Authors : Setiya A.V., Narkhede S.D., Dongarwar N.M., Chaudhari N.V.
Page Nos : 55-63
Description :
Gadchiroli District, located in the ecologically rich yet underexplored easternmost part of Maharashtra, harbors one of the most intact forest ecosystems in central India. Characterized by tropical dry and moist deciduous forests with patches of semi-evergreen vegetation, the region is home to a unique assemblage of Orchidaceae species and indigenous communities with deeply rooted traditional knowledge systems. This study presents the first comprehensive ethnobotanical account of orchids from this remote and socio-politically sensitive landscape, based on field explorations conducted between 2014 and 2018. Through semi-structured interviews with 31 tribal informants across Gond, Madiya, Pardhan, Naik, and Kanwar tribal communities, six orchid species were recorded with detailed Ethnomedicinal and Ethnoveterinary applications, primarily for bone fractures, sprains, and musculoskeletal ailments. Remarkably, five of the six species used are epiphytic, indicating both cultural preference and ecological availability. The rare occurrence and use of Pholidota imbricate - reported here for the first time in this context -highlights the floral singularity of Gadchiroli. This first-hand documentation is particularly significant as it captures vanishing oral traditions from an area long inaccessible to researchers due to difficult terrain and socio-political constraints. The study not only bridges a major gap in Maharashtra’s ethnobotanical records but also contributes uniquely to India’s orchid Ethnopharmacology. It underlines the urgent need for the conservation of both bio-resources and indigenous knowledge systems embedded in this fragile landscape.
