Wild Plants Of Indian Sub-Continent And Their Economic Use

The history of civilization is the history of knowing the utilization of wild flora and fauna present on the globe. Wild vegetation grown naturally in land and water ecosystems and plays a great role in the life of man and his livestock. These plants are not only found in uninhabited lands but also in cultivated fields which are less interfered by man. A large variety of wildflora are found in Indian subcontinent because it is endowed with a variety of physiographical features and climates. Such a diversity of wildflora does not exists to any country due to lack of various evolutionary determinants such as mountain systems plateaus plaines and river systems etc. Wild plants have variety of uses. Apart from providing animal feed fuel wood and improving the land productivity the different part of the various wild species available have multiferous uses. Their use vary from place to place even for the same species. The plant Leucaena /eucocepha/a leaves are fed to the cattle and branches are used for thatching houses in North Eastern States of India while in Philippines it is used mainly for green manuring and timber.Tremendous increase in human and livestock population has placed severe strain on wildflora. The huge gap between demand and supply of fuel wood leading to denudation of wild vegetation. All kinds of vegetation is seen being burnt on the hearth in villages. The deterioration of these leads to vicious cycle of all round ecological disturbance of the country.