VERNACULAR PLANT NAMES IN MAHARASHTRA (INDIA): IN ETHNOBIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

It appears that ethnobiological study of vernacular plant names, which aids in revealing conceptual development in a human society, has largely remained neglected possibly due to more attention of botanists towards applied avenues of research. The present attempt to divulge bases of coining vernacular names in the State of Maharashtra (India) included interesting 30 vernacular plant names. These are founded on about 23 different criteria related to various plant features, human sentiments and observations. The authors appeals for conducting more research in this much neglected area of investigation.

Key Words: Vernacular names, Etymology, Ethnobiology, MaharashtraIt appears that ethnobiological study of vernacular plant