Phytoetymology and ethnobotany of indigenous or introduced gymnosperms in India

Abstract

The paper deals with the etymology of 46 genera belonging to 12 families reported from India with their primary citation and ethno botany. The term Phyto etymology is used for the first time here for the study of Plant etymology. Phyto etymologies are on the basis of morphological characters, in the honour of a person, special features, place of discovery, and combination of Greek and Latin words, with a genus similarity or based on vernacular names. Ethnobotany of given genera reveals that 26 out of 46 Genera have medicinal properties, 12 have timber value and 18 show other useful properties.