Rahul Kumar and Ranjeet Kumar
Abstract
Wild edible plants serve as important supplementary food resources for native communities, particularly in remote and tribal areas, and are an integral component of the local culture.The inhabitants of the Himalayan region have extensive knowledge of edible wild plants suitable for human consumption, making a valuable nutritional food supplement. The present study focuses on documenting the diversity, availability and role of major wild edible species in the Shri Naina Deviji Conservation Reserve, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. Data were gathered through semi-structured questionnaires and personal interviews with local residents. The study recorded 70 wild edible species distributed across 58 genera and 38 families with trees (32 species) constituting the dominant life form, preceded by herbs (21), shrubs (13), and climbers (04). Fabaceae emerged as the most prominent family (10 species), preceded by Moraceae (09), Rutaceae (04), Combretaceae, Rosaceae, and Solanaceae (03), with fruits being the most frequently utilized plant part. On the basis of cultural importance, Phyllanthus emblica (1.23) is followed by Bauhinia variegata (1.16), Aegle marmelos (0.96), Terminalia bellirica (0.93), and Zanthoxylum armatum (0.91) as the most prominent wild edible species. The present study documents the cultural importance and highlights its critical role in supplementing rural diets, supporting livelihoods, preserving cultural traditions, and conservation and sustainable use in the region.