The North Eastern Region is a rich respositary of useful plants. These plants have not been studied in detail regarding their characteristics, use, utilization, potential and also as a source of valuable protein. This publication is an number attempt in the above direction and may from the basis of further detailed work. The author is fully conscious of the present publication. Much more could have been done but because of the problems of insurgency, difficult terrain and lack of literature and information on the plants of the region were the constraints and this is all what the author could do. The author will feel satisfied and amply rewarded if this publication stimulates further efforts and studies on these valuable plants and those listed in the second chapter as compendium of useful plants of the region. A chapter on useful plants of the region has also been added, so that, all those who may be interested in knowing the plant wealth of this remote region. This part is especially for those, who may be interested in the development and progress of the region and to remove regional imbalance and may be useful for all those, who may be interested in pursuing studies on specific groups of plants.

The book provides a scientific background needed for the identification of medicinal plants commonly occurring in India. It explains scientific terms for description of plant parts. It explains the method for identification of plants employing scientific terms. Any unknown medicinal plants can be identified to its family, genus and ultimately to the species. More than 610 species of Indian Medicinal Plants, including those 365 mentioned in the CCIM approved University syllabus of Ayurvedic medicine are listed. An exhaustive list of above plant species provides correct and up-todate scientific name together with names in English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi languages and plant parts used in medicine. It also provides about 88 line drawings of plants parts and 125 coloured photographs for confirmation of identified plants. With the help of this book, one will be able to identify 610 species of Medicinal Plants. This will help in pinpointing the genuine drug and its parts by way of comparison. It may also help in detection of genuine as well as adulterated plant species and their parts. Thus, it is hoped that, the book will be useful to Agriculturists, Ayurvedic practitioners, Pharmacicsts in addition to the students of Ayurved, botany as well as a common person interested in knowing common Indian Medicinal Plants.

The present ethnobotanical work was carried out by doing periodical and extensive ethnobotanical survey, assessment of field and tribal knowledge bank of tribal inhabited localities of Ratlam district of Western Madhya Pradesh from 2004-2007. A total number of 210 plant species of ethnobotanical importance [Medicinal- 186; Vegetables- 27; Wild edible fruits-36; Fodder/Forage - 18; Beverage and Drinks-3; Gum and Resin-3; Magico-religious beliefs and offerings-25; Agriculture implements, Handle, Tools, Boats-5; Fibres-11; Detergent - 3; Dye-3; Tannin-12; Oil yielding Plants-3; House, Building construction, Thatching and Furniture-11; Taboos and Totems-6; Musical instruments-11; Fuel-6; Biofencing-10; Fish poison-10; Other economic uses-7] belonging to 178 genera and 71 families have been including in the present study used by the indigenous people inhabiting all the villages of the district. Further the dicots are represented by 180 species belonging to 150 genera and 59 families and the remaining 30 species; belong to 28 genera and 12 families of monocots. Statistically, out of 210 plant species of ethnobotanical interest are belonging to different habits viz, 96 herbs, 55 trees, 37 shrubs, 16 climbers, 5 grasses and one angiospermic parasite plants and were included in the present study. The book includes vernacular names, Taxonomic description, distribution, part use, Chemical constituents, Biological activities, Folk uses of studied plants. This book is helpful for Botanists, Ethnobotanists, NGO’s and research workers interested in carrying out the researchers in the field of Ayurveda and Medicinal uses of the plants, BAMS students, the student of Botany and the persons engaged in Pharmaceutical concerns as well as other reader’s interested in the field of Herbal-medicine and Ethno-medicine and a must for Scientific and University Libraries in Madhya Pradesh.

Ethnobotany deals with traditional and indigenous associations of people with plants. The subject has been attracting more and more scholars in India and many other countries. It’s importance in search for new molecules from ethnomedicinal herbs and useful genes from wild relatives and land races of crops, still in use among many native folk, for genetic engineering has enhanced the importance of the discipline. The number of books and research papers published each year has been rapidly increasing .Research workers need to know about the work done on their topic of study. Bibliographies reviews greatly help in this and save their valuable time. About 2500 publications are listed in the present book. To facilitate the search of reference on particular region, ethnic groups or use categories indexes are given for providing clues to such search. Research guides can easily spot gaps in ethnobotanical studies in any ethnic society, as also regions of the country. Biographers will find from one source the work done in single or joint authorship by the scientist on whom they are writing. To facilitate this an index by surname of joint authors is also provided. The book will be an essential reference work for research workers.

The present book comprises of two sections, A and B. Section A has the text of the lectures during the Training Course in Ethnobotany, and the section B has some of the material and exercise handled by the trainees during the Workshop and in practical classes. The sequence of the lectures has been so arranged as to gradually and step by step introduce the scope, methodology, and applications of the subject along with the subjects of preparation of scientific papers and research projects. This book will not only popularize the important subject of Ethnobotany but will also provide basic instructions for person freshly interested or inducted into this discipline.