Floristic Diversity Along an Altitudinal Gradient in Bharmeri Beat of Shikari Devi Wild Life Sanctuary of District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

A study was conducted to understand the floristic diversity along an altitudinal gradient with elevations varying from 2500-3100m above msl in Bharmeri beat of Shikari Devi Wild Life Sanctuary in district Mandi, Himachal Pradesh during 2015-16. Total number of plant species was 127 belonging to 46 families and 86 genera. The dominant families were Labiateae, Rosaceae, Compositae and Pinaceae. The number of tree species was 6 and 5 with the dominance of Cedrus deodara and Quercus semecarpifolia at 2500-2800m and 2800-3100m elevation respectively. The number of shrub species was 12 and 7 at the elevation of 2500-2800m and 2800-3100m having dominant shrub Prinsepia utilis and Cotoneatser myicrophyllus respectively. The number of herbs species was 47 and 50 with the dominance of Valeriana jatamansi and Anaphalis triplinerves at 2500-2800m and 2800-3100m elevation respectively. The distribution pattern of species was mostly contiguous in the both altitude ranges. Index of diversity for herb in these elevation ranges was 3.34 and 3.44 respectively. Out of 53 medicinal plant species recorded from the area, 3 species i.e. Bergenia stracheyi, Polygonatum verticillatum and Taxus wallichiana fall in the category of threatened plants. The better conservation of natural resources can be done through promotion of community based conservation, ex-situ conservation through tissue culture, developing cultivation technologies and nurseries of medicinal plants and conducting of regular training on the procedure of medicinal plants collection and processing among the end users.