Natural Product Radiance, Vol. 8(1), 2009, pp.

64-72

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Wild edible plants of Koch Bihar district, West Bengal

S Bandyopadhyay1 and Sobhan Kr Mukherjee2*
1

Department of Botany, K.N. College, Berhampore, Murshidabad- 742 101, West Bengal, India 2 Department of Botany, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia - 741 235, West Bengal *Correspondent author, E-mail: sobhankr@yahoo.com Received 28 September 2007; Accepted 13 February 2008

Abstract
Koch Bihar, a district of North-eastern part of the state of West Bengal, is inhabited by Rajbanshi or Koch tribe which constitutes about 40% of total population of the district. The other tribal communities are Kheria, Oraon, Rabha and Santhal. Most of them are village dwellers and depend on plant or plant products to maintain their livelihood. Ethnobotanical field studies reveals that the ethnic people as well as the other inhabitants of the district have considerable traditional knowledge of wild edible plants and their utilization. During the field study 125 plant species belonging to 102 genera under 54 families have been recorded which are commonly used by the ethnic communities and other inhabitants as wild edible. Keywords: Koch Bihar district, West Bengal, Wild edible plants. IPC code; Int. cl.8 A23L 1/00, A23L 1/052

communities and other inhabitants of this district as a chief source of daily food.

Materials and Methods

The present work is the outcome of ethnobotanical field survey of 5 consecutive years (1995-2000) from different tribal villages of Koch Bihar district. Among the inhabitants, knowledgeable persons primarily the aged ones, ethnic men and women were interviewed. The first hand information on wild edible plant species, part(s) used, vernacular name(s), English name (E) and mode of utilization was collected mainly from the tribal people residing in the interior forest area. Voucher specimens have been deposited in the herbarium of Pharmacognosy section, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah (CAL). Vernacular names of the plant species were obtained from the following ethnic and other local people such as Kheria (K), Oraon (O), Rabha (Ra), Raj banshi (Rj), Santhal (S) and Bengali (B). Common English names (E) of the plants are also given, if available.

Introduction
Koch Bihar district lies in the North-eastern part of the state of West Bengal in between 263246 to 255757 North latitude and 895200 to 884502 East longitude. The total area of the district is 3, 3386 sq km. The district is surrounded by Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal in northern and most part of western side. The southern boundary of the district is very much indented and is formed by the Rangpur district of Bangladesh. The eastern boundary is formed by the Goalpara district of Assam. The major ethnic community of the district is Rajbanshi or Koch which constitute about 40% of total population of the district. The other tribal communities are Kheria, Oraon, Rabha and Santhal. Most of them are village dwellers and agriculture is the main economic pursuit of all the ethnic communities of the district. Their participation in agriculture is mainly in 64

the capacity of share croppers, agricultural labourers and small farmers. The principal meals of all ethnic communities consist of Bhat i.e. boiled rice with boiled leafy vegetables (Sag) from their surroundings. They fully depend on wild leafy vegetables, flowers, fruits, etc. which they collect from the nearby forest areas or village surroundings and they also dig out underground parts whenever necessary. Besides their own consumption, selling of wild leafy vegetables, tubers, fruits, seeds, etc. in the local 'Huts' (Markets) is a common practice among tribal community and by selling these; they secure a little money which brings some relief to their depressed economic condition. A perusal of literature1-5 reveals that not much work has been done on the wild edible plants of Koch Bihar district alone, hence the present work has been undertaken to record the plants, which are commonly used by the ethnic

Results and Discussion

In the present work wild edible plants of Koch Bihar district are enumerated in the Table 1, in which botanical name of the plants are arranged alphabetically followed by family name, vernacular name(s), life form of the
Natural Product Radiance

Table 1: Wild edible plants of Koch Bihar District, West Bengal

Vernacular name(s) H H T H H H H H H H C H T T S T T H T H T T T T T
T C

S. No. Fruits Leaves and flowers Gum Root stock Twigs Twigs Leaves Taken with betel leaf Used as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Used as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Eaten raw by the children Ripe fruits Ripe fruits Ripe fruits Ripe fruits Seeds Ripe fruits Roots Leaves Whole Plant Tender shoots Tender shoots Tender shoots Tender shoots Tender shoots Eaten raw Eaten raw Eaten by the children Eaten raw by the children Chewed with betel leaf Eaten raw Boiled and eaten Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Used as vegetable Used as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable
Cooked as vegetable Used as vegetable

Botanical name/Family Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable

Life form

Part(s) used

Mode of utilization

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3 4 5

Bon bhendi (B); Ambrette plant or Musk mallow (E) Helencha (Rj); Mamaruk (Ra); Potari (B); Country mallow (E) Khair (B); Cutch tree (E) Mankachu (S); Giant taro (E) Barmasag or Sanchesag (B); Alligator weed (E) Natoan (Rj)

Abelmoschus moschatus Medic./ Malvaceae (Fig.1) Abutilon indicum (Linn.) Sweet/ Malvaceae (Fig.2) Acacia catechu (Linn.f.) Willd. / Mimosaceae Alocasia macrorrhiza (Linn.) G. Don/Araceae Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb./Amaranthaceae (Fig.3) Alternanthera sessilis (Linn.) R. Br. ex DC/ Amaranthaceae (Fig.4) Amaranthus spinosus Linn./ Amaranthaceae

Amaranthus tricolor Linn./ Amaranthaceae

Tender shoots and leaves Leaves

10 Jangli-angur (B) Anarash (Rj, Ra, K, B); Pineapple (E) Nona (B); Bullock's heart (E) Matha arak (S) Kuntiphal (S) Supari (B); Areca nut or Betel nut (E) Deo-phal, Dool (S); Monkey Jack (E) Satamul (B) Nim (B); Margosa tree or Neem tree (E) Brahmi (B); Thyme leaved gratiola (E)

Kanta-note (B); Khuria-Kanta (Rj); Prickly amaranth (E) Lal-note or Lal sag (B); Tampala (K); Chinese spinach or Amaranth (E) Bon-note (B); Wild amaranth or Green amaranth (E) Ol (B); Elephant-foot yam (E) Tender leaves and corm Ripe fruits

11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

Amaranthus viridis Linn./ Amaranthaceae (Fig.5) Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson/ Araceae Ampelocissus barbata (Wall.) Planch./ Vitaceae (Fig.6) Ananas comosus (Linn.) Merr./ Bromeliaceae Annona reticulata Linn./ Annonaceae Antidesma acidum Retz./ Euphorbiaceae (Fig.7) Ardisia solanacea Roxb./ Myrsinaceae Areca catechu Linn./ Arecaceae Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb./ Moraceae Asparagus racemosus Willd./ Asparagaceae (Fig.8) Azadirachta indica A. Juss./ Meliaceae Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Penn./ Scrophulariaceae Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Willd./ Poaceae Bambusa balcooa Roxb./ Poaceae Bambusa pallida Munro/ Poaceae Bambusa tulda Roxb./Poaceae Bambusa vulgaris Schrad./ Poaceae

26

Bauhinia purpurea Linn./ Caesalpiniaceae

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27

Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn./ Cucurbitaceae

Bans (B); Thorny bamboo (E) Balaka bans (B); Bamboo (E) Bans (B); Bamboo (E) Bans (B); Bamboo (E) Basini bans (B); Golden bamboo or Feathery bamboo (E) Rakto kanchan (B); Pink bauhinia or Camel's foot (E) Chal kumra (B); Ash gourd (E)

Flowers and flower buds Fruits

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Vernacular name(s) H T H Ripe fruits Whole plants and seeds Fruits Fruits Leaves and fruits Flowers Fruits Fruits Fruits Seeds
Flowers and seeds Leaves Leaves H T C C H H H T T Leaves Leaves Leaves Leaves and fruits Rhizome and leaves Leaves Twigs and leaves Ripe fruits Tender shoots

S. No. Leaves Eaten raw Cooked as vegetable; edible oil extracted from seeds Eaten raw Eaten raw by the children Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable

Botanical name/Family

Life form

Part(s) used

Mode of utilization

28

29 30

Boerhaavia diffusa Linn./ Nyctaginaceae (Fig.9) Borassus flabellifer Linn./ Arecaceae Brassica juncea (Linn.) Coss./ Brassicaceae

Punarnava (S); Hogweed or Horse-purslane (E) Tal (B); Palmyra palm (E) Sarisha (B); Indian mustard (E)

31 32 33 T S T S T
T H H

Kosai (B) Harinhara (B) Mala (B)

T C C

34

35 36

Bridelia retusa Spreng./ Euphorbiaceae Bridelia stipularis Blume/ Euphorbiaceae Bryonopsis laciniosa (Linn.) Naud./ Cucurbitaceae Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub./Fabaceae (Fig.10) Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl/ Verbenaceae Carissa carandas Linn./ Apocynaceae Palash (B.); Flame of the forest or Bengal Kino (E) Dahiya (S,O); Mathara (B) Karamcha (B); Karaunda (E)

37 38

Carissa spinarum Linn./ Apocynaceae Caryota urens Linn./Arecaceae

Eaten raw by the children Eaten raw and used in making pickles Eaten raw Chewed with betel leaf
Cooked as vegetable Used as vegetable Used as vegetable Cooked as vegetable As flavouring element Cooked as vegetable Used as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Eaten raw Cooked as vegetable

39

40 41

42 43 44 45

46 47 48

49

50

51 52

T C C

Succulent calyx Tubers Tubers

Used in making pickles Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable

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53

Khunti (S) Chao (O); Kittul (K); Sago, Toddy or Fish-Tail palm (E) Cassia fistula Linn./ Caesalpiniaceae Sondali or Amaltash (B); Indian laburnum, or Purging fistula (E) Celosia argentea Linn./ Amaranthaceae Swet morog (B); Quail grass (E) Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban/ Apiaceae Thankuni (B); Khudimuni (O); Indian Pennywort (E) Chenopodium album Linn./ Chenopodiaceae Bathua sag (B); Lamb's quarters (E) Cinnamomum tamala Nees. & Eberm. / Lauraceae Tejpata (B); Indian cassia or Lignea (E) Cissus adnata Roxb./ Vitaceae Bodlarnari (S) Coccinia grandis (Linn.) Voigt/ Cucurbitaceae Talakucha (B); Korai fruit or Ivy gourd (E) Colocasia esculenta (Linn.) Schott/Araceae (Fig. 11) Kocu (B); Taro (K); Arum (E) Corchorus capsularis Linn./ Tiliaceae (Fig. 12) Titapat (B); Jute or White jute (E) Corchorus olitorius Linn./ Tiliaceae Mitha pat or Desipat (B); Jaw's mallaw (E) Cordia dichotoma Forst. f./ Ehretiaceae Bahubara (B); Sebesten or Clammy cherry (E) Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Karail bus (B); Solid bamboo or Nees/ Poaceae Mafe bamboo (E) Dillenia indica Linn./ Dilleniaceae (Fig. 13) Chata (B); Elephant apple (E) Dioscorea alata Linn./ Dioscoreaceae Khamalu or Chupri alu (B); Asiatic yam or Greater yam (E) Dioscorea bulbifera Linn./ Dioscoreaceae Mete alu or Ban alu (B); Potato Yam or Air potato (E)

S. No. C C T H H H H T T H T H H H Unripe fruits Fruits Unripe fruits Whole plant Leaves Leaves and fruits Leaves Ripe fruits Fruits Cooked as vegetable Eaten raw by the children Boiled and taken with salt Cooked as vegetable Eaten raw by children Used in making pickles Boiled and taken with salt Tubers Ripe fruits Used as vegetable Eaten raw Tubers Used as vegetable

Botanical name/Family

Vernacular name(s)

Life form

Part(s) used

Mode of utilization

54

Dioscorea hispida Dennst./ Dioscoreaceae

55 56 Denkisag (B)

Mete alu or Ban alu (B); Potato Yam or Air potato (E) Bon alu or Kata alu (B) Gub (B); Indian persimmon (E)

57

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Dioscorea pentaphylla Linn./ Dioscoreaceae Diospyros malabarica (Desr.) Kostel./ Ebenaceae Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw./ Dryopteridaceae Duchesnea indica (Anders.) Focke/ Rosaceae Young and immature leaves Ripe fruits

59

60 61

Haldier (Ra); Indian mock or Yellow straw berry (E) Sema (Ra); Shama (B); Barnyard millet (E) Kesut (B); Kala Kesuri (Ra) Kulaaja (B); Heliotope tree (E)

62 63

64

65 66 67

Echinochloa crus-galli (Linn.) P. Beauv./ Poaceae Eclipta prostrata (Linn.) Linn./ Asteraceae Ehretia acuminata R. Br. var. serrata (Roxb.) Jhonston/ Ehretiaceae Elaeocarpus serratus Linn./ Elaeocarpaceae Eleusine indica Linn./ Poaceae (Fig.14) Emblica officinalis Gaertn. syn. Phyllanthus emblica Linn./ Euphorbiaceae Enhydra fluctuans Lour./ Asteraceae Eryngium foetidum Linn./ Apiaceae (Fig. 15) Fagopyrum esculentum Moench Jalpai (B); Ceylon olive (E) Chamghas (Or); Crow foot grass or Crab grass (E) Amlaki (B); Emblic or Indian gooseberry (E) Hinchya (B); Hibanchi (S) Brombho dhone (B) Dhemsi (Rj); Buckwheat (E) Polygonaceae T T. S T H H T T T H C H Kolmi-sak (B); Swamp cabbage (E) H

68 69 70

Receptacle Receptacle Ripe fruits Ripe fruits Leafy twigs Leafy twigs Ripe fruits Ripe fruits Ripe fruits Fruits Leaves Leaves Leaves

Eaten raw, also used in making pickles Cooked as vegetable Used as flavouring agent Cooked as vegetable; flavour obtained from fruit used in making chapati Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Eaten raw by children Eaten raw Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Eaten raw Eaten raw Eaten raw Roasted Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable

71

Khoksa (Rj); Dumar (B) Jogya dumur (B); Cluster fig (E) Bainchi (B); Ramontchi or Madagascar plum (E) Belakota (Ra); Puneala plum (E) Punornova (S); Duserasag (B) Gima (B) Phalsa (B); Phalsa (E) Dhamin (B) Nepaltunth (B) Bastard cedar (E) Kusum (B); Niger-seed or Rantil (E) Bania (S); Kokoaru (B) Kulekhara (B)

72 73

74 75 76 77 78 79

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Ficus hispida Linn. f./ Moraceae Ficus racemosa Linn./ Moraceae Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr. Flacourtiaceae Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch. Flacourtiaceae Glinus lotoides Linn./ Molluginaceae Glinus oppositifolius (Linn.) A. DC. Molluginaceae Grewia asiatica Linn./ Tiliaceae Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl/ Tiliaceae Guazuma ulmifolia Lam./ Sterculiaceae Guizotia abyssynica (Linn. f.) Cass./ Asteraceae Hedyotis scandens Roxb./ Rubiaceae Hygrophila schulli (Buch.-Ham.) M.R. Almeida & S.M. Almeida/ Acanthaceae Ipomoea aquatica Forsk./ Convolvulaceae

S. No. Katakachu (B); Kanta saru (S) Jalkusum (B) H T S H H H S C C S H Leaves Rhizome; unripe fruit; ripe fruit Ripe fruits H H T H C H/S S T H T S H Peduncles Peduncles Flowers Bulbs Leaves Leaves Flowers Ripe fruits Ripe fruits Seeds Ripe fruits Whole plant Unripe fruits Ripe fruits Unripe fruits Ripe fruits Tender leafy twigs Leaves Ripe fruits Leafy twigs Ripe fruits H T Young leaves Young leaves Used as vegetable Used as vegetable

Botanical name/Family

Vernacular name(s)

Life form

Part(s) used

Mode of utilization

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Halkasa (B) Kaitbel (B); Kumbanli (S); Elephant-apple or Wood apple (E) Ramjani (B) Lapha (B); Laffa (Ra) Sushni shak (B) Phukti (Rj); Indian Rhododendron (E) Moina Kata (B); Mainphal (Ra, K) Golkakra (S); Kakrol (B) Eaten raw Used as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Used as flavouring agent Cooked as vegetable Eaten raw and also used in making pickles Eaten raw by children Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Eaten raw by children Karol (Rj); Ban Karola (B); Small bitter-gourd (E) Narshim (K); Khadi neem (Ra); Curry leaf tree (E) Kalagach (B); Banana (E) Kadamba (Rj); Kadam (B); Kadam (E) Shaluk (B); Indian red water-lily (E) Nil Shaluk (B); Indian blue water-lily (E) Surimala (Rj); Makoi (Ra); Sona (B) Amrul (B); Tenga (Ra) Gandal (B) Ameta (Ra) Rambasak (B); Titaphul (Rj) T Rhizome and unripe fruit cooked as vegetable; ripe fruits eaten raw Eaten raw by children Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Used as vegetable Eaten raw, also used for making pickles Cooked as vegetable Used as vegetable Used as vegetable Eaten raw Eaten raw Eaten raw Eaten raw by children Cooked as vegetable

81 82

83 84

Lasia spinosa Linn./ Araceae Lepisanthes rubiginosa (Roxb.) Leenh./ Sapindaceae Leucas lavandulaefolia Rees/ Lamiaceae Limonia acidissima Linn./ Rutaceae

85 86 87 88

89 90

91

92

Maesa indica Wall./Myrsinaceae Malva verticillata Linn./Malvaceae Marsilea minuta Linn./ Marsileaceae Melastoma malabathricum Linn./ Melastomataceae (Fig. 16) Meyna spinosa Roxb. ex Link/ Rubiaceae Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng./ Cucurbitaceae Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd./ Cucurbitaceae (Fig. 17) Murraya koenigii (Linn.) Spreng./ Rutaceae

93

Musa balbisiana Colla/ Musaceae

94

95 96 97 98

Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser/Rubiaceae (Fig. 18) Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f./ Nymphaeaceae Nymphaea stellata Willd./ Nymphaeaceae Oroxylum indicum (Linn.) Vent./Bignoniaceae Oxalis corymbosa DC./ Oxalidaceae

99

100

101

102

Paederia scandens (Lour.) Merr./ Rubiaceae (Fig. 19) Persicaria chinensis (Linn.) H. Gross/ Polygonaceae Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus (Roxb.) Nees/ Acanthaceae (Fig. 20) Phoenix sylvestris (Linn.) Roxb./ Arecaceae

103 104

Natural Product Radiance

105 106

Khejur (B); Wild date palm or Date sugar palm (E) Physalis minima Linn./ Solanaceae (Fig. 21) Bon tepari (B); Sun berry (E) Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Dekani babla or Jilipiphal (B); Benth./Mimosaceae Manila tamarind (E) Polyalthia suberosa (Roxb.) Thw./Annonaceae Sandiome (S); Barachali (B) Polycarpon prostratum (Forssk.) Bongima (B) Aschers. & Schwienf./ Caryophyllaceae

S. No. H H H H H T C H C H
T T T

Botanical name/Family Whole plant Whole plant Leaves Leaves Leaves and flowers Flowers Leaves Eaten cooked Used as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Used as vegetable Eaten cooked
Roasted Eaten raw Leaves; fruits

Vernacular name(s) Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Used as vegetable Cooked as vegetable

Life form

Part(s) used

Mode of utilization

107 108

Polygonum plebium R. Br./ Polygonaceae Portulaca oleracea Linn./ Portulacaceae

109 Kalkasunda (B); Sophera senna (E)

Chiknisag (B); Raniphul (S) Nune (S); Baraloniya (B); Common purslane (E) Bonpalang (B); Jungli palak (Ra)

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111 112

113

Rumex dentatus Linn. ssp. klotzschianus (Meisw) Rech. f./ Polygonaceae Senna sophera (Linn.) Roxb./ Caesalpiniaceae (Fig. 22) Senna tora (Linn.) Roxb./ Caesalpiniaceae Sesbania grandiflora Pers./ Fabaceae (Fig. 23) Smilax ovalifolia Roxb./ Smilacaceae Chakunda (B); Sickle senna (E) Bakphul (B); Agathi, Swamp pea or Sesban (E) Ramdatan (Rj); Kumarika (B); Atkir (S) Kontakari (B) Nakal naru (Ra) Unripe fruits Leaves and unripe fruits Leaves
Seeds Ripe fruits

114 115

116

Solanum myriacanthum Dunal/ Solanaceae Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) Gandhi/ Cucurbitaceae Spilanthes oleracea Linn./ Asteraceae

117 118

Sterculia villosa Roxb. ex Smith/ Sterculiaceae Syzygium cumini (Linn.) Skeels/ Myrtaceae

119

Tamarindus indica Linn./ Caesalpiniaceae

Borousni (Rj); Brazilian cress or Para cress (E) Odal (O) Jam (B); Black plum, Java plum or Jambolan (E) Tentul (B); Tetuli (Rj); Tamarind tree (E)
Durujeokha (S) Bherser (S) Chichinga (B); Snake gourd (E) Ludbudhi (R); Banpatol (B) Ghetkul (Ra); Ghet Kochu (B) Sekul or Siakul (B); Jackal jujube (E) C C C C H S

120

Ripe fruits Ripe fruits Unripe fruits Unripe fruits Leaves Fruits

Leaves cooked as vegetable; fruits eaten raw and also used in making pickles Eaten raw Eaten raw by children Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Cooked as vegetable Eaten raw

121

122 123

124

125

Tetrastigma bracteolatum (Wall. ex M. Laws). Planch./ Vitaceae Tetrastigma leucostaphylum (Dennst.) Alston ex Mabberley/ Vitaceae Trichosanthes anguina Linn./ Cucurbitaceae Trichosanthes cucumerina Linn./Cucurbitaceae Typhonium trilobatum (Linn.) Schott./ Araceae Ziziphus oenoplia (Linn.) Mill./ Rhamnaceae (Fig. 24)

H-Herbs; C-Climbers; S-Shrubs; T-Trees B-Bengali; E-English; K-Kheria; O-Oraon; Ra-Rabha; Rj-Raj banshi; S-Santhal

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11

12

Fig. 1-12: 1. Abelmoschus moschatus; 2. Abutilon indicum; 3. Alternanthera philoxeroides; 4. Alternanthera sessilis R. Br.; 5. Amaranthus viridis; 6. Ampelocissus barbata; 7. Antidesma acidum; 8. Asparagus racemosus; 9. Boerhaavia diffusa; 10. Butea monosperma; 11. Colocasia esculenta; 12. Corchorus capsularis

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14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

Fig. 13-24: 13. Dillenia indica ; 14. Eleusine indica; 15. Eryngium foetidum; 16. Melastoma malabathricum; 17. Momordica dioica; 18. Neolamarckia cadamba; 19. Paederia scandens; 20. Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus; 21. Physalis minima; 22. Senna sophera ; 23. Sesbania grandiflora; 24. Ziziphus oenoplia
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plants, part(s) used and mode of utilization. It is estimated that in India about 800 species are consumed as wild edible plants, chiefly by the tribal people 6. Present survey of wild edible plants of Koch Bihar district indicate that 125 plant species belonging to 102 genera under 54 families have been recorded. It is evident from the Table 1 that ripe and unripe fruits of different plant species are consumed maximum times than the other parts of the plant. A statistical analysis about the wild edible plants of Koch Bihar district belonging to different plant groups and composition of their life forms is presented in Tables 2 and 3. It is evident from the Table 2 that tribal people mainly consume dicotyledonous plants (98 spp.) in relation to monocotyledonous plants (25 spp.) and Table 2 : Conspectus of wild edible plants of Koch Bihar district
Plant Groups Pteridophyta Dicotyledons Monocotyledons Total Family Genera Species 02 44 08 54 02 82 18 102 02 98 25 125

pteriodophytic plant group (2 spp.). They consume these plants either raw or after cooking, roasting or frying. These easily available plant species are the chief source of their essential nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates. Table 3 indicates that out of total 125 plant species, herbs are predominant type of wild edible plants, followed by trees and climbers. Shrubby plants are used in least number of occasions. It is evident from the present study that ethnic people of Koch Bihar district consume fruits on maximum occasions (50), followed by leaves (37), stems and twigs in 15 occasions, underground parts in 11 occasions and other parts of plants (flowers, seeds, whole plants and others) below the level of 10 times in each occasion.

pressure on a particular species in conformity with the principles of sustainable utilization of genetic resources. That will add a new dimension towards traditional management and conservation of plant wealth of the region.

Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the ethnic informants without whose active co-operation the work could not be accomplished. Authors are also thankful to Late Prof. A. K. Sarkar and Prof. G. G. Maiti, Department of Botany, Kalyani University for suggestions and encouragement.

References
1. Jain SK and De JN, Some less known plant foods among the tribals of Purulia (West Bengal), Sci Cult, 1964, 30, 285-286.

Conclusion
The findings of the present study 2. Maji S and Sikdar JK, A taxonomic survey and systematic census on the edible wild plants of indicate that wild edible plants are closely Midnapore district, West Bengal, J Econ linked with socioeconomic condition of Taxon Bot, 1982, 3, 717-737. tribal people of Koch Bihar district of West Bengal for their day-to-day requirement. Increased overexploitation of wild edibles 3. Bhujel RB, Tamang KK and Yonzone GS, Edible wild plants of Darjeeling district, J Bengal may causes threat to certain species. There Nat Hist Soc, 1984, 3, 76-83. is an obvious need to explore wild edibles that can be harvested without much
4.

Mukherjee CR and Ghosh RB, Useful plants of Birbhum district, West Bengal, J Econ Taxon Bot Addl Ser, 1992, 10, 83-95. Das D, Wild food plants of Midnapore, West Bengal, during drought and flood, J Econ Taxon Bot, 1999, 23(2), 539-547. Singh HB and Arora RK, Raishan (Digitaria sp.) - a minor millet of Khasi Hills, India, Econ Bot, 1978, 26, 376-380.

Table 3 : Composition of wild edible plant species under different categories of life forms
Plant Groups Pteridophyta Dicotyledons Monocotyledons Total Herbs 02 40 10 52 Shrubs 10 10 Trees 32 10 42 Climbers 16 5 21

5.

6.

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