Floristic Diversity Along an Altitudinal Gradient in Tandi Dhar of Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary of District Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

Author: R.K. Verma, Dushyant, Ranjeet Kumar, Jai Kumar and Harish Chauhan

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Abstract

A study was conducted to understand the floristic diversity along an altitudinal gradient with elevations varying from 2250-3750 m above msl in Tandi Dhar of Tundah wildlife sanctuary in district Chamba, Himachal Pradesh during 2020. The total number of plant species was 125 belonging to 113 genera and 47 families. The dominant families were Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Geraniaceae, Lamiaceae, Orchidaceae, Pinaceae and Polygonaceae. The number of tree species at 2250-2750m, 2750-3250m and 3250-3750m was 4, 3 and 4 respectively with the dominance of Pinus wallichiana at all elevation. The number of shrub species was 9, 9, 5 with the dominance of Sorbaria tomentosa, Viburnum erubescens and Rhododendron campanulatum in the elevation of 2250-2750m, 2750-3250m and 3250-3750m respectively. The number of herb species was 61, 58, and 55 at 2250-2750m, 2750-3250m and 3250-3750m elevation ranges respectively. On the basis of importance value index (IVI), Geranium wallichianum, Trifolium repens and Anaphalis triplinervis was the dominant herb at these elevation ranges respectively. The distribution pattern of plant species was mostly contiguous in all the altitudes ranges. Index of diversity for herb species was 3.750, 3.730 and 3.520 at 2250-2750m, 2750-3250m and 3250-3750m elevation ranges respectively. Out of 61 medicinal plant species recorded from the sanctuary, 9 species viz., Arnebia benthamii, Bergenia stracheyi, Betula utilis, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Juniperus communis, Jurinea dolomiaea, Polygonatum verticillatum, Rhododendron campanulatum and Selinum tenuifolium fall in the category of threatened plants. The better conservation of natural resources can be done through promotion of community based conservation, ex-situ conservation through tissue culture, developing cultivation technologies and nurseries of medicinal plants and conducting of regular training on the procedure of medicinal plants collection and processing among the end users

Keywords

Floristic diversity, Dominance, Diversity index, Conservation, Distribution

Conclusion

Tandi Dhar area of Tundah wildlife sanctuary in district Chamba, Himachal Pradesh containtotal 125 number of plant species belonging to 113 genera and 47 families. The distribution pattern of plant species was mostly contiguous. Out of 61 medicinal plant species recorded from the sanctuary, 9 species viz., Arnebia benthamii, Bergenia stracheyi, Betula utilis, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Juniperus communis, Jurinea dolomiaea, Polygonatum verticillatum, Rhododendron campanulatum and Selinum tenuifolium fall in the category of threatened plants. The better conservation of natural resources can be done through promotion of community based conservation, developing cultivation/nursery technologies of medicinal plants and conducting of regular training on the medicinal plants collection and processing among the end users

References

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How to cite this article

R.K. Verma, Dushyant, Ranjeet Kumar, Jai Kumar and Harish Chauhan (2024). Floristic Diversity Along an Altitudinal Gradient in Tandi Dhar of Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary of District Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(11): 47-55