Ethnobotanical Significance of the Flora of Neora Valley National Park in the District of Darjeeling, West Bengal (India)

Recent floristic survey of Neora Valley National Park in Kalimpong sub-division of Darjeeling district of West Bengal revealed that the park is a rich repository of the ethnobotanically important plant resources that includes species of food, medicine, ornamental, poisonous and other assorted ethnic values. Based on available literature and direct interaction with forest dwellers living in the periphery of the park, altogether 83 medicinal, 59 edible, 18 ornamental, 21 poisonous (irritants and lethal) and 11 plants having fascinating assorted ethnic uses have been recognized. The forest dwellers have their own dictionary of local names for the identification of these valuable plant resources by which they are maintaining their own ancient ethnoscience. Many of these medicinal plant species were assessed to be the valuable resources for the treatment of a range of human ailments for which there are no complete answers in the modern medical science (?).