Ethnobotanical Leaflets 13: 1020-28, 2009.

Some Important Supplementary Food Plants and Wild Edible Fungi of Upper Hilly Region of District Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), India

Sushil Sharma, Ajay K. Gautam and Rekha Bhadauria*

School of Studies in Botany, Jiwaji University, Gwalior- 474011, Madhya Pradesh

Issued August 01, 2009

Abstract

An ethnobotanical survey of upper hilly region of Shimla was carried out in 2008 to enumerate some of the important plants used as supplementary food among the people of this area.  Presence of twenty four plant species belonging to 20 genera and 14 families was documented under the present study along with 11 macrofungi belonging to 6 genera and 6 families. Generally fruits (51 %) and leaves (33%) of these plants were found to be used as supplementary food. Use of seeds, buds, stem and petiole of few plants was also observed. All the important plants and macrofungi used as supplementary food by the people of the locality are grouped on the basis of their mode of use.

Key words: Supplementary Food plants, mode of use, Shimla district.

Introduction

Himachal Pradesh, a state with diverse culture and tradition is located between 30⁰ 22’ 40” north latitudes and 75⁰ 45’ 55” to 79⁰ 04’20” east longitude. The total area of the state is 55673 km² with mountains ranging from 350 to 6,975 meter and average rain fall 152 cm. A total of 13,082 Km² area is under thick forest cover which shelters 1200 species of birds, 359 species of animals and more than 3,400 plant species (Mishra, 2003). Major forest types are mixed coniferous, moist temperate deciduous, Himalayan alpine and rhododendron scrub forest. The state is divided into twelve districts, each having its own treasure of culture and traditions with number of communities, races and cultures intermingled together. Shimla is geographically divided in to upper and lower hilly regions. Upper hilly region of Shimla district is floristically undisturbed area, characterized by high mountains and heavy snow fall. Different parts of plants such as: fruits, leaves, seeds, buds, stem, petiole of large number of plant species are consumed by the people of the region as a supplementary food in their diet and knowledge regarding these plants is passed from one generation to another. However large variation is observed regarding ethnic uses of plants among people of Himachal Pradesh (Sharma and Rana, 2000; Kala and Manjrekar, 2000; Sihgh, 2000, 2004; Prasad et al. 2002; Badola et al. 2002;Uniyal et al. 2006; Bhalla et al. 2006). This is mainly due to variation in agro climatic surroundings, socio-culture ethos and beliefs. Therefore, the present study is concerned with the documentation of the indigenous knowledge of people of the area regarding uses of wildly growing plants and macrofungi as supplementary food in their diet.

Methoddology

The useful information’s regarding uses of different parts of plant species as supplementary food, were collected through interviews and discussions with the residents of upper hilly region of district Shimla during the year 2008. Supplementary food plants of these areas were grouped on the basis of their mode of use, followed by local name, family and part used (Table-1).

Result and Discussion

A total of 24 plant species and 11 edible macrofungi were documented during survey, which are used as supplementary food by the peoples of this region. Out of 24 plant species two were cultivated whereas 22 plant species were wild. Occurrence of maximum angiosperms (21) belonging to 12 families; 2 gymnosperms and only one plant species of pteridophytes were noted during the study. These 24 plant species were represented by 14 families.  Maximum plant species were recorded from family rosaceae (7). Presence of 2 plant species belonging to each of the following families i.e. utricaceae, moraceae and berberidaceae was also recorded, while family amaryllidaceae, chenopodiaceae, cucurbitaceae, elaeagnaceae, polygonaceae, cruciferae, araceae and phytolaccaceae were represented by only one plant species each. From family pinaceae (gymnosperm) 2 plant species and from dryopteridaceae (Pteridophyte) only one plant species was recorded.

After interviewing and discussing with the residents and elderly people of this area it was observed that maximum number of (14) plants are used in raw form where as remaining 10 plant species are being used in cooked or processed form. Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott. and Cucurbita pepo Linn. are cultivated plant species, people make use of petiole of Colocasia and buds of Cucrbita for the preparation of vegetable and  rest of the 22 plant species are wild which mainly grow around open areas of the villages and vicinity of village forests. All the plant species are seasonal which mainly grow and flourish during months of March to October except species of Pinus which are perennial.

Generally fruits of the plants are used as supplementary food. Data indicates that fruits of the 51 % plant species, leaves of 33% plant species, seeds of 8% plant species and buds , stem and petiole of  4% plant species, are used as supplementary food (Table1 & fig.1). Leaves of Alium humile Kunth., Chenopodium album Linn., Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Garten., Girardiana hererophylla Decne., Nasturtium officinale R., Phytolaca acinosa Roxb., Utrica dioca Linn.; seeds of Pinus longifolia Roxb. Sans., Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jacks.; buds of Cucurbita pepo Linn.; stem of Diplazium esculentum Retz. and petiole of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott. are commonly used as supplementary food.

It is interesting to note that the people also make use of some wild macrofungi as supplementary food. In present study total 11 edible macrofungal species belonging to six genera and six different families were recorded. Out of 11 macrofungal species fructifications of 8 species, i.e., Helvella compressa (Synder) N.S. Weber, Lactarius delicious (L. ex Fr.) S.F. Gray, Lycoperdon sp. Pers., Morchella conica Pers. ex. Fr., Morchella deliciosa Fries., Ramaria botrytoides (Pers:Fr.) Ricken, Morchella semilebra DC., Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers., are used in processed form whereas 3 species: Rhizopogon rubescens (Tal. & C. Tal.), Rhizopogon luteolus Fr., Rhigopogon vulgaris (Vittad.) M. Lange., are used in raw form. Lactarius delicious (L. ex Fr.) S.F. Gray., and species of Morchella and Rhigopogon are the most extensively used macrofugi. Among macrofungi, species of Helvella, Lactarius, Lycoperdon and Ramaria grows during rainy season, whereas species of Morchella and Rhizopogon grow during the month of March and April. People collect these macrofungi from the forest area and apple orchards. This shows the vast knowledge of people of the area regarding use of wild plant species and macrofungi as food.

During this survey it was found that some plants like Diplazium esculentum Retz. a pteridophyte,  locally known as ‘lingara’ which is used for the preparation of delicious vegetable and pickle is facing threats due to improper collection and over exploitation, which need immediate attention towards its conservation. Some shrubs like Berberis lyceum Royle, Berberis aristata DC., Rosa moschata Mill., Rosa canina Linn. and species of Rubus are diminishing from the area due to deforestation and clearing of the lands for the plantation of the apple trees.

Conclusion

The present investigation indicates the significance of wild plants as supplementary food and these supplementary food plants may play an important role in future for insuring food security of people. Therefore, more attention should be paid towards the conservation of these wildly growing plants to cater the need of nutritional requirements of the future generation.

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to Head, School of Studies in Botany, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India, for providing necessary facilities.

Observations

Table 1. Supplementary food plants and wild edible macrofungi used by the people of upper hilly region of district Shimla.

* Old leaves of Phytolaca acinosa are very poisonous, only very young leaves are used as vegetable.

# Whole above ground plant part is used for the preparation of vegetable due to which it is facing threats.

Figure 1. Statistics of plant parts used.

References

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