Abstract. Jigme, Yangchen K. 2023. Ethnobotanical study of the wild edible plants used by the indigenous people of Merak in Bhutan. Asian J Ethnobiol 6: 1-6. Merak communities possess one of the oldest and most extensive cultural traditions of using plants for various ethnobotanical purposes, but this traditional knowledge still needs to be reported. As a result, this is the first ethnobotanical survey on Wild Edible Plants (WEPs) in Merak Gewog, Tashigang Dzongkhag, Bhutan. The data was obtained through an ethnobotanical survey and semi-structured interviews with 40 informants. The study identified 16 plant species from 16 genera and 16 families of WEPs consumed in Merak Gewog. Herbs (14 species) were found to be the most important sources, followed by shrubs (1 species) and trees (1 species). The most commonly consumed plant part(s) are leaves (8 species), followed by flowers (4 species), shoots and whole plant (with 3 species each), rhizome, and root (1 species each). Wild edible plants supplement the family diet, and their usage and collecting frequency are constrained by seasonal availability. Summer is the best time to harvest wild edible plants, followed by spring, autumn, and winter. However, many of the wild edible plants found in the Merak are under increased strain due to human and socioeconomic causes such as livestock overgrazing, habitat degradation, unsustainable harvesting, and forest fire. This finding has resulted in the disappearance of WEP species and the underlying indigenous knowledge. As a result, the importance of wild vegetables must be stressed and included in conservation and food security strategies.

Abstract. Jigme, Yangchen K. 2022. An ethnobotanical study of plants used in socio-religious activities in Bhutan. Asian J Ethnobiol 5: 44-51. Ethnobotany encompasses all elements of plants’ natural and direct interaction with humans. Plants have been linked to human civilization since antiquity. Like Hindu people, Buddhists worship plants or use their components in different ways to perform various socio-religious ceremonies. However, this indigenous knowledge is diminishing rapidly due to the disinterest shown by the younger generation. Therefore, there need to document this indigenous knowledge regarding the usage of religious plants. The present study was conducted in Kanglung Gewog under Trashigang Dzongkhag, Bhutan, to document the plant species used for religious purposes. The ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured telephone interviews. A total of 24 plant species belonging to 16 families and 22 genera used in religious practices were documented. Among the 16 families, the most utilized species belong to the family Poaceae (4 species), followed by the family Ericaceae and Cupressaceae (3 species each) and Pinaceae (2 species). Out of these, trees account for 58 percent of all plants reported, followed by herbs (25%), shrubs (13%), and climbers (4%). The tree's trunk's most utilized parts, followed by the leaves, whole plant, seeds, and fruits. The majority of the plants recorded (58%) are used for religious ceremonies, and 42 percent of the plants are used for making religious items. The people of Kanglung have extensive indigenous knowledge on using plants in socio-religious activities. Still, rapid socio-economic development and the disinterest of the younger generation have become a major threat to preserving this indigenous knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to preserve this indigenous knowledge on using plants in socio-religious activities by proper documentation and identification of plant species used to save these plants from further loss and sustainable utilization.