Description

A comprehensive study was carried out during 2004- 2005 to elaborate the species diversity of medicinal flora of Changa Valley. The Study revealed that 41 medicinal plants, belonging to 30 families are used for various ailments. Out of which only two species belong to Pteridophytes. Herbs with 27 species were found to be the most used life forms followed by trees with 6 species, shrubs with 5 species and Climbers with 2 species in descending order. These plants resources have great ethanobotanical importance, especially used for curing various ailments through indigenous system of medicine. Some important medcinal plants of the area are Berberis lycium, Podopyllum hexandrum, Paeonia emodi, Viola serpense, valeriana jatamansi, Geranium wallichianum, Polygonatum verticillatum which are frequently used for tradition health care in the area but over collection and exploitation is one of the reason which have threatened certain species. There is override need of awareness program among the local community to protect the sustainable use of medicinal plants in the Valley.