Exploring patterns of phytodiversity, ethnobotany, plant geography and vegetation in the mountains of Miandam, Swat, Northern Pakistan

Abstract

The study area of Miandam (35° 1′- 5′ N, 72°30′-37′ E) is located in the District of Swat in the Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly North West Frontier Province) in the North of Pakistan. The present project is a combination of three different studies that consist of ethnobotanical, phytosociological and phytodiversity aspects. Due to its geographical and habitat conditions, the area of Miandam harbors a wealth of medicinal plants. The ethnobotanical study was carried out to document which medicinal plant species and which plant parts are used in the region. It was also observed which habitat is frequented by collectors and to which extent medicinal plants are vulnerable due to collection and habitat destruction. A total of 106 ethno-medicinal plant species belonging to 54 plant families were recorded. The most common growth forms were perennial (43%) and short-lived herbs (23%), shrubs (16%), and trees (15%). Most frequently used plant parts were leaves (24%), fruits (18%) and subterranean parts (15%). A considerable proportion of the ethno-medicinal plant species and remedies concerns gastro-intestinal disorders. The remedies were mostly prepared in the form of decoction or powder and were mainly taken orally. Eighty out of 106 ethno-medicinal plants were indigenous. Almost 50% of the plants occurred in synanthropic vegetation while slightly more than 50% were found in semi-natural, though extensively grazed, woodland and grassland vegetation. Woodlands are the main source for non-synanthropic indigenous medicinal plants. Three species (Aconitum violaceum, Colchicum luteum, Jasminum humile) must be considered vulnerable due to excessive collection. To cover the phytosociological and phytogeographical aspect of the present project, vegetation of Miandam area was thoroughly investigated with particular focus on woodlands, shrublands and other formations. The findings of the vegetation study were compared with other studies in the wider surroundings of Hindukush-Himalaya. It was also assessed to what extant forest ecosystem is threatened by different anthropogenic activities. The vascular plant species found comprise 33 trees, 52 shrubs, 305 herbs and 11 climbers. Based on multivariate analysis twelve plant communities were established from Sub-tropical semiarid groves of Ailanthus altissima in the lowland to Alpine turf of Sibbaldia cuneata with Juniperus patches. Woodland of Abies pindrow and Viburnum grandiflorum is the dominant woodland vegetation in the area. A georeferenced map of the vegetation is presented that will help researchers in spotting vegetation of ecological interest. Patterns of species richness and diversity were also evaluated along an elevation gradient. Alpha and beta diversities of different growth forms were determined. Species richness of all the vascular plants was highest between 2200-2500 m. A hump shaped relationship was found between shrub richness and elevation with maximum species richness of shrubs between 2000 and 2200 m. For all the vascular plants Alpha diversity was high in the lower zone of the elevation gradient. Beta diversity of all the growth forms was quite high along the entire gradient reflecting high species turnover. A unique pattern of beta diversity of shrub species was observed which fluctuated along the elevation gradient giving rise to a unimodal pattern.