Abstract
The flora of Kanakeshwar hills and adjoining area represents a mixed forest comprising semi-evergreen and moist deciduous elements. Occurrence of 663 flowering plants has been documented I n the area which includes valuable timber species like Anogeissus, Dalbergia, Tectona and Terminalia; important ayurvedic resources like Garenia, Helicteres, Holarrhena, Saraca, Tinospora and Woodfordia and wild fruit trees like Artocarpus, Carissa and Mangifera. Occurrence of less-known or unconventional resources like Aristolochia, Celastrus, Costus, Gloriosa, Gmelina, Meyna, Pueraria, Strychnos, Urgenia and many other species have also been recorded from the area.
In present paper, an attempt has been to locus light on the socio-economic status of 75 potential plant resources from Kanakeshwar and surrounding area. Impact of social and economic development on these resources has also been discussed. The data contained in the paper have relevance from the view points of conservation of diversity, plantation programmes for the benefit of local inhabitants and in studying changing pattern of flora of the region.
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