Ecological status of wild edibles consumed by Cholanaickens, a primitive tribe of Western Ghats, India.
Ashraf K., Santhoshkumar A. V.
Author Affiliation: College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, KAU Post, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products 18 : 71-76
Abstract : A study was undertaken to document the ecological status of wild edibles consumed among the Cholanaickens tribe of Western Ghat in India. It was found that they consume a number of wild edible plants. It was observed that the people are less dependent on their traditional foods owing to the availability of subsidized food from the cooperative stores. A total of fifty six species of wild edible plants were documented which are consumed by the Cholanaickens. Among those species, twenty four species were leafy vegetables, followed by twelve fruit yielding species, nine species, which produce edible seeds, and eleven species producing tubers and rhizomes. The phytosociological study showed that only thirteen species of edible plants are available at present in the study area. It was also found that regeneration of most of the tuber species is not taking place probably because of higher exploitation in the previous period.