Atlas of Medicinal Plants in Gandhamardan

The biodiversity hotspot of Western Odisha, The Gandhamardan, is a natural heritage adorned with galaxy of renewable and non-renewable wealth through ages. The diverse vegetation resources, hilly topography, vast geologic and soil resources and excellent water system make the region wealthy and notable. It exhibits a diverse vegetation resources which offer most congenial environment for the growth of plants of phytogeographic, economic and medicinal importance. The occurrence of large number of species in such a smal1 area and richness of flora has rendered the region a botanical treasure. From botanical point of view, this region is of phytogeographical importance that the hill top possesses the flora of both Himalayan/north Indian and Nilgiri South Indian elements and also shows affinities towards both the regions. Thus, the hill range is considered to serve as a bridge for migration of species from lower Himalayas to southwards or in some cases the vice versa. The database in its present form stores information of 560 species of medicinal plants. These plant species were distributed over 577 genera belonging to 140 families. Among the angiosperms, 672 species are dicotyledons and 216 species are monocotyledons. The species of dicotyledons were distributed in 431 genera and 104 families and monocotyledons were distributed under genera belonging to 19 families.