Ethnobotanical survey of indigenous leafy vegetables consumed in rural areas of Terai-Dooars region of West Bengal, India

Abstract

There is always a need for novel, high quality, functional and inexpensive foods among consumers in the global markets. Leafy vegetables can fulfill such needs. Leafy vegetables are now used worldwide as food for their nutritional and medicinal values. In the present work an ethnobotanical survey was carried out on the utilization of edible plants by local communities of the Terai-Dooars Region of West Bengal. The information has been documented by interviewing traditional farmers, herbalists, various older men and women following different ethnobotanical methods. A total of 103 plant species under 44 families with their short botanical description, use, range of demands and cultivation status have been documented.