ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES ON AN ANTIMALARIAL, ENDANGERED PLANT VITEX PEDUNCULARIS WALL

The paper concerns ethnobotanical studies on an antimalarial, endangered plant of Jharkhand, Vitex peduncularis Wall. locally called 'Charaigorwa' because of the shape of the young trifoliate leaf with a flattened peduncle resembling the leg of a bird (in local language of Jharkhand 'charai' means bird; and 'gorwa' means leg). Decoction of the leaf as well as the bark is claimed to have preventive and curative properties against several diseases including malaria by the traditional herbal medicine practitioners of Jharkhand.