About the tribe: The Tangsa is a small tribe inhabiting some regions of Myanmar and in Pathkai Hill Range of the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh in India. The word Tangsa comprises two words “Tang” meaning hill and “Sa” meaning children or people. It includes number of subtribes viz. Havi, Jugli, Kimsing, Lungchang, Lungphi, Lungri, Morang, Mosang, Muklom, Ronrang, Sangwal, Sankey, Tikhak, Tonglim, Yongkuk. Each subtribes have a separate dialect which belong to Tibeto-Burman family of languages. Agriculture is the main occupation and practice both Jhum and wet cultivation. Traditionally they believed in animistic supreme being that created all existence, locally known as Rangkhothak / Rangwa / Rangfrah, although belief in other deities and spirits is maintained as well. Many followers of Rangfrah celebrate an annual festival called Mol or Kuh-a-Mol (around April/May), which asks for a bumper crop. Animal sacrifice, in particular the sacrifice of 'Wak' (pigs) and 'Maan' (cows) is also practiced there.

Checklist

1. Acmella paniculata, Pajong Nam

2. Ageratum conyzoides, Namninyng

3. Ageratum houstonianum, Namninyng

4. Amaranthus viridis, Khahram

5. Amomum dealbatum, Tingnyang

6. Angiopteris evecta, Chahmah

7. Ardisia solanacea, Nyampen

8. Artocarpus hirsutus, Jatmalang

9. Baccaurea ramiflora, Haichao

10. Bambusa nutans, Wah mi

11. Begonia roxburghii, Sihai

12. Calamus tenius, Rih

13. Camellia sinensis var. assamica, Phalap, Felap

14. Centella asiatica, Ningkhoi

15. Clerodendrum colebrookeanum, Khahmao

16. Crassocephalum crepidioides, Thangbang

17. Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Wah mi

18. Dillenia indica, Masangsi

19. Entada rheedei, Wijang

20. Eryngium foetidum, Panchi

21. Ficus auriculata, Nee ri

22. Gnetum gnemon, Phalap ri

23. Gonostegia hirta, Oyik

24. Hodgsonia macrocarpa, Pie

25. Houttuynia cordata, Thalai naam

26. Lagenaria siceraria, Molina

27. Lasia spinosa, Hamwey

28. Macaranga denticulata, Chahhao-jaak

29. Mangifera sylvatica, Jat aam

30. Melastoma malabathricum, Kengjang

31. Mikania micrantha, Chakpan

32. Mikania scandens, Chakpan

33. Morus alba, Ahairi

34. Musa aurantiaca, Nyaprom

35. Musa balbisiana, Cha ngok

36. Musa sanguinea, Kamchi

37. Nephelium lappaceum, Haicha

38. Paederia foetida, Raonam

39. Persicaria chinensis, Sahai

40. Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis, Phikhip

41. Phoebe cooperiana, Huk

42. Phyllostachys reticulata, Wah mi

43. Physalis peruviana, Tungnyai

44. Piper longum, Ahoma

45. Piper nigrum, Ahoma

46. Potentilla indica, Pungbang

47. Rhus chinensis, Metqha

48. Rubus rugosus, Sukhaih ri

49. Salacca secunda, Sap, Sapryii, Sap

50. Smilax blumei, Phanthok

51. Solanum americanum, Mangkhoi

52. Solanum spirale, Kaithuh

53. Solanum torvum, Kemko

54. Solanum violaceum, Paitae byake

55. Spondias pinnata, Makok

56. Sterculia villosa, Chahrao

57. Stixis suaveolens, Lahut-rih

58. Terminalia chebula, Lakcha Ri

59. Wurfbainia aromatica, Khuk

60. Zanthoxylum armatum, Changkao, Oeign

Extracted from:

1. M Khongsai, Siddhartha Proteem Saikia & Highland Kayang. 2011. Ethnomedicinal plant used by different tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 10(3): 541-546.

2. Pyonim Lungphi, Ayam Victor Singh & Abhaya Prasad Das. 2019. ‘Phalap-Khah’ – the bitter tea of Tangsa community in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Pleione 13(1): 33–40.

3. Pyonim Lungphi, Tonlong Wangpan & Sumpam Tangjang. 2018. Wild edible plants and their additional uses by the Tangsa community living in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Pleione 12(2): 151 – 164

4. Pyonim Lungphi, Ayam Victor Singh, T.K.Paul & Abhaya Prasad Das. 2021. A comprehensive morphological characterization and Typification of Salacca secunda Griff. (Arecaceae) with comments on its Type locality. Pleione 15(3): 299–309.