Ecological Ethnobotanical and Taxonomical Study of Family Fabaceae with Reference to Betul District of Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

newline This study provides valuable insights into the ecological, ethnobotanical, and taxonomical aspects of the family Fabaceae in Betul District, Madhya Pradesh. By integrating ecological research, ethnobotanical knowledge, and taxonomic expertise, this study contributes to our understanding of the importance of Fabaceae species in sustaining ecosystems and supporting human livelihoods. A total of 13 species of plants providing food for tribals were recorded in the Betul district. These species are cultivated in the field and kitchen garden. Gonds and Korukus and other communities cultivate some wild plants like Moongfali (Arachis hypogea Linn.), Ballhar (Canavalia gladiata L.), Tuar (Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth.), Gawarfali (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.), Sem (Dolichos lablab L.), Masoor (Lens esculentum L.), Urad (Phaseolus mungo L.) Moong (Phaseolus radiatus Linn.), Matar (Pisum sativum L.), Chana (Cicer arietinum L.) Methi (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.), Bean (Vicia faba L.), (Vigna sinensis Savi ex Hassk) belonging to the Family Papilionaceae have been recorded in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh. Tuar (Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth.), Masoor (Lens esculentum L.), Urad (Phaseolus mungo L.) Moong (Phaseolus radiatus Linn.), Matar (Pisum sativum L.), and Chana (Cicer arietinum L.) are the major pulse crops while Soybean (Glycine max L.), are major oil seed crops. Ballhar (Canavalia gladiata L.), Gawarfali (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.), Sem (Dolichos lablab L.), Methi (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.), Bean (Vicia faba L.), (Vigna sinensis Savi ex Hassk) is cultivated for use as vegetables. Some vegetable crops are also cultivated by the tribals in their Kitchen gardens. Korku and other tribes depend on forests to collect leaves, fruits, seeds, corms and tubers from the forests accounting for 63 species, which are used to supplement their food. newlineIn the present study some plants are considered to be the abode of their deities like God Shiv on Dichrostachys cinerea Wight et Am., God Shri Ram on Bauhinia malab