4.MEDICINAL FLORA OF SHIVAN MALAI HILLS OF SOUTHERN EASTERN GHATS, SALEM DT, TAMILNADU BY R.PRABAKARAN, E.SARANYA AND N.SIVAGAMI

Abstract

A detailed floristic study and statistical approach of medicinal plants survey was conducted by
routine field study during different seasons of the year 2009-10. As many as 160 species
enumerated 119 medicinally important species were recorded. The detailed lists of plant were
arranged alphabetical order along with their common name, family, habit, parts used and ailments
cured. As many 119 species of the medicinal parts belong to 116 genera and 56 families. Herbs
recorded with 74 species (46.25%), shrub with 45 species (28.12%), trees with 35 species
(21.87%), among plant parts used whole plant are the most widely used plant part accounting
(28.9%) of the reported medicinal plant uses, followed by leaves were recorded (28.12 %). There
are 11 different plant parts used to cure 60 ailments such as diuretic, piles, laxative, fever, asthma,
cough, snake bite, stomache, rheumatism, ulcer, cerebral complication, female sterility, nervous
disease, diarrhea, itch, leprosy, tuberculosis, memory disorders, blood purifier etc., The floristic
list and statistical approach of medicinal plants provide an important clue for search of new
medicinal plants species. It is an essential approach to have a proper documentation of the
medicinal plants of an area.
KEY WORD: Sivanmalai, Medicinalflora, Ariyanoor and Vinayaka Mission.