<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">Ethnobotanical notes on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Allium</i> species of Arunachal Pradesh, India</span>

Abstract

Onion and garlic is considered one the most important ancient cultivated crops of genus <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Allium</i>. Large numbers of <i>Allium</i> species has been widely used for various purposes in hilly area of Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh, a state in North east India, harbours a wide range of wild <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Allium</i> species which are being used by natives as for vegetable, spices, condiment and medicine. A total of 9 plant species namely, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Allium cepa, Allium chinense, Allium hookeri, Allium macranthum, Allium prattii, Allium rubellum, Allium sativum, Allium tuberosum </i>and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Allium wallichii</i> were recorded in different parts of Arunachal Pradesh during June 2012 to July 2013. All the 9 species were consumed as raw or in processed form, as flavours/ condiment in preparing food items and as herbal medicine. It was recognized that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Allium chinense, Allium hookeri, Allium tuberosum </i>and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Allium macranthum</i> have high ornamental potential value. Most of the species

are locally cultivated and have good market value in areas of occurrence. However, wild <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Allium</i> species of Arunachal Pradesh is largely threatened by several human activities exerted by natives. The present work mainly highlights information on species diversity, distribution and utilization of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Allium</i> species of Arunachal Pradesh for future cultivation and conservation programmes.