Religious and traditional beliefs, cultural mores, and practices play a crucial role in the conservation of environment and biodiversity. Sacred groves are patches of land that are communally protected with religious zeal. Kerala is one of the states in India, where the sacred Groves are widely distributed from the West Coast to the Eastern high lands. Most of the sacred groves in Kerala are associated with water tanks, ponds, springs or streams. Many sacred groves are located in catchments near the origins are springs or streams. The present investigation reveals the ethanobotanical and phytosociological attributes of various plant species present in the sacred grove, Kayyath Nagam Kavu, Thaliparamba. 50 vascular plant species were enumerated from the sacred grove. Based on the calculations of frequency, density and abundance, IVI of each species was calculated. Of the various plant species available in the study area, the species Hopea ponga secured highest IVI of 32.612. The other species like Canthium rheedi, Scleria lithosperma were also showing highest IVI. In this site lowest IVI was shown by Rungia pectinate, Justicia nagpurensis, Jasminum malabaricum, Pongamia pinnata, Mallotus philippensis, Olderlandia auriculata and Piper nigrum.

phytosociological, ethanobotanical, sacred groves, biodiversity, conservation