AGRO-BIODIVERSITY OF BAY ISLANDS

Abstract

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands even though possess an apparendy uniform tropical humid warm climate, shows considerable variation in the species diversity and vegetation pattern. The occurance of over 2500 indigenous and 500 non-indigenous angiospermic species in these Islands makes it unique to Indian flora. In addition to cultivated species (plantation, fruit and vegetable crops, cereals and pulses. Orchids and medicinal plants etc.), wild relatives of crop plants having agricultural, medicinal and industrial value have an impressive array of diversity. Among these significant species found are : Pandanus sps., Garcinia cowa, Mangifera andamanica, Musa balbisi",na var. andamanica, Anona glabra, Baccuaria ramiflora, etc in fruits: Alternathera sessile, Amaranthus viridis, Vigna marina, Acrosticum aureum in vegetables: Oryza inandamanica, the wild relative of rice: Areca triandra, Myristica andamanica, Zingiber odoreferum, Piper betle in plantation and spice crops: Cymbidium oJoifolium, Eria andamanica, Vanilla andamanica in orchids and Adena penengiana, Aerva lanata,· ArJisia solanacea, Cordia grandis, Cassia alata, Euphorbia hirta .in medicinal plants. As main food source, numerous wild plants like Colocasia esculenta, Dioscorea glabra, Nypa fruiticans, Calamus sps., Ipomoea aquatica, Tacca leontopetaloids are direcdy consumed by many tribals of Andaman and Nicobar Islands