The document identifies 75 wild leafy vegetable species from 35 families that are used by rural communities in Raipur district, Chhattisgarh, India. The most commonly used species are Amaranthus tricolour, Amaranthus virdis, Ipomoea aquatica, Raphanus sativus, Spinacea oleracea, Trigonella foenum graceum, Cassia tora, Chenopodium album and Corchorus olitorius. Twenty-eight of the species also have medicinal value. While 65% of the traditional vegetables are easily available, 35% are rarely available and risk being lost without conservation efforts. Domesticating the reported species could both improve livelihoods

1. By
Dr.G.S.Tomar, Professor
Department of Agronomy,
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur
(C.G.)

2. At present, about 90 % of global food production
comes from less than 30 species and more than 85–
90 % of total caloric intake obtained from 12
domesticated species
This situation may create an intense biotic andThis situation may create an intense biotic and
abiotic pressure to the modern agriculture in future.
The majority of the edible plants are neglected
which grow naturally in the fields, considered as
weeds.
Such edible wild plants can significantly increase
sustainability by reducing the risk of over-dependence
on a limited number of crops.

3. About 44% geographical area is under forests with
rich plant diversity including wild leafy vegetables.
About 44 tribal communities live in various districts of
Chhattisgarh
Wild leafy vegetables (WLVs) are widely consumed in
the daily diet of the tribes/rural people.
WLVs are critical for the sustenance of ethnicWLVs are critical for the sustenance of ethnic
communities and also as a source of income.
However, Wild edible plants received a little attention
in research activities, economic development,
biodiversity conservation and sustainable management.
Many wild leafy vegetables are largely ignored and
remained unexplored.
With a view of reducing the gap in traditional
knowledge and tapping the hidden potential resources

4. IMPORTANCE OF INDIGENOUS
LEAFY VEGETABLE
Highly nutritious than the exotic veg.
Have short production cycle
No or less inputs (fertilizers and
pesticides) required
They are hardy, adaptable to marginalThey are hardy, adaptable to marginal
soil and harsh growing conditions
Medicinal properties
Support small land holder farmers
both in terms of subsistence and
income generation
Important for crop diversification

6. Study sites: ThreeStudy sites: Three
villages each in Arang,
Abhanpur and Dharsiwa
block of Raipur (C.G.)block of Raipur (C.G.)
Survey (Farmers fields
and vegetable market
Semi-structured
questionnaire
In-depth interview &
group discussion
Period: 2012-14

7. A total of 75 wild leafy vegetables belonging to 35
families were documented, being used by the rural
communities of Raipur district for nutritive and
therapeutic purposes. The most important family in
terms of species representation wasterms of species representation was
Fabaceae - with 9 genera and 13 species
Amaranthaceae -having 3 genera and 6 species
Brassicaceae -having 3 genera and 6 species
Convolvulaceae -4 genera and 2 species
Cucurbitaceae -4 genera 4 species
Chenopodiaceae -2 genera and 3 species
Less than 3 species in other 29 families.

9. Leafy vegetables such as Amaranthus species,
Borhaavia diffusa, Basell rubra, Celosia argentea,
Cleome gynandra, Chenopodium album, Commelina
benghalensis Corchorus species, Lathyrus sp.,
Hibiscus cannabinus, Ipomoea aquatica Marsilea
minuta Moringa oleifera , Oxalis corniculata, Portulaca
oleraceae and Trianthema decandra are very popular
and still are widely available in the communities.
Documented wild leafy vegetable showed different
and still are widely available in the communities.
Documented wild leafy vegetable showed different
habitat i.e.
Herbs (48 species)
Shrubs(4 species)
Climbers (13 species)
Trees (10 species)
It indicates that herbaceous plants make up the
highest proportion of edible plants.
Leaves are dominant edible parts followed by
shoot and stem, and most consumed through cooked

10. Result further show that 65% of wild leafy
vegetables are commonly available, whereas,
25% are available with difficulty and 10% are
hardly available in natural resources.
It indicates that 35 % wild leafy vegetables
are threatened to be lost if not cultivated and
conserved properly.
Out of the 75 traditional leafy vegetables
studied, 28 reveals therapeutic properties in
Out of the 75 traditional leafy vegetables
studied, 28 reveals therapeutic properties in
addition to nutritional fulfillment.
According to integrated assessment most
of the wild leafy vegetable (70 %) have high
nutritive value and they should be promoted
for integration into the agri-system and
income generation.
Information on the food and medicinal use
of plant is mostly confined to elder people.

11. S.No
.
Botanical name Medicinal use
1 Achyranthes aspera L. Rheumatism and joint pain. Roots
are used as tooth brush.
2 Amaranthus
gangaticus
used as astringent, in heavy
bleeding during menstrual period,
hemorrhage
Table- Leafy vegetables used as medicine by rural peoples
hemorrhage
3 Amaranthus viridis L. Asthma, cough, dysentery and
inflammation
4 Bacopa monnieri (L.) Skin diseases, neuralgia, epilepsy,
ulcers, boils, cuts, fever, and
weakness.
5 Basella alba L. Plant is found to be laxative,
diuretic, aphrodisiac and tonic.
6 Boerhaavia repanda Leaf decoction useful in alleviating

12. 8 Celome viscosa L. Intestinal worms, colic, stomach upset,
diarrhea, fever and dyspepsia
9 Celosia argentea L. Used for mouth sores, diarrhea and blood
disorders
10 Centella asiatica (L.)
Urba.
Used in dysentery, liver trouble and stomach
problem
11 Chenopodium
album L.
Used in worm infestation, anemia, general
debility, laxativealbum L.
12 Cissus
quadrangularis L.
Used for muscular skeletal disorders, burns
and wounds
13 Colocasia
esculenta L.
Used for blood coagulation
14 Commelina
benghalensis L.
Dysentery, indigestion and paste applied to
treatment of pimples
15 Corchorus olitorius
L.
Used for ascites, pain, piles, dysentery, fever,
and tumors.

13. 16 Hibiscus cannbinus L. Used in constipation, piles and indigestion
17 Ipomea aquatica Remedy for chronic constipation and tonic
18 Leucas aspera Spr. Inflammation, skin diseases, anti worm,
arthritis, cough, , migraine
19 Moringa oleifera
Lamk.
Used in the treatment of venomous bites
and rheumatism
20 Oxalis corniculata L. Used in burning sensation and
haemorrhoidshaemorrhoids
21 Portulaca oleraceae
L.
Used in scurvy and in diseases of liver,
spleen, kidney and bladder.
22 Sphaeranthus indicus
L.
Epilepsy, migraine, jaundice, fever, cough,
hemorrhoids and skin diseases.
23 Tridax procumbens
L.
Inflammation, wound, ulcers, fistula,
antidiabetic, and hemorrhoids.

14. LocalName : Gol bhaji
(Nonia)
B.N. : Portulaca oleraceae
Family: Portulacaceae
Availability: Rainy season
LocalName :Bemgsag
B.N. : Centella asiatica
Family: Apiaceae
Uses: Round the year

15. Local name :Brabmbhi
BN : Bacopa monnieri
F : Scrophulariaceae
Availability: April-
December
Local name :Karmatta
BN : Ipomea aqatica
F : Convolvulaceae
Availability : Round
the year

16. Local Name-Poi bhaji
BN-Basella alba
Family: Basellaceae
Availability: Sep.-March
Local Name-Halkusha bhaji
BN-Leucas aspera
Family: Lamiaceae
Availability: Rainy season

17. Local Name: Agadha
bhaji
BN: Achyranthes aspera
Family:Amaranthaceae
Availability: August-Feb.
Local Name: Charouta
bhaji
BN: Casia tora L.
Family: Fabaceae
Availability: July-August

18. Local Name : Bathua
BN: Chenopodium album L.
Family: Chenopodiaceae
Availability: Winter season
Local Name : Murgkesh
BN: Celocia argenteae
Family: Amaranthaceae
Availability: Aug.-Jan.

19. Local Name: Kochai bhaji
BN: Colocasia esculenta
Family: Aracaceae
Availability: June-Nov.
Local Nam: Kankaua bhaji
BN: Commelina benghalensis
Family: Commelinaceae
Availability: Sep.-Jan.

20. Local Name: Amari bhaji
BN: Hibiscus sabdariffa
Family: Malvaceae
Availability: July-Feb.
Local Name: Chech bhaji
BN: Corchorus olitorius
Family: Tiliaceae
Availability: June-Nov.

21. Local Name : Muscani bhaji
BN: Ipomea reniformis
Family: Convolvulaceae
Availability: July-August
Local Name: Sunsunia sag
BN: Marsilea minuta L.
Family: Marsileaceae
Availability: Nov.-March

22. Local Name: Tewda bhaji
BN : Lathyrus sativus L.
Family: Fabaceae
Availability: Winter season
Local Name:Muskeni bhaji
BN: Merrenia emarginata
Family: Convolvulaceae
Availability: Sep.-Feb.

23. Local Name: Tinpania bhaji
BN: Oxalis corniculata
Family:Oxalidaceae
Availability: Aug.-Dec.
Local Name: Agathi bhaji
BN: Sesbania grandiflora
Family: Fabaceae
Availability:Oct.-Nov.

24. Local Name: Mundi sag
BN:Sphaeranthus indicus L.
Family: Asteraceae
Availability: Nov.-March
Local Name: Ghamar bhaji
BN: Tridax procumbens
Family:Asteraceae
Availability: Round the year

25. C N: Hurhuria bhaji
BN:Cleome viscosa
Family: Celeomaceae
Availability: May-October
Common Name: Singari
BN: Cissus quadrangularis
Family:Vitaceae
Availability: Round the year

26. CN: Koliary bhaji (Kachnar)
BN: Bauhinia purpurea
F: Fabaceae
Availability: March-April
CN: Amaltas, Girimala
BN: Cassia fistula
F:Fabaceae
Availability: Jan.-May

27. CN:Bohar bhaji
BN:Cordia dichtoma
F:Boraginaceae
Availability:March-April
CN:Kheda bhaji
BN:Amaranthus gangaticus
F:Amaranthaceae
Availability:April-August

28. CN:Lal bhaji
BN:Amaranthus
tricolour
F:Amaranthaceae
CN:Kanta bhaji
BN:Amaranthus
Spinosus
F:Amaranthaceae
CN:Cholai bhaji
BN:Amaranthus
Viridis
F:Amaranthaceae

29. In the present study 75 plant species belonging to 35 families
have been identified and documented.
Amaranthus tricolour, Amaranthus virdis, Ipomoea aquatica,
Raphanus sativus, Spinacea oleracea, Trigonella foenum graceum,
Casia tora, Chenopodium album and Corchorus olitorius are most
popular and commonly used leafy vegetables.
 Out of 75 sp., 28 species had medicinal value which are used to Out of 75 sp., 28 species had medicinal value which are used to
treat various ailments.
Leaves and tender shoots are used in majority of the cases.
Only 65% traditional vegetables are easily available and
remaining 35% are rarely available which may be threatened to be
lost if not conserved properly.
Domestication of the reported species will not only improve the
economic condition of the people but will also help in conservation
of biodiversity as well as ensuring food and nutritional security.