Floristic diversity and an account of traditional knowledge of Kukshow - a hidden hamlet in the Trans-Himalayan cold desert of Kargil, Ladakh, India

Abstract

Cold desert region often remains secluded from the major habitation due to topographical, climatic and
cultural barriers. Despite these constraints Ladakh stores rich, unique and endemic flora with unheard
unequalled ethnobotany. This study focuses on first time documentation of flora and associated
ethnobotany of Kukshow village in Kargil district of Ladakh. Fifty-eight plant species were
documented from the study area belonging to 30 families. The habit of the flora comprised of mainly
herbs (42), shrubs (8) and along with a few trees (8). Of them, 24 plant species have been utilized by
the locals, whereas for other species fruit, bark, wood, leaves, seeds, stems or flowers were being used
for various purposes. Such documentation from an inaccessible area of the Ladakh landscape is
valuable and will act provide the baseline information for further investigation. Moreover, an early
inventory is essential before this valuable information is lost along with the coming vagaries of
environmental degradation in the future. This current information on plants used by native communities
could be promulgated to the new generation for awareness and sustainable utilization of plants.