Indigenous plants in traditional healthcare system in Kedarnath valley of western Himalaya

300-310The study deals with the indigenous plants used in traditional healthcare in Kedarnath valley of Uttarakhand in western Himalaya. A total 130 plant species belonging to 94 genera and 62 families have been identified. Of these, 21 species are trees, 19 species are shrubs and 90 species are herbs. These species diversity are described for their distribution, utilisation pattern, and indigenous uses. The roots, rhizomes, bulbs, stems, tubers, leaves, barks, fruits and seeds are used for treatment of different ailments. The plants are rare (30 sp), endangered (15 sp), and vulnerable (3 sp) and common (82). As per their population structure, several anthropogenic and natural causes are analysed for their threatened status. The study is a first attempt to study the medicinal plants of the Kedarnath valley area. Documentation of traditional knowledge on the ethnomedicinal use of these plants was studied.