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Ethnobotanical Studies of High Valued Medicinal Plants Reported from Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh

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Abstract

The primary goal of this study is to present a brief report on high-value endangered medicinal plants collected under the extreme climate conditions of Spiti Valley. This report will also include documentation of the traditional uses of these important medicinal and aromatic plants. During the current study, surveys and field visit were carried out during different seasons, samples were collected, and herbariums were made for each plant. This was followed by the identification and authentication of the plants. Traditional uses were documented through questionnaires, interviews, and open discussions with informants from the study area. The medicinal plants documented are Arnebia euchroma, Geranium wallichianum, Carum carvi, Capparis spinosa, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Rosa webbiana, Dracocephalum heterophyllum, Hyoscyamus niger, Iris hookeriana, Oxytropis lapponica, Waldheimia tomentosa. The region is a source of great diversity of high-value medicinal plants mostly used for health care. These plants also serve other daily needs of the local inhabitants such as food, fodder, fuel, or ritual purposes. All plants possess significant significance in current research into the welfare of mankind.

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Funding

This work was supported by ongoing institutional funding. No additional grants to carry out or direct this particular research were obtained.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Sciences, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Shahpur Campus, 176206, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India

    M. Sharma & S. Yangzom

  2. Department of Botany and Microbiology, Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University), 249404, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India

    M. Sharma

  3. Department of Plant Sciences, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Shahpur Campus, 176206, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India

    M. Sharma

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  1. M. Sharma
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Both M. Sharma and S. Yangzom have equally contributed to this research work.

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Sharma, M., Yangzom, S., Sharma, M. et al. Ethnobotanical Studies of High Valued Medicinal Plants Reported from Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 51, 104–114 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359023601568

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