Vegetation Diversity and Multifunctional Plant Resources in the Semi-Arid Landscapes of Shekhawati, Rajasthan, India

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.114.29

Abstract:
Dryland plant diversity is often described only in terms of species richness. However, plants also provide important resources to local communities. The present study evaluted the functional ethnobotanical diversity of the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, including Churu, Sikar and Jhunjhunu. The study focuses on three major plant uses: medicinal plants, edible fruits and livestock forage. The checklist contains 35 species belonging to 21 families. Medicinal use was recorded for 18 species. Eleven species were reported as fruit or edible plants, while 10 species were used as forage. Four species had more than one recorded use. Poaceae was the most represented family in the functional dataset. Medicinal uses were reported as traditional or ethnobotanical uses. The study showed that plant diversity in Shekhawati has both ecological and livelihood value. Medicinal plants supported traditional healthcare. Edible plants provided food resources and forage plants support livestock. Multipurpose species are especially imperative because they provide more than one benefit. Functional plant provided useful information in addition to conventional floristic studies. They helped in documenting traditional knowledge, identifying important plant resources and planning community-based conservation. This approach is particularly useful for the semi-arid landscapes of Shekhawati, where plant resources are closely linked with local livelihoods.

Keywords:
Shekhawati, ethnobotany, functional biodiversity, medicinal plants, wild edible plants, forage, Rajasthan, traditional knowledge, drylands.

Article Info:
Received: 01 Jul 2026; Received in revised form: 29 Jul 2026; Accepted: 03 Aug 2026; Available online: 11 Aug 2026

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