Asteraceae is one of the largest families of vascular plants represented by 30,000 species and over 1100 genera all over the world. In India, there are 900 species under 167 genera. Asteraceae dominates other phanerogames in Patalkot valley too. I have reported 60 species belonging to 44 genera of this region. There has been much contribution made in publishing records of family Asteraceae by various workers. So far, there was no published record of Asteraceae from Patalkot valley of Chhindwara district. Therefore, extensive surveys of Asteraceous plants were carried out during 1999-2000. Specimens of the survey were deposited in Herbarium of Botany Department of Danielson College. During the survey, I explored the area of Patalkot valley that included- Gaildubbha, Karayam Rathed, Ghatlinga, Gudichhathri, Karrapani, Tamia Bharia Dhana, Bijauri, Pandu Piparia, Sajkui, Lahgadua, karrapani, Sidhouli. Most of the plants of family Asteraceae occurring in this region have been identified. The medicinal values of the plants are based on the information obtained from the tribal viz., Bharias and Gonds of Patalkot valley. The list of the plants has been prepared in alphabetical order. |
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Asteraceae stands as the fourth largest family in India. The present floristic study survey showed that Blumea is represented by the maximum number of species in the area. Sieges beckia is found only in Tamia hills. Most of the genera were represented by only one or two species. Guizotia, Tagetes, Helianthus, and Spilanthes are being cultivated by the local farmers. Another weeds like Parthenium, Xanthium, Vicoa, Cichorium, and Caesulia were found to be frequently. Acanthospermum, Ageratum, Parthenium, Xanthium, Vicoa, Cichorium and Caesulia are the most common weeds in the fields of Patalkot Valley. Few taxa such as Parthenium hysterophorus, Xanthium strumarium, Tridax procumbens, Ageratum conyzoides and Acanthospermum hispidum dominate practically all the areas and are common weeds. Though, some taxa are weeds but rural and tribal people utilize them as medicines. Conservation activities should be concerned with all medicinally important species. In Asteraceae many species are weedy but even some of these are traditional remedies and are used as traditional food. There is a greater need to combine ethnobotanical information with ecological studies of Asteraceae. |
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