Research Article Volume 2 Issue 3
1Department of Botany, Karnatak University, India
2Department of Botany, KLE Society's India
Correspondence: K Kotresha, Taxonomic and Floristic Laboratory, Department of Botany, Karnatak Science College, Karnatak University’s College, Dharwad-580 001, Karnataka, India
Received: April 10, 2018 | Published: June 8, 2018
Citation: Kotresha K, Kambhar SV, Harihar NS. Assessment of plant diversity in the community protected forest of Kusnur Village, Hangal, Haveri District, Karnataka, India. Biodiversity Int J. 2018;2(3):286-290. DOI: 10.15406/bij.2018.02.00074
An assessment was carried out through random quadrates plot in the study area. A total 129 plant species were documented. Frequency and density varied greatly among the taxa, while many species were not evenly abundant in the study areas. The present study revealed that there are many medicinal plants which are used by local peoples, who residing near the forest area. Besides medicine, plant resources were found utilized as other sources as vegetables and also for forage, manure, sheltering and religious purposes which indicates diversity of the study area and needs urgent conservation.
Keywords: biodiversity, invasive species, medicinal plants, plant diversity
India is one of the 12 centres of mega-diversity in the world and encompass of 17,500 flowering plant species. It exhibits a wealth of complex and diverse ecosystems with a great deal of variation.1 It accounts for 8% of the global biodiversity with only 2.4% of the total land area in the world.2 Plants are one of the major component of biodiversity, thus the knowledge of plant species found in the different areas of the world is a pre-requisite to conserve the ecological biodiversity and an essential resource for human well-being.3,4 For this reason precise information of the known local plant species from a given area is essential. It is worth to explore any area with wide range of forest types and identify the economically and medicinally important plant species found there. Further the knowledge about the plants in the region is essential with the increasing conspicuous of people about the environment and its impact on living organisms in general.
The study area Kusnur is located at 14. 69 42.41 N 75.23 00.89 E in the outskirts of Western Ghats lies in a maiden with a few outcrops of low hills. The topography of the area in not even, so it create many minor as well as major tanks. The soil pattern changes variably and annual rainfall is fairly good. The survey was carried out in 2009-2010. The sufficient sample plots of 30 x 30m were laid out randomly, covering the entire forest area about 339 acres. The trees were identified and the density and diameter of each tree species per plots were recorded5‒7 and analyzed for carbon sequestration followed by Pearson et al.8 The collected specimens were identified with the aid of floras.9‒12 The collected specimens were pressed and prepared herbarium followed by dry method of Jain and Rao.13 The specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of Botany Department, Karnataka Science College, Dharwad.
Floristic
The survey indicates that, they are about 129 species belonging to 109 genera under 52 families (Table 1). Of the 52 families documented, the family Fabaceae is the dominant family, comprising 9 spp., the dominance of Fabaceae may be due to the nitrogen-fixing bacteria with which these taxa often are associated, allowing these species to improve their soils.14 This was followed by Caesalpiniaceae (8 spp.), Euphorbiaceae (7 spp.), Capparaceae and Mimosaceae (6 spp. each), Asclepiadaceae, Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Tiliaceae are represented by 5 species each. The families Boraginaceae, Liliaceae, Rubiaceae are represented by 4 species each. Seven families are represented by 3 species each, they are: Acanthaceae, Apocyanaceae, Convolvulaceae, Moraceae, Poaceae, Rutaceae, Verbenaceae. Again seven families are represented by 2 species Amaranthaceae, Combretaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Meliaceae, Sapindaceae, Scrophulariaceae and Vitaceae. The family Aizoaceae, Alangiaceae, Anacardiaceae, Aponogetonaceae, Araceae, Aristolochiaceae, Cactaceae, Calestraceae, Cucurbitaceae, Diospyraceae, Flacourtiaceae, Hypoxidaceae, Lamiaceae, Lythraceae, Menispermaceae, Myrtaceae, Oleaceae, Polygonaceae, Rhamnaceae, Sapotaceae, Simaroubaceae, Solanaceae, Sterculiaceae, Urticaceae, Violaceae and Zingiberaceae are represented by only a single species.
Botanical name |
Family |
Local name |
Habit |
Fl-Fr |
Uses |
Abrus precatorius L. |
Fabaceae |
Gulgangi |
C |
May-July |
M |
Abutilon indicum Sweet |
Malvaceae |
Turubigida |
H |
Sep-Oct |
M |
Acacia chundra (Rott.) Willd. |
Mimosaceae |
Teradgida |
T |
Feb-Apr |
WO |
Acacia concinna (Willd.) DC. |
Mimosaceae |
Segiballi |
T |
Dec-Feb |
WO |
Acacia nilotica L. |
Mimosaceae |
Pickjali |
T |
Feb-Mar |
WO |
Alangium salvifolium Wang |
Alangiaceae |
Ankolemara |
T |
Jan-Mar |
WO |
Alternanthera sessilis R. Br. |
Amaranthaceae |
Honogoni |
H |
Sep-Nov |
M |
Alysicarpus tetragonolobus Edgew. |
Fabaceae |
Alubu |
H |
Sep-Nov |
M |
Amaranthus spinosus L. |
Amaranthaceae |
Mullarive |
H |
Jan-Aug |
LV |
Ampelocissus indica (L.) Planchon |
Vitaceae |
-- |
C |
Dec-Jan |
NK |
Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees. |
Acanthaceae |
Nelabevu |
H |
Aug-Sep |
M |
Aponogeton natans (L.) Engl. & Krause. |
Aponogetonaceae |
Neerukasa |
H |
Nov-Dec |
NK |
Argyreia cymosa Sweet |
Convolvulaceae |
-- |
C |
Aug-Sep |
NK |
Arisaema leschenaultii Blume |
Araceae |
-- |
H |
Aug-Sep |
NK |
Aristida setacea Retz. |
Poaceae |
-- |
H |
Jul-Aug |
FO |
Aristolochia indica L. |
Aristolochiaceae |
Ishweriberu |
C |
Nov-Dec |
M |
Asparagus racemosus Willd. |
Liliaceae |
Halavumakkalatai |
H |
Aug-Sep |
M |
Azadirachta indica A. Juss |
Meliaceae |
Bavu |
T |
Apr-May |
M, WO |
Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. |
Simaroubaceae |
Ingalgida |
T |
Feb-Mar |
M |
Bauhinia racemosa Lam. |
Caesalpiniaceae |
Arimara |
T |
Jan-Feb |
M |
Blepharis repens (Vahl.) Roth |
Acanthaceae |
Hachuga |
H |
Nov-Dec |
M |
Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. |
Fabaceae |
Muthlamara |
T |
Apr-May |
DYP |
Cadaba fruticosa (L.)Druce |
Capparaceae |
Isbugaddi |
S |
Jan-Feb |
M |
Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. |
Caesalpiniaceae |
Gajuga |
S |
Dec-Jan |
M |
Canthium coromandelicum (N. Burm.) Alst. |
Rubiaceae |
Karekai |
T |
Mar-Apr |
EF |
Capparis divaricata Lam. |
Capparaceae |
Ravudigida |
S |
Jan-Feb |
EF |
Capparis grandis L.f. |
Capparaceae |
-- |
S |
Jan-Feb |
NK |
Capparis sepiaria L. |
Capparaceae |
Hippi |
S |
Jan-Feb |
NK |
Capparis zeylanica L. |
Capparaceae |
Tottilaballi |
S |
Dec-Jan |
NK |
Carissa carandas L. |
Apocyanaceae |
Kavali |
S |
Apr-May |
EF |
Cassia auriculata L. |
Caesalpiniaceae |
Honnriki |
S |
Sep-Oct |
M |
Cassia sericea Sw. |
Caesalpiniaceae |
-- |
H |
Sep-Oct |
NK |
Cassia siamea Lam. |
Caesalpiniaceae |
-- |
T |
Mar-Apr |
NK |
Cassia tora L. |
Caesalpiniaceae |
Taratagida |
H |
Sep-Nov |
NK |
Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tirveng. |
Rubiaceae |
Kakki |
S |
Aug-Sep |
EF |
Cayratia trifolia (L.) Domin |
Vitaceae |
-- |
C |
Aug-Sep |
EF |
Celastrus paniculatus Willd. |
Calestraceae |
-- |
S |
Sep-Oct |
FO |
Chlorophytum laxum R. Br. |
Liliaceae |
-- |
H |
Jul-Aug |
M |
Chloroxylon swietenia DC. |
Rutaceae |
Masavala |
T |
Jan-Mar |
FO, CH |
Clerodendron serratum (L.) Moon |
Verbenaceae |
-- |
S |
Aug-Sep |
LF |
Cocculus hirsutus (L.)Diels |
Menispermaceae |
Dagdiballi |
C |
Dec-Jan |
M |
Coldenia procumbens L. |
Boraginaceae |
-- |
H |
Nov-Dec |
M |
Corchorus olitorius L. |
Tiliaceae |
-- |
H |
Nov-Dec |
RM |
Cryptolepis buchanani R. Br. & Roem. & Schult. |
Asclepiadaceae |
Karibunta |
C |
Aug-Sep |
M |
Curculigo orchioides Gaerth |
Hypoxidaceae |
-- |
H |
Aug-Oct |
M |
Curcuma sp. |
Zingiberaceae |
-- |
H |
Aug |
M |
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers |
Poaceae |
Kariki |
H |
Sep-Dec |
FO |
Dalbargia lanceolariaL.f. |
Fabaceae |
-- |
T |
Mar-Apr |
FO |
Desmodium triflorum(L.) DC. |
Fabaceae |
-- |
H |
Sep-Oct |
NK |
Dioscorea oppositifoliaL. |
Dioscoreaceae |
-- |
C |
Jul-Aug |
M |
Dioscoreasp. |
Dioscoreaceae |
-- |
C |
Jul-Aug |
M |
Diospyros malabaricaKostel |
Diospyraceae |
Tumrigidi |
T |
Mar-Apr |
FO |
Dodonea angustifolia L.f. |
Sapindaceae |
Bandariki |
S |
Nov-Jan |
M |
Echinops echinatusDC. |
Asteraceae |
Bramhdandi |
H |
Sep-Oct |
NK |
Ehretia laevisRoxb. |
Boraginaceae |
Addkisuppu |
T |
Jan-Mar |
WO |
Ehretia microphyllaLour. |
Boraginaceae |
-- |
S |
Jan-Feb |
M |
Emilia sonchifolia(L.) DC. |
Asteraceae |
-- |
H |
Jul-Aug |
M |
Eucalyptus globulusLabill. |
Myrtaceae |
Nelageri |
T |
Mar-Apr |
CH |
Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam.) Small |
Asteraceae |
Mungulli |
H |
Sep-Dec |
FO |
Euphorbia antiquorum L. |
Euphorbiaceae |
Gutkalli |
S |
Jul-Aug |
NK |
Euphorbia nivuliaBuchanan-Hamilton |
Euphorbiaceae |
-- |
S |
Jul-Aug |
NK |
Euphorbia thymifolia L. |
Euphorbiaceae |
Cominust grass |
H |
Sep-Oct |
NK |
Evolvulus alsinoidesL. |
Convolvulaceae |
Shankapuspi |
H |
Sep-Oct |
M |
Evolvulus nummalariusL. |
Convolvulaceae |
-- |
H |
Oct-Nov |
M |
Feronia elephantumCorr. |
Rutaceae |
Belavala |
T |
Mar-Apr |
M |
Ficus bengalensisL. |
Moraceae |
Aralimara |
T |
Jan-Mar |
M |
Ficus racemosaL. |
Moraceae |
Hattimara |
T |
Jan-Mar |
EF |
Flacourtia indica(N. Burm.) Merrill |
Flacourtiaceae |
-- |
T |
Mar-Apr |
FO |
Gardenia gummifera L f. |
Apocynaceae |
Kaduberu |
T |
Aug-Sep |
EF, M |
Glinus lotoidesL. |
Aizoaceae |
Gobbaradasasi |
H |
Aug-Sep |
NK |
Gliricidia sepium(Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp |
Fabaceae |
-- |
T |
Mar-Apr |
FO |
Gloriosa superba L. |
Liliaceae |
Kardiguddigida |
C |
Jul-Sep |
M |
Grewia tenax (Forsk.) Fiori. |
Tiliaceae |
Sirikisoppu |
T |
Mar-Apr |
M, EF |
Grewia tiliifolia Vahl |
Tiliaceae |
-- |
T |
Mar-Apr |
EF |
Grewia nervosa (Lour.) Panigrahi |
Tiliaceae |
-- |
T |
Mar-Apr |
EF |
Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. |
Asclepiadaceae |
Madavi |
C |
Sep-Nov |
M |
Hardwickia binata Roxb. |
Caesalpiniaceae |
Anjanamara |
T |
Feb-Mar |
FO, WO |
Heliotropium ovalifolium Forssk. |
Boraginaceae |
-- |
H |
Sep-Nov |
M |
Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br. |
Asclepiadaceae |
Sogadheberu |
C |
Sep-Nov |
M |
Holoptelea integrifolia Roxb. |
Urticaceae |
Tapsi |
T |
Feb-Mar |
FO |
Holostemma annulare (Roxb.) K. Schum. |
Asclepiadaceae |
Jeventhi |
C |
Sep-Oct |
M |
Hybanthus enneaspermus L. |
Violaceae |
Purushrathna |
H |
Sep-Oct |
M |
Hyptis suaveolens Poit. |
Lamiaceae |
-- |
H |
Oct-Nov |
FO |
Indoneesiella echioides (L.) Sreem |
Acanthaceae |
Ativishagida |
H |
Sep-Oct |
M |
Iphigenia pallida Baker |
Liliaceae |
-- |
H |
Aug-Sep |
M |
Ixora pavetta Andr. |
Rubiaceae |
-- |
S |
Dec-Jan |
FO |
Jasminum roxburghianum Wall. ex C. B. Clarke |
Oleaceae |
Kadumallige |
S |
Dec-Jan |
M, CH |
Jatropha curcas L. |
Euphorbiaceae |
Maroudla |
S |
Apr-May |
M |
Jatropha glandulifera Roxb. |
Euphorbiaceae |
-- |
H |
Nov-Dec |
NK |
Lagerstromia parviflora Roxb. |
Lythraceae |
Chennangimara |
T |
Feb-Mar |
FO |
Lantana camara L |
Verbenaceae |
Buduranga |
S |
Jul-Aug |
FO |
Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit |
Mimosaceae |
Babul tree |
T |
Apr-May |
FO |
Madhuca longifolia (L.) Macbr. |
Sapotaceae |
Hippimara |
T |
Apr-May |
EF |
Maerua oblongifolia (Forssk) A. Rich. |
Capparaceae |
-- |
S |
Feb-Mar |
FO |
Melochia corchorifolia L. |
Sterculiaceae |
-- |
H |
Nov-Dec |
M |
Mimosa pudica L. |
Mimosaceae |
Mullumutuga |
H |
Nov-Dec |
M |
Morinda pubescens J. E. Sm. |
Rubiaceae |
Maligimara |
T |
Apr-Mar |
DYP |
Nerium indicum Mill. |
Rutaceae |
Naibelavala |
T |
Sep-Nov |
O |
Opuntia dillienii Haw. |
Cactaceae |
Dabgalli |
S |
Oct-Nov |
EF |
Parthenium hysterophorus L. |
Asteraceae |
Cangress grass |
H |
Aug-Sep |
NK |
Pavonia odorata Willd. |
Malvaceae |
-- |
H |
Sep-Oct |
NK |
Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Roxb. |
Poaceae |
Echalmara |
T |
Jan-Mar |
EF |
Phyllanthus sp. |
Euphorbiaceae |
-- |
H |
Aug-Sep |
M |
Physalis minima L. |
Solanaceae |
Marugannu |
H |
Sep-Oct |
M |
Polygonum plebeium var indica. J. Hooker |
Polygonaceae |
-- |
H |
Sep-Oct |
M |
Pongamia pinnata (L)Pierre |
Fabaceae |
Hulagail |
T |
Apr-May |
CH |
Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. |
Mimosaceae |
Sarkari Jaligida |
S |
Dec-Mar |
WO |
Quirivelia frutescens (L.) R. Br. |
Apocyanaceae |
-- |
S |
Dec-Jan |
M |
Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC. |
Fabaceae |
-- |
C |
Nov-Dec |
M |
Sapindus emarginatus Vahl |
Sapindaceae |
Antuvala |
T |
Jan-Mar |
WO |
Scoparia dulcis L. |
Scrophulariaceae |
-- |
H |
Sep-Oct |
M |
Securinega leucopyrus (Willd.) Muell. - Arg. |
Euphorbiaceae |
Biligulikaigida |
S |
Nov-Dec |
M |
Semecarpus anacardium L. |
Anacardiaceae |
Garumara |
T |
Jan-Mar |
EF |
Sida acuta Burm f. |
Malvaceae |
-- |
H |
Aug-Sep |
M |
Sida cordata Borss. |
Malvaceae |
-- |
H |
Aug-Sep |
M |
Sida rhombifolia L. |
Malvaceae |
-- |
H |
Aug-Sep |
M |
Soymida febrifuga (Roxb.) Juss |
Meliaceae |
-- |
T |
Apr-May |
WO |
Stachytarpheta indica Vahl |
Verbenaceae |
Keriutni |
H |
Sep-Oct |
M |
Streblus asper Lour. |
Moraceae |
Mitligida |
T |
Mar-Apr |
WO |
Striga asiatica (L.) O. Ktze. |
Scrophulariaceae |
Bilikasa |
H |
Sep-Oct |
M |
Stylosanthes fruticosa (Retz.) Alston |
Fabaceae |
-- |
H |
Oct-Nov |
NK |
Tamarindus indica L |
Caesalpiniaceae |
Hunusai |
T |
Mar-Apr |
EF |
Terminalia alata Heyne ex Roth |
Combretaceae |
Karimatti |
T |
Feb-Mar |
FW |
Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC) W. & A. |
Combretaceae |
Bilimatti |
T |
Feb-Mar |
M |
Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. |
Cucurbitaceae |
Kagitondiballi |
C |
Jul-Sep |
M |
Triumfetta rotundifolia Lam. |
Tiliaceae |
-- |
H |
Sep-Oct |
RM |
Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merr. |
Asclepiadaceae |
Aadusogi |
C |
Sep-Oct |
M |
Xanthium indicum Koen. |
Asteraceae |
Artheli |
H |
Nov-Dec |
NK |
Ziziphus xylopyrus (Retz.) Willd. |
Rhamnaceae |
Godachi |
S |
Jan-Mar |
EF |
Table 1 List of plant species in the study area
C, climbers; H, herbs; T, trees; S, shurbs; FO, fodder; M, medicinal; RM, rope making; O, ornamental; LV, leafy vegetable; NK, not known; WO, wood; CH, bioactive chemicals; EF, edible fruit; DYP, dye yielding plant; FW, firewood
Of these, many are medicinally important plants and other economic uses are beedi (Diospyros malabarica Kostel), plate (Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.) and broom making (Dodonea angustifolia L.f.) plants were also found in the area. The community managed forest area is over dominated by Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (Myrtaceae), Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp (Fabaceae) and Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae). The survey clearly indicates that, there is a severe threat to the forest mainly from these two alien species i.e. Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Wal. Seed dribbling programme was conducted every year since 1987. It was not been success, because these two invasive alien species (Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Wal.) are over dominated and they emits oil through the leaves. It affects the germination and growth of the other species especially native species and this is known as allelopathic interaction.
Carbon sequestration observation during quadrate studies
The sufficient number of quadrats of 30x30meters size was laid randomly, covering the entire forest area. The obtained result is given below:
Number of Poles (Plants) per quadrate = 86
Girth of single Pole = 20cm
Height of single Pole = 5meter or ca. 15feet
Then the number of Eucalyptus standing (poles) in one acre = 12470/acre
12470 x 339 acre of community managed forest area = 42, 27,330 poles (Plants) with 20 cm girth and 5 meter height are available in Kusnur forest.
The outcome of the result indicate the approximate amount of carbon sequestration is 84,34,660kg {the process of capture and long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2)}in Kusnur village alone.
The present study recorded 129 species of plants belonging to 109 genera and 52 families in the study site. Among total families, the family Fabaceae is the dominant family. 42, 27,330 poles (Plants) with 20cm girth and 5meter height are available in Kusnur forest. The process of removing carbon from the atmosphere and depositing in the plants it acts as a carbon reservoir in Kusnur village. The approximate amount of carbon sequestration is 84,34,660kg.
The study highlights a severe threat to the forest mainly by alien species. Hence the forest managers should pay attention to the natural composition of forest communities and should not try to replace the native species by invasive ones. Presently, there is a need for increased legal protection, well designed management practices to conserve the local diversity of the study area. Some indigenous species should be planted in the study area which will fulfill the demand of local people.
None.
Authors declare there is no conflict of interest in publishing the article.
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