandhar, N. P. 1995. Ethnobotanical Notes on Unexploited Wild food plants of Nepal. Ethnobotany. 7(1-7) : 95-101. Manandhar, N. P. 1980. Some Lesser-Known Medicinal Plants of Rasuwa Districts (Nepal) Int. J. Crude Drug Res., 18(3): 147-151. Manandhar, N. P. 1992. Folklore medicine of Dhading District, Nepal. Fitoterapia, 63(2): 163-177. Manandhar, N. P. 1996. Ethnobotanical studies in Nepal- conservation of economically important plants by rural people. In, Jain, S. K. (Ed.), Ethnobiology in Human Welfare. Deep Publications, India, pp.30-34. Sacherer, J. 1979. The High altitude ethnobotany of the Rolwaling Sherpas. Contribution to Nepalese Studies, 4(2): 45-64. Sharma, H. and Vaidya, S. 1997. Nepal District Profile. National Research Associates, 3rd edition, Kathmandu. Shrestha, K. 1987. Report on edible wild plants from Pokhara and its northern region. J. Nat. Hist. Mus., 11(1-4): 85-98. 43