Total importance value of medicinal plants in Jaunpur Range, Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand

Abstract

The present study was intended to assess the total important value of medicinal plants in 5 villages of Jaunpur Range, Mussoorie Forest Division. Extensive field surveys were conducted at the study site throughout the different seasons of the year from November 2021- December 2022 to collect data. Data were collected using standard questionnaires. A total of 70 plant species were identified from 64 genera and 43 families. Among the 43 families, the maximum number of species were recorded in Rosaceae (8 spp.). The majority of identified species was herbs (36%), followed by trees (31%), shrubs (20%), climbers (7%), grass (4%) and ferns (2%). The ethnobotanical classification showed that most species are used for medicinal purposes (70 spp., 56%), followed by edible purposes (33 spp., 25%), uses such as fuel wood (8 spp., 7%), fodder (8 spp., 6%), timber (3 spp., 2%) and other uses (5 spp., 4%). Field observation revealed that most of the species were common (63 spp., 90%) in the study area, followed by uncommon (7 spp., 10%). In this study, the maximum number of species was found in the TIV 1-10% and the highest recorded TIV was 70%. The analysis of the total importance value (TIV) revealed that Grewia optiva, Diplazium esculentum, Berberis asiatica, Cedrus deodara, Lyonia ovalifolia Myrica esculenta, and Rhododendron arboreum were the plant species higher socioeconomic values, therefore it needs special attention and priority in conservation and management related activities.