“Ecological Study of Medicinal Plant- Paris Polyphylla In Ghandruk VDC, Kaski, Nepal

Abstract

Medicinal plants are the local heritage of global importance as they contribute towards quality health care. While demand for medicinal plants is increasing, their survival in natural habitat is under growing threat due to man made and natural calamities. Paris polyphylla Sm. (Satuwa) is one of the medicinal plants, listed as vulnerable under IUCN threat category and found in altitude ranging from 2100 m to 2900m altitude. Local people use this plant for headache, fever, burns and wounds and to counteract poison. Ecological information on this medicinal plant is lacking. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to document the ecological status, distribution pattern and the reproductive biology of this plant in Ghandruk VDC of Central Nepal.

The research was done in four different localities of Ghandruk VDC viz, Ghandruk village, Komrong Danda, Chhomrong and Tadapani. Five transects were laid out at 20 – 50m distance and six quadrats of 1m x 1m was laid out in an interval of 5m. Plant’s number, coverage, associated species, litter coverage and thickness were noted. Soil test, seed length, breadth, weight, output, viability and germination, dry biomass of rhizome, antibacterial activity of seed and rhizome were also studied. The average population density of the plant in study area was found to be low in Ghandruk VDC (1.78 ind./m 2 ). The plant was found growing in moist, acidic soil with high nutrient content. No commercial collection was found to be undertaken in the study area but the collection for domestic use was found to be done in an unsustainable manner. Seed viability was found to be low and the seeds did not germinate in laboratory conditions even under different chemical treatments. The plant was found to reproduce mainly by vegetative propagation in the field. There seems to be a need for raising awareness among the local people about the sustainable use of the rhizome of this plant and its cultivation practice for the conservation of this plant for the future.