WILD EDIBLE PLANTS OF JAMMU & KASHMIR STATE – AN ETHNO-BOTANICAL STUDY

While conducting the Ethno-Botanical explorations of Jammu and Kashmir State, the authors gathered information from the primitive society, Gujar, Bakarwala and other inhabitants living in far-flung areas not exposed to civilization as well as the villages, on the importance of the plants, used by them in their way of life, as medicine, food, fodder and other religio-social customs and beliefs. The present paper deals with 109 species of the wild edible plants only being used by them for food in various ways. The botanical names of the wild edible plants, local names, places of collection, parts used and mode of use, are also discussed.