Ethnobotanical study on wild edible fruits, spices and aquatic plants traditionally used by the Garo tribe of Meghalaya

Abstract

An ethnobotanical study was carried out in the West Garo Hills situated in the north-eastern hilly region of India during 2015-2017 to identify and document the wild edible fruits, spices and aquatic plants used by the Garo tribe for their nutraceutical properties. The study area is situated between the latitude 90o30’and 89o40’E and the longitude 26oand 25o 20’ N. It was found that there were 43 wild edible fruit species belonging to 25 families were ethnobotanically significant for the Garo tribes. Of these wild edible fruits, 36 species were trees followed by the five shrubs and two creepers/climbers. It was also observed that the Garo tribe used 19 species of wild edible plants belonging to nine families as spices to enrich their food. Most of the spice plants used by the Garo tribe belong to Zingiberaceae and Rutaceae family. They were grouped under herbs (10 species), shrubs (6 species), trees (2 species) and creepers (1 species). Rhizomes, leaves and flowers/inflorescence were commonly used plant parts. Among the aquatic plants five species were used by the Garo tribe as vegetable, spices and medicines.