A survey of the floristic composition of the Kambat Valley, District Dir Lower, Northern Pakistan

Abstract

The composition and structure of the vegetation not only reflect the nature of basic phytosociological associations but also form a habitat for numerous organisms. This work aimed to study floristic composition. Five sites each considered as a stand in the research area were selected to analyze the vegetation. The data was collected through the quadrates method. In each stand 10 quadrates (10*10 m) for tree and shrub and a sub quadrate (1*1 m) for herb were taken for determining the Frequency, Density, and Cover of plant species. A total of 93 plant species were collected. Leading families of the area were Asteraceae (12) and Poaceae (10). The leading life form was Therophytes with the highest number of plant species (28) while Megaphenerophytes with only one species. In terms of leaf size, the area was dominated by Nanophylls. Stand wise constant species were Ailanthus altissima, Ficus palmate, and Populus nigra while the rare species were represented by Cynoglosum officinale, Artemisia vulgarus and Bellis perensis. Communities in each stand were developed based on the importance value index. These communities were Oxalis-Zanthoxylum-Platanus Community, Oxalis-Populus-Rosa Community, Dodonaea-Ficus-Ailanthus Community, Oxalis-Ficus-Ziziphus Community, and Ficus-Olea-Dodonaea. Due to the increase in population the demand for timber, and wood (fuel) has significantly increased and the natural vegetation of the area is under threat. Proper management is required for the conservation of vegetation in the area.