Tree Species Composition and Forest Stratification along the Gradients in the Dry Deciduous Forests of Godavari Valley, Telangana, India

It is important to understand the tree species composition, abundance, species diversity and stratification in tropical dry deciduous forests that are under threat. A quadrat study was attempted in the dry deciduous forests along the ecological gradients in the Godavari Valley of northern Telangana, India. The study records the presence of 110 flowering plant taxa belonging to 82 genera and 37 families in 120 sampled plots, and there was enumeration of 15,192 individuals of ≥10 cm girth at breast height. Tectona grandis (teak) is the principal forest cover component in the region, which often formed pure stands in Adilabad and, to some extent, in Nizamabad districts. Further down to the Warangal district, teak was gradually replaced by Terminalia alata. Twenty tree species were found dominant at one place to the other, and the top 10 dominant taxa have shared nearly 41% of the total density of the forest cover. The tree relative density ranged from 0.007% to 20.84%. The values of Importance Value Index were between 0.245 (12 spp. including some exotics) and 32.6 (teak). These baseline data help to know the change detection along the gradients in the tropical forest ecosystem of a major river valley in the region and the drivers of change

Ecology and conservation status of canebrakes in Warangal District of Andhra Pradesh, India

The article describes cane-cum-bat roost site at Palampet (Warangal District, Andhra Pradesh, India). Although notified as a cane reserve by the state government, it is not spared off the usual habitat depletion and destruction. The functional pyramid formed of Calamus-Terminalia-Pteropus is reported here as first of its kind. This article also places on record seven more cane sites besides noting the importance of the ecology of Morancha Vagu and stressing the need for preserving its banks by planting Calamus rotang L. Ecological education to the local people about biodiversity value and conservation at all levels of its organization is called for

Tree Species Composition and Forest Stratification along the Gradients in the Dry Deciduous Forests of Godavari Valley, Telangana, India

It is important to understand the tree species composition, abundance, species diversity and stratification in tropical dry deciduous forests that are under threat. A quadrat study was attempted in the dry deciduous forests along the ecological gradients in the Godavari Valley of northern Telangana, India. The study records the presence of 110 flowering plant taxa belonging to 82 genera and 37 families in 120 sampled plots, and there was enumeration of 15,192 individuals of ≥10 cm girth at breast height. Tectona grandis (teak) is the principal forest cover component in the region, which often formed pure stands in Adilabad and, to some extent, in Nizamabad districts. Further down to the Warangal district, teak was gradually replaced by Terminalia alata. Twenty tree species were found dominant at one place to the other, and the top 10 dominant taxa have shared nearly 41% of the total density of the forest cover. The tree relative density ranged from 0.007% to 20.84%. The values of Importance Value Index were between 0.245 (12 spp. including some exotics) and 32.6 (teak). These baseline data help to know the change detection along the gradients in the tropical forest ecosystem of a major river valley in the region and the drivers of chang

The identity and occurrence of <i>Phyllanthus hookeri</i> Muell.-Arg. and <i>P. nozeranii</i> Rossignol & Haicour (Euphorbiaceae) in India

There are 16 species of Phyllanthus subgenus Phyllanthus reported from India. The present paper adds two more species that are invasive weeds in the paddy fields and on forest floors, namely Phyllanthus hookeri Muell.-Arg. and P. nozeranii Rossignol &amp; Haicour of sect. Urinaria subsect. Urinaria of Phyllanthus. The former is somewhat woody and perennial whereas the latter is slender and monsoonal. The presence of these two taxa in India was brought to light in 1987 by Rossignol et al. based on the herbarium specimens collected earlier to 1863 and deposited at Paris from northeastern and southeastern India. Whilst Phyllanthus hookeri is overlooked or underrated by the taxonomists, P. nozeranii is misidentified and considered conspecific with P. urinaria L. Keywords: Phyllanthus urinaria complex; P. hookeri; P. nozeranii; Identity; Chemotaxonomy; India.DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v18i1.7839Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 18(1): 57-63, 2011 (June)</jats:p

On the identity and occurrence of <i>Ophioglossum costatum</i> (Pteridophyta: Ophioglossaceae) in Andhra Pradesh, India

Ophioglossum costatum (Ophioglossaceae) was collected for the first time from Telangana region and reported it as an addition to the fern flora of Andhra Pradesh, India. Ophioglossum costatum is a widespread pantropical species though not collected often owing to its distribution in small, undisturbed specific habitats, ephemeral nature (seasonality: monsoonal appearance) and misidentification with O. nudicaule in the herbarium (dugout and mounted specimens). The study stresses the significance of field characters for the correct identification of these rhizomatous geophytic cryptogams and brings out the differences between Ophioglossum costatum and O. nudicaule

Conservation Priorities of NTFP Species in Dry Deciduous Forests of Adilabad District, Telangana, India

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) have been used by ethnic and non-ethnic people for their food, shelter, medicine and commerce in Adilabad district of Northern Telangana. Over exploitation of the products has reduced the economic plant taxa and led to the loss of plant species which are essential for ecosystem diversity. The availability and distribution of the 16 NTFP species studied are not uniform in the district as per the phytosociological study. They are prioritized into three categories on the basis of score attained in the devised scale. Among these, Firmiana simplex, Givotia mulaccana, and Aegle marmelos shall receive the highest conservation priority, followed by Madhuca longifolia var. latifolia, Dendrocalamus strictus at moderate level while Terminalia bellerica, Syzygium cumini and Tamarindus indica are of low category which do not require much conservation attempt.Our Nature (2015), 13(1): 1-7</jats:p

Plant wealth of a sacred grove: Mallur Gutta, Telangana state, India

Sateesh Suthari,1 Ramesh Kandagalta,2 Ajmeera Ragan,2 Vatsavaya S Raju,2 1Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 2Plant Systematics Laboratory, Department of Botany, Kakatiya University, Warangal, India Abstract: The Mallur Gutta (Hill) of Warangal district in Telangana state, India, reputed as a habitat for medicinal plants, was inventoried from 2009 to 2015 for its plant wealth through the traditional knowledge of the local people. The Hindu temples of Lord Sri Laxminarasimha Swamy and Lord Hanuman, and the ethnic worship of mahua trees indicated it was a sacred grove which was selected as a Medicinal Plants Conservation Area. The exploration of Mallur Gutta resulted in the enumeration and documentation of plant wealth representing 470 species of 318 genera pertaining to 95 families of vascular plants. The importance of the grove as the residence for many rare or medicinal species in the state of Telangana is documented. The plant diversity is analyzed in terms of growth and life forms which indicate the prevailing microclimate, ecological opportunities and the species richness. The ecological services rendered by the Mallur Gutta forest ecosystem are documented to study how the great majority of the species are used by the ethnic and nonethnic people, and also the pilgrims who visit the shrine for its serenity. The study also identified two major threats to the conservation of hill ecosystem and the archeological site: 1) biotic pressure (the ever-increasing pilgrims, grazing by cattle, goat and sheep, the development activities taken up for the pilgrims, nondegradable litter thrown, collection of medicinal plants and widening of the pathway to the Chintamani perennial stream&nbsp;&ndash; the trampling and alien plant invasions of the marsh sustaining the stream); and 2) the potential for fire spreading from burning the litter. The study suggests the need to initiate remedial measures toward ecosystem recovery through fencing the natural vegetation, maintaining a fire line, and restricting the movement of people and domesticated animals on the hill top. Keywords: India, plant diversity, montane ecosystem, sacred grove, Koyas, traditional knowledge, conservatio