Ethnobotany of Medicinal Orchids by Li Nationality in Hainan Island

Authors Cun Dezhi; Zhu Guopeng; Song Xiqiang; Zhong Yunfan

Journal Chinese Journal of Tropical Crops , 2014,10:35

Abstract Speci es diversity of the medicinal plants used by Li Nationality has been investigated by using ethnobotanical research,such as visiting Li healer, reviewing literature and documentation. There were 36 species belonging to 23 genus distributed in Bawangling Mountain. Dendrobium has the highest number of species (7 species),and the others vary 1 to 3 species. Among these orchids, twenty species are obligate epiphyte, eigth spices are non-spot epiphytic type and eigth species are terrestrial type respectively. Medicinal part (bulbs, whole plant or roots) being used and its usage were diversified among healers. Specifically, 84.6% species were decocted in water for oral dose, and 33.3% were used externally. Exploitation value of these orchid species were quantitatively evaluated by using scoring method commonly used in ethnobotany. Twenty species including Ludisia discolor, Pholidota chinensis, Cleisostoma paniculatum,Dendrobium nobile, Eria corneri, Dendrobium williamsonii, Eulophia gramine a, Flickingeria fimbriata should be given priority in exploitation their medicinal usage, according to their effectiveness in curing diseases and their number of presence in Chinese classical medicinal literatures.

Species covered 血叶兰 Ludisia discolor 石仙桃 Pholidota chinensis 石斛 Dendrobium nobile 黑毛石斛 Dendrobium williamsonii 半柱毛兰 Eria corneri