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Medicinal Uses of Traditionally Used Plants in Bhatwari Block, District Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India

119 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.37398/JSR.2020.640117 Abstract: The prolific plant diversity of Uttarakhand hills has provided an initial lead to the local people to look for various plant species for the purpose of food, medicine, spices and perfumes. Over the period of time, they have compiled the knowledge on the use of various plant species. The present study aims to document such information, especially the use of plants for medicine, as spice and as perfumes. Field surveys carried out in the villages of Bhatwari block have resulted in the documentation of 60medicinal, aromatic and spice plant species. These species were distributed over various life forms, like tree, shrub and herbaceous forms. For curing various ailments, the use of aboveground plant parts was relatively higher than the belowground parts. Different belowground plant forms such as root, bulb, tuber and rhizome were used for preparing herbal medicines. About 15% of these species, which include Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. Ex Royle, Rheum australe D. Don, Nordostachys jatamansi(D.Don)DC., Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, Taxus baccata L. and Angelica glaucaEdgew. have become threatened due to over exploitation, natural and anthropogenic pressures. Conservation and sustainable utilization of these valuable medicinal plant species is essential to protect the traditional knowledge regarding plants and plant based healing practices.