Some medicinal plants from Gangetic plains of west Bengal as alternative source of food and vegetables

The present paper deals with the wild medicinal plants used as edibles in different parts of the World based on the publishd literature and useful for the natives of Gangetic plains of West Bengal during the period of scarcity of food and vegetables. The study was conducted in the Gangetic plains starting from Rajmahal hills to meeting point of River Ganga to the Bay of Bengal in the Gangasagar areas. For gathering the informations and collection of plants samples an area of 10 km range on either side of the Genga river five spots at the equal distance of approximately 100 kms. on the river bank were selected and the plants samples were collected. During the exploration, 160 plants belonging to angiosperms and ferns were identified, according the literary remarks on its edible nature which have also been recorded as medicinal as well as useful in traditional healing practicesas m. All the edible plants from the study sites were categorized into family wise; habit of the plants like herbs, climbers, shrubs and trees; edible parts like tuberous roots, tender shoots, leaves, fruits and seeds; alongwith the mode of use as major food preparations, fress edibles, cooked food form, flavour, beverage, sauce, and vegetables etc.