Survey Of Wild Edible Plants Of Dhanakarkulam Panchayath, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The present study was carried out in the Dhanakarkulam panchayath to document the diversity, indigenous uses and availability status of wild edible plants. The inhabitants of the region are dependent up to a large extent on wild resources for their food and other daily needs.. The study revealed a total of 51 species, 42 genera and 27 families of wild edible plants were recorded in the study area. The total number of plant species recorded as medicinal and wild food plants indicated that the study area has substantial amount of useful plants and diverse source of medicinal and wild food plants. The diversity of these medicinal and
wild edible of these medicinal and wild edible plants might be due to the suitability of environmental condition for different types of plant species. This finding is a good indicator for the presence of a considerable diversity of plant species is the study area. The study will be helpful in developing a comprehensive data base on wild plant resources, strengthening the food security in area and in conserving the traditional knowledge for the prosperity of the remote areas.