Elementary Knowledge of Indian Medicinal Plants of Uttarakhand Himalaya

Book excerpt: "Elementary Knowledge of Indian Medicinal Plants of Uttarakhand Himalaya mainly focuses on the taxonomy and ethnomedicinal uses of plants, and the information provided can be used to identify plants while surveying medicinal plants in the region. This compilation will be helpful for researchers and students working in the field of plant science and other related fields. This textbook is divided into five chapters, and the first chapter reviews the historical aspects of India in terms of traditional knowledge. The second chapter provides a general introduction to the biodiversity of medicinal plants in Uttarakhand, a Himalayan state of India, as well as its geography, population, herbal sector status, temperature and altitudes. The third chapter reviews 600 flowering plants belonging to 108 families. Each plant is described using its Ayurvedic/Sanskrit name, vernacular/local name, botanical properties, distribution, medicinal properties, phytochemical constituents and pharmacological status. The fourth chapter discusses 14 gymnosperms belonging to four families, and the fifth chapter discusses 18 pteridophytes from two families. Photographs of selected plants are also included in a separate section"--