Ethnobotanical Survey on Trees of Seminary Hills, Nagpur (M.S.): An Approach Towards Plant Conservation

Abstract

Seminary Hills (Latitude 21°9'57"North and Longitude 79°3'47" East) play an important role in maintaining ecological and environmental balance of the rapidly- growing Nagpur city. Majority of the area of Seminary Hills lie under protected forest area. Seminary Hills Forest represents the unique vegetation of tropical dry deciduous forest, and shows presence of trees like Tectona grandis L.f., Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub., Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Acacia catechu (L. f.) Willd., Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb. ex DC.) Wall. ex Guill. & Perr., characteristics of tropical dry deciduous forest. The survey was conducted to explore the valuable tree species and enrich the knowledge of ethnobotanical plants in the area. Study revealed occurrence of 49 tree species belonging to 19 families in the area. Majority of the trees belong to the family Fabaceae (43%). Survey showed that virtually all the recorded tree species have medicinal and economical value. Stem/Bark (78%) of the plants was most useful part followed by leaves (59 %, fruit and seeds (45 %), roots (33 %), flowers (29 %), gum (12 %). In 6% of the trees, all the parts were found to be useful. Knowledge gained about the diversity and uses of trees will generate awareness among people regarding importance and conservation of these plant species.