Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants on the foothills of Palamalai hills, Coimbatore district, Tamilnadu

Abstract

Ethnobotany is a life science which studies the interaction between human beings and flora in particular and broadly deals with the investigations, observations, and identifications of botanical diversity used for the prevention and treatment of human and livestock ailments. The ethnobotanical survey resulted in the documentation of 40 medicinal plants that have been used for medicinal purposes by tribal peoples of Palamalai hills. The habitat of the plants was analysed and it is observed that shrubs were found to be dominant in the community followed by trees, herbs and climbers. The plants collected from the study area are used in the treatment of various diseases.