Traditionally used common fibre plants in outer siraj area, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

An ethonobotanical study was conducted to document the traditional use of fibre yielding plants used by the indigenous people of Outer Siraj area of district Kullu of Himachal Pradesh. Personal interviews and group discussions were conducted to gather information on the indigenous knowledge. A checklist of ‘categories of plant use’ was developed and used to identify, categorize and document fibre plant species in the area. The ethnobotanical fabrics/ articles, viz. Pula, Mandri of this region are rich in traditional practices and people living in the Outr Siraj area of Himachal Pradesh, India use natural fibre plants in various ways for their subsistence. Fifteen plants were identified as most commonly used fibre plants belonging to 10 families of which family Poaceae and Urticaceae are most important. 67.00 % of fibre is obtained from stem and bark. Cannabis sativa L. is used by 92.19 % people followed by Grewia optiva Drumm. (76.56 %). Euphorbia royleana Boiss. is the least used fibre plant (1.56 %). New ethnobotanical uses of Agave cantula Roxb. and Urtica dioica L. are reported for the first time.