Vol. 9, Special Issue 12 (2020)

Author(s):
Dinesh Kumar Pal, B Dutt, Rajeev Dhiman and Varun Attri

Abstract:
The present study “Economic utility of different plant species occurring in mid Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out to study the economic plant wealth of Theog Forest Division, with main emphasis on medicinal plants. The study area lies between 31º-5´ and 31º-10´ North latitudes and 77º-22´-30´´ and 77º-30´East longitudes. The area is covering mostly the west of Shimla District and comes under Theog and Kotkhai Sub-divisions. A total of 448 plant species, belonging to 314 genera and 120 families, have been collected from the study area. Out of these, 353 species belong to Dicotyledons, 56 to Monocotyledons, 7 to Gymnosperms, 27 to Pteridophytes, 1 to Bryophytes, 3 to Fungi and 1 to Lichens. Out of the total collected plants, 244 species have been designated as having medicinal importance and 54 species are aromatic, based on the available authentic literature. These plants provide different benefits viz., fuel, fodder, fibre, gums, resins, tannins, dyes, timber, aromatic and medicinal benefits, which can be utilized economically all over the world. There is a great scope for further pharmacological research on some of these species. It is of prime importance to document the existing plant resources, which would be beneficial in formulating policies for their sustainable use, conservation and propagation. This fundamental approach of local inventory will help to enrich and strengthen the holistic approach of national and global biodiversity enumerations.