ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES ON WILD EDIBLE PLANTS USED BY MALAYALI TRIBALS OF MELUR, BODHA HILLS, SOUTHERN EASTERN GHATS, NAMAKKAL DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

A survey of wild edible and food plants was undertaken and identified various species used by the malayali tribes of Melur, Bodha hills, located in the Rasipuram taluk, Namakkal District, Southern Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India. The purpose of the study was to document the traditional wild edible plants used by malayali tribals. Tribals mostly depend on wild plants and such natural products for their food such as vegetables of leafy varieties, unripe fruits and ripen fruits. The local tribe community depends for their dietary requirements since a long time using these plants. The study identified 95 wild edible plant species under 75 genera and 48 family. Out of 95 wild edible plant species, Leafy vegetables (43- species), wild fruit (38 species) eaten as a raw, some wild unripe fruit as vegetables and are consumed by this tribal people in this study area have been identified and documented. These leafy vegetables, unripe fruits, and tubers are collected in different seasons, cooked and eaten along with boiled rice or millets. These wild edible plants are have enriched with high nutrition and free from artificial chemicals.