VANASPATHI KOSHA

INTRODUCTIONPlant wealth of Sringeri is an intensive research work undertaken for over a decade, where an indepth study of the plant diversity of the holy place of Sringeri and surrounding region was made with relevance to the occurance, utility and distribution of the traditional use of medicinal plants and the bounty of the mother nature. It is an attempt to bring out the finer details of the association of plants in the serene habitats of the Western Ghat and the place of origin both materialistic and devine knowledge spread across the lesser known people of the region.

A large numebr of tree,shrubs,herbs,climbers,epiphytes lianas parasites and saprophytes housed in wide ranging habitats traversed by hills of ranging altitutes and crystal clear streams,rivulets and the grandeur of river Thunga makes the entire region a heaven on earth for a vast array of life forms.Although some literature is available for region to the scientific community, it is indeed a first attempt to bring to light the value of the sensitive habitats of Western Ghats and make if known to common people for their understanding and appreciation of the virtues of Mother Nature and the Indian cultural heritage that lies deep in it. Unraveling the many more facets of this holy land is on its way to reach all of us.To bring out this volume for use of the general public in its finest form, the author and associates are highly indebted to Sri Daivajna K.N.Somayaji, Chief Editor and Director of the Kalpatharu Reasearch Academy for including this work in their reasearch programme of the Academy. He is also grateful to the Chief Patron of the Academy, Sri Sri Sri Bharathitheertha Swamiji of Sri Sringeri Sharadha Peetham, and to Shri V. R. Gowrishankar , the chairman of the Academy and the Administrator of Sri Sringeri Sharadha Peetham.

He is highly indebted to Dr V . Parameshwara, Chairman, Abinava Vidhyatheertha swamigal Scientific Research Academy and Sharada Dhanwantari Charitable Hospital for taking keen interest to undertake this study. The author is grateful to University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore for providing necessary permission to undertake this work.The helpand co-operation provided by Sri Ramesh, Sharada Dhanwantari Charitable Hospital, Sringeri, The Secretary of the hospital and staff was of highest order and is gratefully acknowledged. The author thanks Sri Manjunath, K.R.A ., for excellent co-ordination during the research publication of this volume. The contribution to this study by late souls of Dr T.R. Anandalwar, Prof. G. Boraiah, Dr. K. Krishna murthy is gratefully remembered. Many scientists participated in the fieldwork and extended their co-operation during the study, the co-operation and help of Dr. T. V. Ramachandra Prasad, Sri N Dwarakanath adn Dr. Kumara Swamy is gratefully acknowledged.

The author wishes to place on records help rendered by the research students Mrs. K. Chandrika, Mrs. V.C. Kirana, Miss. Kalpana Reddy, Mr. M.V. Srinivassulu and Mr. N Pradeep in various stages of preparation of the manuscript. The help rendered by Mr. G. Nagaraja, Miss. Kalpana Reddy , Mr.Naarasimhaiah, Mr. Pape Gowda and Mr. Thimme Gowda during the field study is dully acknowledged.

MR P.S.Venkatesh Babu, B. Nagendra and Computer section of Omkar Offset Printers have carried out excellent work in bringing in the Volume in record time, they deserve our sincere thanks.

BALAKRISHNA GOWDA

CONTENTS

Introduction

Background of the study area

Description of the Species ----------------------References -------------------------Index to Botanical Names -------------------------Index to Kannada names -------------------------Index to Sanskrit names -------------------------Illustrations

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY AREASringeri is one of the seven taluks of Chikmangalur district. The Taluk has derived its name meaning a beautiful place dressed around by hills. Sringeri is historically very important place in Karnataka State. The Small town if Sringeri is known for Sharadha Peetham established by Adi Shankaracharya. The temple at Kigga and Sirimane falls are a few of the tourist places in the taluk. Sringeri is a partof chikmangalur district was ruled by the Kadambas of Banavasi, Gangas of Talaksd, Hoysalas of Angadi, Vijayanagara rulers, Nayakas of Aigur and Keladi, HyderAli and Tippu Sultan abd Wodeyars of Mysore as feudatory to the British till independence.The place with hills and plains traversed by the holy river Tunga and its tributaries has bestowed rich diversity of plant wealth and especially the medicinal herbs. The study area is situated between 13 30'50" to 13 11'34"N and 75 04'35"E to 75 19'53"E. The present study was undertaken under the auspicious of His Holiness Sri. Abinava Vidhya Theertha Swamigal Scientific Research Academy, Sringeri undet the guidance of Dr. V. Parameswara, Chairman of the Academy with a view to support the vestablishment of herb garden at Sringeri.PREVIOUS BOTANICAL EXPLORATIONS

The floristic survey has been carried out in the taluk as a part of the sudy conducted by plant explorers while making the collections for Western Ghats and Chikmangalur district by Yoganarasimhan et al(1981,1984), Radhakrishna Rao et al(1985), Radhakrishna Rao and yoganarasimhan (1987) Balakrishna Gowda and Gurudeva(1988) . There is no detailed study of this taluk and hence a study was initiated during 1981 and continued up yo 1984 and later during 1990 to 1993. Presently the area was revisited and updated during 1990-2002.PHYSIOGRAPHYSringeri has well defined physiographic regions. It is surrounded by many hills, the elevation ranges about 600-900m. The Notyh-East flowing river arises in the mountains range immediately to the West of this belt. They have carved their way through the mountains and the laetrile hills. The prominent rives in Sringeri is Thunga and streams like Koriege hole and Begar halla amoung the other minor streams and rivulets. Immediately to the east of the coastal strio, the mountain range, the Western Ghats, rises sharply to form an unbroken though uneven rampart averaging an altitude of 900 m. Deep valleys and precipitous or rounded peaks rising to over 1,500m make up this rugged country. Kudremukh, the highest peakm is 1,827m high. This range abuts Sringeri taluk on the western side.The ridges of the ghat, forms the divide of the watershed. As a contrast to western,windward face of the range, the easter, leeward face has rolling hills and shallow valleys with a mean elevation of about 800m.

GEOLOGYVegetation is dependent on soil and on geological formations. Geological formations of the Sringeri are placed under an Archaean Complex made up of Dharwar Schists and granitic gneisses.

The iron ore mining in Kudremukh, adjoining the taluk is on a massive scale with impact on the vegetation and the rivers.SOILThere are five soil types found in Karnataka. Among the five types, laterictic and red loams are foung in Sringeri.Laterictic soil is acidic with pH between 5 and 6. It is low in bases due to excessive leaching. In the Western ghats the laterictic soils when under a forest canopy have a cover of rich humus with high organic matter and water regulating characteristics.BOICLIMATEThere are five bioclimatic types in Karnataka which corresponds to the five physiographic regions of the state. The bioclimates are the results of 3 main factors: a) temperature and its variations based mostly on altitude, b) amount of seasonal precipitation, c) duration of annual dry season and its correlation with intensity of solar radiation during long and short days.Sringeri and its part receive rainfall from South West Monsoon and North East Monsoons. The average annual rainfall is around 3000mm. The rainfall is considerably very high because an attenuated form of this bioclimate is found towards the ridge of the Western ghats at altitude of 600-900m. The ghats acting as a rampart against the relentless onslaught of the S.W.Monsoon cause heavy precipitation. Agumbe(Near to Sringeri) in Shimoga District is the wettest place in the state with an average rainfall of 8270mm. The rainfall on the leeward side of the ridge diminishes rapidly.The Maximum temperature reaches 36 C during summer and minimum around 12C during winter. There is also appreciable drop in temperaturew in the ghats.VEGETATIONThe vegetation of Karnataka is product of different lines of plant differentiation,migration,isolation and even evolution conditioned by topography, soil and bioclimate. Biotic influences, especially human, hve modified the vegetation in varying degrees in the greater part of the state.A comprehensive view of the angiosperm vegetation types of Karnataka has been presented by several phytogeographers like J.D.Hooker, D. Chattterjee, C.B.Clarke, Prain and others.A classification of the forest types of India based on climatic considerations was presented by H.G. Champion in 1936. Further refinements in the analysis of these types were given by Champion and Seth in 1968. They placed Karnataka forests in 3 main categories, each with several subdividions and edaphic or seral variations.

Another approach to the classification of the forest types of Karnataka is being made by Legris and Pascal of the French Institute, Pondicherry. Improving on an earlier(1964) vegetation map of the region, a more detailed series of maps at 1: 250,000 is in the making (1982).Each of the above classifications views the Karnataka vegetation from a slightly different angle. All agree that Karnataka forests belong to two main categories-moist forest represented by tropical evergreens and their edaphic or degraded derivatives and dry forests to thorn and scrub associations.Considering topography, bioclimate and soil the vegetation of the region is broadly categorized under Evergreen, moist deciduous, dry deciduous and Shola and grasslands.Tropical evergreens occupy the western region and higher altitudes with gradual change in species compositions towards the eastern side leading to disturbed evergreen with moist deciduous elements and dry deciduous species in the open land and disturbed hills. The grasslands on hill tops and degraded forests and shoal forests form unique habitats. A large number of trees, shrubs, lianas, herbs, climbers and epiphytes with unique ecological and economic value make the region a highly sensitive and vulnerable in terms of the conservation needs. The present documentation is one the first attempt tohave detailed studies to be made sensitive habitats of Western Ghats. The study has emphasized on the occurrence and distribution of the species which will help in monitoring and management of both habitats as well as the species of value.Present publication provide the details of the species enumerated with scientific names, synonyms,description, common names, distribution, phenology and medicinal value. Illustrations are provied for maximum number of species. The species are orgainaized in alphabetical order under the respective families which are again alphabetically arranged.

Plant Wealth of SringeriACANTHACEAEAdhatoda zeylanica Medic.[1](Syn: Adhatoda vasica(L.) Nees) Local names: Aadu Soge;Sanskrit:VasaakaShrubs to 1.5m, branches thickened above the nodes, youhg twings pubescebt. Petioles to 1 cm, blade 11-16x3.5-5cm, ovate-lanceolate, acute-acuminate, narrowed below. Inflorescence of elongate, peduncled, spikes. Calyx lobes 5, shorter than the bracteoles, acute; corolla white 2.2-2.5cm loan, hairy without, bilabiate, upper lip emarginate, middle lobe of lower lip largest; stamens 2, inserted nearthroatt of corolla; style simple, placed on a channel formed in corolla tube. Capsules stipitate, seeds 2 per locule, uaually rugose.Distribution: Indomalaysia; Occasional in hedges and near habitations.Fl. & Fr.: December - MarchMedicinal properties & Uses: Root bark, leaf, stem and flower used to cure bronchitis ,fever and cough. Flowers used in treatment of insomnia.Andrographis macrobotrys Nees[2]An errect, stout herb, stem dark purple at nodes. Leaves up to 8.5x2.5cm, oblong lanceolate, acuminate at apex, cuneate at base. Racemes up too 20cm long, glandular hairy, often 1-2 branched. Flowers second; calyx lobe glandualar hairy;corolla 2cm long, pink with dark purple-red blotches on lower lip. Capsules 2cm long, seeds 8-12.Distribution: Frequent in forests as undergrowth. Fl. & Fr.: October-December.Asystasia gangetica(L.) T. Anderson (Syn: Asystasia coromendelianum Wight ex. Nees) [3]Erect or straggling herbs. Leaves opposite, simple broadly ovate. Inflorescence a terminal or axillary lax ravemes. Calyx lobled to the base; corolla tubular, up to 3.5 cm long, white or yellow or blue-purple; stamens 4, didyanamous, perfect; ovary 2 celled. Capsule up to 3 cm long.Distribution: Africa to Middle East to Indomalaysia; As undergrowth near streams and evergreen forests.Fl.: All seasons

Barleria Courtallica Nees[4]Woody, errect unarmed herbs, 2.5m tall. Petiole 1-3.5cm long, blade 7-12x2-7.5 cm, broadllly elliptic,acuminate, cuneate,glabrous. Spikes rarely solitary, axis hairy, bracts and bracteoles amall. Outer calyx lobes to 2.2x1.8 cm, elliptic, acute, nervous, glandular-hairy, inner ones linear, corolla 6cm long, tube white, lobes broadly elliptic, purple, yellow at base; stamens 2; locules 1-2 ovuled. Capsules ovate-oblong, somewhat compressed, with usually hairy seeds.Distribution: Southwest India; occasional around Kigga.Fl. & Fr.: October- January.Medicinal properties & Uses: Root and leaf used for pneumonia, rheumatism and for ear diseases.Barleria involucrata va. elata (Dalz.) C.B. Clarke[5] Scandent shrubs, unarmed with appressed hairs. Leaves 10-16 x 3-6.5, broad wlliptic,acuminate, petiole 1.5-3com long. Flowers in simple cincinni, bracts and bracteoles linear oblong. Outer calyx 2, acuminate with yellowish appressed hairs; corolla to 10 cm long, lobes oblong elliptic, blue with dark pink at base; stamens 2 with 2 small staminodes at base.Distribution: India, Srilanka; Undergrowth in evergreen forests neare Kerekatte.Fl. & Fr.: January - MayBLepharis asperrima Nees[6]Prostrate herbs with ascending hairy branches. Leaf blade 3-7 x 2-3 cm, ovate-lanceolate , acute to acuminate,crenulate, hairy. Flower solitary, bracteles 8, third pair membranous tridentate, 4th spatulate. Outer calyx lobes 2-2.2cm long, oblong-soactulate, acute; corolla to 1.8cm, purple; stamens 4, anthers 1 celled, bearded along margin. Capsule 2-4 locular, with compressed,hairy 1-2 seeds per locule.Distribution: Western India.Fl. & Fr.: December-JanuaryMedicinal Properties & Uses: Roots and leaves stimulant, emetic, cathartic, expectorant, diaphoretic used for dysentery, asthma, bronchitis and rheumatism.