Documentation of Some Wild Plants of Panagar Block of Jabalpur District, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

The present paper highlights the documentation of the wild plants, including trees, herbs, shrubs, fruit plants and medicinal plants, etc., in Panagar block of Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh.  The principal objective of this investigation was to present indigenous knowledge and uses of wild plants by villagers of Panagar block of Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh, India for various purposes. The current situation shows that their utilisation and knowledge are reducing over time. Therefore, there is an urgent need to investigate ethnic knowledge and expertise on the benefits of wild plants. The botanical names followed by common names, family and local uses are furnished. Questionnaires were prepared for collecting information. The study was carried out purposively in three selected villages in the Panagar block of Jabalpur district during the FWE programme. In the present study, a total of 34 plant species belonging to 22 families have been investigated as wild plants, and Leguminosae (8) was the dominant family during August 2024 to January 2025. Wild plants and their parts, mainly root, stem, leaves, flowers and sometimes whole plants, are directly utilised. This study reveals that rural people living in village areas depend on wild plants and have a huge knowledge of wild plants and their utilisation. The data have been documented on various types of plants for food, fodder, fuel, medicine, etc. Further study is needed for the documentation of wild plants used by villagers and the traditional knowledge of their uses. Wild plants have better potential to meet the recommended allowances, but special awareness among the villagers is necessary for the conservation of these wild plants.