The flora of Nepal is one of the richest in the world due to the diverse climate, topology and geography of the country. Research undertaken in the late 1970s and early 1980s documented 5067 species of which 5041 were angiosperms and the remaining 26 species were gymnosperms. The Terai area has hardwood, bamboo, palm, and sal trees. Notable plants include the garden angelica, Luculia gratissima, Meconopsis villosa, and Persicaria affinis. However, according to ICOMOS checklist (as of 2006), in the protected sites, there are 2,532 species of vascular plants under 1,034 genera and 199 families. The variation in figures is attributed to inadequate floral coverage filed studies. Some of the plants contain medicinal values. It contains certain chemical which is used to heal wound by There are 400 species of vascular plants which are endemic to Nepal. Of these, two in particular are orchids Pleione coronaria and Oreorchis porphyranthes. The most popular endemic plant of Nepal is rhododendron (arboreum) which in Nepali language is called lali guras.
Human consumption 93% of human diet depend upon plants and remaining 7% of food rely on animals that directly or indirectly depends upon plants. Nepalese people consume plants according to the geographical structure of Nepal. Human consume seed, root, whole plants, flower as their food.
Seeds Seeds consumed in Nepal usually are: Wheat Rice Barley Buckwheat Oats Maize Chickpea Pumpkin seed Millet
Leaves Leaves consumed in Nepal usually includes:
Cabbage Spinach Mustard leaves Lettuce Mint
Fruits Fruits of Nepal usually includes: Banana Apple Mango Guava Tomato
Roots Some of the roots consumed as food in Nepal are: Potato Carrot Turnip Radish Beetroot
Medical usage Plants were the main source of therapy till the middle of the 19th century. More than 50% of world population depends on traditional medicine. There are between 1600 and 1900 plant species present in Nepal, and a large variety of them are frequently used in traditional medical practices. These plants are used for their medical benefits and have a profound cultural impact on the nation. The oldest repository that is known to record the medicinal plants used in the Himalayas is known as Rigveda (4500 BC and 1600 BC), which explained the medical usage of 67 plants. The Ayurveda (the foundation of science of life and the art of healing of Hindu culture) explain the therapeutic properties of 1200 plants. +S.NScientific name (family)English nameNepali NamePartUsage1.Abies spectabilis(Pinaceae)Himalayan sallaGobre sallaleavesused to cure cough and cold2.Acacia catechu(Mimosaceae)Cutch treeKhairwoodused to cure cough and cod3.Aconitum Ferox (Ranunculaceae)Himalayan monkshookBikhrootspaste is used for joint pain4.Aconitum heterophyllum (Ranunculaceae)AconitesBishrhizomeused to cure fever, body ache cold, cough, running nose etc.5.Aesculus indica (Sapindaceae)Indian horse chestnutKaruseedoil extracted from seed is used for joint pain skin6.Ageratum conyzoides(Asteraceae)AgeratumGandhe Jharleafjuice extracted is applied to cure wounds. docoction is also use for diarrhea, dysentery etc.7.Amaranthus spinosus(Amaranthaceae)Prickly amaranthBagani dhaprootpaste is applied to heal cuts and wounds8.Andrographis paniculata(Acanthaceae)KalmeghKariyatwhole plantPlant juice is used to cure infections9.Acorus calamus L. (Araceae)Sweet flagBojhorootpaste is used to heal wounds in cattles 10.Ageratum conyzoides L.(Asteraceae)Goat weedGandhe jharleafjuice is used to cure wounds11.Aloe Barbadensis Miller Asphodelaceae(Lilaceae)Aloe veraGhiu kumarileafgel extracted from leaf is applied to heal wounds12.Artemisia dubia Wall. ex Besser (Asteraceae)MugwortTitepatileaf and rhizomeapplied on wounds to stop bleeding13.Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae)MargosaNeemleafleaf decoction is applied to wounds of cattle and human14.Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabineae)HempBhangLeafextracted juice from leaf applied to wounds15.Centella Asiatical(l.) Urb.PennywortGhodtapreleafjuice is used to treat wounds16.Curcuma Augustifolia Roxb. (Zingiberaceae)TurmericBesharrootpaste made of turmeric powder and oil is applied to wounds17.Cynodon dactylon(L.) Pers. (Poaceae)Bermuda grassDubowhole plantpaste of whole plant is applied to wounds18.Jatropha curcas L.(Euphoriaceae)Physic nutSaruwaLatexLatex is used to care gums infection19.Ocimum tenuflorum L. (Lamiaceae)Holy basilTulashileafleaf juice is applied to wounds 20.Oxalis corniculata L. (Oxalidaceae)Indian sorrelChari amiloplantthe juice of the plant is applied to heal wounds
Spices Herbs and spices are food additives used to enhance taste, color, aroma and to preserve food. Most of the spices have health benefits and are used as traditional medicine. Following are the list of plants used as spices +S.NScientific name (Family)English nameNepali Namepart use as spices1.Acorus calamus L. (Acoraceae)Sweet flagBojoleaves, steam and rhizomes2.Allium hypsistum stearn (Amarylidaceae)JimbuJimbhuDried leaves3.Allium sativum L. (Amarylidaceae)GarlicLasunLeaves and cloves4.Allium cepa L. (Amarylidaceae)OnionPyajLeaf and bulb5.Amomum subulatum Roxb. (Zingiberaceae)Black cardamomAlichiDried seed6.Cinnamomum tamala (Buch.-Ham.) T.Nees &Eberm (Lauceae)Bay leafTejpatfresh or dried leaf7.Cinnamomum verum J. Presl (LAuraceae)CinnamonDalchiniDried bark8.Coriandrum sativum L. (Apiaceae)CorianderDhaniyaFresh leaves and dried seed9.Cuminum cyminum L. (Apiaceae)CumminJeeraSeed10.Curcuma Longa L. (Zingiberaceae)TurmericBesarrhizome11.Elettaria cardamomum L. Maton (Zingiberaceae)True cardamomSukmeldried seed12.Ferula assa-foetida L. (Apiaceae)AsafetidaHingrhizome13Mentha arvensis L. (Lamiaceae)Wild mintpudina/barbarileaves14.Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Myristicaceae)NutmegJaiphalseed15.Nigella sativa L. (Rananculaceae)Black cuminMungreloseed16.Piper nigrum L. (Piperaceae)Black pepperMarichfruit17.Sesamum indicum L. (Pedaliaceae)SesameTilseed18.Syzygium aromaticum (L.)Merr. & L.M. PerryCloveLwangflower bud19.Trigonella foenumgraecum L. (Fabaceae)FenugreekMethidried fruits20.Zingiber officinale Roscoe(Zingiberaceae)GingerAduwafresh and dried rhizome
See also Fauna of Nepal Wildlife of Nepal
References
External links
by Flora of Nepal at official site of Ministry of Forests and Environment. Department of Plant Resources. National Herbarium and Plant Laboratories of Nepal.