Ethno-Botanical Studies on Magico-Religious Beliefs of Four Indigenous Tribes of Upper Assam

Present review gives an account on plants used by four indigenous tribes of Upper Assam under magico-religious belief. The research papers published during 2011-2022 were selected for this purpose and inclusion / exclusion criteria was followed. The study revealed that about 115 plant species belonging to 51 families and 95 genera were used by the four tribes for magico-religious practices. Among them 4 plants were belonging to 3 families of Pteridophyta. Poaceae was dominant family among angiosperm (13 species). Out of the total plant species reported 73 species (63.47%) are used in sacred and religious rites (SAR) while 11 (9. 56%) plant species are used in magical belief (MAG). In addition 10 (8.69%) plant species are used as taboo (TAB), 10 (8.69%) plant species MAG as both SAR and TAB, followed by 9 (7.82%) species are used as SAR and MAG, 1 (0.86%) species as MAG and TAB, and remaining 1 (0.86%) is included in all the three categories, i.e. SAR, and TAB. Among Mising tribe women had higher plant knowledge than men regarding overall use of the plants especially, those under MAG & TAB categories.