Ethnobotany of Jalgaon District, Maharashtra
Contents: Preface. Introduction: 1. Geographical position. 2. Topography. 3. Geology and soils. 4. General vegetation. 5. Climate. 6. History. 7. The people and their culture. 8. Ethnology of tribes. 9. Festivals in Jalgaon District. 10. Games and recreations in Jalgaon District. 11. Crops in Jalgaon District. 12. Plant based industries. 13. Previous explorations in the state. 14. Methodology. Ethnobotanical enumerations: I. Concrete relationship. II. Abstract relationship. I. Tribals: 1. Pawara Tribe. 2. Bhil Tribe. 3. Vanjara Tribe. II. Non-Tribals: 1. Festivals in the district. 2. Fasts and worships in the district. 3. Marriages in the district. 4. Deaths and births in the district. 5. Customs in the district. 6. Game in the district. 7. Songs of marriages in Ahirani dialect. 8. Songs of Akhaji festival in Ahirani dialect. 9. Songs of Goddess Kanbai in Ahirani dialect. 10. Songs on different occasions in Ahirani dialect. 11. Riddles in Marathi language and Ahirani dialect. 12. Puzzles in Ahirani dialect. 13. Proverbs in Ahirani dialect. III. Vernacular plant names: Vernacular plant names in ethnobotanical perspective. Discussion. Summary. Appendices:1. Edible plants. 2. Plants used in veterinary medicine. 3. Plants used as timber. 4. Plants used as toothbrush and for cleaning mouth. 5. Hedge plants. 6. Plants for hut construction. 7. Plants used for fish killing. 8. Plants used as antidote. 9. Plants sold in market. 10. Annual cycle of forest products in Jalgaon District (Monthwise). Bibliography. Index to plant names. Index to local names.
"Indigenous knowledge and wisdom on the utilization of bioresources is of immense value to biodiversity planners and scientists in developing strategies in conservation, utilization and generation of wealth. Moreover, documentation of ethnobotanical knowledge in the form of database is also useful to protect IPR rights of the indigenous societies and prevent the same from misuse. These recent driving forces accelerated botanization worldwide from viewpoint of utility and trade. This book embodies the results of ethnobotanical forays of the authors in Jalgaon district. It informs the availability of wild and cultivated plant species with hitherto undocumented potential for exploitation.
The introductory chapter informs on geography, topography, geology and soils, general vegetation and climate of the district, apart from history, people and their culture, ethnology of tribes, festivals, games, crops, plant-based industries, previous explorations and methodology adapted. The main text contains information on human ethnomedicine, ethno-veterinary medicine and other miscellaneous uses. It also documents plants/their parts or products associated with beliefs, rituals, fasts, worships, ceremonies, festivals, agricultural practices, Gods/Goddesses, songs, proverbs, riddles, puzzles, customs, deaths, births etc. Interestingly, philology of vernacular plant names in the district is indicative of in-depth study of the authors. This aspect of the study, apart from concrete and abstract relationships, offers insight into usage and provides glimpses of the culture of people.
The knowledge of indigenous tribal and rural people is still basic and crucial to their physical, spiritual and social well-being. Their ethnobotanical wisdom is collected, analyzed, classified and documented. It is hoped that the book will be adored by teachers, students, research workers in botany, apart from policy makers, environmental planners, enthusiasts and scientists in industry, pharmacy, forestry and agriculture." (jacket)
