Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

We report the phytodiversity richness of the moist temperate Chaurangikhal forest of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. We recorded a total of 231 species (227 angiosperms and 4 gymnosperms) belonging to 69 families (67 angiosperms and 2 gymnosperms) and 159 genera (156 angiosperms and 3 gymnosperms). The dicotyledones and monocotyledones were represented by a total of 62 and 5 families, respectively. In the study area, the ratio of family to genus was 1: 2.3, family to species was 1: 3.35 and a genus to species was 1: 1.45. Among all the species recorded the 88.31% (204 spp.) of the total species had common occurrence, whereas rest 11.69% (27 spp.) of the species had uncommon occurrence in the study area. The 10 dominant families of the study area were Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Ranunculaceae, Fabaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Polygonaceae, Rubiaceae, Gentianaceae and Poaceae. This data may be useful for biodiversity managers and for optimal utilization of plant resources.
Keywords: India, phytodiversity, floristic composition, plant distribution, Garhwal Himalaya, moist temperate forest.