Volume 60, Issue 334, January - April 2024

Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw.: A traditionally used vegetable and medicinal pteridophyte of Kullu Valley in the Western Himalayas

Subodh Negi¹, Kanwal KS^2♦

¹Department of Botany, Sardar Patel University, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India
²G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE), Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand, India

^♦Corresponding author
G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE), Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand, India

ABSTRACT

The Western Himalaya is an abode of diverse and unique floral variety, particularly flourishing with pteridophytes that have drawn attention due to their ornamental and medicinal properties in recent times. However, some fern species are traditionally used for both their food value and medicinal properties. The fronds of Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw., locally known as 'Lingadi,' are utilized in preparing various cuisines by the local communities in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh. This fern typically grows in early spring, from March to April, in shady areas along water streams. The study focuses on assessing the diversity and distribution, wild edible values, medicinal properties, phytochemistry, and livelihood potential of Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Standard methodology was followed for the study. The findings emphasize that Diplazium esculentum holds high nutritional value and significant traditional indigenous uses. It possesses medicinal importance, particularly immunomodulatory properties, and offers livelihood opportunities to the local communities of Himachal Pradesh. The study observed an increased demand for Diplazium esculentum in the past 2-3 years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic period in the study area. The study recommends strategies for the conservation and sustainable utilization of this important fern species in the Western Himalaya region.

Keywords: Diplazium esculentum, Kullu Valley, Himachal Pradesh, ethnomedicinal uses, nutritional value, livelihood opportunity, conservation

Discovery, 2024, 60, e5d1399

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v60i334.e5d1399

Published: 10 February 2024