Ethnobotany of Rice Weeds in South Asia

The book covers more than one hundred seventy herbs, most of which are readily available in paddy fields and bunds. It describes the food, feed pharmacentical and other uses of rice weed found in arable, swampy, shallow water, deep water ecosystems. The distinchre feature of the book is its reasonably comprehensive information about the habit, habitat, morphological description, occurrence and ethnobiological value of prominent weeds present in South Asia. Several rice weeds play an important dietary role among rural poor. The weeds like Echinochloa crus-galli and Echinochloa framentaceae are used as human food in several Asian Countries. Grain amaranths which are major weeds in upland ecosystem in a staple diet of many tribals of Indian subcontinent. The farinaceous rhizomes and carpels of Nelumbo nucifera and Nymphaea alba (white water lily) in a popular food of rural poor in Asia. The weeds like Amaranthus gangeticus, a oleraceus and A. Dubius exists in upland rice ecosystem and marshy weeds like Alternanthera sersilis and Ipomoea aqnatica are prominent pot herbs and excellent sources of vitamin a and essential minerals to the tribals. The therapeutic value of curtain rice weed like centalla asiatica, Acalypha indica and commelina beughalensis are well known to several aboriginal tribes of Asia in curing human and animal ailment. It is an indispensable book for every researcher, teacher, planner, and students to strengthen the agriculture and food security. Based on his own work over the number of years and that of others before him, the author presents in this book ethnobiological value of rice weeds in Asia with illustrations. The book fulfills a long-felt need of ethnobiology of rice weeds in Asia.