Plants of religious importance of Banaskantha District North Gujarat.
Patel P. K., Bhatt D. C., Parekh P. P., Patel M. K.
Author Affiliation: Department of Biology, P. S. Science College, Kadi (Gujarat), India.
Plant Archives 5 : 641-643
Abstract : A large number of tribal people of Banaskantha district of North Gujarat, India, were interviewed during 2001-03 to collect information on plants used for religious purpose. A total of 29 plant species, belonging to 25 genera and 23 families, were listed, of which 18 species belonged to dicotyledons and 11 species to monocotyledons. These plants included Calotropis gigantea, Cynodon dactylon, Ficus religiosa, Mangifera indica, Zingiber officinale and Ziziphus mauritiana. The tribal people of Banaskantha mostly preferred flowers and leaves for worship to God, reception, social ceremony, sacrifice and belief for good omen and ominous.