Climbing Plants of the Southern Western Ghats of Coimbatore in India and Their Economic Uses

Abstract

The present paper focuses on diversity of climbers and their ethno-botanical uses of 156 species under 83 genera belonging to 26 families. Most number of species was recorded in the family Convolvulaceae (35-species) followed by Fabaceae (26) and Asclepiadiaceae (22). The ascending plants (incl. lianes) are segregated into five types based on their climbing modes. Incorporating the ecological strategies of the climbers to the changing environmental conditions, of the total species recorded, 79 (50%)-species twined around the host plants, 7(5%) plants used hooks, 27(17%) plants used tendrils, 38(24%) plants used Woody stems and only 6(4%) plants used Prostrate climbing the host plants. They are used for different ailments in the present study belong to 57 are medicinal (include ethnoveterinary), 29 Ornametal, Edible 14 and 7 multiple purposes as well as of economic utility.