tilgu

Tilgu is a vernacular term used in several languages across the Indian subcontinent to refer to more than one species of flora and fauna. Because it is a common name rather than a scientific designation, tilgu does not correspond to a single taxon, and its meaning varies by region and context.

In botanical contexts, tilgu is applied to various locally recognized plant species. The same name may refer to different trees, shrubs, or fruiting plants in neighboring areas, leading to ambiguity in non-local discussions. The lack of a fixed scientific reference means that tilgu is primarily of ethnobotanical interest rather than a single botanical entity.

In zoological contexts, tilgu has been used to name different small mammals or birds depending on locality. As with the plant usage, there is no universal taxonomic agreement, and references to tilgu often require regional context or local field guides to resolve.

For researchers and writers, the vernacular character of tilgu highlights the importance of specifying the region and providing scientific names when precision is required. Dictionaries, regional flora and fauna lists, and ethnolinguistic studies are often used to map the term to its local meanings.