FLORISTIC COMPOSITION OF INDIGENOUS VEGETATION OF NAMAL VALLEY, MIANWALI - PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The floristic survey of selected sites of Namal valley, Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan began in 2016 until 2019 for documenting of wild species in the valley, which continues from the Salt Range. The research explored the unobserved vegetation of Namal valley, which has a unique biodiversity extended along its six ecological sites. Indigenous species totaled 188, distributed across discovered 152 genera and 54 families during the reporting period. The significant primary family based on species demonstration was Poaceae, having 25 genera and 39 species. Poaceae family has Asteraceae following it, having 17 genera and 18 species, and then by Fabaceae (10 genera, 15 species). The most dominating vegetation was of herbaceous type (79%). The study reported a total of 28 species of shrubs, with only 12 species of trees identified during this research from selected sites. Experimental results of five nominated plants (Grewia tenax, Pentatropis spiralis, Pulicaria edmondsonii, Ruellia nudiflora, and Tephrosia purpurea) showed that these plants differed considerably in terms of phytochemical concentration. Saponin concentration was minimal in all plants, except Ruellia nudiflora (1.7%). Tannins concentration was higher in Tephrosia purpurea (3.75%) and Pulicaria edmondsonii (3.11%) than in the other three plants. Quantitative results of free amino acids reflected that 11 amino acids were present in Grewia tenax. It was noticeable that proline was the highest amino acid (1.004 mg/ml) of the separated free amino acids, whereas isoleucine was the lowest (0.008 mg/ml) in the amino acid concentration. This checklist consists of updated systematic families and plant names that will provide a handy starting point for further ecological and bio-prospective research of the area under study.