Survey of useful wetland plants of South Odisha, India

Abstract

The paper reports useful wetland plants (except medicinal plants) of South Odisha, a part of the Eastern Ghats region, India. The survey was conducted during 2005-2008 and the collected specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of the Botany Department, Berhampur University (BOTB). Ethnobotanical data were collected through interview with elderly people of the area. The result revealed that 61 wetland plants under 47 genera and 23 families were under use by the local inhabitants for food (25 species), fodder (23 species), mat and basket weaving (7 species), thatching material (5 species), fuel (2 species) and other miscellaneous uses (16 species). Out of the total taxa, 38 species are Dicotyledons under 30 genera and 8 families, and 21 species are Monocotyledons under 15 genera and 13 families. Two species belong to Pteridophytes. Conservation of wetland and wetland plants is suggested.