Diversity and indigenous uses of plants in Naina Devi Sacred Shrine Rewalsar, Himachal Pradesh, North Western Himalaya, India

Abstract

The analysis of the diversity, distribution and indigenous uses of plants in and around a Naina Devi Sacred Shrine Rewalsar of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh were carried out from 2009-2014. A total of 169 species of plants belonging to 71 families and 136 genera were recorded. Among these ecologically and economically important species, tree (20 spp.), shrub (41 spp.), herb (91 spp.) were present. The species were used as medicine (117 spp.), wild edible/food (49 spp.), fuel (27 spp.), fodder (54 spp.), and religious (11 spp.) by the inhabitants of the area. The paper gives scientific name of wild plants along with authority, local names, family, life form, indigenous uses and plant part used by the local people of the region. Different parts of these species, such as whole plants, roots, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds and stems are used by the inhabitants for remedial various diseases.