Medicinal plants in an Urban environment; herbaceous medicinal flora from the campus of Regional Institute of Education, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Abstract

Bhubaneswar popularly known as the Temple City is one of the oldest continuously inhabited regions of the world, and one the most important Lord Shiva, Lord Bhubaneswari, Lord Mahavir and Lord Buddha pilgrimage sites of the country. Despite its importance, very little     information is available on the city’s herbaceous flora in general, and the medicinal species found within its limit in particular. As traditional medicine plays an important role in Indian society and in Oriya culture, the present study attempts to investigate the availability and their traditional uses. The paper presents information on the traditional uses of seventy-two plant species collected from the campus of Regional Institute of Education (NCERT), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, and highlights the uses of these plants by the local inhabitants for healthcare and the students of the institute for the study of Ethnobotany , Medicinal importance and conservation.