4. ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF VALLIOOR PLAINS IN TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA BY D. VANILA AND T. LEON STEPHAN RAJ

Abstract

Ethnobotany may be the knowledge that prehistoric man had gained by observations and
experimentations. It is the multidisciplinary science that brings to light many less known or
unknown uses of plants, of which some may have wide medicinal potential. Ethnomedicine, a part
of ethnobotany deals with the study of ethnic beliefs, concepts, knowledge and practices in the
midst of the tribal for checking or curing diseases. In the present study 31 plants belonging to 19
families were studied from Vallioor plains of Tirunelveli district. Each plant part having the
capacity to cure different diseases, in some plants whole plant has the ethnomedicinal value. The
conventional ethno medicinal plants were mostly used for fever, dysentery, skin diseases, cough,
cold, piles and rheumatism. The ethno medicinal plants used by traditional users of Vallioor plains
are arranged alphabetically followed by botanical name, family name, local name, parts used and
medicinal uses.
KEY WORD: Ethnomedicine, Vallioor plains, Traditional uses.