EXPLORATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF SOME WILD EDIBLE PLANTS USED BY THE ABORIGINALS FROM GADCHIROLI DISTRICT (M.S.) INDIA

Abstract: : The present study deals with the exploration, identification, documentation and ethnobotanical aspects with respect to food value of wild edible plants consumed by aboriginals from Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra State-India. The Forest adjoin is of dry deciduous to moist deciduous type. The prominent tribes in Gadchiroli District are Raj Gond, Gond, Madia, Pardhan and Kanwar, etc. and other than these tribes the large population is scheduled caste and other backward cast and nomadic tribes which are dwelling on this land since ancient time and no such investigation has been undertaken in this District. Investigation results in 61 plant species of 40 families consumed as food during various situations.

Keywords: Gadchiroli, Wild edibles, Tribal, Aboriginal, Ethnobotany, Indigenous knowledge.