Ethnobotanical Study of South Eastern Foothills of Bhutan
Bimal Kumar Chetri *
Sherubtse College Royal University of Bhutan, Bhutan
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Ninety three plant species from 82 genera and 44 families with their ethnomedicinal uses were enumerated along with 3 genera of different families of Pteridophytes. Preference ranking of the medicinal plants used for treating 7 different diseases indicated 1st, as the most effective treatment. Direct matrix ranking of 12 medicinal plants suggest that people have preference over the highest ranked species for their multipurpose uses besides medicinal use. Use value (UVis) of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers, Saccharum officinarum with honey and Gmelina arborea Roxb. is 2, 1.5 and 1.7 respectively.
Keywords: Ethnomedicines, preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, use value, traditional knowledge