MEDICINAL PLANT RESOURCES OF NAGARJUNA SAGAR SRISAILAM WILDLIFE SANCTURY (RAJIV GANDHI WILD LIFE SANCTUARY) EASTERNGHATS, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA

摘要

Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary) is located in the Nallamala Ranges (78°30'— 79°28'E; 15°53'—16°43'N) in Andhra Pradesh at elevations varying from 100 to 917 m. above mean sea level. About 80 percent area of this sanctuary is gently rolling to steeply hilly. These ranges include many plateaus of which Amrabad, Srisailam, Peddacheruvu, Sivapuram, Nekkanti are noteworthy. The area is rich in medicinal plant wealth also.In the present study, field trips were conducted to record the medicinal resources in the area. Total 214 species belonging to 175 genera and 91 families were recorded. Out of these 91 families, 85 are of angiosperms, five are ofpteridophytes and one isa gymnosperm. The medicinal ferns of Pteridophytes are Adianlum caudatum, Actinopteris radiate, Christella dentate, Hemionitis arifolia, and Lygodium flexosum. Cycas beddomei is the solitary gymnosperm. There are 60 (27.02%) herbs, 41 shrubs,(18.46%) 77trees(34.68%), and 33(14.86%) climbers.