Observations on Ethnobotany of Tribals of Subansiri, Arunachal Pradesh

Abstract

The present paper deals with the plants used by the tribes of various ethnic groups like Nishi, Apatani, Hill-Miri, Adi etc. dominate the hilly region of Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh.

The paper gives an account of 129 plants of ethnobotanical importance, of which 112 are not known out side their tribal community. These are used by the tribals, for varied purposes such as food, medicine, fish-poison, fibre, local drinks, religious ceremonies, superstition, etc.

Some ethnobotanical studies conducted in other parts of the country are discussed in the paper.

The information obtained while studying the flora of the area is presented here. For each species, the botanical name with family, local name, uses, the way the plant or plant parts used, flowering and fruiting time, locality and the field number are given.