Ethnobotanical study on mishing community of Sonitpur Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts of Assam

Abstract

Ethnobotany deals with total direct relationship that exists between man and plants. This subject mainly deals with study of plants used by primitive and aboriginal people. In recent years concept and scope of the subject have very much developed and greatly expanded as a multidisciplinary subject including several disciplines apart from botany and anthropology. Its scopes widening, ethnobotany embraces branches like archaeoeth-nobotany, ethnomedicine, ethnopharmacology, ethnotaxonomy, ethnoecology, palaeoethnobotany etc. (Singh, 1994). All tribal people of the world have been depending upon plants from time immemorial for various purposes viz, for food, medicine, dyes, construction of house and house-hold articles, preparation of country liquor, fumitory and masticatory etc. This has been possible due to their intimate contact with forests. The North-Eastern region of India is comprised of plains and hills criss-crossed by innumerable rivers big and small. Soil in this part of the country is fertile due to sufficient rainfall, moderate temperature, high humidity etc. which together with the topography of the region have contributed to rich natural vegeta-tion and probably this is the reason why various tribes like the Khantis, the Singphows, the Idus, the Daflas, the Mishings, the Boros, the Karbis, the Lalungs (Tiwas), the Rabhas, the Sonowal Kocharis etc. live in the north eastern states of india. These tribals keep themselves usually restricted to areas basically away from modern civilization as the far-flung areas, particularly foothills of high mountains and the bank of rivers to have their easy livelihood. They primarily depend upon natural surrou-ndings for food, shelter, cloth and for other day to day necessities. This is mainly due to their primitive ways of obtaining essential materials. A few research workers have done commendable ethnobotanical research on some of the tribes of North Eastern India in general and the tribals residing in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in particular: Boissya and...