Plant Diversity Along an Altitudinal Gradient in Kalatop Beat of Kalatop Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary of District Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Plant diversity study conducted at an altitudinal gradient varying from 1800-2400m above msl in Kalatop beat of the Sanctuary revealed that the total number of plant species was 142 belonging to 71 families and 127 genera. The dominant families were Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Ranunculaceae and Polygonaceae. The number of trees species was 7, 9 and 12 with the dominance of Cedrus deodara at 1800-2000m, 2000-2200m and 2200-2400m elevation ranges respectively. The number of shrub species was 26, 27 and 24 with the dominance of Berberis lycium, Sarcococca saligna and Sarcococca saligna at 1800-2000m, 2000-2200m and 2200-2400m elevations respectively. The number of herb species was 59, 74 and 75 with the dominance of Bergenia ciliata, Pilea scripta and Valeriana jatamansii at 1800-2000m, 2000-2200m and 2200-2400m elevation ranges respectively. The distribution pattern of most of the plant species was contiguous in all altitudes. Index of diversity for herb species in these elevations ranges was 3.750, 3.674 and 3.472. Out of 63 medicinal plant species recorded from the area, 4 species viz; Podophyllum hexandrum, Taxus wallichiana, Polygonatum verticillatum and Zanthoxylum armatum fall in the threatened category. 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.