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Diversity of food plants used by tribal people of Dhenkanal district, Odisha, India: An ethnobotanical analysis

Nibedita Mohanty, Taranisen Panda, Nirlipta Mishra3, Santilata Sahoo, Siba P.Rath

An ethnobotanical investigation was carried out in Dhenkanal district, Odisha, India to explore the use of edible food plants among its tribal inhabitants. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, complemented by personal interviews. The tribal people used plant species as food supplement particularly during scarcity period of the year.Atotal of one hundred and thirty seven species fromsixty families were recorded in the course of investigation. Different plant parts like fruits (53 types), leaves (40 types), flower and seed (15 types each) and tubers and corms (14 types) were consumed in raw or cooked formby the tribal population. This study can provide a better database both for past and present relationship between plants and traditional societies of Dhenkanal district, Odisha. Attention need to be paid for the collection and preservation of such taxa which are being grown in backyards of these tribals in remote forest areas.