Ethnobotanical Observations on SomeGymnosperms of Garhwal Himalaya,

Uttar Pradesh, India I

HARISH SINGH, ARVIND SAKLANI, AND BRU LAL2

This paper describes the ethnobotanical importance 0/nine gymnosperms com­mon in temperate regions of Garhwal Himalaya, India. Folklore claims of theseplants were obtained during field studies. For each plant its popular name, localname, and manner 0/use are described.

Les Observations Ethnobotanique des Quelque Gymnospermes du GarhwalHimalaya, Province de Nord, lndes. Cette etude decrit l'importance ethnobotaniquedes neufgymnospermes ordinaires de la region temperee du Garhwal Himalaya,Indes. Les demandes folklorique de celles-ci plantes s'obtiennent de travaux pra­tiques. Pour chaque plante Ie nom populaire, Ie nom local, et Ie mode d'usage sontdecrits.

Garhwal Himalaya, the source of holy Ganga and Yamuna rivers, is situatedin the northwestern Himalayan range between Himachal Pradesh and Kumaondivision of Uttar Pradesh, India. This large region extends from about 29°26' to3l028'N latitude and 77°49' to 80059'E longitude, with a total area of about 3000km-. The landscape is dominated by vast and gregarious conifer forests of chirpine, blue pine, Himalayan cedar, and Himalayan silver fir with patches ofweepingblue juniper dry forests. These evergreen forests with rarely a dense undergrowthare found between 1000 m and 3000 m elevation in the northwestern Himalaya.The majestic Himalayan cedar, a characteristic feature of the northwestern Hi­malayan landscape, is absent in the eastern Himalayan range.

The region is comprised of five districts, i.e., Pauri, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Tehri,and Dehradun. It is inhabited by many tribal communities, e.g., Bhoxas, Bhotias,Gujars, Jads, Jaunsaris, and Rajis. The language varies from place to place; col­lectively it is known as "Garhwali." The tribal communities have a close rela­tionship with forests, which have greatly influenced their customs, religious prac­tices, social fabric, and folklore. Many of the communities have been dependenton forests for their food, medicinal herbs, raw materials to build their houses,fuel for cooking and warmth, and fodder for their cattle.

SURVEY OF UTERATURE AND PRESENT WORK

Ethnobotanical studies have received desired attention in India only in the last2 or 3 decades. These studies have brought to light numerous useful plants thatwere formerly either less known or unknown.

In Garhwal Himalaya significant work has been done by some workers (e.g.,Ahluwalia 1965; Ansari and Ghana Nand 1985; Gaur and Semwal 1983; Issar1981; Jain and Saklani n.d.; Joshi et al. 1982; Juyal and Uniyal 1960; Nautiyal

1 Received 31 August 1988; accepted 3 February 1990.2 National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.

Economic Botany; 44(3), 1990, pp. 349-354© 1990. bv the New York Botanical Garden. Bronx. NY 10458

350 ECONOMIC BOTANY [VOL. 44

1981; Negi et al. 1985; Sahai 1987; Saklani et al. n.d.; Sundriyal et al. 1985;Uniyal 1977; Upreti 1983), but no paper has come out with ethnobotany ofgymnosperms growing in the area. The present communication deals with ninespecies of gymnosperms commonly used by inhabitants of the region.

Ethnobotanical data presented in the paper are based on interviews with in­formants and local healers and on our own observations during several trips tothe region. Field work was done in many villages in 1985, 1986, and 1987 (e.g.,Auli, Badrinath, Gorson, Malari, Molta, and Tapovan ofChamoli district; Bagori,Barkot, Jakho1, Kishanpur, Mukhwa, Osla, Raithal, and Rana ofUttarkashi dis­trict; Jaidwar, Kharson, Koti, Mason, and Masras of Tehri Garhwal; Dhiroi,Kyari, Kyawa, and Mundan ofDehradun; and Baijwari, Buakhal, Gado1i, Kandai,and Timli of Pauri Garhwal district).

We are familiar with the language of the region and therefore did not face anyproblem while gathering information about uses of the plants.

Voucher specimens collected during field work were identified and housed inthe Ethnobotanical Herbarium of National Botanical Research Institute (EBH­NBRI), Lucknow.

ENUMERATION

In the following enumeration plants are arranged in alphabetical order by genus.Following the binomial are the English common name, the local name(s) in italics,the collector's (H. Singh) number, a brief botanical description(s), and uses.

Abies pindrow Royle, Himalayan silver fir, ragu, raga, 6765.

A dark-foliaged tree growing to 200 ft tall. The plant occurs throughout thetemperate region of Garhwal Himalaya from 7500 to 11,000 ft.

The fresh leaves are made into a paste, which is mixed with honey in equalquantity. About one spoonful of the mixture is given for coughs and colds twicea day.

The wood is widely used by the inhabitants for making boxes, furniture, andvarious type of household articles.

Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud., Himalayan cedar, diwar, dyar, deodar, 6772.

An evergreen tree with spreading branches and dark green foliage; it grows to250 ft tall. The plant is common in the temperate regions from 5000 to 8500 ft.

A decoction of the bark is given orally for fever and dysentery. About 50 mlof the decoction is given once a day for 2 to 3 d.

The reddish-brown oil (dyar tel), extracted from heartwood by the condensingprocedure, is applied locally for treating rheumatic pain, piles, and ulcers andother skin afflictions. It is also used as an insect repellent, being smeared on thebody of domestic animals-dogs, goats, kids, etc.-to kill fleas and lice.

The tree is sacred and plays an important role in various religious ceremonies.Small thin slices of the wood are used as sacrificial wood. These are burnt withrefined butter (ghee), Hordeum vulgare L. (jau), and Sesamum indicum L. (til)after chanting the "mantras" on the occasion of birth, marriage, death, and other

1990] SINGH ET AL.: GYMNOSPERMS OF GARHWAL HIMALAYA 351

religious ceremonies. The whole procedure is called hawan. The leaves are usedas incense (dhoop).

Pollen grains, as a yellow powder, are used for brightening metallic idols andas pithain (a small mark over the forehead) on the occasion of some religiousceremonies and festivals. The wood, resistant to water, is extensively used forhouse construction and in making of boxes, furniture, packing cases, mortars,various wood pots, and household articles. Tubs made of the wood are used forwashing woollen cloth.

Cupressus torulosa D. Don, Himalayan cypress, surain, 6784.

An erect, rather closed-foliaged tree, growing to 140 ft tall. The plant occurs inshallow soil and even on bare rocks from 6000 to 8000 ft.

The leaves are made into a paste, and a few drops of the juice of Citrus medicaL. (nimbu) are added to it. The paste is applied on boils and blisters.

Dried leaves are burnt as incense. Fresh leaves are offered to deities on theoccasion of religious ceremonies.

The wood is frequently made into houses and various types of agriculturalimplements and household articles.

Ephedra gerardiana Wall., jointfir, somlata, lata, 6769.

A tufted low shrub. Common in dry and temperate regions from 7000 to16,000 ft.

The ripe and fresh "fruits" are especially relished by children. These are alsoeaten for curing asthma (shwas) and other bronchial disorders.

The stem decoction is given orally for treating asthma, pneumonia, and cardiactrouble.

The lower branches are burned for fuel by inhabitants in alpine regions duringscarcity of fuel wood.

Juniperus recurva Buch.-Ham., weeping blue juniper, bhyadaru, 6789.

A prostrate shrub or tree attaining up to 20 ft in height. The plant occursgregariously throughout alpine Himalaya from 7000 to 15,000 ft.

The smoke emitted on burning of green leaves is said to be emetic. Twigs anddried leaves are used as incense on occasion of religious ceremonies and festivals.Fresh as well as wet wood is widely used for fuel by the Bhotia tribe and otherinhabitants of alpine regions.

Picea smithiana Boiss., West Himalayan spruce, sawa, sawu, 6790.

A tree, to 250 ft tall, with drooping branches that is found mostly in temperateregions from 7000 to 11,000 ft.

The oleoresin is applied on heel cracks for wound healing.On occasion ofa religious dance (pandon nach) a small tree along with drooping

branches (panno-dai) is collected by villagers and fixed at the centre ofa commongathering place. Dancers sing folk songs while dancing around the panno-dai tothe music of local drums.

The long branches and wood are used to build huts and houses and to make

352 ECONOMIC BOTANY [VOL. 44

household articles. The dried branches, cones, and leaves serve widely for fueland torchwood.

Pinus roxburghii Sarg., chir pine, chir, sowl, 6787.

A tree, to 150 ft tall. It grows on slopes and foothills from 3000 to 7000 ft.The edible seeds are an ingredient ofkheer, a sweetened preparation of rice and

milk boiled together.A hot decoction of leaves is applied locally to treat sprains.The resin (khaida or leesa) is applied on boils, heel cracks, and on either side

just above the eye to remove swelling.Persons suffering from tuberculosis are advised to stay for 2 mo in a hut built

in the pine forest. This is believed to help in curing the disease.The resinous wood (doi) is burnt and the carbon is collected from the underside

of a metallic disc inverted over the flame. The carbon is mixed with mustard oiland is made into a paste (kajal), which is applied inside the lower eyelids to keepthe eye clean and attractive.

Most of the inhabitants living in remote and wooded habitats are still withoutelectricity. The resinous wood is extensively utilised by these people for lightingtheir houses. On the occasion of Diwali (a famous holy festival of Hindus), smallpieces of doi are tied into bundles (bhaila or diwali) with strips of the bambooArundinariafalcata Nees (ringal). At night the villagers get together at a selectedplace along with their musical instruments. Some of them start playing with themusical instruments and sing folk songs. Others enjoy by dancing and swingingaround ignited "bhailas" with the help of long strips of ringal.

The fallen leaves are collected and used for thatching and packing material. Ascattle bedding, they form a good manure in mixture with animal wastes.

The wood and dried seed Cones (chhenti, seti, or cheuton) are widely burnedfor fuel.

The wood is extensively used for house construction and for making householdarticles.

Pinus wallichiana A. B. Jackson, blue pine, kail, chir, 6771.

An evergreen tree, to 150 ft tall, growing from 6000 to 10,000 ft.The leaves are crushed with clay soil (chopri mati) in an equal ratio. The paste

is applied externally as a plaster for treating internal injuries of cattle.The oleoresin is applied on heel cracks and other skin afflictions. It is used to

seal cracks in wooden and metallic pots.The bark decoction yields a yellow dye, which is used particularly for dyeing

woollen cloth. Dried cones are generally used to decorate houses. Dried needlesare used as animal bedding tsottar, pashya), which forms a good manure afterdecaying with dung and urine. Other uses are the same as those of P. roxburghii.

Taxus baccata L., common yew, thuner, 6780.

An evergreen tree, to 60 ft tall. Found mostly in the temperate regions from6000 to 11,000 ft.

The red aril of the ripe seeds is edible.

19901 SINGH ET AL.: GYMNOSPERMS OF GARHWAL HIMALAYA 353

The leaves are pounded and the paste is given orally for treating asthma andother bronchial disorders and indigestion.

The dried, powdered bark is boiled with a small quantity of common salt andrefined butter (ghee). The mixture, with the appearance and taste of tea, is givenfor vigour and vitality.

The hard, durable wood is used for making grain pounders (musal or ginzala),whey containers (pariya), and handles ofagricultural implements, including ploughs(anna). It is also made into furniture, door frames, and houses. The dried zig-zagbranches are used for decoration.

DISCUSSION

Although the region is rich in forest, the angiosperm flora is poor at the higherelevations where our study was carried out. The undergrowth in coniferous forestsis almost nil and in such conditions the tribals and rural people are entirelydependent on gymnosperms for their requirements.

On one hand, the inhabitants extensively exploit the gymnosperms for valuabletimber and other requirements; on the other hand, the plant species are dwindlingday by day due to merciless deforestation by traders for commercial interest.Over-exploitation ofthe forests is not only causing depletion ofthe plant resourcesbut also disgracing the natural beauty of the region. Therefore, there is an urgentneed for the conservation of gymnospermic plant wealth; it is suggested that itshould be included under the afforestation programme launched by the govern­ment and semi-government agencies.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to Director, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, for providingfacilities. Thanks are due to Dr. J. K. Maheshwari, and Dr. S. K. Jain, N.B.R.I., Lucknow, for valuablesuggestions.

LITERATURE CITED

Ahluwalia, K. S. 1965. Medicinal plants of Har-ki-dun, Tons Division, V.P. Nagarjun 8:135-139.Ansari, A. A., and Ghana Nand. 1985. Some medicinal plants ofPauri Garhwal. Himalayan Chern.

Pharm. Bull. 2:42-44.Gaur, R. D., and J. K. Semwal. 1983. Some little known wild edibles of Garhwal Himalaya. Man

& Environ. 7:161-165.Issar, R. K. 1981. Traditionally important medicinal plants and folklore of Uttarakhand Himalaya

for animal treatment. J. Sci. Res. PI. Med. 2:61-66.Jain, S. K., and A. Saklani. n.d. Observations on ethnobotany of the Tons Valley region in Uttarkashi

Dist. of Northwest Himalaya. Mountain Research and Development, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.(In press)

Joshi, D. N., B. C. L. Shah, and R. K. Suri. 1982. Some medicinal plants ofRudranath Bugyal (Dist.Chamoli) V.P. Bull. Med. Ethnobot. Res. 3:27-42.

Juyal, S. P., and M. R. Uniyal, 1960. Medicinal plants of commercial and traditional importancein Bhillangana valley of Tehri-Garhwal, Nagarjun 10:26-36.

Nautiyal, S. 1981. Some medicinal plants of Garhwal hills-a traditional use. J. Sci. Res. PI. Med.2:12-18.

Negi, K. S., J. K. Tiwari, and R. D. Gaur. 1985. Economic importance of some common trees inGarhwal Himalaya; an ethnobotanical study. Indian J. Forest. 8:276-289.

Sahai, K. 1987. Chir pine as a boon for the people of Kumaon. Everyman's Sci. 22:121-124.

354 ECONOMIC BOTANY [VOL. 44

Saklani, A., Brij Lal, H. Singh, and S. N. Sachan. n.d, Ethnobotany of Uttarkashi-I: food andmedicinal plants. Himalayan Research and Development, Nainital. (In press)

Sundriyal, R. C., S. C. Negi, A. P. Joshi, and R. Dhasmana. 1985. Some important medicinal treesof Kotdwara, Lansdowne and vicinity. Himalayan Chern. Pharm. Bull. 2:45-48.

Uniyal, M. R. 1977. Uttarakhand Vanaushadi Darshika. Central Council for Research in IndianMedicine and Homeopathy, New Delhi.

Upreti, M. C. 1983. Utilization of pine needles. Himalayan Res. Develop. 2:41-42.

Book Review

Amazon Rain Forests: Ecosystem Disturbance and Recovery. Ecological Studies Vol. 60.C. F. Jordan (ed.). Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., 44 Hartz Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094­249. 1987. 133 pp. $49.50. ISBN 3-540-96397-9.

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