Piscicidal Plants of Nepal : Checklist, Ethnobotanical Uses and Indigenous Practices

Ananda R. Joshi and Kunjani Joshi**

Former Director General, SACEP, Colombo, Sri Lanka

**Harvard University Herbaria, USA

Email: ajoshi@gmail.com, kunjanijoshi@gmail.com

Introduction

Fish catching with the aid of plants and their parts is an ancient practice. The rural communities of Nepal collect piscicidal plants and their parts from various habitats, such as forest, scrub, grassland, cultivated fields, wetlands and riverbanks and use them following traditional methods and practices to stupefy fish. However, at present, the piscicidal plants and their ethenobotanical information are being eroded as a result of haphazard exploitation of resources, habitat destruction and land use change (Joshi and Joshi, 2005). The loss of traditional knowledge within cultures undergoing rapid change is just as irreversiable as the loss of species (Joshi and Joshi, 2004). Hence, priority should be given to document the useful plants and their uses along with indigenous knowledge, methods and practices. Though some ethnobotanical initiatives related to the piscicidal plants have already taken (Bhandary and Shrestha, 1982; Joshi and Joshi, 2005a; Karki and Rai, 1982; Regmi and Karna, 1989; Manandhar, 1989 ), less priority has been given to the systematic and comprehensive enumeration of these species and their conservation in an integrated manner. Therefore, an attempt has been made to document and enumerate the piscicidal plants with exising traditional uses and practices.

Study Areas and Methods

The ethnobotanical information were collected from the villages of the various districts of Nepal. The complex geomorphology, climatic variations and other physical characteristics make these villages rich in diverse habitats with useful species including the piscicidal plants. These areas are inhabited by different ethnic tribes, who have rich knowledge on ethnobotanical information. Ethnobotanical information were collected using various techniques and also verified with secondary sources.

Enumeration of Species

The plant species, which are reported to have piscicidal effects, are enumerated in Table 1.

79 piscicidal plants belonging to 35 families are arranged alphabetically by genus–species, family followed by local names, and parts of the plant used. Among the documented species, the family Fabaceae was most frequently represented with a total of 11 species, followed by

Polygonaceae 7, Euphorbiaceae 6, Ateraceae 5 and others with less than 5 species.

Indigenous Knowledge and Practices

The local people have excellent knowledge of species identification, usefulness of the plants and traditional practices. Though the main occupation of villagers of the study areas is agriculture, fishing is an alternative source of income. They collect fish for food and also for sale in nearby markets. Maghi tribes are mainly involved in fishing occupation and used to utilize all parts or a certain part of the plant as fish poison. Sometimes for catching fish from rivers, the flow of water is checked either by erecting a temporary wall of mud and stones or by diverting the water current into small temporary ponds. The plant or a plant part is crushed and thrown into the water. The fish poison makes the fish float in a stupefied state and come to the surface of water from where they are easily captured.

According to the information of the local people, some species are preferred for fish poison and frequently used. These species are Agave cantala, Buddleja asiatica, Buddleja paniculata, Engelhardia spicata, Euphorbia royleana, Juglans regia, Persicaria hydropiper, and Sapium insigne.

Table 1. Piscicidal plants of Nepal.

Botanical name/ Family	Nepali name	Parts of the plant used	References
Acacia pennata (L.) Willd. (Fabaceae)	Aradi, Arare	Bark, Fruit, Stem	Ghimere et. al. (2000); Joshi & Joshi (2005a); Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Agave cantala Roxb. ex Salm.-Dyck (Agavaceae)	Ketuke, Nalu	Whole plant, Leaf	Bhandary & Shrestha (1982, 1999); Joshi & Joshi (2005a); Karki & Rai (1982); Manandhar (1989, 2002); Regmi & Karma (1989)
Aisandra butyracea (Roxb.) Baehni (Sapotacae)	Chyuri	Bark, Oilcake	Manandhar (1989)
Albizia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. (Fabaceae)	Kalo Siris, Siris	Bark	Joshi & Joshi (2005a)
Albizia lucidior (Steud.) I. Nielson ex Hara (Fabaceae)	Padake, Tapre siris	Bark	Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Anagallis arvensis L. (Primulaceae)	Armale, Kalo gojale	Whole plant	Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Anemone vitifolia Buch.-Ham. ex DC. (Ranunculaceae)	Dhanero, Madilo	Whole plant	Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Annona squamata L. (Annonaceae)	Saripha, Banjhi	Leaf	Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Artemisia dubia Wall. ex Besser (Asteraceae)	Tite pati, Nagadamani	Leaf, Young shoot	Joshi & Joshi (2005a); Siwakoti & Siwakoti (2003)
Artemisia indica Willd. (Asteraceae)	Gandhe jhar, Titepati	Leaf	Joshi & Joshi (2005a)
Berberis aristata DC. (Berberidaceae)	Chutro	Bark	Joshi & Joshi (2005a)
Buddleja asiatica Lour. (Loganaceae)	Bhimsenpati, Sano phultis	Leaf	Bhadari & shrestha (1982, 1999); Joshi (1991); Joshi & Joshi (2005a & b); Joshi (1991); Karki & Rai (1982); Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Buddleja paniculata Wall. (Loganaceae)	Narayanpati, Phultis	Leaf	Bhadari & Shrestha (1982, 1999); Joshi & Joshi (2005a & b); Karki & Rai ( 1982); Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Careya arborea Roxb. (Lecythidaceae)	Kumbhi, Bhorle	Bark, Leaf, Root	Ghimere et. al. (2000); Joshi & Joshi (2005a); Manandhar (2002)
Casearia elliptica Willd. (Flacoutiaceae)	Thulo dedri	Fruit	Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Casearia graveolens Dalz. (Flacourtiaceae)	Sano dendri	Bark, Leaf, Fruit	Joshi & Joshi (2005); Manandhar (1989)
Cassia fistula L. (Fabaceae)	Rajbriksya	Seed	Ghimere et. al. (2000); Joshi (1988); Joshi & Joshi (2005a)
Coriaria nepalensis Wall. (Coriariaceae)	Bhojinsi’ Machino	Leaf	Joshi & Joshi (2005b)
Croton roxburghii N.P. Balakr. (Euphorbiaceae)	Aule	Seed oil	Manandhar (2002)
Cyathula tomentosa (Roth.) Moq. (Amaranthaceae)	Aulo ghans, Aankhle kuro	Root	Joshi & Joshi (2005a); Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Dalbergia stipulacea Roxb. (Fabaceae)	Tatibari	Root	Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Daphne bholua Buch.-Ham. Ex D. Don. (Thymelaeaceae)	Kagat pate	Bark, Leaf	Joshi (1988); Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Datura metel L. (Solanaceae)	Kalo dhaturo	Leaf	Joshi & Joshi (2005a)
Desmodium laxiflorum DC. (Fabaceae)	Tangri	Stem	Mander and Chaudhary
Desmodium oojeinense (Roxb. ) H. Ohashi (Fabaceae)	Sadhan, Panjan,	Bark	Ghimere et. al. (2000); Manandhar (2002)
Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H.J. Lam. (Sapotaceae)	Chyuri	Bark, Oil cake	Manandhar (2002)
Dioscorea deltoidea Wall. (Dioscoreaceae)	Bhyakur	Tuber, Leaf	Joshi & Joshi (2005a); Karki & Rai (1982); Manandhar (1989)
Duabanga grandiflora (Roxb. ex DC.) Walp. (Sonneratiaceae)	Madame, Lampate	Bark	Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Edgeworthia gardneri (Wall.) Meisn. (Thymelaeaceae)	Argeli, Arkalepat	Bark, Leaf	Joshi & Joshi (2005a & b); Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Engelhardia spicata Lesch. ex Blume (Juglandaceae)	Mauwa	Young leaf	Chaudhary et.al (2002); Joshi (1988); Joshi & Joshi (2005a); Joshi (1991); Manandhar (1989)
Entada phaseoloides (L) Merr. (Fabaceae)	Rukh pangra	Seed	Manandhar (1989, 2002)
Eupatorium odoratum L. (Asteraceae)	Banmara	Whole plant	Joshi & Joshi (2005a)
Euphorbia royleana Boiss (Euphorbiaceae)	Siudri