Jawaid Sarver, Romesh K. Atri and Anil Sharma
Department of Botany, Govt. (P.G.) College (Boys) Udhampur, J&K, India- 182101
Email: sanjeevkoul222@gmail.com
Abstract: Jammu region of J&K State is bestowed with great diversity of medicinally important plants which are used frequently by the inhabitants to cure various common ailments in their daily life. A perusal of literature reveals that no study had been conducted so far pertaining to the diversity, ethnobotany, concern and status of the threatened plants of Jammu region in particular and J&K State in general. Therefore an attempt has been made to record the interesting indigenous medicinal uses of less known threatened plants of Jammu region of J&K State. A total of 30 threatened plat species belonging to 26 families and 30 different genera were reported from the region. The families Asteraceae and Apiaceae represented by 3 species each dominated the floral composition and remaining all 24 families represented by single species and genera each. Different plant parts such as roots/rhizomes/corms, leaves, bark, fruits, seeds, flowers, stem and whole plants are used for the treatment of various ailments. The four reported life forms were Herbs, trees, shrubs and climbers. Herbs make up the highest proportion of threatened medicinal plants with 24 species followed by trees with 4 species while shrubs and climbers contributed 2 species each. All the described 30 species have been categorized as critically endangered (4 spp.); Endangered (13 spp.) and Vulnerable (13 spp.) as per the new international Union of conservation of Nature and natural resources (IUCN) criteria. Appropriate strategy and action plan for conservation and management of threatened plants has been suggested.
Keywords: Ethnobotany, Threatened Plants, Indigenous, Life Forms, Conservation
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