Floristic study and vegetation analysis of Shivapuri national park central Nepal

Abstract

In the present research floristic study, vegetation analysis and resources utilization of the plants of Shivapuri National Park was studied during 2007-2009. In the present study 428 species of vascular plants belonging to 112 families, 323 genera were documented from the Shivapuri National Park. Among them pteridophytes comprised of 50 species, Gymnosperms 3 species and Angiosperms 375 species (Dicotyledons 284 species and Monocotyledons 90 species). Floristic analysis showed that Dicotyledons comprise 65.9% , Monocotyledons 21.5% , Gymnosperms 0.7% and Pteridophytes 11.9%. In the present study ten largest families having higher number of species were: Gramineae (33 species), Compositae (32 species), Leguminosae (17 species), Orchidaceae (16 species), Labiatae (14 species), Rosaceae (14 species), Rubiaceae (13 species), Cyperaceae (12 species), Polygonaceae (10 species), and Zingiberaceae (9 species). Two species of endemic plants Hypericum cordifolium and Impatiens insignis were reported from the study area. Five rare ferns were reported from the study area. These are Loxogramme cuspidata, Adiantum caudatum, Adiantum raddianum, Vittaria himalayensis and Diacalpe aspidioides. One endangered fern Cyathea spinulosa was also reported from the study area. Adiantum raddianum C. Presl. is reported for the first time from this area (Central Nepal). Quantative vegetation analysis was carried out in three different sites of Shivapuri National Park between 1700-2700 m. The total species recorded in all the three sites were 162 belonging to 131 genera and 72 families. Among them, 43 species were trees, 20 shrubs, 9 epiphytes, 12 climber and 78 herbs. The species richness at altitudes 2100 m, 2300 m and 2400 m had the highest observed richness of 24 species each. The lowest number of species (7) is found at 2300ml. The average species richness per plot was 13. The generalized linear model in the plot richness showed a unimodal relation with the highest number of species (15) between 2000 to 2100 m. The model also predicts that the species richness is increasing from 1700 m up to 2100 m and starts decreasing afterwards significantly. The Schima-Castanopsis forest and Mixed Oak forest had the highest distribution species richness than the pine forest and Oak forest. The tree species having highest value of density, frequency, basal area and importance value index in the study areas are Quercus semecarpifolia, Pinus roxburghii, Cyclobalanopsis glauca, Quercus lamellosa and Schima wallichii. In the present study 212 species belonging to 84 families and 174 genera were reported as ethnobotanical important plants. The present investigation showed that medicinal plants had highest ethnobotanical value (111species) followed by fodder plants (75 species), wild edible plants (66 species), poisonous plants (25 species), timber and fuel woods (22 species), sociocultural (religious) plants (17 species), fibre yielding plants (14 species), ornamental (5 species), hedge (6 species), Nepali paper (3 species), tooth brush (2 species), thatching plants (2 species), broom making (2 species), walking stick (2 species), baskets (2 species), rodenticides (2 species), insecticides (2 species), incense (2 species), fermenting cake (1 species) and beads (1 species). There were 92 plant species which had more than one use. Such multipurpose plants were intensively utilized by the inhabitants of the study area.