Species Diversity and Germplasm Collection of Medicinal Plants from Western Ghats of Maharashtra

Extensive explorations were undertaken for the collection of medicinal plant germplasms from 11 districts of Western Ghats of Maharashtra. Total 25 exploration tours were undertaken during the period from February 2000 to January 2002 for the collection of biodiversity of medicinal plants from Western Ghats of Maharashtra. During the exploration the passport data related to frequency, sample type, habitat, common name, source and important characteristics and use of each accession were noted. Total 552 accessions were collected. The collected seeds, vegetative materials and live materials were sent for conservation comprising of seed/fruits-261, vegetative materials-12, wild relative of crop material-15, economic plants-15, oil yielding plants-15, aromatic plants-10, live plants-284.