Phytodiversity assessment in Sangla valley, Northwest Himalaya, India

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the phytodiversity of vascular plants in Sangla valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. We recorded 639 species of vascular plants belonging to 321 genera and 99 families, in which Angiosperms comprised 80 families, 296 genera and 584 species; Gymnosperms 5 families, 8 genera and 14 species, and Pteridophytes 14 families, 17 genera and 41 species. Angiosperms were mainly represented by families such as Compositae (91 spp.), Poaceae (38 spp.), Rosaceae (32 spp.), Lamiaceae (30 spp.), Apiaceae (24 spp.), Ranunculaceae (23 spp.), Brassicaceae (21 spp.), Polygonaceace (20 spp.) and Caryophylaceae (16 spp.). Artemisia and Polygonum were most species rich genera with 11 spp. each followed by Nepeta (9), Pedicularis (8), Anaphalis, Impatiens, Poa and Potentilla, (7 each), Berberis, Erigeron and Gentiana (6 each). The trees were 28, shrubs (62) herbs (488) and climbers (6). Among Gymnosperms, Pinaceae was dominant with 7 species followed by Cupressaceae (4 spp.) while major genera were Juniperus (4 spp.) and Pinus (3 spp.). These were represented by 10 trees and 4 shrubs. Dominant families of Pteridophytes were Dryopteridaceae (9 spp.) Aspleniaceae (6 spp.) and Athyriaceae (5 spp.). Major genera were Asplenium (6 spp.), Polystichum (5 spp.) and Dryopteris (4 spp.). A total of 316 species were native; 69 endemic and 170 were near endemic to the Indian Himalaya. 5 species were found to be critically endangered, 12 endangered and 16 were vulnerable in the valley.