Ethnobotanical diversity of wild edible fruits and intergenerational knowledge erosion among the Paliyar of Kodaikanal, Southern Western Ghats, India

Abstract

Background: Indigenous Western Ghats communities rely heavily on wild edible fruits (WEFs). Despite this, a comprehensive baseline detailing quantitative resource metrics and transmission dynamics has been missing for the high-altitude zones of Kodaikanal. Today, generational shifts, modern socio-economic transitions deforestation, and restricted forest access threaten this traditional knowledge, demanding immediate quantitative documentation to avert biocultural loss.

Methods: An ethnobotanical field survey was conducted from December 2024 to November 2025 across six Paliyar tribal villages in the Kodaikanal Hills. Semi structured interviews were executed with 91 informants selected via purposive sampling to record local vernacular nomenclature. Physical voucher specimens were preserved at the Meenakshi Herbaria (SNC-MH). Quantitative evaluation utilized Use Value (UV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) indices, alongside cohort modelling to analyze intergenerational knowledge transmission.

Results: The survey yielded 50 wild and semi-wild fruit species distributed across 32 families, dominated by Rosaceae, Solanaceae, Rutaceae, Moraceae, and Passifloraceae, which collectively accounted for 38.0% of the total species wealth. Shrubs comprised the primary life form (52.0%), followed by trees (28.0%), climbers (10.0%), herbs (8.0%), and parasites (2.0%). Quantitatively, Phyllanthus emblica L. demonstrated highest prominence with a (FC = 86, RFC = 0.945, UV = of 0.94), followed by Carissa carandas L. (FC = 80, RFC = 0.879, UV = 0.88) and Citrus × reshni (Engl.) Tanaka (FC = 74, RFC = 0.813, UV = 0.81). Demographic cohort analysis revealed severe intergenerational knowledge erosion; the variance between the younger cohort (18–35 years old) and the elderly cohort (≥56 years old) was formally validated by a Kruskal–Wallis H-test and post-hoc Mann–Whitney U test (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Beyond satisfying direct dietary needs these wild assets form the basis of local medicinal practices serve as a vital economic safety net, with 24.2% of surveyed households actively utilizing them for local commercial trade. These findings emphasize that regional germplasm preservation must be paired with active community-led initiatives to safeguard endangered indigenous knowledge.

Keywords: Biocultural conservation, ethnobotanical diversity, Paliyar tribe, traditional knowledge, Western Ghats, wild edible fruits, relative frequency of citation.