ISSN 2375-0979
African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 11 (4), pp. 001-011, April, 2023. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Wild fruit harvesting possibilities for the Meghalayan Khasi tribes' traditional diet
S. Jeeva
Department of Botany, Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Marthandam - 629 165, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 6 January, 2023
Abstract
Plants provide most of the food products consumed by indigenous people in tropical countries. A study of wild edible fruits in the Khasi tribes of Meghalaya was carried out to assess their horticultural importance. One hundred fifty-one species belonging to 49 families were encountered, which include folk name, habit and the season of availability. Among them 100 were trees, 34 shrubs, 12 climbers and 5 herbs. Some edible plants have great economic value and are highly linked with socio-economic development of tribal communities of the state. The importance of documenting the use of wild edible species in this hotspot region is especially important because of rapid loss of biodiversity due to anthropogenic disturbance. The outcome of the present study may be helpful to have an understanding and thus make a conservation strategy of the wild edible species.
Key words: Ethnobotany, indigenous community, Khasi tribe, Meghalaya, wild edibles.