Ethnobotany Of Paliya Tribe In Idukki District Of Kerala

The present research is a detailed survey of plants related to the life of a primitive tribe Paliya inhabiting the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. The study has been conducted at seven Paliya settlements in the Idukki District of Kerala during the period of January to August 2014. Ethnobotanical information was collected using primary as well as secondary sources of data. The primary data collection was done through field visits to the seven hamlets of Paliya communities. The method of primary data collection involved three components:field trips, focus group discussion, and collection and identification of the plants. The secondary data were collected from the official records maintained in tribal departments, forest department, and records of studies on the life of Paliya.