wild vegetables used by bodo tribe in udalguri district of...

Pleione 5(2): 209 - 216. 2011. ISSN: 0973-9467© East Himalayan Society for Spermatophyte Taxonomy

Wild vegetables used by Bodo tribe in Udalguri District of Assam,India

A. Boro1, K. Bhattacharjee and G.C. SarmaDepartment of Botany, Gauhati University,Guwahati-780014, Assam, India

1Author for correspondence: E- mail: [email protected][Received revised 24.11.2011; Accepted 30.11.2011]

AbstractRecent survey in different villages of Udalguri district of Assam revealed that people of local communitiesused lots of wild plants for their daily livelihood. The paper deals with wild edible plants used as vegetablesby Bodo tribe living in this district. During investigation 80 species of wild plants belonging to 38 familiesand 65 genera have been collected. The collected plants are enumerated providing correct nomenclature,vernacular name and part(s) used, in view of the important role of wild plants as substituting food for theseforest dependent tribal people.

Key words: Wild vegetables; Bodo tribe; Udalguri; Assam.

INTRODUCTION

Udalguri district (26o46/ N – 26o77/ N & 92o08/ E – 95o15/ E) in lower Assam was newly created in2003 and covering an area of 1985.69 sq km. It is bounded by Bhutan on the North, Sonitpur districton the East, Darrang district on the South and Baksa district on the West. Bodo community utilizesvarious plants in their daily life to fulfil their multidimensional necessities e.g. religious rituals, medicinal,food supplements, handcrafts, dyes, house buildings, etc. They have rich traditional knowledgeabout wild plants (Baruah & Sarma 1984; Deka 2007; Patiri & Borah 2007).

The Bodo tribe represent the largest population (over 60%) in the district. Majority of thepeople are agriculturist, having rice the primary food. Mostly they depend on various wild plants,which supply necessary food values of a balanced diet. Every household collects wild vegetablesfrom the surrounding vegetation. The present study indicated the presence of a large number ofwild plants used by the tribe in the district to meet up their wide range of required elements forsurvival. However, the present communication enumerates plants those are used as vegetablesby the Boro people in Udalguri district of lower Assam.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Frequent field visits were paid to more than 20 villages of Udalguri district in different seasonsduring 2009 – 2010. Wide range of information on different types of uses of plants was collectedthrough direct interviews with people of different age groups of both sexes. The data collectedwas confirmed by discussion with respondents and also compared with existing literatures(Borthakur 1996; Patiri & Borah 2007). Plants were collected and prepared mounted herbariumspecimen following the standard Harbarium technique (Jain & Rao 1977) and identified by matchingwith pre-identified specimens in the Herbarium of the Department of Botany, Gauhati University,Flora of Assam (Kanjilal et al 1934-40), Flora of British India (Hooker 1872 - 1897), TheFlora of Eastern Himalaya (Hara 1966, 1971; Ohashi 1975) and Forest Flora of Meghalaya(Haridasan & Rao 1985, 1987). The voucher specimens were deposited in the Harbarium of theBotany department, Gauhati University.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the present study, total eighty (80) wild vegetable plants (Table-1, Table-2 & Table-3) have beenrecorded which are used by the Bodo tribe in Udalguri district. Out of 80 edible plant species onefamily belongs to Pteridophyte having one species; 31 families belong to Dicotyledons having 56genera with 67 species and 6 families of Monocotyledon with 8 genera and 15 species. Local peoplejudiciously utilize the available natural wild vegetables around them for sustainable living.

In view of the account presented, it is observed that the Bodo tribe have very uniqueknowledge on these wild vegetable plants. The plants are taken by preparing various preparationsof food items such as boil, curry, chutney, fry and sometimes as fermented food. Curry items,mostly are prepared by adding local Khar (alkali) instead of oils. The plant parts that are used asvegetables include leaf, flower, inflorescences, tuberous roots, tender shoot, fruit and whole plant.(Table-1, Table-2 & Table-3).

Table 1: Dicotyledonous wild vegetable plants list

Name of plant Local Name Plant parts used Mode ofpreparation

Achyranthes aspera Linnaeus Samthai ultha Tender leaves Boil[Amaranthaceae]; Boro - 33Justicia adhatoda Linnaeus Basigir gufur Flowers Curry[Acanthaceae]; Boro - 170Aerva lanata (Linnaeus) Jussieu Samthai ultha Tender leaves Curry[Amaranthaceae]; Boro - 37Ageratum conyzoides Linnaeus Usumai Leaves Boil[Asteraceae]; Boro - 231Alternanthera philoxeroides Griseback Elachi Leaves Boil[Amaranthaceae]; Boro - 30Alternanthera sessilis (Linnaeus) R. Brown Khuthra Leaves Boilex DC. [Amaranthaceae]; Boro - 192Amaranthus spinosus Linnaeus Khuduna Whole plant Boil[Amaranthaceae]; Boro - 43Amaranthus viridis Linnaeus Danga Whole plant Boil[Amaranthaceae]; Boro - 42Anisomeles malabarica (Linnaeus) Bwrmadari Tender leaves BoilR. Brown [Lamiaceae]; Bhattacharjee - 147Antidesma acidum Retzius Lafasaikho Leaves Boil[Euphorbiaceae]; Boro - 177Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell Bramhi Whole plant Boil[Scrophulariaceae]; Boro - 157Basella alba Linnaeus var. alba Mafrai gufur Leaves, stems Boil[Basellaceae]; Boro - 195Basella alba var. rubra Stewart Mafrai gwja Leaves ,stems Boil[Basellaceae]; Boro - 196Boerhavia diffusa Linnaeus Guphur porno Tender leaves Boil[Nyctaginaceae]; Boro - 184Celosia argentea Linnaeus Dawla kho Tender leaves Boil[Amaranthaceae]; Boro - 143

210 Wild vegetables used by Bodo tribe in Assam

Centella asiatica (Linnaeus) Urban Geder manamuni Whole plant Boil[Apiaceae]; Boro 67Centipeda minima (Linnaeus) A. Brown Hasi hagra Whole plant Boil &Ascher [Asteraceae]; Boro - 252Chenopodium album Linnaeus Buthua Whole plant Boil[Chenopodiaceae]; Boro - 228Clerodendrum serratum Sprengel Khunkha Leaves Boil[Verbenaceae]; Boro - 225Crassocephalum crepidiodes Bentham Phabwi Tender leaves Boil[Asteraceae]; Boro - 226Cyathula prostata (Linnaeus) Blume Samthai su Tender leaves Boil[Amaranthaceae]; Boro - 38Dillenia indica Linnaeus [Dilleniaceae]; Thaigir Calyx BoilBoro - 102Dillenia pentagyna Roxburgh Thaigir Calyx Boil[Dilleniaceae]; Boro - 105Diplocyclos palmatus (Linnaeus) Jeffrey Fisa gwmwri Fruits Curry[Cucurbitaceae]; Boro - 120Drymaria diandra Blume Thunthini Whole plant Boil[Caryophyllaceae]; Boro - 80Eryngium foetidum Linnaeus [Apiaceae]; Gongar thunia Leaves SpiceBoro - 139Garcinia xanthochymus Hooker f. Tapol mwkwi Fruits Boil, prickle[Clusiaceae]; Boro - 130Gmelina arborea Roxburgh [Verbenaceae]; Gambari Flowers CurryBoro - 190Gymnopetalum cochinchinensis Kurz Khaila Fruits Dry fry[Cucurbitaceae]; Boro - 135Hauttuynia cordata Thumburg Maisundri Leaves Chutney[Saururaceae]; Boro - 137Hydrocotyle rotundifolia DC. [Apiaceae]; Fisa manamuni Whole plant ChutneyBoro - 68Ipomoea aquatica Forsskal Kolmow Tender twig Curry[Convolvulaceae]; Boro - 125Laportea crenulata Gaudichaud Khwma bibar Flowers Curry[Urticaceae]; Boro - 162Leucas plukenetii (Roth) Sprengel Khansinsa Tender leaves Dry fry[Lamiaceae]; Boro - 141Mesua ferrea Linnaeus [Clusiaceae]; nahor Flowers Dry fryBoro - 201Mikania micrantha Kunth [Asteraceae]; Refugii Tender twigs Dry fryBoro - 247Momordica cochinchinensis Hagrani Fruits Fry, currySprengel [Cucurbitaceae]; Boro - 140 phatkerelaMoringa oleifera Lamarck [Moringaceae]; Sojona Leaves, flowers, Fry, curryBoro - 145 fruits


A. Boro et al 211

Morus alba Linnaeus [Moraceae]; Boro - 181 Thaisib Fruits ChutneyMukia maderaspatana (Linnaeus) Roemer Billari phithai Fruits Fry[Cucurbitaceae]; Boro - 117Murrya koenzii (Linnaeus) Sprengel Norsing Leaves Spice, fry[Rutaceae]; Boro - 151Nasturtium officinale R. Brown Lai hagra Whole plant Boil[Brassicaceae]; Boro - 72Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner Podum Flowers Curry[Nelumbonaceae]; Boro - 211Nyctanthus arbor-tristis Linnaeus Khewali Flowers Curry[Nycthanthaceae]; Boro - 330Nymphaea rubra Roxburgh ex Andrews Podom gwja Flowers Curry[Nympheaceae]; Boro - 188Oenanthe javanica (Blume) DC. Thondor Whole plant Fry [Apiaceae]; Boro - 50Oroxylum indicum (Linnaeus) Ventenat Kharong Flowers Fry[Bignoniaceae]; Boro - 327Oxalis corniculata Linnaeus Singri mwkhwi Whole plant Boil[Oxalidaceae]; Boro - 90Oxalis orymbosa DC. [Oxalidaceae]; Singri mwkhwi Whole plant BoilBoro - 91Phlogacanthus curviflorus Nees Basigir gwja Flowers Fry[Acanthaceae]; Boro - 160Paederia foetida Linnaeus [Rubiaceae]; Khiphi phadri Leaves, tender twig CurryBoro - 69Passiflora foetida Linnaeus Ze phithai Leaves , fruits Curry[Passifloraceae]; Boro - 96Physalis minima Linnaeus [Solanaceae]; Ganga thuba Tender twig BoilBoro 127Plogacanthus thyrsiformis (Roxburgh ex Basigir gwja Flowers FryHardwicke) Mabberley [Acanthaceae];Boro - 168Polygonum posumbu Buch.Ham ex D. Don Ankham khalai Leaves Curry [Polygonaceae]; Boro - 173Rorippa indica (Linnaeus) Hiem Basor phagla Whole plant Boil[Brassicaceae]; Boro - 70Solanum nigrum Linnaeus [Solanaceae]; Gwsaokra Tender twigs BoilBoro - 118Solanum torvum Swartz [Solanaceae]; Khunthai Fruits FryBoro - 112Scoparia dulcis Linnaeus Sini hagra Leaves Boil[Scrophulariaceae]; Boro - 19Solanum ferox Linnaeus [Solanaceae]; Fanthawkhra Fruits FryBoro - 115Sphenoclea zeylanica Gaertner Sibi maigong Whole plant Curry[Sphenocleaceae]; Boro - 55



Spilanthus paniculata DC. [Asteraceae]; Jari phithai Leaves CurryBoro - 257Stellaria media (Linnaeus)Villars Thunthini Whole plant Boil[Caryophyllaceae]; Boro - 86Trapa natans Linnaeus var. quadrispinosa Singra Seeds Fry[Trapaceae]; Boro - 200


Table 2: Monocotyledonous Wild edible plants listName of plant Local Name Plant parts used Mode of

preparationAlocasia acuminata Schott Thaso gwswm Tender leaves, flowers Curry[Araceae]; Boro - 172Bambusa balcooa Roxburgh [Poaceae]; Owa mewa Very young tender shoot Fermented &Boro - 317 fresh curryBambusa pallida Munro [Poaceae]; Owa mewa Very young tender shoot FermentedBoro - 315 & fresh curry

Colocasia esculenta (Linnaeus) Schott Thaso Gufur Tender leaves, flowers Curry[Araceae]; Boro - 171Colocasia esculentaDioscorea bulbifera Linnaeus Tha phenkha Tuberous root-stock Curry[Dioscoreaceae]; Boro - 265Dioscorea glabra Roxburgh Tha Tuberous root-stock Curry[Dioscoreaceae]; Boro - 261Dioscorea pentaphylla Linnaeus Tha ganda Tuberous root-stock Curry[Dioscoreaceae]; Boro - 295Lasia spinosa Thwaites [Araceae]; Sibru Tender leaves CurryBoro - 312Monocharia hastata (Linnaeus) Solms Methukha Flowers Boil & curry[Pontederiaceae]; Boro - 274Monocharia vaginalis Presl Methukha Flowers Boil & curry[Pontederiaceae]; Boro - 275Musa balbisiana Colla [Musaceae]; Thalir bhim Inflorescence FryBoro - 215Musa champa Hortulanorum ex Hooker f. Thalir champa Inflorescence Fry[Musaceae]; Boro - 217Musa sapientum Linnaeus [Musaceae]; Thalir Inflorescence, peduncle Fry & curryBoro - 315Musa velutina Wendland & Drude Thalir malbhog Inflorescence Fry[Musaceae]; Boro - 311Ottelia alismoides (Linnaeus) Persoon Panikela Fruits Fruits[Hydrocharitaceae]; Boro - 281Table 3: Pteridophyte


Diplazium Esculentum (Retzius) Swartz Dinkhia Circinate leaves Fry[Woodsiaceae]; Boro - 71

A. Boro et al 213

Table 4: Wild Edible Plant List sold in marketSpecies Local name Rate in Parts collected

Rs. per kgAlocasia acuminata Schott [Araceae]; Boro - 172 Thaso gwswm ±10/- FlowersAmaranthus viridis Linnaeus [Amaranthaceae]; Danga ±10/- Whole plantBoro - 42Bambusa spp. [Poaceae] Qwa mewa ±20/- Very young

tender shootCentella asiatica (Linnaeus) Urban [Apiaceae]; Geder manamuni ±15/- Whole plantBoro - 67Colocasia esculenta (Linnaeus) Schott [Araceae]; Thaso gufur ±10/- FlowersBoro - 171Dillenia indica Linnaeus [Dilleniaceae]; Thaigir ±10/- FruitsBoro - 102Dioscorea spp. [Dioscoreaceae] Tha ±15/- Tuberous root-stockDiplazium esculentum (Retzius) Swartz Dinkhia ±25/- Circinate leaves[Woodsiaceae]; Boro - 71Gymnopetalum cochinchinensis Kurz Khaila ±8/- Fruits[Cucurbitaceae]; Boro - 135Ipomoea aquatica Forsskal [Convolvulaceae]; Kolmow ±20/- Tender twigsBoro - 125Justicia adhatoda Linnaeus [Acanthaceae]; Basigir gufur ±20/- FlowersBoro - 170Laportea crenulata Gaudichaud [Urticaceae]; Khwma bibar ±20/- FlowersBoro - 162Leucas plukenetii (Roth) Sprengel [Lamiaceae]; Khansinsa ±10/- Tender leavesBoro - 141Moringa oleiffera Lamarck [Moringaceae]; Sojona ±25/- Flower, fruitsBoro - 145Musa sps. [Musaceae] Thalir ±20/- InflorescenceOroxylum indicum (Linnaeus) Ventenat Kharong ±10/- Flowers[Bignoniaceae]; Boro - 327Oxalis corniculata Linnaeus [Oxalidaceae]; Singri mwkwai ±5/- Whole plantBoro - 90Sphenoclea zeylanica Gaertner [Sphenocleaceae]; Sibi maigong ±12/- Whole plantBoro - 55Stellaria media (Linnaeus)Villas Thunthini ±5/- Whole plant[Caryophyllaceae]; Boro - 86

However, the new generation have very little knowledge of this valuable instinct so, theydo not try to conserve and domesticate the wild edible plants from their locality.

However, some of these plants are seen collected in large amount and sold in local marketsby local inhabitants (Table 4). The market price of the wild vegetables plant is determined on thebasis of availability, food value and other utilities (Borthakur 1996). It is observed that Bambusaspp., Musa spp. Ipomoea aquatica are comparatively costlier for their high food value andAdhatoda vasica, Moringa oleiffera due to their food value as well as medicinal importance.


(a)

(c)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(b)

(d)

1..5 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.15 cm

(a)

(a)

(c)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(b)

(d)

1..5 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.15 cm

(a)

(a)

(c)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(b)

(d)

1..5 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.15 cm

(a)

(a)

(h

(b)

(d)

1..5 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.15 cm

(a)

(c)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(b)

(d)

1..5 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.15 cm

(c)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(b)

(d)

1..5 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.15 cm

(c)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(b)

(d)

1..5 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.15 cm

(f

(g)

(h)

(b)

(d)

1..5 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.3 cm

0.15 cm

(f)

(g) (b)

0.15 cm

(f)

(g)

(f)

(g)

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16

Fig. 1. Antidesma acidum; Fig. 2. Passiflora foetida; Fig. 3. Sphenoclea zeylanica; Fig. 4. Gymnopetalumcochinchinensis; Fig. 5. Colocasia esculenta; Fig. 6. Solanum nigrum; Fig. 7. Monochoria hastata; Fig. 8. Leucasplukenetii; Fig. 9. Ipomoea aquatica; Fig. 10. Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis; Fig. 11. Ottelia alismoides; Fig. 12.Celosia argentia; Fig. 13. Dioscorea bulbifera; Fig. 14. Dioscorea pentaphylla; Fig. 15. Oroxylum indicum; Fig. 16.Physalis minima

A. Boro et al 215

So, it is desirable to undertake detailed ethnobotanical study of the district to find out theplant inventory used by the Bodo tribe. Emphasis must be laid on the conservation of theseplants’ habitat which is depleting everyday due to anthropogenic activities in extension of agriculturalland. Most recently, for the extension of small tea gardens in cleared forest areas are destroyingthe green wealth in the district. In view of this fact, it is highly desirable to undertake cultivationof the above mentioned plants, to meet the demands of the peoples and also to save the wildspecies in their natural habitat.

Acknowledgements

Authors are especially thankful to local Bodo communities of the Udalguri district for their valuablecontributions and support during the field study. Sincere thanks are also conveyed to Ministry ofEnvironment and Forest, Govt. of India for the financial assistance.

LITERATURE CITEDBaruah, P. & Sarma, G.C. 1984. Studies on the medicinal uses of plants by the Boro tribals 11. J.

Econ. Taxon. Bot. 5(3): 599 – 604.Bor, N.L. 1940. Flora of Assam Vol. 5 (Gramineae). Assam Govt of Press, Shillong.Borthakur, S.K. 1996, Wild edible plants in Market of Assam, India; An ethnobotanical

investigation. In Jai SK(ed.), ethnobotany in human welfare, Deep Publication, Shahadra,Delhi. P. 31

Chowdhury, S. 2005. Assam’s Flora (Present status of Vascular plants), Assam ScienceTechnology and Environment Council, Guwahati.

Deka, D. 2007. Ethno-Medico-Botanical studies of Certain Tribes of Goalpara District,Assam. Ph. D. Thesis, Gauhati University. (Unpublished)

Hara H. 1966 & 1971. The Flora of Estern Himalaya. Reports I & II. Tokyo University, Tokyo.Haridasan, K. & Rao, R.R. 1985 & 1987. Forest Flora of Maghalaya, Vols. I & II. Bishen

Singh, Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun.Hooker, J.D. 1872 – 1897. The Flora of British India, Vols. 1-7., L. Reeve & Co., London.Jain, S.K. & Rao, R.R. 1977. A Handbook of Field and Herbarium Methods. Today &

Tomorrow’s Printers Publications, New Delhi.Kanjilal, U.N.; Kanjilal P.C. & Das, A. 1938. Flora of Assam, Vol. 2, Assam Govt. Press, Shillong.Kanjilal, U.N.; Kanjilal P.C.; Das, A. & Dey, RN. 1939. Flora of Assam, Vol. 3, Assam Govt.

Press, Shillong.Kanjilal, U.N.; Kanjilal P.C.; Das, A. & Dey, RN. 1940. Flora of Assam, Vol. 4, Assam Govt.

Press, Shillong.Kanjilal, U.N.; Kanjilal P.C.; Das, A. & Purkaystha, C. 1934. Flora of Assam, Vol. 1, Assam

Govt. Press, Shillong.Ohashi, H. 1975. The Flora of Estern Himalaya. Report III. Tokyo University, Tokyo.Patiri, B. & Borah, A. 2007. Wild edible plants of Assam. Director Forest Communication.

Forest Department, Assam.


wild vegetables used by bodo tribe in udalguri district of...

Documents