Research article STATUS AND DIVERSITY OF ETHNO-MEDICINAL PLANTS OF DHINODHAR HILL, KACHCHH DISTRICT, GUJARAT

Some plants are uses by human community to cure diseases and health related problems from long period of time are called ethno-medicinal plants. Dhinodar Hill is located in Kachchh district under arid zone of India; in spite of this many medicinal plants are found in the various parts of this district. These medicinal plants and their ethnic uses are losing day by day due to loss of traditional knowledge and habitat destruction so; this study was carried out to document the medicinal plants and its associated traditional knowledge. A total of 220 plants recorded from this hilly tract, out of which 35 medicinal plants identified. These medicinal plants are used by the local community in curing 53 types of disease and health related problems. This study recorded some plant species viz; Commiphora wightii, Capparis cartilaginea, Sterculia urens, Sarcocostemma acidum, Tinospora cordifolia, having high medicinal values. It was found that Fagonia schweienfurthii (1850.65Density/ha) and Achyranthes aspera var. argentea (1331.17 Density/ha) were most dense medicinal plants of the Hill, and the diversity of medicinal plant were high in mixed vegetation habitat. In conclusion, the medicinal species require special attention to conserve and documentation of their medicinal uses for local people and future commercial production.