Ethnobotany of Nasik District Maharashtra

ABOUT THE BOOK: Emergence of 'Ethnobotany' as a distinct academic branch of the natural sciences and the use of traditional knowledge-base in patenting filliped systematization of indigenous knowledge world over. The modern civilization learnt many fundamental principles and age-old wisdom from the aboriginal and rural ethnic societies. Indian region is amongst the richest ethnobotanical treasures in the world. It needs factual documentation, sustainable utilization and conservation. Intensive and original research work conducted by the authors on 'Ethnobotany of Nasik District' has been crystallized into this book. This will help extract potential medicinal and other uses of plants for the welfare of mankind.
The introductory chapter includes detailed information about the land, forests, environment, people and their ethnology, earlier ethnobotanical works and methodology adapted. The main body of the book includes an inventory of mainly 364 species and other 19 species supplement the drugs used by the people of the district for human and ethnoveterinary medicines, food, fodder, fibre, timber, fire-wood, tannin, dye, oil, alcohol, gum-resins etc.
It also documents plant species employed in magico-religious beliefs, magico-medicines, rites, rituals, ceremonies, agricultural practices and household uses. Interestingly, a separate chapter is also dwelt upon the philology of local plant names as gathered in the area. Coloured photographs reflecting landscape, plants, culture and customs of tribals, plant-based household and other implements, medicineŽmen, other informants etc. have been provided to adduce the informa tion.
This contribution sheds light on the indigenous system of medicine and other plant-lore among tribal and non-tribal people of Nasik district. It will be useful to the phytochemists, pharmacologists as well as foresters, naturalists and ecologists in their conservation, management and developmental programmes, apart from the needy teachers, students and research workers in Biological Sciences.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR'S:
1. Dr. D.A.Patil did his Ph.D. in 1983, from Dr. B.A. Marathwada University, Aurangabad (M.S.). He is Reader in P.G. Department of Botany, S.S.V.P.S's L.K. Dr. P.R. Ghogrey Science College, Dhule. He was Chairman, Board of Studies in Botany and Dean of Faculty of Science, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon (MS). He is a member of many prestigious academic and scientific societies. He is also a member of Editorial Advisory Boards for Journal of Life Sciences, Advances in Biological Sciences and Journal of Advances in Science and Technology. He has significantly contributed in the field of research in taxonomy, floristics, plant anatomy, morphology, ethnobotany and etymology. He is recipient of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan award for the year 1999, awarded by Indian Botanical Society for publishing the best research paper. He has published 76 research papers in reputed national and international journals. He authored Flora of Dhule and Nandurbar District, Forest Flora of Jalgaon District (Maharashtra) and A Key to the Angiospermic Families of North Maharashtra. He has guided six research students for Ph.D. degree. Recently, he received Scientist of the Year Award, 2004, awarded by National Environmental Science Academy, New Delhi.

2. Dr. M.V.Patil obtained his Ph.D. in 2004 from North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon (M.S.). He is Lecturer in Botany at Gangamai Education Trust's Arts, Commerce and Science College, Nagaon, Dist. Dhule (M.S.). He is also member of B.O.S. in Botany and Faculty of Science at North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon (M.S.). He is an active research worker and has published 12 research papers in ethnobotany in national and international journals. He actively participated and presented research papers in national and international conferences. Recently, he received an award for presenting the best research paper in ethnobotany at the deliberations of 'National Conference on Plant Diversity and Biotechnology' held at SSVPS's L.K. Dr. P.R. Ghogrey Science College, Dhule (M.S.).

CONTENTS:
Preface
    1. Introduction
    2. Ethnobotanical Enumerations
    3. Origins of Vernacular Plant Names
    4. Discussion
    5. Summary
Bibliography
Appendix I: Edible Fruits & Vegetables
Appendix II: Plants Employed for House Construction
Appendix III: Plants Employed for Hut Thatching
Appendix IV: Plants Used for Hedges
Appendix V: Plants Used as Fodder
Appendix VI: Plants Used for Fish Surveying
Appendix VII: Plants Used for Veterinary Medicine
Appendix VIII: Antidotes
Appendix IX: Plants in Ethnobeliefs
Appendix X: Plants Used for Religious Ceremonies
Appendix XI: Plants Used for Agricultural Implements ;
Appendix XII: Plants Used for Fire Wood
Appendix XIII: Crop Weeds
Appendix XIV: Exotic Plants
Appendix XV: Plants Reported Useful for First Time
Index to Local Names
Index to Plant Names