Medicinally Important Tree Species from Choolannur Pea Fowl Sanctuary, Kerala, India

As trees are the dominant biotic component of any forest ecosystem it plays an important role in the plant kingdom and greatest contributors of food, shelter, fuel, medicine along with friendly environment for sustaining life on earth. The aim of the present study is to explore the medicinal tree wealth in Choolannur Pea Fowl Sanctuary, Kerala, India. Frequent field trips were made for the exploration and identification of tree species present in the deciduous forest of the sanctuary. It was observed that the nearby villagers of the study area have been used 45 plants belonging to 22 families as a remedy for various illnesses. The plant species used against different human ailments have been enumerated in the present paper and each species has been provided with botanical name followed by voucher number, family name, local name, plant part used and medicinal properties.