A sustainable use of phytodiversity by the Kandha tribe of Orissa.
Tribhubana Panda, Panigrahi S. K., Padhy R. N.
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 4 : 173-178
Abstract : The plants used by the Kandha tribe in the Mantriguda valley, surrounded by seven hills, in Orissa, India, are described. For the housing purpose, tribals use nine different species of plants. They cultivate thirteen plant species of millets, pulses, oil seeds and paddy and collect wild edible fruits, tubers, leaves, roots, mushrooms and youngling shoots of bamboo to supplement their diet. They use thirteen plant species for making agricultural implements and home appliances. The tribals collect only dry plant parts for their fuel wood, irrespective of the plant species, without cutting them. A few plants such as neem [Azadirachta indica], banyan [Ficus benghalensis], Peepal, sacred basil [Ocimum basilicum] and mango are worshipped by them. For medicines, these tribals fully depend on the indigenous flora and fauna.