Conservation Status, Diversity and Utilization Pattern of Threatened Ethno-Medicinal Plants of Betalghat Region, Kumaun Himalaya

Himalaya is one of the repository of medicinal plants. The study was conducted for the documentation of threatened ethno- medicinal plants from Betalghat region, Kumaun Himalaya. Betalghat is a block of Nainital district located at the bank of river Kosi. The present study records 20 species of threatened plants belonging to 16 families and 18 genera. Out of which 3 species were trees, 4 shrubs, and 13 herbs. Caprifoliaceae, Lamiaceae and Orchidaceae were the dominant families. Out of 20 species, 9 species were near threatened, 6 species were least concern, 4 species were vulnerable and 1 species were endangered. Local Name, botanical Name, family, habit, altitudes (m), habitat and utilization pattern were provided for each species. Therefore, there is an urgent need for conservation steps to be taken up along with promotion of conservation of threatened medicinal plants.