Ethnobotanical Survey of Some Parasitic Plants Growing in Girnar forest of Junagadh District of Gujarat, India

The present study deals with the ethnobotanical survey of some unreported and rare parasitic plants in the vicinity of Girnar forest of Junagadh. The parasitic plants have rarely been reported in this region because of lack of luxuriant growth of other plants. Five parasitic plants were reported from this belt and all these belong to the families of Cuscutaceae, Loranthaceae and Orobanchaceae. Their morphological characters as well as their host were found out. These parasitic species showed variation in invasiveness. The purpose of present study was to record the indigenous knowledge of parasitic plants used as a medicine. The botanical name, vernacular name, family, parts used in traditional practices by the local people of Girnar forest were narrated.