ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS, SALEM DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Abstract

An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills, Southern Eastern Ghats, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India during November 2012-March 2014. This study mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction materials, house hold implements, brushing, fuel wood, agriculture tools, religious, decorative to ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires, interviews and discussions with very old and knowledgeable tribals. A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were recorded in the present study. These extremely important plants should be taken into account and steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit.

Headnote

ABSTRACT

An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills, Southern Eastern Ghats, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India during November 2012-March 2014. This study mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction materials, house hold implements, brushing, fuel wood, agriculture tools, religious, decorative to ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires, interviews and discussions with very old and knowledgeable tribals. A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were recorded in the present study. These extremely important plants should be taken into account and steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit.

KEY WORDS: Yercaud hills, Malayali tribes, Ethno-botany.

INTRODUCTION

Plants are used against a number of diseases by many indigenous communities in traditional medicine; plants are also used in building materials, fodder, weapons and other commodities of economical importance. The tribal people are economically backward ethnic groups and constitute separate socio-cultural groups. Many local and indigenous communities in Asian countries meet their basic needs from the forest products they manufacture and sell based on their traditional knowledge (John Kennedy, 2006). Yercaud hills have been gifted with enormous number of plant species. Tribal people living in Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their survival. These plants play a vital role in their life as these people depend on the forest wealth to meet their needs. Their economic condition is determined by these plants. Yercaud hill range is situated to the north-east part of Eastern Ghats, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India with rich vegetation and it covers an area of 150 square miles (390 Sq. km). It lies between 11°45'56" N latitude and 78°17'55" E longitude. The temperature ranges from 13°C to 29°C on the peaks and 25°C to 40°C at the foot hills. The average annual rainfall is around 1500-1750 mm. The indigenous people inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali, the oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group in South India. Malayali simply means a hill person an appellation distinguishing them from the people of plains. In physical appearance they scarcely differ from the people of plains. They speak Tamil dialect of their own. They are supposed to be descendants of Kanchipuram vellalar. They appear to have migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) between seventh and eleventh centuries. The tribals are mostly working as casual laborers in coffee estates. They are cultivating food grains, fruits and vegetable (Alagesaboopathi, et al., 1996). Malayali tribals use more number of plants for various purposes like, for making construction materials, house hold implements, brushing plants, fuel wood, agriculture tools, religious, decorative to ward off evil spirits etc. This study enumerates such useful plants which are used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills, Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India.

Data Collection

Frequent field surveys were carried out in Yercaud hills in different seasons during November 2012-March 2014. Information on the plants was collected through personal interview with village headman, farmers and other knowledgeable tribals. The interviews were conducted in the local language (Tamil), the information includes local names, plant parts used, and method of utilization was gathered from them with regard to each plant. The collected information was recorded on field note books and plants were identified using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras (Gamble, 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu- Carnatic (Matthew, 1983). Plant specimens were deposited for future references in the Botany department, Vivekanandha College of Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous), Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode, Namakkal (DT), Tamil Nadu, India.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The present study focused mainly on the role of non timber forest products in the livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India. During the study period, 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were identified to be utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1). The reported plants were arranged to their Botanical Name, Vernacular name as recorded during field work, habit and uses. Plants utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified under various categories like fuel wood plants, house construction and house hold implements, agriculture tools, religious importance plants, plants used to ward off evil afflictions, hair care and toothbrush. The plants listed mainly belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species), Mimosaceae, Rutaceae and Poaceae (4 species), Combretaceae, Anacardiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Apocynaceae (3 species), Asparagaceae, Alangiaceae, Asclepidaceae, Meliaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Verbenaceae, Arecaceae, Ebenaceae, Lamiaceae, Tiliaceae, Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species), Araceae, Acanthaceae, Annonaceae, Papaveraceae, Bambusaceae, Borangiaceae, Cyperaceae, Droseraceae, Proteaceae, Convolvulaceae, Gyrocarpeaceae, Ulmaceae, Malvaceae, Lythraceae, Nyctaginaceae, Moringaceae, Salicaceae, Araliaceae, Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species). From the study, it was observed that 51 taxa are trees (60%), 23 taxa are herbs (20%) and 10 taxa are shrub (12%).

Fire wood plants:

One of the most important non timber forest products for daily life is fuel wood, the only means of energy source of Malayali tribes. The fuel wood species are collected from the forest near to the hamlets. The species preferred for fire wood to their comfortable availability and inflammability. According to Malayali tribes which are not considered as a source of good timber are treated as fire wood. The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes belong to 15 species, 15 genera and 10 families, they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth, Bauhinia tomentosa L, Buchanania angustifolia Roxb, Chomelia astiactica O.Kze, Diospyros montana, Roxb, Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq, Holopetela integrifolia (Roxb) Planch, Mallotus philippensis, M. Arg. Moringa oleifera Lamk, Plectronia didyma, Kurz, Salix tetrasperma Roxb, Shorea robusta Roth, Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels, Terminalia bellerica Roxb, and Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall.

House construction and house hold implements:

Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to use natural resources specifically plants for their day-to-day life. Malayali tribes use Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make meal plate, Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to make broom stick, Cyperus rotundus, L, Ophiuros exalatus O.Ktz, Oryza sativa L, Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and thatching, Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn, Chloroxylon swietenia DC, Dalberiga latifolia Roxb, Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia chebula Retz were used to make pounder, Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is used to make churn-staff, woody stem of Mangifera indica L is used to make wood grinder, leaves of Cassia fistula Linn, is used for ripening of fruits, Gmelina arborea Roxb mature stem is used as a stick for musical instrument, the fibers from the leaf fibers of Agave americana, L and Agave angustifolia, Haw are used for making coir, the culm of Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for making various types of baskets, leaves of Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making baskets and decoration in ceremonies.

Wood forms an important construction material for houses, cattle sheds and temporary settlements in the area. Windows, doors and cots were chiefly made up of Albizia odoratissima, Benth, Cleistanthus Collins Benth, Cordia wallichii, G. Don, Dalberiga lanceolaria, L, Diospyros edenum J.Koeing, Gardenia resinifera, Roth, Grevillea robusta A.Cunn. ex R. Br, Melia composite, Willd, Shorea roxburghii Roxb, Tectona grandis Linn, Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.

Agricultural implements:

For making agricultural implements four species were used such as Chloroxylon swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd were used for making handle of axe and woody stem of Anogeissus latifolia, Wall and Tectona grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow by Malayali tribes.

Plants used for Religious purposes:

Ceremonial plant use is of principal importance in daily Malayali tribe life and many species have a specific ceremonial significance, generally associated with blessings, age-rites and witchcraft. Some plants are used as offerings to god among these tribes. Asclepias curassavica L, Cassia montana Heyne, Clerodendrum serratum L, and Plumeria rubra, L flowers are used in religious practice to worship God. Holarrhena pubescens (Buch-Ham.) Wall.ex.G.Don, Wrightia tinctoria R.Br mature stem are used in all traditional religious festivals and religious ceremonies.

Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions:

Malayali tribes believe that some of the plants bring good fortune and keep off evil spirits. The exudates of Pterocarpus marsupium, Roxb and Semecarpus anacardium, L are used for marking their children's forehead to protect them from evils afflictions, brush body with leaves and root of Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake bite, brush body with leaves of Schefflera racemosa Harms. protect from evils afflictions, roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Ait.f is stitched together and then worn around the hip to protect from evils afflictions, rhizome of the Acorus calamus, Linn is made into pieces and stitched together and worn around the neck of a new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions. Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate sexual desire ie. Abrus pulchellus Wall, Alangium hexapetalum Lam, Canthium parviflorum, Lam, Drosera indica L, Evolvulus alsinoides Linn, Ficus bengalensis Linn, Grewia tenax (forssk.) fiori, Mimosa pudica Linn, Mirabilis jalaba Linn, Ocimum canum, Sims and Randia dumetorum, Lam

Plants used as Toothbrush:

Malayali tribals generally use the young twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn, Azadirachta indica A.Juss, Ficus glomerata Roxb, Ficus religosa Linn, Jatropha curcas L and Psidium guajava Linn, areial root of Ficus benghalensis Linn, Mirabilis jalaba, Linn rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula, Retz fruit powder are used as tooth powder.

Plants used in Hair Nourishment:

Heredity, older age, lack of nutrition, infections (such as worms, lice, scabies, dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic products (soaps, shampoos and hair oils) may cause hair loss, dandruff, discoloration of hairs. Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant resources for hair disorders. For example Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a shampoo, seeds of Argemone mexicana, root of Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening the hairs, flowers of Annona squamosa & fruit of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff and kill lice, whole plant parts of Andrographis echioides, flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia calendulacea prevented hair loss.

CONCLUSION

The present investigation revealed that significant role of plants used by Malayali tribes in Yercaud hills. It is clear that these products are extremely important and significant component of the household livelihood of Malayali tribes. The information collected from tribals is useful for carrying out further research in the field of ethnobotany, taxonomy. These indigenous plants must be taken into consideration and treated with equal importance as that of other plant species, many research works must be carried out on these plants to increase their productivity which will help in increasing our country's economy. The diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is incredible and this sound knowledge has been documented through this study.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We the authors extend our special thanks to Mr. N. Thangaraju, I.F.S., District Forest Officer, Salem Division, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India for giving permission to carry out this Research work in Yercaud hills area. Its our pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing their knowledge on plants. We gratefully acknowledge Mr. R. Prabakaran, Department of Botany, Vivekanandha College of Arts and Sciences for Women (Autonomous), Elayampalayam for his help in identification of the Plant species.

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Cite this article:

Rekha R, Senthil Kumar S (2014), ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS, SALEM DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, Global J Res. Med. Plants & Indigen. Med., Volume 3(6): 243-251

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