Intracultural Cognizance of Medicinal Plants of Warangal North Forest Division, Northern Telangana, India

Abstract

Differences in the traditional botanical knowledge of Koya communities inhabiting Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary (Warangal North Forest Division) are investigated. Eighteen villages (16 within the wildlife sanctuary and two outside it) were selected to test the null hypothesis that there exist no cognitive differences among the ethnic inhabitants in their ability to recognize the plants and recall the vernacular names and medicinal uses since they are recipients of the same dry deciduous forest ecosystem services. The Koyas were found to use as medicine 237 species in 66 angiosperm families. Analyses of data gathered from villagers showed that there is significant intracultural diversity in terms of taxonomic groups and growth forms in regard to utilizing the proximate plant resource for their primary healthcare and disease treatment of pets.