Ethnobotanical studies on the wild edible plants used by the tribals of anaimalai hills, the Western ghats.

The present paper deals with the results of a preliminary survey of the wild edible plants used by different ethnic groups in the Anaimalai hills of the Western Ghats in Coimbatore district. Tribals of various ethnic groups dominate the wooded habitat of this hilly region. About 53 plants species belonging to 32 families are used as edible by the tribes. Of these, the leaves of 25 plant species are consumed as green and about 20 wild fruits are consumed raw. The rest of the plant species are used for their tubers, seeds and roots. The plant species, their families, vernacular names, parts used and their mode of usage were also reported.