Ethnobotanical Leaflets 13: 1148-57, 2009.

Ethnobotanical Studies on Timber Resources of Himachal Pradesh (H.P.), India

Anjna D. Kharwal* and Dhiraj S. Rawat**

  *  Department of Botany, Govt. P. G. College, Solan (H.P.)   

**  Department of Botany, Shoolini Institute of Life Sciences &  Business  Management, Solan (H.P.).

Issued September 01, 2009

Abstract

Timber is one of the most important resources in the life of ethnic communities and villagers. Timber resources are used by the ethnic communities and the villagers for various purposes i.e. house construction, furniture, and agricultural implements; for making walking sticks, musical instruments and packing cases etc. Timber is the most important forest resource along with shelter, food and clothes used by any community in Himachal Pradesh as well as in any part of the country and it has contributed a lot in the development of various civilizations from time immortal. This paper deals with the 61 timber resources of H.P. belonging to 47 genera and 26 families as well as their various uses by the ethnic communities and villagers. The timber resources have been divided in all the three ranges of ‘Himachal Himalayas’.

Keywords:  Shivalik hills, Ethnic communities, Ethnobotanical exploration, Timber  resources, Himachal   Himalayas.                                                   

Introduction

The state of Himachal Pradesh (H.P.), is in the lap of  North-Western Himalayan mountain ranges  (30^o-22’ and 33^o-12’ North latitudes, 75°-47’ and 79°-04’ east longitudes), and altitudes varies from 350- 6,975 m with the total geographical area of 55,673 sq. kms. It is known for the natural beauty of its forests. Himachal Pradesh Himalayas have lower hills (Shivalik hills), Lesser Himalayas and great Himalayas, each varying in their forest types and resources. From the time immemorial timber resources along with shelter, food and clothes are the utmost priorities of mankind. The wood is the most important forest product and it has contributed a lot in the development of various civilizations from time immortal. Wood is considered as the most important commodity other than food and clothing. It forms a very important raw material for industries dependent on timber. The timber resources are used by the ethnic communities and the villagers for various purposes i.e. house construction, furniture, agricultural implements; for making walking sticks, musical instruments and packing cases etc. Timber is the most important forest resource used by any community in Himachal Pradesh as well as in any part of the country. 

This paper deals with the timber resources of H.P. and their various uses by the ethnic communities and villagers. Previously a little work has been carried out in various parts of the state to find out various resources (2-5); (7, 9) and their uses but the information is scattered and meager and has various gaps. Similar related work has also been carried out in other states of India (8, 10, 11).

Methodology

Various communities and villagers mainly depend upon trees for timber to use them for various purposes in day to day life. Keeping this objective in mind, intensive ethnobotanical exploration were undertaken in various districts of H.P. to find out

various timber yielding plants either in flowering or fruiting stage. The freshly collected samples of plants were arranged properly within the folded sheets of pressing papers (12’’/18’’), each of which was placed between two dry blotters of same size. The whole piles of blotters and pressing sheets was then locked up in a field press for 24 hours. Since drying of plants was done without heat, it needed five changes of blotters and pressing sheets properly spread over a span of 10 days. Each specimen was mounted on a white card sheet (11.5’’/16.5’’) by using white gum paste. To know the uses of timber wood, different categories of people like family heads, healers, old experienced and knowledgeable informants were repeatedly interviewed. Specific questions based upon Proforma designed by Jain and Goel, 1995 were asked and the resultant informations were recorded in the ethnobotanical field notebook along with the name of locality and local name (6).

       Observations

  The following timber plants have been reported in Himachal Himalayas for various uses as given in Table 1.

Table 1. Timber Plants.

       Timber Plants                                         Family                                    Local Name    Uses

Abies pindrow Royle ex D. Don               Pinaceae                      Tosh                H, P                

Acacia catechu Willd.                               Fabaceae                     Khair               A

Acacia nelotica (L) Willd. ex Delile.         Fabaceae                     Babul               A

Aesculus indica Colebr.                             Hippocastanaceae       Kanor              H

Albizzia julibrissin Durazz.                        Fabaceae                     Alsinia             A

Albizzia lebbeck Benth.                             Fabaceae                     Darek              A, F

Albizzia stipulata Boiv.                             Fabaceae                     Oayee              H

Arundinaria falcata Nees                          Bambusaceae              Dhadhanj        H, A

Bambusa nutans Wall.                              Bambusaceae              Bainj                H, A

Bauhinia purpurea Linn.                          Fabaceae                     Karyal             H

Bauhinia variegata Linn.                          Fabaceae                     Karyala            H

Betula utilis D. Don                                  Betulaceae                   Shakpang        H

Bombax ceiba Linn.                                  Bombaceae                  Simbal             H

Butea monosperma Kuntze                      Fabaceae                     Palah               M

Cedrella toona Roxb. ex Rottl.                 Meliaceae                    Tooni               F, H

Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Louden              Pinaceae                      Devdar            H

Celtis australis Linn.                                 Ulmaceae                    Khirak             A

Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.                             Fabaceae                     Tahli                F, H    

Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees & Arn.  Bambusaceae              Maggar            H, A

ex Munro

Ehretia acuminata R. Br.                          Cordiaceae                  Punna              F, H

Ehretia laevis Roxb.                                  Cordiaceae                  Bhankar           A, H

Emblica officinalis Gaertn.                        Euphorbiaceae             Amla               F

Erythrina suberosa Roxb.                         Fabaceae                     Paryara            M

Eucalyptus umbellata Domin                    Myrtaceae                   Safeda             H

Eugenia jambolana Lam.                          Myrtaceae                   Jamun              A, H

ex Brand.

Fagus grandiflora Ehrh.                           Fagaceae                     Morgu             H

Flacourtia ramontchi L’ Herit                  Flacourtiaceae             Kangu             A

Glochiodion velutinum Wight                   Euphorbiaceae             Samma            A

Juglans regia Linn.                                   Juglandaceae               Khod               H

Litsea polyantha Juss.                               Lauraceae                    Gwaun            A

Machilus odoratissima Nees                     Lauraceae                    Badrol             F

Mangifera indica Linn.                             Anacardiaceae             Ama                H, F

Melia azedarach Linn.                              Meliaceae                    Drek                A, F

Morus alba Linn.                                      Moraceae                     Toot                 A

Morus nigra Linn.                                     Moraceae                     Toot                 A

Morus serrata Roxb.                                 Moraceae                     Cheemu           A

Picea smithiana Boiss.                              Pinaceae                      Spruce             H, P

Pinus gerardiana Wall.                             Pinaceae                      Neoza              H

Pinus roxburghii Sarg.                              Pinaceae                      Chir                 H, F

Pinus wallichiana A. B. Jackson              Pinaceae                      Kail                 H, F

Pistacia integrimma J. L. Stewart             Anacardiaceae             Kakarsingi       H

Populus ciliata Wall.                                 Salicaceae                    Poplar              H        

Populus nigra Linn.                                  Salicaceae                    Poplar              H

Prunus cerasoides D. Don                        Rosaceae                     Paza                 S

Pyrus pashia Ham.                                    Rosaceae                     Kainth             A, S

Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus       Fagaceae                     Ban                  H

Quercus semicarpifolia Sm.                      Fagaceae                     Kharsu             A

Rhododendron arboreum Sm.                  Ericaceae                     Brah                A

Rhododendron campanulatum D.Don      Ericaceae                     Tolo-Moti        A

Robinia pseudoacacia Linn.                     Fabaceae                     Robinia            A

Salix karelinii Turcz.                                 Salicaceae                    Beaunce          A, H

Salix tetrasperma Roxb.                            Salicaceae                    Beaunce          A, H

Sapium insigne (Royle) Benth.                 Euphorbiaceae             Pahari Tahli     H

Shorea robusta Gaertn. F.                         Dipterocarpaceae        Sal                   H, F

Taxus baccata Linn.                                  Taxaceae                     Rakhal             F

Tectona grandis Linn.                               Verbenaceae                Teak                H, F

Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.        Combretaceae             Bahera             H

Terminalia tomentosa (DC) Wt. & Arn.   Combretaceae             Alsan               H

Ulmus racemosa   D. Thomas                   Ulmaceae                    Elm                  H

Zanthoxylum armatum DC                       Rutaceae                     Tirmir              A, S

Zizyphus jujuba Mill.                                 Rhamnaceae                Ber                  F

Abbreviations: A- Agricultural Implements; F- Furniture; H- House Construction; M- Musical   Instruments; P- Packing Cases; S- Walking Sticks.

The observations are also analyzed through histogram and pie diagram as shown in the figures given below. 

Figure 1 and 2 showing the different uses and proportion of timber products:

FIGURE 1

Figure-1: Histogram showing the number of different uses of plant wood.

A- Agricultural Implements (24 plants); F- Furniture (14 plants); H- House Construction (36 plants); M- Musical Instruments (2 plants); P- Packing Cases (2 plants); S- Walking Sticks (3 plants).

FIGURE 2

Figure-2: Pie diagram showing the proportion of different uses of plant wood.

A- Agricultural Implements; F- Furniture; H- House Construction; M- Musical Instruments; P- Packing Cases; S- Walking Sticks.

The timber plants belonging to various sections of Himachal Himalayas are given in Tables 2-4.

Table 2.  Timber resources of Shivalik Hills

       Timber Plants                                         Family                                    Local Name   

Acacia catechu Willd.                               Fabaceae                     Khair              

Acacia nelotica (L) Willd. ex Delile.         Fabaceae                     Babul              

Albizzia julibrissin Durazz.                        Fabaceae                     Alsinia            

Albizia lebbeck Benth.                              Fabaceae                     Darek             

Albizia stipulata Boiv.                               Fabaceae                     Oayee             

Arundinaria falcate Nees                          Bambusaceae              Dhadhanj       

Bambusa nutans Wall.                              Bambusaceae              Bainj               

Bauhinia purpurea Linn.                          Fabaceae                     Karyal            

Bauhinia variegata Linn.                          Fabaceae                     Karyala           

Bombax ceiba Linn.                                  Bombaceae                  Simbal            

Butea monosperma Kuntze                      Fabaceae                     Palah              

Cedrella toona Roxb. ex Rottl.                 Meliaceae                    Tooni              

Celtis australis Linn.                                 Ulmaceae                    Khirak            

Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.                             Fabaceae                     Tahli                           

Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees & Arn.  Bambusaceae              Maggar           

ex Munro

Ehretia acuminata R. Br.                          Cordiaceae                  Punna             

Ehretia laevis Roxb.                                  Cordiaceae                  Bhankar          

Emblica officinalis Gaertn.                        Euphorbiaceae             Amla              

Eucalyptus umbellata Domin                    Myrtaceae                   Safeda            

Eugenia jambolana Lam.                          Myrtaceae                   Jamun             

ex Brand.

Flacourtia ramontchi L’ Herit                  Flacourtiaceae             Kangu            

Glochiodion velutinum Wight                   Euphorbiaceae             Samma                       

Juglans regia Linn.                                   Juglandaceae               Khod              

Litsea polyantha Juss.                               Lauraceae                    Gwaun                       

Machilus odoratissima Nees                     Lauraceae                    Badrol            

Mangifera indica Linn.                             Anacardiaceae             Ama               

Melia azedarach Linn.                              Meliaceae                    Drek               

Morus alba Linn.                                      Moraceae                     Toot                

Pinus roxburghii Sarg.                              Pinaceae                      Chir                

Pistacia integrimma J. L. Stewart             Anacardiaceae             Kakarsingi      

Populus ciliata Wall.                                 Salicaceae                    Poplar                         

Populus nigra Linn.                                  Salicaceae                    Poplar             

Prunus cerasoides D. Don                        Rosaceae                     Paza                

Pyrus pashia Ham.                                    Rosaceae                     Kainth            

Salix karelinii Turcz.                                 Salicaceae                    Beaunce         

Salix tetrasperma Roxb.                            Salicaceae                    Beaunce         

Sapium insigne (Royle) Benth.                 Euphorbiaceae             Pahari Tahli    

Shorea robusta Gaertn. F.                         Dipterocarpaceae        Sal                  

Tectona grandis Linn.                               Verbenaceae                Teak               

Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.        Combretaceae             Bahera            

Terminalia tomentosa (DC) Wt. & Arn.   Combretaceae             Alsan              

Zanthoxylum armatum DC                       Rutaceae                     Tirmir             

Zizyphus jujuba Mill.                                 Rhamnaceae                Ber     

Table 3.  Timber Resources of Lesser himalayas.

Abies pindrow Royle ex D. Don               Pinaceae                      Tosh                                       

Aesculus indica Colebr.                             Hippocastanaceae       Kanor             

Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Louden              Pinaceae                      Devdar                       

Ehretia laevis Roxb.                                  Cordiaceae                  Bhankar          

Erythrina suberosa Roxb.                         Fabaceae                     Paryara           

Fagus grandiflora Ehrh.                          Fagaceae                     Morgu            

Juglans regia Linn.                                   Juglandaceae               Khod              

Morus nigra Linn.                                     Moraceae                     Toot                

Morus serrata Roxb.                                 Moraceae                     Cheemu          

Picea smithiana Boiss.                              Salicaceae                    Spruce            

Pinus wallichiana A. B. Jackson              Pinaceae                      Kail                

Prunus cerasoides D. Don                        Rosaceae                     Paza                

Pyrus pashia Ham.                                    Rosaceae                     Kainth            

Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus       Fagaceae                     Ban                 

Quercus semicarpifolia Sm.                      Fagaceae                     Kharsu            

Rhododendron arboreum Sm.                  Ericaceae                     Brah               

Robinia pseudoacacia Linn.                     Fabaceae                     Robinia           

Salix karelinii Turcz.                                 Salicaceae                    Beaunce         

Salix tetrasperma Roxb.                            Salicaceae                    Beaunce         

Sapium insigne (Royle) Benth.                 Euphorbiaceae             Pahari Tahli    

Taxus baccata Linn.                                  Taxaceae                     Rakhal            

Ulmus racemosa   D. Thomas                   Ulmaceae                    Elm

Table 4. Timber Resources of Greater Himalayas

Betula utilis D. Don                                  Betulaceae                   Shakpang

Abies pindrow Royle ex D. Don               Pinaceae                      Tosh

Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Louden              Pinaceae                      Devdar           

Fagus grandiflora Ehrh.                          Fagaceae                     Morgu

Pinus wallichiana A. B. Jackson              Pinaceae                      Kail    

Pinus gerardiana Wall.                             Pinaceae                      Neoza

Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus       Fagaceae                     Ban                 

Quercus semicarpifolia Sm.                      Fagaceae                     Kharsu            

Rhododendron campanulatum D.Don      Ericaceae                     Tolo-Moti

Ulmus racemosa   D. Thomas                   Ulmaceae                    Elm     

Discussion

            The present study revealed information of timber plants used for various purposes. These plants are arranged in alphabetical order; with their local name and part / parts used as in Table 1.

Present study includes 61 plants (Table 1) used for house construction, furniture, agricultural implements; for making walking sticks, musical instruments and packing cases etc.  belonging to 47 genera and 26 families. The predominant families are fabaceae with 11 plants spp (8 genera), pinaceae with 6 plants (3 genera), salicaceae with 4 plants (2 genera). Bambuaceae (3 genera), euphorbiaceae (3 genera) and fagaceae (2 genera) have 3 plants each. Among various plants, 36 plants are used for house construction , 24 for agricultural implements, 14 for furniture manufacturing, 2 for musical instruments and packing cases each and 3 for making walking sticks (Figures 1 and 2). Out of total 61 plant spp 43 are reported in Shivalik hills, 22 in lesser Himalaya and 10 in greater Himalayan range.

This study is clearly useful to industries relying on timber resources of these rich ranges of Himalaya.

Acknowledgement

Authors are thankful to Dr. (Col.) Sunit Rana, for his valuable guidance and help at each stage of the work.

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