Ethnomedicinal uses of Sthalavrikshas (temple trees) in Tamil Nadu, southern India

Date

2012

Contributor

Advisor

Department

Instructor

Depositor

Speaker

Researcher

Consultant

Interviewer

Narrator

Transcriber

Annotator

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Botany Department, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Volume

Number/Issue

Starting Page

Ending Page

Alternative Title

Abstract

Worship of plants is practiced throughout the world and is well established from pre-historic periods in India. In Tamil Nadu state, India this customary practice follows with religious faiths and culture. One such religious worship is known as Sthalavriksha (sthal: locality, vriksha: tree) in temples. Very few field studies have been conducted on Sthalavriksha practice and its role in social, ecological and environmental impacts of local people. In particular, ethnomedicinal uses on Sthalavrikshas, occurring in the temples of Tamil Nadu have been unexplored. A survey was conducted at 1165 ancient temples of the state and revealed the occurrence of 112 plant species during 2002-2006. At the time of study, several ethnomedicinal uses of 101 Sthalavriksha species were recorded by both direct observations and referred to by devotees, priests and Nattuvaidyas (traditional healers) in the temples.

Description

Keywords

Hawaiians--Ethnobotany--Periodicals., Ethnobotany--Hawaii--Periodicals., Plants, Medicinal--Periodicals., Ethnobotany--Periodicals.

Citation

Gunasekaran M, Balasubramanian P. 2012. Ethnomedicinal uses of Sthalavrikshas (temple trees) in Tamil Nadu, southern India. Ethnobotany Research & Applications 10: 253-268.

Extent

16 pages

Format

Geographic Location

Time Period

Related To

Related To (URI)

Table of Contents

Rights

Rights Holder

Local Contexts

Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.