A survey on wild vegetable plants used in the Southern Eastern Ghats

Abstract

Aim: To identify and document the different wild vegetable plant species used and their pattern of utilization by the forest fringe village peoples.Study design: Open-ended questionnaire surveyPlace and duration of the study: Study was carried out in the forest fringe villages near by Cauvery wildlife sanctuary situated in the Hanur taluk, Chamaraja Nagara district, Karnataka during the year 2021-2022.Methodology: Three fringe villages of the forest area were surveyed with questionnaire, plants were identified and the data was compiled.Results: A total of 23 different plant species belongs to 16 families and 21 genera were used as wild vegetables. Herbs alone constituted 44 per cent of total plants consumption. Leaves were the mostly used part of a plant in that area of the plants used, nine plant species were very commonly used, eight species were commonly used and six species were rarely used. Further, local people collected maximum number of plants from the agriculture fields. Maximum number of edible plants in the study area was available in the rainy season.Conclusion: Wild edible plants can strengthen nutritional security of forest fringe villages and easily accessible from agricultural and abandoned land provides most of the plant collects.