Utilization of some aroids of Kamrup District of Assam, India

Ranjita Tamuli Talukdar1 and Nilakshee DeviDepartment of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati-781014, Assam, India

1 Corresponding author: Present address: Department of Botany, Rangia College,Rangia 781354, Assam, India

E-mail:-ranjeeta66@gmail.com; devinilakshee@gmail.com

[Received 30.04.2015; Revised 25.05.2015; Accepted 02.06.2015; Published 30.06.2015]

Abstract

The present paper records the utilization of different aroid species in the Kamrup District ofAssam. A total of 24 spp. of aroids were used in various purposes, out of which 15 spp. as foodand fodder, 4 spp. for medicinal purposes, 2 spp. for ritual purposes, 2spp. as folk game, 3species in folk belief and 13 spp. as ornamentals. It is interesting to note that ‘Jalabota’, atraditional recipe is prepared from Homalomena aromatica (Sprengel) Schott and distributedamong the relatives and friends by the family members after birth of a baby. Moreover, membersof a particular family have been practicing medicinal uses of Alocasia odora (Lindley) K. Kochin the treatment of bone fracture and bone related diseases since 1911 with success.

Key words: Aroids, Kamrup District, Utilization.

INTRODUCTION‘Aroid’ is the common name for members of Araceae. The word ‘Arum’ is derived directlyfrom ancient Greek ‘Aron’ (Mayo et al. 1997). Araceae is a major plant family, distributedworld-wide, but are mainly confined to tropical regions. Aroids are found in various naturalhabitats like swamps, ponds, lakes, canals, rivers, rice fields and also on the upland. They arelarge herbs, sometimes shrubby with rhizome, corms and tubers and often with milky orwatery juice. Some members are epiphytic climbers, while some are semi-aquatic and aquatic.Spadix of Araceae is covered by a spathe, a modified leaf that protects the spadix and isoften important in effecting pollination. Flowers are small, bisexual or unisexual. Laminamay be variously lobed or divided and the texture varies from leathery to velvety to silky.The family has been divided into nine sub-families, taking 106 genera and 3200 species(Croat 1979, 1990, 1994; Mabberley 2008). Mayo et al. (1997) recorded 105 genera andapproximately 3,300 species.

The early specialists who contributed significantly on Aroids include Fuchs (1542),Dodoens (1557), Tournefort (1700) and Carolus Linnaeus (1753). A.L. de Jussieu establishedand named the family in 1789.

Archaeological evidences indicate that aroids were in use even 28,000 years ago inthe northern Solomon Islands (Loy et al. 1992). The members of the family are rich incalcium, magnesium, iron and zinc. They are high in starch content and also have protein andamino acids much higher than many other tropical root crops (Kay 1987). However, there isa vast scope of aroids as renewable energy source and industrial raw materials, in thedevelopment of agro-industries and other research and development (Das et al. 2014).

Pleione 9(1): 131 - 139. 2015. ISSN: 0973-9467© East Himalayan Society for Spermatophyte Taxonomy

In North-East India, the family is mentioned in different floras. It is representedby 8 genera and 13 species in flora of Nongpoh (Joseph 1968); 11genera and 20 speciesfrom Jowain (Balakrishnan 1983); only one species from Shillong (Bordoloi 1981); 3genera and 28 species from Cherrapunjee (Dam 1994). Rao & Verma (1969) reportedAriasema setosum – a new species from Siang District. Chowdhery et al. (2009) studiedAraceae from Arunachal Pradesh. But, till date, no proper taxonomical study on theAroids of Assam has been done. Kanjilal et al. (1934-40) did not include monocots inthe Flora of Assam. However, N.L. Bor (1940) covered only pne monocotyledonousfamily, Gramineae, in the 5th volume of Flora of Assam. However Rao & Verma (1970,1971, 1972, 1976) made valuable contribution to the Monocot Flora of Assam, but couldnot complete the work. Baruah (1992) included 11 genera and 16 species from theundivided Kamrup District. Chowdhury (2005) in his Assam’s Flora mentioned 24 generaand 47 species of Araceae but Barooah & Ahmed (2014) included only 24 genera and45 species for Assam.

Kamrup District is an important area in the Indian Mega Diversity centre, wheredifferent types of tribes and communities reside along with their unique cultural heritage.Different kinds of food and recipes are part of cultural identity. The present paper throwslight on utilization of some aroids in the Kamrup District of Assam.

The undivided Kamrup, one of the important districts of the state of Assam, coveringabout 4345 sq km i.e. 5.54 % of state’s total area, is distinct with its native Kamrupi Culture.The district is located between 25o46/ and 26o49/ North Latitude and between 90o4/ and 91o5/ East Longitude. It is bounded on the North by Nalbari and Baksa districts, on the South byMeghalaya, on the East by Darrang and Morigaon districts and on the West by Nalbari andGoalpara districts. The mighty Brahmaputra is flowing through the district and divides it intotwo major divisions – the South Bank and the North Bank (Anonymous 2011).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Extensive field surveys were carried out during June 2011 to May 2013 covering all theseasons and all possible habitat conditions available to make a complete record of aroidsfrom the Kamrup district of Assam. Frequent interaction and discussion were made to collectinformation from village heads, aged and experienced people living in different parts of thedistrict. Mounted herbarium-sheets were prepared from the collected specimens with fertileparts following the wet methods of Fosberg & Sachet (1965). The prepared voucher specimenswere identified with the pre-identified specimens in the GUBH, ASSAM, CAL, CALI, MHand with relevant literature. Up-to-date nomenclature was determined by consulting taxonomicliterature and online data bases (www.plantlist.org, version 1.1). Specimens will be depositedat GUBH after the conclusion of the present project.

The taxa were enumerated according to their various mode of utilizations. The scientificnames were arranged in alphabetic order following vernacular names in Assamese (Ass),habit, parts used and their uses.

During investigation, a total of 24 species belonging to 17 genera were recorded. Out ofwhich 10 spp. (41.66 %) were edible, 4 spp. used as medicine (16.66 %), 5 spp. as fodder(20.83 %), 3 spp. for packaging (12.5 %), 3 spp. in folk games (12.5 %), 2 spp. in religiousrituals (08.33 %), 13 spp. as ornamentals (54.166 %) and 3spp. for fishing and 12.5 %species for other purposes [Table 1, Plate1].

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

132 Use of aroids in the Kamrup District of Assam

Tabl

e 1.

Dif

fere

nt m

odes

of u

se o

f Aro

ids

in th

e K

amru

p D

istr

ict o

f Ass

am

Ranjita Tamuli Talukdar & Nilakshee Devi 133

134 Use of aroids in the Kamrup District of Assam

Ranjita Tamuli Talukdar & Nilakshee Devi 135

F G

H E-3

E-2E-1

C D

A B

PLATE – I: A. Fodder: Colocasia esculenta; B.Bone treatment: Alocasia odora; C. Religious Sac-rifice: Alocasia macrorhizos; D. Folk Game:Colocasia esculenta; E. Aroids in market forsale: (E-1) Tubers of Amorphophalluspaeoniifolius; (E-2) Colocasia antiqorum wholeplant, (E-3) Petiole of Amorphophalus bulbifer;F. Float for angling with Colocasia esculenta peti-ole; G. Jolabota; H. Offering of Colocasia esculentainflorescence on the altar of Godess Manasha

136 Use of aroids in the Kamrup District of Assam

The 11 species recorded as edible aroids included various plant parts like undergroundcorms, young shoots, leaves and spathe. Among those Colocasia esculenta, Xanthosomasagittifolium, Typhonium trilobatum, Homalomena aromatica are very common. ‘Jalabota’is a traditional recipe prepared from the crushed petiole of Homalomena aromatica mixedwith some spices, specially the powdered chilli, coriander, cumin, black-pepper, salt andmustard oil and distributed among the relatives by the family members after the birth of anew baby. As people are aware of the presence of seriously irritating acicular raphides inaroids, which may cause choking of tongue, throat and mouth, people in Assam traditionallyboil the edible parts and decant the water before consumption.

Four species of aroids were recorded to use as medicine. The rural people use juiceextracted from petiole of Colocasia esculenta for curing different kinds of diseases includingear-ache and bleeding caused by sudden cut. Pregnant women consume petiole extract atadvance stage. Alocasia odora is very much helpful in different kinds of orthopedic diseaseslike pain caused by fracture and also to join the broken bones. In the eastern part of Rangiatown, the holy village Dipteswari is situated, where, since 1911, a particular family of traditionalhealers (Bej) is practicing treatment of bone fracture and other bone related complaints tothe patients with success. The burnt, peeled and smashed tuber of Alocasia odora is gentlyapplied on the affected area by them. Village people use the leaf extract of Dieffenbachiamaculata for curing leucoderma.

In addition, many species are used as fodder for pigs (e.g. species of Colocasia,Xanthosoma etc.). Pistia stratiotes is also an excellent food for fishes and ducks.

The inflorescence of Colocasia esculenta is offered at the altar of Goddess Manasha.Alocasia macrorhizos is used as sacrificial plant for worshiping of different Goddesses likeKali, Manasha, and Durga.

Arum petioles of two different colours are used by villagers to play local traditionalvariety of chess on the floor. Children in villages quite often use leaves of Alocasiamacrorhizos as umbrella during rains.

Due to the lightness of aroid leaf petiole, it is used as float (‘punga’) at the time ofangling by fisherman.

In some rural areas of Kamrup District, children punish wicked goats by coveringtheir ear holes with aroid leaves.

Leaves of many aroids are used for packaging in village markets as substitute ofpolythene bags, which can be considered an eco-friendly practice.

Thirteen of the recorded species of aroids are handsome ornamentals and oftengrown in the gardens. Caladium bicolor, Dieffenbachia maculata, Aglaonemacommutatum, Philodendron lacerum, P. latifolium, P. domesticum, Syngoniumpodophyllum, Rhaphidophora decursiva, and Epipremnum pinnatum cv. aureum wererecorded from the study area as indoor and/or outdoor ornamentals. Spathiphyllumcochlearispathum and Anthurium andraeanum are grown for their showy spathe andare popular as cut-flowers for decoration. Pistia stratiotes is an ornamental aroid ofaquarium and other water bodies.

AcknowledgementsThe authors are thankful to the Head, Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Assam forproviding necessary facilities. They are also grateful to the Heads of the Offices of BSICircles at Shillong, Coimbatore and at Central National Herbarium, Kolkata and also to the

Ranjita Tamuli Talukdar & Nilakshee Devi 137

Head of Botany department, Calicut University, Kerala for allowing them to consult herbariumspecimens. The authors express their regards and gratitude to the people of the study areafor their kind cooperation.

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