Status of plant diversity along altitudinal gradients in Murti Panag Valley of Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctaury in district Kinnaur Himachal Pradesh.

摘要

A study was conducted to assess the plant diversity in different elevations varying from 3,300 to 4,500 m above msl in Murti Panag Valley of Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctaury in district Kinnaur. Himachal Pradesh during 2008. The total number of plant species in this valley was 131 belonging to 46 families and 91 genera. The dominant families were Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Ploygonaceae, Lamiaceae and Ranunculaceae. The number of tree species was six and three with the dominance of Populus ciliata and Juniperus polycarpos at 3,300-3,700 m and 3,700-4100 m elevation respectively. The number of shrub species was 13, 14 and nine at the elevation of 3,300-3,700 m, 3,700-4,100 m and 4,100-4,500 m respectively. Berberis jaeschkeana was dominant shrub at 3,300-3,700 m and 3,700-4,100 m, whereas Juniperus indica was dominant at 4,100-4,500 m elevation. The number of herb species was 73, 54 and 54 with the dominance of Sibbaldea cuneata. Thymus linearis and Heracleum lanatum at 3,300-3,700 m, 3,700-4,100 m and 4,100-4,500 m elevation ranges respectively. The distribution pattern of species was mostly contiguous in all the altitudinal ranges. Index of diversity for herb was 4.02, 3.78 and 3.67 for 3,300-3,700 m, 3,700-4,100 m and 4,100-4,500 m elevation respectively. Out of 45 medicinal plant species as recorded from the area, eight species fall in the category of threatened plants.