Floral diversity of District Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan

Abstract

The study showed the floral diversity and variation in the structure of vegetation in District Bagh, AJ&K. A total of 200 plants belong to 65 families and 170 genera were documented from seven localities. The most species richest site was found Mahmood Galli with 101 species (dicots 55, monocots 35, pteridophytes 10 and gymnosperm 1) followed by Toliper 100 spp. (dicots 55, monocots 31, pteridophytes 13 and gymnosperms 1), Lasdana, 85 spp. (dicots 47, monocots 35, pteridophytes 6 and gymnosperms 2), Plungi 81spp. (dicots 51, monocots13, pteridophytes 16 and gymnosperm 1), Khurshidabad, 74 spp. (dicots 34, monocots 21, pteridophytes 19), Kahutta, 70 spp. (dicots 36, monocots 15, pteridophytes 19 ) and Kiran 46 Spp. dicots 34, gymnosperm 3). Among pteridophytes, Polystichum squarrosum had highest distribution percentage 85.71 % while Lepisorus clathratus and Pyrrosia mollis have least percentage distribution 4.28 %. Among gymnosperms, Pinus wallichiana had highest distribution percentage 57.14 % while Cedrus deodara and Pinus roxburgii have least distribution percentage 14.28. Aristida abnormis had highest distribution percentage with 71.42 % while Zizania aquatica and Themeda anathera have least distribution percentage with 14.28 %. In dicots, Amaranthus viridis, Amaranthus spinosus and Cucumis sativus had highest distribution percentage with 85.71 % and Oxalis corniculata, Quercus incana and Fragaria nubicola had least frequency with 14.28 %. Species diversity was high in the tree layer in the middle part of the altitudinal gradient. It decreases both towards upper and lower altitude, which was due to deforestation, human interaction, encroachment pressure, low number of species and soil erosion.