International Journal of Botany1811-97001811-9719Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ijb.2010.414.423SarmaHemen TripathiAmit KumarBorahSouravjyoti KumarDevendra 4201064The study reports the ethnobotany and threats to wild edible plants in Assam province of India, which is considered as a mega-biodiversity centre under two important biodiversity hotspots viz., Indo-Burma and Himalaya. The people living in remote/forest area still depend upon to a great extent on the indigenous system of medicine/cultivation. Here, we summarize the information derived through meta-analysis and present an updated estimate of the wild edible, medicinal and threatened plant species that has been reported by wide variety of taxonomic groups. Out of 3895 plant species nearly 7.34% were used as wild vegetables, fruits and ethno-medicines. In over all, 286 edible wild plant species estimated belong to 93 families and 192 genera are hitherto unknown or less known to the world. Of these, 150 species were reported to be used in traditional system of medicine. The estimates revealed that as many as 27 species were in the list of red data book, CITIES and IUCN red list threat categories due to over exploitations and these plants need a strong conservation and protection management.. In the present investigation, the work that has been reported and the potential of ethno-botanical studies with particular reference to biodiversity conservation of the important wild edible plant species have been highlighted in study area.]]>Acharyya, B.K. and H.K. Sharma,20043365372Arnold, J.E.M.,20012001Bhuyan, L.R.,2000187884Bhuyan, L.R., N.S. Bisht and K. Haridasan,2000184665CIFOR,2002414Champion, H.G. and S.K. Seth,1968Pages: 404Pages: 404Chowdhury, S.,2005CITES,20102010Das, A.K., B.K. Datta and G.D. Sharma,20087446454FAO,2005Hajra, P.K., V.J. Nair and P. Daniel,1997Vol. 4,Hajra, P.K., R.R. Rao, D.K. Singh and B.P. Uniyal,1995Vol. 12,IUCN.,20102010Kala, C.P., N.A. Farooquee and U. Dhar,200413453469Kanjilal, U.N., P.C. Kanjilal and A. Das,1934Vol. 1,Kanjilal, U.N., P.C. Kanjilal and A. Das,1938Vol. 2,Kanjilal, U.N., P.C. Kanjilal and A. Das,1940Vol. 4,Kanjilal, U.N., P.C. Kanjilal, A. Das and R.N. De,1939Vol. 3,Kar, A. and S.K. Borthakur,20087448460Kayang, H.,20076177181Kotoky, J. and P.N. Das,200879384387Kumar, D.,20115105123Khan, S.M., H. Ahmad, M. Ramzan and M.M. Jan,20071017431746Lalramnghinglova, J.H.,199612439459Maikhuri, R.K. and A.K. Gangwar,199347345357Majumdar, K. and B.K. Datta,200766673Mao, A.A., T.M. Hynniewta and M. Sanjappa,2009896103Mbuvi, D. and E. Boon,2009119891004Murtem, G.,2000186677Nayar, M.P. and A.R.K. Sastry,1987Vol. 1,Nayar, M.P. and A.R.K. Sastry,1988Vol. 2,Nayar, M.P. and A.R.K. Sastry,1990Vol. 3,Panda, S.,199612332337Patiri, B. and A. Borah,2007Saikia, A.P., V.K. Ryakala, P. Sharma, P. Goswami and U. Bora,2006106149157Sarma, H. and C.M. Sarma,200813117120Sarma, H., C. M. Sarma and D. K. Bhattacharjya,2008Cuscuta reflexa roxb. in the manas biosphere reserve, indo-burma hotspot.]]>2175180Sawian, J.T., S. Jeeva, F.G. Lyndem, B.P. Mishra and R.C. Laloo,20076410426Sekeroglu, N., F. Ozkutlu, M. Deveci, O. Dede and N. Yilmaz,20065185189Sharma, B.D. and N.P. Balakrishnan,1993Vol. 2,Sharma, B.D. and M. Sanjappa,1993Vol. 3,Singh, N.P., J.N. Vohra, P.K. Hajra and D.K. Singh,2000Vol. 5,Sundriyal, M., R.C. Sundriyal, E. Sharma and A.N. Purohit,199874354World Bank,2001World Bank,2004Vol. 1,Ubom, R.M.,20106310322