Results
Acorus calamusL.(Acoraceae)
Vernacular names: Sweet flag (Eng), Bos(Ass); Alokoni (Mis); Bojho (Nep.) Bach: (Ben)Vacha (San)
DCH 5063
Description: A marshy, rhizomatous perennial herb.
Parts used: Rhizome
Religious virtue: People believe that spirits, devils cannot enter due to its odour. They put the rhizome at the four corners of the altar or at he entrance of the ritual site.
Medicinal use: It cures bronchitis, rheumatic pain, diarrhoea, flatulence, Pneumonia and cough.
Local status: Rare
Ageratum conyzoidesL. (Asteraceae)
Vernacular names: Eng: Goat weed; San: Visamustih; Hin: Visadodi; Ben: Uchunti; Ass, Mis: Gendelabon; Nep: Ilame jhar; Man: Khonjainapi DCH 5001
Description: A hairy annual weed, 5 m-1 m tall; leaves opposite, hairy on both sides; margin toothed; flowers pale in heads.
Parts used: The flowers, leaves, roots
Religious virtue: Flowers are used in the preparation of Apong
Medicinal use: Infusion of roots is used as appetizer and ophthalmic; leaves are used to stop bleeding
Local status: Available
Alpinia allughas(Retz.) Rosc. (Zingiberaceae)
Vernacular names: Ass, Mis: Tora DCH 5006
Description: Rhizomes tuberous, perennial, Leafy stem 1-2 meter high
Parts used: Leaf and rhizome
Religious virtue: The leaves of the plant are used as food wrappers or dishes in every Mising religious festival. The people regard the plant as sacred one.
Medicinal use : Rhizomes are used in gout and colic
Local status: Rare
Alpinia malaccensisRosc. (Zingiberaceae)
Vernacular names.: Ass: Kaupat, Mis: Lisin DCH 5010
Description: Rhizomes tuberous, perennial, Stems 1.5-3 meter high
Parts used: Leaf and rhizome
Religious virtue: Same as in A.allughas
Medicinal use :Rhizomes are used for treatment of sores.
Local status: Rare
Ananas comosus(L.) Merr. (Bromeliaceae)
Vernacular names: Eng: Pineapple; San: Anamnasam; Hin: Ananas; Ben: Anaras; Ass: Matikathal; Nep: Bhui Katahar; Man: Keehom; Kar: Parokjongphong; Ngl: Yeangkong Peyong. Mis: Anaras DCH 5311.
Description: A herbaceous perennial plant; leaves many, spirally arranged, linear-lanceolate, toothed on margins; inflorescence small, reddish, terminal, ovoid.
Parts used:Tender leaf
Religious virtue: Tender leaf base is used in Apong preparation
Medicinal use: Leaf base is crushed and the extract is given one time daily for amoebic dysentery and intestinal worms
Local status: Available
Artocarpus heterophyllusLamk. (Moraceae)
Vernacular names : Eng : Jack fruit; San : Panasah; Hin : Kathal; Ass, Mis : Kathal; Ben : Kathal; Nep : Katahar; Man : Theibong. DCH 6331
Description : An evergreen tree, 18-25 m in height; leaves simple, alternate, coriaceous, entire, shiny; male flowers crowded on cylindrical receptacles; female flowers crowded on globose receptacles; fruits fleshy, many, oblong or round, covered with tubercles.
Parts used : Roots, seeds.
Religious virtue: Matured leaves are used in Apong preparation. Leaves are also used as dish in religious festivals.
Medicinal use: Roots are used for diarrhea
Local status: Available
Asparagus racemosusWilld (Liliaceae)
Vernacular names:Eng: Wild Asparagus; San: Shatavari: Hin: Satawari;Nep: Kurilo, Mis: Otmul;Ass: Satmul; Ben: Satamuli; Man: Nunggarei. DCH 6019
Description: A climbing slender plant with curved spines; leaves reduced to scales, leaf like cladodes succulent and green, flowers white in simple recemes; fruits three lobed, mature fruits are red in colour.
Parts used: Tuberous roots, whole plant
Religious virtue: In Lakhimpur district many people use whole plant near the entry of Dobur Uie venue. They believe that this plant will guard the people from the bad spirits.
In Dhemaji district the tuberous roots are used in the preparation of Apong.
Medicinal use: Root decoction is used as health tonic, it is diuretic, ophthalmic, galactagogue, aphrodisiac and carminative.
Local status: Very rare
Bambusa tuldaRoxb. (Poaceae)
Vernacular names Jati banh (Ass); Peka (Hin); Taru Bans (Nep); Jati dibang (Mis)
DCH 5054
Description: Tufted bamboo reaching 30-50 meters in height.
Parts used: Root, stem. leaves
Religious virtue: Bamboo sticks and leaves are used in the main entrance of the Dobur Uie and in the four corners of the altar. The head and the feathers of the sacrificed chickens are hung on the bamboo sticks near the altar.
Medicinal use : The decoction of roots taken internally to promote flow of urine.
Local status: Available
Centella asiatica(L.) Urban (Apiaceae)
(Syn. Hydrocotyle asiatica L.)
Vernacular names: Eng: Indian Pennywort; San: Brahmi, Mandukaparni, Hin: Brahamamanduki; Ben: Tholkuri, Ass, Mis: Manimuni; Nep: Ghod tapre. DCH 6007
Description: A creeping herb with rooting nodes and long internodes; leaves reniform, toothed, flowers in clusters, pink.
Parts use: Whole plant.
Religious virtue: The plant is used in the preparation of Apong. It is given in Ajenge Dues. Mising peope believe that if they consume the plant in the Dobur Uie day as vegetable or as raw they cannot be disturbed by any kind of spirits.
Medicinal use: The leaves are used in amoebic dysentery or any kind of liver problem.
Local status: Available
Cinnamomum tamalaNees & Eberm. (Lauraceae)
Vernacular Names: Eng: Indian cassia lignea; San: Tamala patra; Hin: Tezpat; Ben: Tezpat; Ass, Mis: Tezpat; Nep: Tezpat; Man: Tezpat; Kar: Tezpat; Miz: Hnahrimtui DCH 6103
Description: A small evergreen tree 4.5 m in height; leaves simple, opposite, lanceolate, glabrous, entire; flowers pale yellowish, in axillary panicle.
Parts used: Leaves.
Religious virtue: Leaves are used in Apong preparation and are offered in Ajenge Dues
Medicinal use: The leaves are useful in gonorrhoea, rheumatism, diarrhea, enlargement of spleen and diabetes.
Local status: Rare
Clerodendrum colebrookianumWalp. (Verbenaceae)
Vernacular names. Pakkom (Mis); Nephaphu (Ass) DCH 5019
Description: Shrub with foetid smell; 1.5-2 meters high, Leaves ovate, Flowers white.
Parts used: Leaves
Religious virtue: The leaves of the 'Pakkom'are included in the Ajenge Dues
Medicinal use: The leaves are used to kill the intestinal worms. Tender leaves are boiled and the soup is used for reducing blood pressure.
Local status: Available
Dillenia indicaL. (Dillenniaceae)
Vernacular names. Elephant apple (Eng), Outenga (Ass): Sompa: (Mis), Nep: Chalta, Bhavya: (San) DCH 5013
Description: A big tree; leave 10-15 cm broad, Flowers large, white, the fruits are used as vegetables
Parts used: Sepal of the fruit.
Religious virtue: The fruits are included in 'Ajenge Dues'. The sepals are sometimes used as 'Diya'or oil lamp (Oil lamp : A sepal containing wick dipped in mustard oil)
Medicinal use: Fleshy calyx is used for stomach disorder. The jelly like pulp of the fruit is applied to scalp for curing dandruff and falling hairs.
Local status: Available
Ficus racemosaL. (Moraceae)
Vernacular names.: Eng:Cluster fig; Mis: Tajjig; San: Udumbarah); Ass: Jagnya dimaru); Nep: Dumri, Hin: Gular; Ben:Dumur DCH 5057
Description: A middle sized deciduous tree, fruits are in large cluster on short leafless branches, leaves elliptic, ovate or ovate lanceolate.
Parts used: Leaves, latex
Religious virtue: The tender leaves are given in 'Ajenge Dues'. In all religious festivals of Mising people the leaves are used as the primary curry item.
Medicinal use: The latex is used for piles and diarrhoea; Powdered dry leaves are mixed with honey and given in bilious affections.
Local status: Available
Gomphostemma parvifloraWall. (Lamiaceae)
Vernacular names: Ass, Mis: Bhedaitita DCH 6434
Description: A stout undershrub with quadrangular stem covered with glandular hairs; leaves simple, opposite, short petioled; flowers zygomorphic, in axillary, double row of cymes, the pairs forming false whorls and are in sessile clusters round the stem, flowers fade yellow.
Parts used: Leaves.
Religious virtue: The tender leaves are used in Apong preparation
Medicinal use: Leaves are used in Malaria.
Local status: Very rare
Imperata cylindrica(L.) Raeusch. (Poaceae)
Vernacular names: Eng: Thatch grass, San: Darbha, Mis: Kase, Tabong: Ass: Ulu kher: Nep: Siru: Hin, Ben: Ulu DCH 6336
Description: Erect perennial grass, 1-2 meter in height. Leaf blades are very sharp
Parts used: Leaf and root
Religious virtue: The leaves are tied with fronds of Thelypteris multilineata at the south corner of the altar made for Dobur Uie. It symbolizes that no any other spirits can come and disturb people of the village.
Medicinal use : Root is used for wounds and piles. It is anthelmintic. Decoction of root is taken in diarrhea and dysentery.
Local status: Available
Kaempferia rotundaL. (Zingiberaceae)
Vernacular names : Eng: Indian crocus; San: Bhumi champaka; Hin: Bhuichampa; Ben: Bhui champa; Ass: Bhumi champa; Nep: Bhuichampa; Man: Yai-Thamna-manbi; Kar: Michove; Miz: Tuktinpar DCH 5999
Description: A small, erect plant with perennial rootstock and very short stem; leaves simple, erect, oblong or ovate-lanecolate, acuminate, variegated green above, tinged with purple below; flowers in crowded spikes fragrant, white, lip purple.
Parts used: Tubers
Religious virtue: Tuber of the plant is used in Apong preparation. The Mising of Lakhimpur district believes that growing the plant brings peace in the family.
Medicinal use: The tubers are used for wounds, ulcers, tumours, swellings and gastroenteritis.
Local status: Very rare
Leucas plukenetii(Roth) Spreng. (Lamiaceae)
Vernacular names: Eng: Thumbe; San: Dronapuspi; Hin: Chota halkusa; Ben: Sada halkusa; Ass, Mis: Boga Doron; Nep: Dronapuspa; Man: Mayanglambum. DCH 6312
Description: Small hairy, square stemmed, annual herb found in open fields and waste lands. The leavesof the plants are ovate-lanceolate, lobed, thin and hairy with a tapering base; flowers white, small, in dense terminal clusters, sessile.
Parts used: Leaves.
Religious virtue: The leaves are used in Apong preparation. It is not used by all Mising
Medicinal use: The leaves are used as vegetables. Leaf juice is used in sinusitis
Local status: Available
Microsorum punctatum(L.) Copel (Polypodiaceae)
Vernacular names: Eng: Climbing bird's nest fern, Ass: Kapau dhekia; Mis: Ising Okang DCH 6216
Description: Terrestrial or epiphytic, Fronds sre sessile, leaf blades simple, reticulate venation, sori are irregularly scattered on the abaxial surface.
Parts used: Leaves
Religious virtue: Leaves are used in Apong preparation in Dhemaji and Lakhimpur district.
Medicinal use: Leaf juice used as purgative, diuretic and healing wounds.
Local status: Rare
Musa paradisiacaL. (Musaceae)
Vernacular names. Ass: Kach kol; Nep: Kera, Hin: Kela; San: Kadali; Mis: Kopak. DCH 5091
Description: Stoloniferous plant; leaves with sheathed petiole up to 9 meter long, flowers in a terminal spike.
Parts used: Leaves, fruits
Religious virtue: Leaves and leaf sheaths are used as plates or dishes in the ritual. The materials required for observing Dobur Uie are kept in the leaf or leaf sheath dishes.
Medicinal use: Fruits are used for chronic dysentery.
Local status: Available
Naravelia zeylanica(L.) DC. (Ranunculaceae)
Vernacular names: San: Dhanavalli; Ben: Chagalbati; Ass: Goropchoi, Nep: Ras gagri; Meg: Jyrmailasam, Behalisham (Garo) DCH 6636
Description: A woody stout climber; leaves opposite, 2-foliate, terminal leaflet ending in tendril, leaflets ovate-lanceolate;flowers yellow, in axillary and terminal panicles.
Parts used: Leaf.
Religious virtue: Leaves are used in Apong preparation. The Mising of Dhemaji believe that if they grow this plant inside their compound the bad spirits can not disturb them.
Medicinal use: The leaves are anthelmintic; they are useful for wounds and ulcers.
Local status: Very rare
Oldenlandia corymbosaL. (Rubiaceae)
Vernacular names: Eng: Diamond flower; San: parapatah; Hin: Daman Pappar;
Ass: Bonjaluk DCH 6212
Description: A much spreading, annual herb, erect or spreading; leaves simple, opposite, sessile, flowers white, pedicelled, solitary.
Parts used: whole plant
Religious virtue: It is commonly used in Apong preparation. In Sibsagar district it is given in Ajenge Dues.
Medicinal use: The plant is diuretic, stomachic, carminative and used as liver tonic. It is also used in jaundice.
Local status: Available
Oryza sativaL. (Poaceae)
Vernacular names: Eng: Rice; Ass:Dhan; Mis: Aam. DCH 6001
Description: Annual cereal, Stem erect, cylindrical, hollow except in nodes, leaf blade long, lanceolate, acuminate, inflorescence is partly covered by leaf sheath, Spikelets are borne either singly or in cluster, flowers bracteates.
Parts used : Seed, Straw
Religious virtue: Rice is indispensable item in Apong preparation. Straw is burnt and used in 'Chhai Mod' (Ash liquor). The colour of commonly used Apong is white but the colour of 'Chhai Mod' is smoky in colour. Chhai Mod is prepared only in the special occasion or any religious festivals. Important guests are entertained by offering 'Chhai Mod'. The straws are also used to filter the Apong.
Medicinal use: Rice-wash water (water used to wash rice before cooking) is used in diarrhea and dysentery
Local status: Available
Phragmites karka(Retz.) Trin.ex Steud. (Poaceae)
Vernacular names.: Eng: Wild reed; Mis:Piro; Ass: Nal Khagari; Nep:Narkat; Ben: Khagra DCH 5066
Description: Perennial, stem cylindrical, 2-3 meter high, leaves alternate, lanceolate.
Parts used: whole plant, root
Religious virtue: The plant is mostly used by the Mising community in religious festivals like Dobur Uie and Ali Ai Ligang. In Dobur Uie four 'Piro' plants are transplanted at the four corners of the Dobur Uie altar' Mising regard this plant as the most sacred plant.
Medicinal use: Roots are cooling, diuretic and very useful in Diabetes.
Local status: Rare
Psidium guajavaL. (Myrtaceae)
Vernacular names: Eng: Guava tree; San: perala, Perukah; Hin: Amrud; Ben:Peyara; Ass: Madhuriam; Nep: Ambak; Man:Pungdol. DCH 6010
Description: A small tree; leaves simple, opposite, elliptic-oblong, glabrous above; flowers white, fragrant, in axillary cymes.
Parts used: Tender leaves.
Religious virtue: It is very commonly used by the Mising in Apong preparation.
Medicinal use: Tender leaves are used in Amoebic dysentery
Local status: Available
Pueraria tuberose(Roxb.ex Willd.)DC (Papilionaceae)
Vernacular names: Eng: Indian Kudzu; San: Vidari, Bhumi Kusmandah; Ass: Bhuin Komora; DCH 6455
Description: A large, herbaceous twiner with very large tuberous roots; leaves 3 foliolate, leaflets broadly ovate; flowers blue or purplish blue, in raceme; fruits membranous, flat, jointed clothed with long, silky, bristly brown hairs.
Parts used: Tuberous roots.
Religious virtue: Tuberous roots are used in Apong preparation
Medicinal use: Tubers are used for fever.
Local status: Very rare
Sarcochlamys pulcherrima(Roxb.) Gaud. (Urticaceae)
Vernacular names. Eng. Duggal fibre tree; Mis :Ombe; Ass: Mesaki DCH 5101
Description:A small evergreen branched tree or large shrub upto a height 5 meter, Stem brownish, rough and warty, leaves in dense clusters at the apex of the branches, 12-20 cm long, dorsal surface shining green and ventral surface white.
Parts used: Leaves
Religious virtue: Mising people consider the plant as sacred plant. They make special food item from the tender leaves of the plant in any religious festivals, given in 'Ajeng Dues'.
Medicinal use: Leaves are useful for diarrhea and dysentery, they are carminative and digestive.
Local status: Rare
Scoparia dulcisL. (Scrophulariaceae)
Vernacular names: Eng: Sweet broomweed; Ass : Seni bon; Man : Maipuipin.
DCH 6135
Description: A much branched, herbaceous plant of about 70 cm height; leaves opposite, lanceolate, dentate, flower four lobed, white with staminal hair, fruit a dentate margined small globular capsule with free central placentation.
Parts used : Leaves.
Religious virtue: Leaves are used in Apong preparation
Medicinal use: Leaves are used for fever, cough and diabetes.
Local status: Available
Spilanthes paniculataWall.ex DC (Asteraceae)
Vernacular names. Eng: Brazil cress, Toothache plant; Mis: Marsang; Ass: Jati malkathi DCH 5045
Description: Herb upto 40 cm. in heght; leaves opposite, dentate, petiolate, elliptic-lanceolate; flowers in capitulum, yellow.
Parts used: Whole plant, flower
Religious virtue: The plant is very popular among the Mising community; special food item is prepared from this plant in religious festival. The poor people offered this plant along with the 'Ajeng Dues' in Dobur Uie
Medicinal use: The inflorescence relives toothache, bronchial trouble and ulcers inside the mouth, it has strong local anaesthetization and also used for dysentery.
Local status: Available
Thelypteris angustifolia(Willd.)Proctor (Thelypteridaceae)
Vernacular names: Mis: Ruktak; Nep: Koche DCH 5111
Description:Terrestral fern, Fronds large, pinnate, sessile, found in marshy place.
Parts used: Whole plant, rhizome
Religious virtue: The entire plant is placed ine corneer of the altar. The tip of the plant and tip of the leaves of 'Piro' are tied together near the altar of the Dobur Uie
Medicinal use: Juice of the rhizome about four teaspoons three times a day given for indigestion or any stomach problem.
Local status: Rare
Zanthoxylum nitidum(Roxb.) DC (Rutaceae)
Vernacular names: Eng: Toothache tree; San:Tumburuh; Hin: Tezbal; Ass: Tezmooi DCH 6020
Description: A large, scandent, ever green shrub with prickles, shrubs or woody climbers, leaves compound, flowers yellow, fruits reddish, subglobose.
Parts used: Leaf, stem bark
Religious virtue: Leaves are used in Apong preparation
Medicinal use: Stem bark is used for toothache or any gum problem, it is carminative and stomachic.
Local status: Very rare
Plant Conservation Practices of Mising
Mising people have a rich tradition of religion and medicinal practices. They collect the plants from wild state and conserve them around their residences. They have good knowledge about the status of the plants. This knowledge has been acquired by their long experiences. They have been using the plants for different purposes since time immemorial. So they have good knowledge about the use and availability of the plants. Here the 'availability' means the 'status'of the plants. Some plants like Pueraria tuberose, Zanthoxylum nitidum, Naravelia zeylanica, Gomphostemma parviflora, Asparagus racemosus, Kaempferia rotunda are not found easily in those areas where the research work has been carried out. Previously these plants were said to be found abundant but now they are in 'very rare' condition. In this way they categorized the plants in different status. They can easily identify the plants which are locally threatened or abundant, rare or very rare depending on the availability of the plants and accordingly they take special care to conserve such threatened species in their garden. So there is an urgent need of conservation of their rich traditional knowledge before their extinction. The old village heads or elderly persons of the research areas were interviewed. They expressed about their constrains for leaking out the information about the medicinal plants at the beginning but later on we somehow could motivate them and collected few information. They strongly believe that if they leak the information the efficacy of the drugs will be lost. If this trend continues their rich traditional knowledge will be lost along with their death. So the need of conservation of their knowledge is very essential. The status which they mentioned may not be applicable in other places. It is strictly confined to their areas only and therefore the word 'Local status' is mentioned. They collected many important plants from the forest and transplanted in the gardens. The authors personally visited some of their gardens and found some important plants like Pueraria tuberose, Zanthoxylum nitidum, Naravelia zeylanica, Gomphostemma parviflora, Asparagus racemosus, Kaempferia rotunda etc.