Wild plants used by Muthuvan and Kattunaikkan tribal communities of Palakkayam settlement in Nilambur of Malappuram district, Kerala

The major objective of ethnobotanical investigation on wild plants is documentation of indigenous knowledge associated with these plants. Growing anthropogenic pressure and environmental stresses affecting the wild plant wealth of our country needs an immediate action for effective documentation and designing of new plans for sustainable utilization. Many plant species, possessing medicinally important compounds are disappearing at an alarming rate due to the destruction of natural habitats, rapid agricultural development, urbanization, indiscriminate deforestation and uncontrolled collection of plant materials. This study highlights on the ethnobotanical knowledge of wild edible and medicinal plants used by Muthuvan and Kattunaikkan tribes of Palakkayam settlement, Nilambur area of Malappuram district, Kerala. The study documented 53 plants belonging to 30 families which are used by the tribals in their day to day life.