ETHNO-BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS ON TRIBE MUTHUVAS IN MACHIPLAVU AREA OF ADIMALI REGION, IDUKKI DISTRICT, KERALA, INDIA

The tribe Muthuvas are the chief tribal population in Adimali region of Idukki district, Kerala. They are having very good knowledge about the medicinal plant species, which are distributed in their surroundings. The present observations on tribe Muthuvas in the study area resulted in the documentation of 24 species of ethno-medicinal plants in 23 genera and 16 families. These potential medicinal plants are used by these tribes for the treatment of various ailments in their daily life.