Sanjeet Kumar & Padan Kumar Jena
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
Odisha is the land of
diverse natural phyto-resources. It is also the state having strongest
traditions and believes. Since time immemorial, tribal, rural and other people have
been conserving the natural resources in small patches or groves in religious
areas or temples. Such areas are referred to sacred groves (SG). SG, in general, are repositories and nurseries
of many plants, at times rare plants or having folkloristic belief. Large number
of such plants has been documented in different parts of the world. However,
the documentation of plant species in scared groves of Odisha in rather
limited. Keeping this in view, an attempt was made to document the floral
wealth of Kapilas, a sacred grove of Odisha. The survey reveals that large numbers
of RET (rare, endangered and threatened) and other beneficial plants found in
this area. The plants are not only having mythological importance but also
ample medicinal values. The common plants found are Cycas spaherica, Saraca asoka, Scindapsus officinalis, Uvaria
hamiltonii, Celastrus paniculatus, Mesua ferrea, Piper longum etc. The
present study highlights the importance of such areas which play vital role in conserving
plant wealth. The study provides a base-line in making strategies for conservation
of RET & other beneficial plants in sacred groves for sustainable
development.
Key-words:
Angiosperms, Conservation, Sacred groves (SG)
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