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Phyto-Diversity Study of Understorey Herbaceous Plants within the Sub-Tropical Forest in Pachhunga University College, Aizawl, Mizoram, India

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Environmental Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl- 796004, India
  • 2Department of Environmental Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl- 796004, India
  • 3Department of Environmental Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl- 796004, India

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 6, Issue (5), Pages 27-33, May,22 (2017)

Abstract

The geographical distribution and relative abundance of understorey herbaceous plants has been studied since the beginning of the 20th century. In forest stratum although plant species richness is higher in herbaceous layer it experiences higher natural extinction rates than plant species in other strata. Global biodiversity loss is occurring at an ever-increasing rate. Thus, threats to herbaceous layer speciesare most often a function of threats to forest biodiversity. This work has done much to increase our understanding of functional roles of herbaceous plants in forest ecosystems. The study investigated a total of 47 herbaceous plants of 23 families within 30 quadrats of 1×1 m2.The results of the study showed that Ageratum conyzoides (Family Asteraceae) ranked the first in IVI (13.44), followed by Cyrtocuccum patens (Family Poaceae) which ranked second in the IVI (12.87) with the highest number of individuals of 53 species and Polygoniumpunctuatum (Family Polygonaceae) in the third ranked in the IVI (11.82). Lycopodiumcernuum (Family Lycopodaceae) is the recessive species and consequently ranked the lowest in the IVI. However, more in-depth knowledge of herbaceous diversity can serve as a measure for future monitoring of management facilities. It is, therefore,necessaryto conserve the herbaceous vegetation.

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