Identification and Conservation Status of Medicinal Plants in Chengottumala Hills, Kerala

The present study has been carried out in Chengottumala Hills, Kozhikode, Kerala, India to document the current conservation status of the study area and medicinal properties of plants. An extensive and intensive floristic survey was undertaken during December 2020 – Feb 2021 in Chengottumala Hills. The area was surveyed at every visit and periodical collection of plants made from each locality. Taxonomically a total number of 75 species of Angiosperms distributed belonging to 38 families has been recorded from the study area of Chengottumala hills. Out of these 68 families belongs to Dicotyledons and 7 families belong to Monocotyledons. In the life form category of plants the majority of the species were herbs (31 species) followed by shrubs (19 species), trees (17 species) and climbers (8 species). Sida acuta was the most abundant species when compared to other species in the study area. In the present study out of 75 species recorded no species is enraged, 2 species are vulnerable, 6 species are least concern. In the Chengottumalai Hills represents 19 invasive and 56 native species.