About the tribe: The Khamtis are a Bhuddhist community of Arunachal Pradesh concentrated in the Namsai and Changlang District. They are also found in the Dibrugarh and Lakimpur districts of Assam. The Tai Khamti Originally belonging to royal Tai family of South East Asia. They speak Khampti language which has its own script. Their script is known as “Lik Tai” which was originated from the “Shan”(Tai) script of Mayanmar. They follow Hinayana sect of Buddhism of Tai Burmese tradition and practices both wet paddy and shifting cultivation as primary occupation apart from fishing technology and hunting. They celeberate “Poi Sang Ken” festival to welcome the new year. The main attraction of this festival is splashing clean water, which is symbol of peace and purity. “Maiko Chumfai” is a festival associated with agriculture observed to celebrate the new harvest. The dance “Ka Poong Tai” is one of the main dramatic art form of the Tai Khamtis which have their roots in countries like Thailand and Myanmar. Peacock Dance, Cock fight Dance, Deer Dance and Demon Dance are some of the popular Khamti dance dramas.

Checklist

1. Abroma augustum, Maimai

2. Abrus precatorius, Mikiakuiang

3. Ageratum conyzoides, Padribha

4. Alpinia galanga, Lingpang

5. Andrographis paniculata, Hirota

6. Arenaria orbiculata, Lajaibori

7. Argyreia nervosa, Motaimon

8. Artemisia nilagirica, Makampi

9. Asparagus racemosus, Sottish sora

10. Asplenium nidus, Yahanka

11. Azadirachta indica, Neem

12. Baliospermum solanifolium, Hongki

13. Batrachospermum atrum, Langmai

14. Bidens pilosa, Bukrurh

15. Blechnum orientale, Kalasona

16. Blumea balsamifera, Yanang

17. Blumea fistulosa, Yanang hak

18. Bombax ceiba, Simul

19. Bonnaya antipoda, Yakio

20. Canarium strictum, Duna

21. Cenchrus purpureus, Hakka

22. Centella asiatica, Bodogoh

23. Chloranthus elatior, Yasinha, Yanengsekh

24. Chlorella vulgaris, Suansok, Aqa

25. Cissampelos pareira, Tonabi

26. Citrus × limon, Hatta

27. Coleus forskohlii, Moyamuksii

28. Coleus scutellarioides, Myamuksi

29. Commelina benghalensis, Sukbon

30. Croton tiglium, Soklang

31. Curcuma caesia, Homen

32. Cymbidium aloifolium, Mok Hang Meew

33. Cymbidium bicolor, Mok Hang Meew

34. Cyperus alternifolius subsp. flabelliformis, Yahukom

35. Datura innoxia, Pukumi

36. Dendrobium fimbriatum, Mokya tu

37. Euphorbia hirta, Dudboon

38. Euphorbia neriifolia, Sepak

39. Ficus hispida, Mukonpong

40. Hedychium coccineum, Mansila

41. Hemerocallis fulva, Kuanka

42. Houttuynia cordata, Punkyo

43. Ipomoea aquatica, Humen

44. Jatropha curcas, Randgula

45. Justicia adhatoda, Bohabahog

46. Kaempferia galanga, Ban hom

47. Kalanchoe pinnata, Hurroreshia

48. Leucas aspera, Dulon bon

49. Lycopodium clavatum, Luanha

50. Marchantia palmata, Matakain

51. Marchantia polymorpha, Matakainnung

52. Mentha × piperita, Balasen

53. Millingtonia hortensis, Meteka

54. Mosla dianthera, Ngakai

55. Ocimum tenuiflorum, Tulosi

56. Oxalis corniculata, Yasompi

57. Pilea melastomoides, Rambodusak

58. Piper mullesua, Pipli, Paan

59. Plantago major, Sevinyuri

60. Plumbago indica, Kensumi

61. Pseuderanthemum latifolium, Murmuchi patta

62. Ricinus communis, Kunkaw

63. Senna hirsuta, Kungu

64. Sida acuta, Pairangri

65. Solanum torvum, Mehengchang

66. Solanum virginianum, Mopu

67. Soymida febrifuga, Somi-rohun

68. Stachytarpheta cayennensis, Yahangeng

69. Stephania japonica, Bhimraj

70. Sterculia villosa, Iswarai

71. Strongyleria pannea, Khadla, Seppu

72. Terminalia chebula, Hellica

73. Trigastrotheca pentaphylla, Jaluk boon

74. Xanthium strumarium subsp. strumarium, Changruk

75. Zanthoxylum rhetsa, Mekat

Extracted from:

Nima D. Namsa, Hui Tag, M. Mamdal, Pallabi Kalita & Arup Kumar Das 2009. An Ethnobotanical study on traditional anti-inflammatory plants used by the Lohit Community of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 125:234-245

Krishna Chowlu, Kamalesh S Mahar & Arup Kumar Das. 2016. Ethnobotanical studies on Orchids among the Khamti community of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources 8(1): 89-93

Arup Kumar Das & Hui Tag. 2006. Ethnomedicinal study on medicinal plants of Khamti tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 5(3): 317-322