Observation on the Phyto-Diversity of Sunderdunga Valley, Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya

Gajendra Singh; Naveen Chandra; Vineet Pal; Lalit Mohan Tewari; Mahendra Pratap Singh Bisht

doi:10.36808/if/2019/v145i12/150641

Observation on the Phyto-Diversity of Sunderdunga Valley, Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya

Authors

Gajendra Singh Uttarakhand Space Application Centre, 92/2, Vasant Vihar, Dehradun
Naveen Chandra Uttarakhand Space Application Centre, 92/2, Vasant Vihar, Dehradun
Vineet Pal Uttarakhand Space Application Centre, 92/2, Vasant Vihar, Dehradun
Lalit Mohan Tewari Department of Botany, DSB Campus Nainital, Kumaun University Nainital
Mahendra Pratap Singh Bisht Uttarakhand Space Application Centre, 92/2, Vasant Vihar, Dehradun

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2019/v145i12/150641

Keywords:

Phyto-Diversity, Inventory, Western Himalaya.

Abstract

Despite numerous explorations and in-depth studies in the Western Himalaya on various themes, many areas remain under-explored. One such under explored area is Sundardhunga Valley, Bageshwar (Uttarakhand) in Western Himalaya. A detailed floristic survey was conducted during 2017-18. A total of 520 species of angiosperms (286 genera and 92 families), 45 species of Pteridophytes (24 genera and 15 families) and 7 species of Gymnosperms (5 genera and 4 families) were recorded within about 75km² vegetated area above 2000 m elevations. The dominant families were Asteraceae (47), Rosaceae (37), Poaceae (34), Ranunculaceae (20) and Polygonaceae (19) among angiosperms and Polypodiaceae (12) and Aspleniaceae (5) among the ferns. Owing to difficult terrain and low accessibility to people and livestock during the growing season (June-September) the valley has luxuriant diversity.

References

Dhar U., Rawal R.S. and Samant S.S. (1996). Structural diversity and representativeness of forest vegetation in a protected area of Kumaun Himalaya, India: implication for conservation, Biodiversity and Conservation, 6: 1045-1062.

Khullar S.P. (1997). An illustrated fern flora ofWestern Himalaya vol.1 & 2, International book distributors, Dehradun, pp 1100.

Naithani B.D. (1984). Flora of Chamoli Vol. 1 &2. Botanical survey of India, Dehradun.

Negi V.S., Maikhuri R.K. and Rawat L.S. (2004). Biodiversity Conservation, 0:545-559. IUCN 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org

Osmaston A.E. (1927). A Forest Flora for Kumaon. Allahabad: Government Press. pp 600.

Rai I.D, Singh G. and Rawat G.S. (2017). Flora of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Himalaya: A Field Guide, Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun pp 393.

Rawal R.S., Bankoti N.S. and Pangtey Y.P.S. (1994). Broad community identification of high altitude forest vegetation in Pindari region of kumaun (Central Himalaya), Proc. Inidian Nat. Acad. B 60(6): 553-556.

Rawat B., Sekhar K.C. and Gairola S. (2013). Ethnobotanical plants of Sunderdhunga valley, Western Himalaya, India traditional use, current status and future prospect scenario, Indian Forester, 139(1): 61-68.

Rikhari H.C., Chandra R. and Singh S.P. (1989). Patterns of species distribution and community along a moisture gradient within and Oak Zone of Kumaun Himalaya, Proc. Indian Nat. Acad. B 55: 431-438.

Sekhar K.C., and Rawat B. (2011). Diversity, utilization and conservation of ethnomedicinal plants in Devikund - A high altitude sacred wetland of Indian Himalaya, Medicinal Plants, 3(2): 105-112.

Singh J.S. and Singh S.P. (1987). Forest Vegetation of the Himalaya, Bot. Rev., 53: 80-192.

Tewari J.C. and Singh S.P. (1985). Analysis of woody vegetation in a mixed oak forest of Kumaun Himalaya; Proc. Indian Natl. Sci. Acad. BSI 332-347.

Upreti N., Tewari J.C. and Singh S.P. (1985). The oak forests of the Kumaun Himalaya (India) 1: Composition, diversity and regeneration, Mountain Research and Development, 5(2): 163-174.

Ved D.K. (2003). Conservation Assessment & Management Prioritization for the Medicinal Plants of J&K, Himanchal and Uttaranchal. Proc. of a Regional Workshop held at Shimla during May 22-25, 2003.