Ethnobotany of South Chotanagpur (Bihar)

Ethnobotanical studies made among the tribals of Ranchi, Gumla, Lohardaga, Palamau districts of Bihar are presented. The paper provides uses of 146 plants for medicines, veterinary medicines, food, fodder, household, house building materials, various social and religious ceremonies. A comparison with the literature reveals that 42 uses of various plants reported in the present paper are new. Besides nine plant species reported to be used by the tribals of Chotanagpur for various purposes have not been mentioned in the earlier literature.