Vascular plant diversity with special reference to invasion of alien species on the Doon University Campus, Dehradun, India

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess vascular plant diversity in a modified habitat in Shivalik region. Extensive surveys were conducted to document the species in each season and identification was done with the help of regional floras. A total of 191 species comprising 181 species of angiosperms (176 genera and 76 families), 2 species of pteridophytes (2 genera and 1 family), and 8 species of gymnosperms (7 genera and 5 families) were observed. The dominant Angiosperms families include Asteraceae (18 genera and 18 species), followed by Fabaceae (16 genera and 18 species), Lamiaceae (8 genera and 9 species), Solanaceae (5 genera and 9 species), Amaranthaceae (7 genera and 8 species), Euphorbiaceae (4 genera and 8 species) and Apocynaceae (6 genera and 7 species). In Gymnosperms, 5 families were recorded which include family Pinaceae, Cycadaceae, Zamiaceae, Araucariaceae and Cupressaceae. In pteridophytes, only two species of the family Pteridaceae were recorded. The categorizations on the basis of species habit, 96 species were recorded as herbs, 23 shrubs, 48 trees, 14 climbers, 8 grasses and 2 species of ferns. On the basis of species economic importance, 111 species had medicinal value, 43 ornamental, 8 medicinal-edible, 8 fodder, 7 edible, 2 medicinal-ornamental, 2 edible-fodder, 1 medicinal-timber, 1 fuel-fodder, 1 fuel-timber-edible-ornamental, 1 medicinal-fiber, 1 medicinal-fuel-fodder-religious, 1 ornamental-fuel, 1 ornamental-religious, 1 condiment uses while rests of the 2 species have other uses. In terms of occurrence, 36.64% species were native, while 63.35% species were non-native. The study provides baseline information on a modified habitat in an important eco-region and would be helpful in monitoring the changes in future.