This paper is mainly focussed on the status of extraction and nature of existing trade of medicinal plants in the state. The extracted species were classified on the basis of habitat, habit, economic part used and their present status. To study the trends in extraction of medicinal plants linear growth rates were estimated. To examine the variability the instability indices were calculated. On the basis of habitat only medicinal plants under cultivation showed a positive and significant growth (29.01%/annum) during periods P-I while during P-II upper hill subtropical (28.74%/annum) and cold desert (24.71%/annum) showed significant negative growth. The entire plants showed a negative and significant growth of 21.4 per cent per annum in P-I and seeds in P-II showed negative and significant growth of (45.00%/annum). But in overall bark entire plants and rhizomes showed negative significant growth rates. The Barah flowers showed positive and significant growth of 18.34 per cent per annum. The roots yielded maximum average volume and maximum revenue. The linear growth of medicinal plants based on their present status indicated that only commonly available medicinal plants showed a significant declining growth rate of 10.67 per cent per annum and 9.26 per cent per annum in P-II and in overall. The paper also highlights various lacunae in trade of medicinal plants in the state.
Medicinal plants, existing trade, extraction status, linear growth rate, instability indices
