Village names based on common herbs : A promising indicator of Bio-diversity and Indigenous Knowledge zone

Village names based on common herbs : A promising indicator of Bio-diversity and Indigenous Knowledge zone 

http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved 


Chhattisgarh, a newly borne state of India, is rich in biodiversity. Many valuable and rare medicinal flora and fauna have been reported in Chhattisgarh, like Sarpgandha (Rauvolfia serpentina), Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), Kali Musli (Curculigo orchoides), Dasmool (Asparagus racemosus), Bach (Acorus calamus), Dhikuar (Aloe vera), Keukand (Costus speciosus) etc. [1]. T natives and traditional healers have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs, insects and mites. The natives still have deep faith in traditional practices of healing [2]. Over 3000 species of medicinal herbs have been reported in dense forests of Chhattisgarh and over 5000 traditional healers are engaged in practising the traditional medicinal knowledge [3]. The early studies Ethnobotanical surveys conducted by the author revealed that the natives and traditional healers have rich traditional knowledge about medicinal uses of common soils and disease and insect infested herbs, along with healthy herbs. The "Tree Shade Therapy gift of these healers to the world. The state is also well known for its non-wood forest produces (NWFP) business. Due to increasing demand of these produces in national and international markets, the availability of natural flora and fauna is decreasing and in this unscientific exploitation process, many species are becoming endangered [4]. Also due to increasing spread and infestation of obnoxious weeds like Gajar ghas (Parthenium hysterophorus), Gotiphool (Lantana camara) etc. the natural flora is under great threat. These weeds are becoming a real curse for the unique bio-diversity [5]. Many surveys and studies conducted by the early workers and author suggested that there is a strong need of inventorisation and documentation of existing flora and fauna and also the indigenous knowledge [6]. Very less efforts have been done on both of these aspects. In Chhattisgarh, it is common observation that many villages are named on the basis of specific herbs found in abundance in that particular villages. According to natives, these names were coined many generations back. Many of such villages based on herb names are now devoid of that particular herbs. In order to list out the villages based on herb names, and document the existing traditional medicinal knowledge, a detailed Ethnobotanical survey was conducted from 1995-2002 by non-governmental organization SOPAM (Society for Parthenium Management), Raipur, India. The survey was focused on three major districts of Chhattisgarh plains i.e. Raipur, Dhamtari and Mahasamund. On the basis of authenticated official record the names of over 3500 villages gathered and with the help of local language experts, the villages having names based on herbs were sorted out. Out of 3776 villages, 293 village names based on herbs were identified. For visits, the five villages representing particular herb were selected randomly for each species. Through intensive visits the status of indigenous knowledge was studied. The survey revealed that the 293 village names are based on sixty five species of herbs. The village names based on Parsa (Butea monosperma), Khair (Acacia catechu) Koha (Terminalia arjuna), Mauha (Madhuca latifolia), Sarai (Shorea robusta), Aam (Mangifera indica), Piper (Ficus religiosa), Semar (Bombax ceiba ) are most common. The details are given in Table 1 (with land record no). Many villages are named on the basis of heavy infestation of particular weeds like Sarkanda (Saccharum spontaneum), Siliyari (Celosia argentea), Sarphonk (Tephrosia purpurea), Raksi (Abutilon indicum), Belonda (Caesulia axillaris), Gondla (Cyperus rotundus) etc. The intensive visits to these villages revealed that in most of the villages, the availability and natural population of specific herbs are decreasing. It was also noted that the traditional healers as well as the natives are having rich traditional knowledge about almost all parts of specific herb in these villages. For example in villages named on Parsa (Butea monosperma), the traditional healers and natives use this herb as Dataun (herbal tooth brush) in the beginning on the day and as soporific in order to get sound sleep at the end of the day, they use it in the treatment of insomnia In different religious ceremonies, they prefer Parsa herb. Due to modernization and decreasing natural population, the younger generation is showing less interest in different uses of these specific herbs. For example, now a days the young generation uses plastic tooth brushes in place of Dataun (herbal tooth brush) . The survey suggested that there is a strong need to document the existing traditional medicinal knowledge in these villages before further loss knowledge. Many of these villages, particularly those situated far from big cities, still have rich population of specific herbs. These villages can play a vital role in under standing the behaviour of specific herb in natural conditions and its interactions with associated herbs. In these villages, the traditional healing practices are still in good progress. There is a need to take strong and immediate step to save the natural population of herbs in these villages. On the basis of these villages, the population and diversity herbs present in past, can be estimated. As mentioned earlier many villages are named on the basis of heavy infestation of particular weeds, survey revealed that these villages can help the weed scientists to study the climatic, edaphic and other related factors responsible for heavy infestation of particular weeds. The present survey was focused on Chhattisgarh plains where less dense forest exist. The surveys in southern plateau and Northern hills (over 10,000 villages) are in progress and these survey would provide more information of villages name on the basis of common herbs. Table 1 Village names based on common herbs : A promising indicator of Bio-diversity and Indigenous Knowledge Scientific Name of Herbs Local name Name of Villages ( with land record Number) Family Acacia catechu Khair Khairkhut (2), Khairvas (9/69), Khairpardih (14/78) Khaida (Khaira ; 52/108) Khaira (51/106, 109, 139,128,145,19/37,33 142), Khairi (107, 21/39, 10/42), Khairjhinti (4,73,8), Khair Khunta (31), Khairghitki (47), Leguminoaseae Khairghut (12), Khairvari (28), Khairjhudi (36), Khairmal (42), Khairbheri (FV), Khairkabheri (FV) Curcuma longa Hardi Hardi (52/102, 17,27, FV, 19,77,20,5), Hardi bhatha 33, Hardidih 50 Zingiberaceae Dendrocalamus strictus Bans Banskata (24,101), Bansbinari (108), Bansurkuli (8), Banskuda (5) Gramineae Bauhinia sp. Mahul Mahuldih (372) Mahulkot (6) Leguminaseae Feronia limonia Kaitha Kaitha (4) Rutaceae Emblica officinalis Aonla Aonlapani (50) Euphorbiaceae Abutilon indicum Raksi Raksi (14) Raksa (49) Malvaceae Tephrosia purpurea Sarphonka Sarphonva (18) Leuminoseae Ficus benghalensis Bur Burdih (25), Burbahara (20) Moraceae Diospyros melanoxylon tendu Tendukona (121,54), Tendu Bhatha (23,81), Tendubaya (17), Tendulodha (118), Tenduwahi (4,10), Tendudarha (25), Tendumudi(5) Cassia sophera Kasaundi Kasaundi (12) Leguminoaseae Saccharum spontaneum Kans or sarkanda Sarkanda (9,16,21) Gramineae Curcurbita pepo Kumhda Kumhda (3), Kumhdakoh (6) Cucurbitaceae Ficus religiosa Pipal or Pipar Piprahi (15.67,4), Piperduha (22), Piperdih(27), Piperchedi (129, 41,2,43), Pipal Khunta (11,36), Piperchedi Khurd (17), Piper Khedi (11), Piper Kanhar(17), Piperdhivna (16), Piperbhovan (25), Piproud (82), Piperhatta (3,66), Terminalia bellirica Bahera Baherabhatha (112), Baherabua (21), Baheradih (32) Combreteaceae Bombax ceiba Semra or Semar Semra (153, 154,31,26,10,14,16) , Semaria (67/99, 122,16,31,2/27, 9/45, 80, 52), Semharadih (15/67, 59, 13/30), Semaradih (59/89, Bombaceae 6,11), Semalia (33), Semhra (29), Semhardhap (28) Semecarpus anacardium Bhelwa Bhelwadih (139) Anacardiaceae Asteracantha longifolia Mokhla Mokhla (145) Acanthaceae Santalum indicum Chandan Chandan bahara (Fv) Santalaceae Cyperus rotundus Gondla Gondlabahara (2) Mothadih (35) Cyperaceae Tectona grandis Sagon Sagonbhadi(11) Verbinaceae Psidium guajava Jam Jamgaon (156,9,109), Jamgaon (4) Jampali (13,45) Myrtaceae Diospyros exsculpta Kendu Kenduban (12), Kendumudi(28), Kendupathi(41) Ebenaceae Bauhinia purpurea Koliar Koliyari (155,51,58,9,FV) Leguminoseae Hymenodictyon excelsum Bohar Bohardih (55,124,125) Lepidium sativum Chandrashoor Chandrasoor (75) Cruciferae Zingiber officinalis (dried) Sonth Sonth 9(160) Zingiberaceae Caesulia axillaris Belonda Belondi (77) Compositeae Physalis minima Kapalphodia Kapalphodi (80) Solonaceae Madhuca latifolia Mauha Mahuagaon (85), Mahuabhata (17), Hat Mahua (17), Mauhadih (2) Sapotaceae Jasminum sambac Mongra Mongra (132, 33), Mongrapali(100,121), Mongri (62) Oleaceae Psoralea corylifolia Bemchi Bemcha (141) Leguminoaseae. Aegle marmelos Belonda Belbhatha (130), Belmudi(5), Beltekri(12), Beladula (25), Beltukri (137, 38), Beltikri(52,18) Rutaceae Boswellia serrata Saliha Saliha (9), Salihabhatha (10,142), Salihaghat (13) Burseraceae Terminalia arjuna Arjuna or Kauha Arjuni (9/89, 8, 46,6), Kovadih (120,81), Kauha junwani (146), Kohabahara (FV), Kohapani (FV), Kohakuda (142, 23), Koha buda (120), Kovajhar(5) Combretaceae Woodfordia fruticosa Dhawai Dhawai (1/73) Lythraceae Sida acuta Bariyara Baliyara (44) Malvaceae Azardirachta indica Neem or Nimora (Neem Seeds) Nimora (100, 136) Meliaceae Glycrrhiza glabra Murethi Murethi (90) Leguminoaseae Allium sativum Lasun Lasunvahi (FV) Liliaceae Paspalum scrobiculatum Kodo Kodwa (30,22,14/31), Kodopali (25, 4,14,17), Kodoguda (47), Kodobeda (13), Kodobhatha (13,33,35), Kodobattar(21), Kodohardi(27), Kodomali(32) Gramineae Ocimum sanctum Tulsi Tulsi (111, 1,35,52), Tulsimakhpur (18), Tulsidevra (7) Labiateae Coccinia grandis Kundru Kundru (11) Cucurbitaceae Celosia argentea Siliyari Siliyari(85) Amarantaceae Colocasia esculenta Kochai Kochaimuda (17) Araceae Calotropis gigantea Fudhar Fudhar (117), Fudhardih (33), Labiateae Ocimum canum Memri Memra (31) Labiateae Phoenix dactylifera Khajura Khajuri (2/74), Khajurpadar (44) Palmae Mangifera indica Aam Amakachhar (100 , Aamajhola (fV), Aamipali (38), Amapali (50, Ama Chani (80), Aamjhar (20), Aamda (32), Amokhoha (141), Aamgaon (FV), Aamabhauna (3), Aamaroda (28) Phoenix sp. (wild) Chind Chindpali (41) Palmae Ficus benjamina Kamraj Kamraj(12) Moringa oliefera Munga Mungasher(14), Mungaser(102), Mungadih(18), Mungapadar (39) Shorea robusta Sarai or Sal Saldih(43), Saraipali (FV,24,121,111,1), Saldabri (102), Saraibhadar (83), Saraitola (fV), Sarai Patera (1), Sarai rukh(FV), Pholsarai(34), Saraipani (41) Bridelia squamosa Kashi or Kassi Kashi (31), Kashibahara (5) Euphorbiaceae Albizia species Siris or Sirsa Sirsahi (92) Leguminoaseae Ricinus communis Arand Arand (23,128) Euphorbiaceae Mallotus philippensis Rohini Rohina (16) Butea monosperma Parsa Parastarai (90), Parsadih(64/97, 65,4,23/44,4), Paraspati (52/102), Paraspali(9,22), Parsapali (22), Parsabuda (81), Parsapani(8,14), Parsabhader (10/70), Parsapali (8) Leguminoaseae Ziziphus jujuba Boir Boirjhinti (17), Boirdih(2/74,15/87,58,110,25, 39), Boirlami (28), Boirgaon (117,111,FV, 7, 32,FV) Rhamnaceae Leucas aspera Guma Guma (54, 64) Trapaceae Trapa natans Singhara Singhora (52) Trapaceae Buchanania lanzan Char Charbhatha (19,50,100,26,81,32,79), Charpali (10), Chargaon (FV) Anacardiaceae Terminalia chebula Harra Harrratar (35) Combretaceae Sphaeranthus indicus Gudru or Guduria Gudrudih (4) Compositeae Desmostachya bipinnata Kunsh Kushkona (8) Kushpali (104) Gramineae Note : FV = Forest Village References 1. Oudhia, P. And Tripathi, R.S. (1999). Scope of cultivation of important medicinal plants in Chhattisgarh plains In : Proc. National conference on health care and Development of Herbal Medicines, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, India, 29-30 Aug. 1997 : 215-222. 2. Oudhia, P. And Tripathi, R.S. (2002. Identification, cultivation and export of important medicinal plants In : Proc. National Seminar on Horticulture Development in Chhattisgarh : Vision and Vistas, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, India, 21-23 Jan 2002 85. 3. Oudhia, P. And Tripathi, R. S. (2002). Prospects of cultivation of medicinal plants in Chhattisgarh, India. Vol 5. Crop Improvement, Production Technology, Trade and Commerce, SCI TECH PUB, USA : 211-236. 4. Oudhia, P. (2001). Improved cultivation practices for medicinal crops : Glimpses of research at farmer’s fields in Chhattisgarh (India). In Souvenir cum Abstracts. National Research Seminar of Herbal Conservation, Cultivation, Marketing and Utilization with Special Emphasis on Chhattisgarh " The Herbal State" Srishti Herbal Academy and Research Institute (SHARI) and Chhattisgarh M forest Produce (Trading and Dev.) Co-operative Federation Ltd., Raipur (India), 13-14 December 2001 : 44. 5. Oudhia, P. And Tiwari, J. P. (2001). Marketing of Indian Medicinal and aromatic crops : Expectations of International Buyers. In Abstract, National Seminar on Commercial Cultivations Processing and Marketing of Medicinal and Aromatic plants, Department of Plant Physiology, Jawarharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur (India), November 27-29, 2001, 15-16. 6. Vyas, S. And Oudhia, P. (1999). Parthenium hysterophorus : A potential threat to the public health, crop productivity and bio diversity of Chhattisgarh. In : Abstract. National Seminar on Geography with special Emphasis on Environment, Durga College, Raipur, India March 6-7.

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