Some Edible Herbaceous Forest Resources used by Ethenic Group in Manbazar Subdivision of Purlia District

Indian civilization has played a pioneer role from time immemorial for utilizing various plants in different purpose. Although people utilizing different plants for their livelihood for ages, but present day scientist have already recognized the utility such plants that are helpful for rural economy.(1) Maximum indigenous people rely on different wild plants for edible purpose during the period of food crisis and additional food supplements. Wild edible plants having diverse habitats like forests, roadsides. In India, most of the rural people especially tribal people are economically very poor and depends upon various non cultivated wild plants as food resource. Poor inhabitant people spent most of their valuable time for collecting different wild edible plants so it plays an important role in everyday‘s life of poor people in relation with to remove the scarcity of food ,encourage for cultivation and promote to earn money.(2,3) Different wild plants have greater food value and provide as rich supplement of human diet.(4,5) In India, rich phytodiversity occur due to its topographic variation.(6,7) According to (FAO),(8) maximum people are thought to consume various wild plants as food.(9) Due to poor economical condition as well as only agriculture does not meet out the food security of tribal people, so they are depending on forest based resources. Keeping this in view, the present paper deals with some herbaceous wild edible plants that are consumed by different tribal communities as the chief source of daily food. But in present scenario, migration ignorance among youth communities, lack of interest of different indigenous knowledge among the youth, different useful plant resources get deplete gradually. So documentation of wild food plants through indigenous knowledge that are very much helpful for future nutritional analysis and combat food insecurity.

Manbazar is one of the major subdivision in the south eastern part of Purulia district in West Bengal. Here maximum area get covered with forest. This area forms the lowest step of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. It is a tribal rich subdivision in West Bengal. The tribal people inhibit in forest area and depend on forest resources for their livelihood. Santal, Bhumij, Kharia, Mundas, Oraon, Sabar are the different aboriginal groups present in this subdivision. Data were collected by several field trips surrounding forest area of this subdivision (23.0615°N to 86.6641°E) where maximum ethnic communities are present. In the tenure of investigation (June, 2016 to December, 2017), ethno botanical data for the use of different herbs were collected through informed consent of and semi structured interviews of different aged knowledgeable person, tribal women were carried out. During the field survey, for obtaining more information various tribal rich zone and surrounding market place were selected and surveyed in various season to get valuable information. Field books were maintained and recorded the collected information.

Gangetic Plains and Adjoining Hills.(12) Medicinal Plant resources of South West Bengal.(13)

This paper recorded 55 herbaceous edible plants belong to 33 families. Identification of all investigated plants were done by the help of above mentioned books and different expert members of our department. These wild herbaceous plants were collected from our study area in its flowering seasons. Plant habitat, morphological nature of family, generic name and species were documented in our record book. The enumeration and utilization of these plants are described to their botanical name, local name (Bengali), nature of morphology of the useful part of the plants and uses (Table 1). Here all investigated herbaceous plants are documented and their family wise distribution was also mentioned (Fig. 1).

1 Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) G.Don Araceae Man Kachu Petiole, Leaves & Rhizome used in curry 2 Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R Br.ex DC. Amaranthaceae Shalincha Young leaves and shoot are used as vegetable. 3 Amaranthus spinosus L. Amaranthaceae Kanta-Notey Tender shoot are used as vegetable. 4 Amaranthus tricolor L. Amaranthaceae Lal sak Leaves, Stem are used in vegetable 5 Amaranthus viridis L. Amaranthaceae Notey sak Leaves are cooked as vegetable. 6 Amorphophallus campanulatus Araceae ol Corm is used in curry.

Papaveraceae Sial Kanta Stems is used in curry vulgaris L. used as salad, Young leaves, flower & roots are infused as a tea 9 Bacopa monnieri (L.) Penn. Scrophulariaceae Brahmi Young leaf and shoot are used as vegetable. 10 Boerhaavia diffusa L. Nyctaginaceae Kumkum sak Tender Shoots are used as vegetable 11 Brassica rapa L. Brassicaceae Sal gom Root & Hypocotyl are used as vegetable. 12 Cassia sophera L. Caesalpiniaceae Kalkasunda Leaves are used in curry 13 Cassia tora L. Caesalpiniaceae Jhitki sak Young leaves are used as vegetable. 14 Centella asiatica (L.) Urban Apiaceae Thankuni Leaves are used as making soup. 15 Chenopodium album L. Chenopodiaceae Bathua Young leaves are used as vegetable. 16 Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt. Cucurbitaceae Telakucha Fruits are cooked as vegetable 17 Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott. Araceae Kochu Leaves, Inflorescence and rhizomes are used in curry 18 Commelina benghalensis L. Commelinaceae Kansira Young shoot and leaf are used as vegetable. a amada Roxb ceae a are used as flavouring agent. 20 Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC. Fabaceae Kudaliya Leaves are used as vegetable. 21 Dioscorea alata L. Dioscoreaceae Kham Alu Tubers are used as vegetable. 22 Diplezium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. Polypodiaceae Dheki Sak Fronds are cooked as vegetable. 23 Eclipta prostrata Roxb. Asteraceae Keshut Young leaves and shoot are used as vegetable 24 Enhydra fluctuans Lour. Asteraceae Hingcha sak Tender shoots are used as vegetable 25 Euryale ferox Salisb. Nymphaeaceae Makhna Seeds are cooked as curry. 26 Glinus oppositifolius (L.) A. DC. Brassicaceae Gimma Tender shoot cooked as vegetable. 27 Digera muricata (L.) Martius Amaranthaceae Jamaika sak Young leaves are used as vegetable. 28 Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders Acanthaceae Kulekhara Tender Shoots are used as vegetable. 29 Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. Convolvulaceae Kalmi sak Tender Shoots are used as vegetable. 30 Ipomoea batatas (L.) Convolvulaceae Ranga Alu Roots are used as vegetable. aphaca L. ceae motor oung shoots, are used as vegetable and fruits are eaten raw. 32 Malva verticillata L. Malvaceae Laffa Leaves are cooked as vegetable. 33 Marsilea quadrifolia L. Marsileaceae Susnisak Leaves are used as vegetable. 34 Mentha viridis L. Lamiaceae Pudina Young leaves are eaten raw as chutney. 35 Nasturtium officinale R Br. Brassicaceae Lalputiya Leaves are used as vegetable. 36 Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn Nelumbonaceae Padda Roots are used as vegetable and Fleshy seeds are eaten raw. 37 Nymphaea pubescens Willd. Nymphaeaceae Bhat Peioles are cooked as vegetable, Fried seeds are used as dry food 38 Nymphaea rubra Roxb. Ex salisb Nymphaeaceae Sapla Petioles are used as vegetable. 39 Ocimum basilicum L. Lamiaceae Babui tulsi Seed paste is used for preparation of sarbat 40 Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers Hydrocharitaceae Panikola Seeds are eaten raw by children. 41 Oxalis corniculOxalidaceae Amarul Leaves are used 42 Paederia foetida L. Rubiaceae Gadal Young leaves are used as vegetable. 43 Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth Piperaceae Luchi pata Tender shoots are used raw in salad. 44 Physalis minima L. Solanaceae Bon Tepari Leaves are cooked as vegetable. 45 Polycarpon prostratum (Forssk.) Asch. & Sch. Caryophylaceae Bangima Tender Shoots are cooked as vegetable. 46 Portulaca oleracea L. Portulacaceae Nona Sak Young shoots and leaves are used as vegetable. 47 Rumex maritime L. Polygonaceae Ban Palang Tender Shoots are used in curry. 48 Solanum nigrum L. Solanaceae Kakmachi Tender shoots are used as vegetable. 49 Trigonella corniculata L. Papilionaceae Piring sak Young leaves are used as vegetable. 50 Typhonium trilobatum (L.) Schott. Araceae Khammam Leaves with petioles are cooked as vegetable. 51 Lasia spinosa (L.) Thwaiys Araceae Kata Kaccu Are used in curry. 52 XanthiuAsteraceOkra Young as vegetable. 53 Schoenoplectus articulates (L.) Palla Cyperaceae Chirchiri Seeds are fried and used as dry food. 54 Asparagus racemosus Willd. Asparagaceae Satamuli Tender young shoots are used as vegetable .Roots are used for preparation of pickel. 55 Impatiens balsamina L. Balsaminaceae Dopati Leaves and young shoots are used as vegetable, Seeds are eaten as raw or used in cooked food.

Maximum tribal population is much more dependent on forest food for their daily life. The present paper depicts only herbaceous edible plants. Harvesting time and distribution frequency varied in different plants. Different parts of plants like leaves, petioles, tender shoot, rhizome, Corm, roots, seeds are selected as vegetable by different tribal communities (Fig. 2). Knowledge about wild vegetables and their recipes was mainly confined to woman folk. Some vital role for providing essential supplements of vitamin and minerals. Here leaves are mainly the edible part followed by tender shoot. It was also recorded that some poor and tribal women also sell various plant parts of different plant species as vegetable in local markets for earning purpose. It was estimated that out of 55 species 20 species are found to be sold in different rural markets (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3 Marketable and Non-Marketable WEPs. Documented plants that are used as edible purpose may play a vital role as a source of food as well as to promote income generation.(14) Plant biodiversity is a vital component which act as a highly sensitive system to provide the production of various types of food plants according to their capacity. Our study area mainly consists of different ethnic groups residing in this district. These groups of people have vast knowledge on different aspects of plants.(15) Traditional knowledge for utilization of different plants and their use by indigenous culture is very much essential for conservation as well as nurturing their cultural tradition.(16) Our study area is also a potential source of various traditional edible plants. The present paper also reveals that in present time these wild edible plants may also include in daily diet for our survival. Nutritive value of these wild edible plants can play as an alternative food supplement for local rural and tribal population to fulfill their basic need as well as during the period of their scarcity of food.(17-19) This is very important way to reduce food security in our country. Plant diversity of Manbazar subdivision of Purulia district is a boon to tribal people so conservation of these plants for future generations as well as encourage for growing such economic important plants on a large scale. Unfortunately such type of traditional knowledge has not been properly identified, standardized and documented for better use by modern society.(20) Present paper emphasized some plants that are used as edible purpose in such type of remote district in West Bengal and maximum leafy vegetable can be incorporated for cultivation as alternative crops.

In Manbazar subdivision of Purulia, maximum number of ethnic communities and rural people are mainly depend upon wild edible plants. Due to poverty, most people are used these plants in their daily diet as food supplements. They depend on non-cultivated wild plants for food. Apart for food supplements, out of 55 plants only 20 plants are marketable that also helps in income generation. It is also observed that some traditional wild edible plants in that area get gradually deplete. So plantation and protection of such plants should be encouraged with maximum participation of local people. Their fragmented ecological habitat of those plants have to play a vital role for conservation in the socio-economic perception and help to open a new vistas towards the management of plant wealth of this district.

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Department of Botany, Bankura Christian College, Bankura, West Bengal, India