Floristic diversity and conservation status of ...

Malaya Journal of Biosciences 2015, 2(4):198-208 ISSN 2348-6236 print /2348-3075 online

Malaya Journal of Biosciences

RESEARCH ARTICLE

www.malayabiosciences.com

Open Access Full Text Article

Floristic diversity and conservation status of Ammankkuruchi reserve forest, Pudukkottai district, Tamilnadu Komalavalli Narayanaswamy Associate Professor, PG and Research Department of Botany, Alagappa Govt. Arts College, Karaikudi - 620 020. For correspondence: [email protected]

Article Info: Received 30 Nov 2015; Revised: 24 Dec 2015; Accepted 30 Dec 2015.

ABSTRACT The present study has been carried out in Ammankuruchi reserve forest (RF) in Ponnamaravathy taluk of Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu, India, to document the current floristic composition and conservation status of the forest area. A total of 145 species belonging to 124 genera and 50 families were recorded from the study area. Out of the recorded 50 families 49 were angiosperms and 1 was Pteridophyte (Marsileaceae). The monocots were represented by 27 (18.62 %) species belonging to 23 genera and 11 families, and dicots contributing 117 (81.25%) species belonging to 100 genera and 38 families. Based on habit classification of the enumerated plants, the majority of species were herbs 78 (53.79%) followed by 27 (18.62%) shrubs, 23 (15.86%) climbers and the rest 17 (11.72%) were trees. Of all the documented plant species, 1 species (Albiziaamara) was abundant. Euphorbiaceae with 7 genera and 10 species and Rubiaceae with 7 genera and 9 species were the dominant families followed by Poaceae and Asteraceae each with 8 genera and 8 species in terms of number whereas Rubiaceae was followed by Poaceae, Asteraceae and Euphorbiaceae in terms of abundance. In the present study, out of 145 species recorded, 2 species namely Hildegardia populifolia and Cayratia pedata were critically endangered, 12 species were nearly threatened, 11 species were vulnerable and the remaining 120 species were categorized as least concern. The 3 species namely Barleria acuminata, Habenaria plantaginea and Habenaria roxburghii were endemic to South India. Threat to Ammankuruchi RF is discussed. Keywords: Ammankuruchi, Conservation status, Floristic diversity, Invasive species, Pudukkottai, Reserve forest

1. INTRODUCTION The vast diversity of life on earth is essential for ecosystem function and stability. Biodiversity forms a support system for human survival and economic well-being over thousands of years and which has been used by each civilization for its growth and

development. The anthropogenic disturbances such as habitat destruction, over exploitation, pollution and species introduction greatly affect the biodiversity and structural characteristics of a community resulted in biodiversity loss. Biodiversity documentation, analysis, conservation and finding enhancement strategies is considered to be one of the important

Floristic diversity and conservation status of Ammankkuruchi reserve forest, Pudukkottai district, Tamilnadu Copyright © 2015 MJB 198

Komalavalli Narayanaswamy, / Malaya Journal of Biosciences 2015, 2(4):198-208

challenges in present day conservation biology research and policy making process. It has been carried out in different ecosystem from plains to mountains all over the world since knowledge of its structure and function is necessary for sustainable use and to maintain species richness for future generations. India, a tropical country is one of the world’s top 12 mega diversity countries [1] with 10 biogeographic regions which are mostly tropical moist and dry deciduous forests. These forests are the most diverse from the floristic point of view which are seen as relicts of the ancient vegetation, generally rich in plant diversity [2, 3] are disappearing at alarming rates owing to deforestation and shifting cultivation operation [4]. Forest degradation is considered one of the most serious environmental and economic problems for many countries in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the globe [5, 6]. About 72.1% of existing Indian forest has lost the capacity for regeneration [7].Hence, the government of India announced these forests as RFs in order to conserve the biodiversity of forests. RFs, a representative example of biodiversity indigenous to an area is a portion of state land where commercial harvesting of wood products is excluded in order to capture elements of biodiversity that can be missing from sustainably harvested sites. RFs may be either large (matrix) that represent the diversity of relatively unfragmented forest landscapes, extensive accumulations of large woody debris and present remaining or small(patch) which represent localized resources such as steep slopes, fragile soils, habitat for certain rare species and conserve sensitive species that benefit from intact forest canopies. The total geographical area of the Tamil Nadu State is 130,058 km2 which constitutes 3.96% geographical area of the country. The recorded forests area is 22,877 km², which constitutes 17.59 % of the geographic area of the state. Reserved Forests comprise 84.75 %, protected forests, 9.54 % and Unclassified Forests, 5.71 %. Major forest types occurring in the State are Tropical Wet Evergreen, Tropical Semi-Evergreen, Tropical Moist Deciduous, Littoral and Swamp, Tropical Dry Deciduous, Tropical Thorn, Sub-Tropical Broadleaved and Montane Wet Temperate forests [8]. Pudukkottai, one of the District of Tamil Nadu stateconsists mainly of rich scrub jungles varied and crowded vegetation, majestic undulating hills with surrounding plains, nowhere of great fertility and in many parts barren and it is interspersed with rocky hills, especially in the southwest. As per the 2011 Tamil Nadu state report of forest [8],

Pudukkottai district has a geographical area cover of 4651 Km2 out of which 78 Km2 is moderately dense forest and 177 Km2 is open forest with an total of 255 Km2 which accounts for 5.48% of the geographic area of the district. The total forest cover (RF, reserve land and social forestry) is estimated to be 15.2% of the total geographical area of the district and the forests of the district are verdant and virgin forests and are said to be several million years old. The forests consist of trees, smaller trees, climbers, shrubs, valuable herbs, orchids, canes, indigenous palms and it is also rich in algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, and pteridophytes [4]. The district is not only rich in floristic diversity but also harbors many wildlife species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes. Though the present study site does not fall in hotspot it has its own importance. Ammankuruchi RF is located in Ponnamaravathytaluk, Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the patch RFs in Pudukkottai district and has a forest cover of 336.82 hectares. Rapid increase in land development, extensive agricultural and quarrying operations in and around RFs poses significant challenges to the survivability and sustainability of Ammankuruchi RF native ecosystem. These activities have caused extensive degradation to native plant communities leaving remnant native lands. Therefore, the floristic diversity of these native lands is changing and a study to assess the current floristic composition is needed. Floristic composition of Narthamalai RF has been reported [4] but Ammankuruchi RF have not been studied to date. Keeping in view the importance of the RF, the present study is therefore, attempted to create a current plant species list along with their local names, family, habit, IUCN status and geographic origin (invasive or native) which can be utilized in the future for technological advancement, economic prosperity and providing employment opportunity to the local people.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1. Study area Pudukkottai District is located between 78.25' and 79.15' of the East of Longitude and between 9.50' and 10.40' of the North of Latitude and bounded by Tiruchirappalli district in the North and West, Sivaganga district in the South, Bay of Bengal in the East and Thanjavur district in the North East. The climate of the district is hot with the temperature range from 19° C to 38° and with low rainfall of 199

Efficient Floristic Diversity and Conservation Status of Ammankkuruchi Reserve Forest, Pudukkottai District, Tamilnadu


922.8 mm out of which 52.2 mm is received in winter, 124.6 mm is received in hot weather period, 351.9 mm is received during South West Monsoon and 394.1 mm is received in North East Monsoon. The altitude is about 87.78 meters (288 feet). Pudukkottai district is comprised of 9 taluks, 13 development blocks (Alangudi, Aranthangi, Arimalam, Avadaiyarkoil, Gandarvakottai, Karambakkudi, Kottaipattinam, Kulathur, Illuppur, Manamelkudi, Ponnamaravathy, Pudukkottaiand Thirumayam)and 764 revenue villages. The summer is from March to May, followed by the south-west monsoon from June to September. October and November constitute the post-monsoon or retreating monsoon season with frequent thunderstorms. December to February is the north-east monsoon season, and in the remaining months the weather is generally bright. The soil of the district is broadly classified into 2 major groups, namely red, clay and alluvium soils. The black colour of the forest soil is mainly due to high contents of humus and minerals. The AmmankurichiRF is located at Ponnamaravathy taluk which is 50km away from Pudukkottai. The Coordinates of the Ammankurichi RF is 10°20'43"N Latitude and 78°32'8"E Longitude. The total population of the residents inhabited around the RF was approximately 2720. The RF has an forest cover of 336.82 hectares (Figure 1).

Flora of Tamil Nadu [13]. Unidentified specimens or photographs were taken to the Rapinant Herbarium,

Figure 1. Location map of study area

2.2. Field Survey An extensive and intensive floristic survey of Ammankurichi RF was carried out at one month intervals for 2 years from January 2012 to December 2014 covering 336.82 hectares of area. The area was surveyed at every visit by walking the entire area of the RF. The survey was spread across the seasons so as to get maximum information. During survey of plants a closer examination of each and every area feet by feet was made in order to avoid skipping of any plant species. 2.3. Identification, preservation and creation of Plant species list Standard method was followed with regard to collection of plant materials, drying, preparation and preservation of plant specimens [9]. Specimens of collected plants are preserved in the Botany department herbarium. The Plant specimens were identified using various regional floras viz., Flora of British India [10], Flora of the presidency of Madras [11], The flora of Tamil Nadu Carnatic [12] and

Trichirappalli for proper identification and matching of the specimens. 3.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The present study has been carried out in Ammankuruchi RF in Ponnamaravathytaluk of Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu, India, to document the current floristic composition and conservation status of the Forest area. 3.1. Plant species and their Habits Taxonomically, a total of 145 species belonging to 124 genera and 50 families have been recorded from the study area of Ammankurichi scrub dry RFs (Table 1). Out of the recorded 50 families 49 were angiosperms and 1 was Pteridophyte (Marsileaceae). The monocots were represented by 27 (18.62 %) species belonging to 23 genera and 11 families, and dicots contributing 117 (81.25%) species belonging to 100 genera and 38 families. Based on habit classification of the enumerated plants, the majority of species were herbs 78 (53.79%) followed by 27 200



Table 1. Floristic composition of Ammankkuruchi reserve forest. S.No.

1

2

3

4

Family

Acanthaceae

Agavaceae

Amaranthaceae

Apocynaceae

Botanical Name

Vernacular name

Habit

IUCN Status

Category

Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Roth. Dipteracanthus patulus (Jacq.) Nees.

Netthirappoondu Kattunayakacceti

Herb Herb

NT LC

NATIVE NATIVE

Ecbolium ligustrinum (Vahl) Vollesen.

Pachai kanakambaram

Herb

NT

NATIVE

Hygrophila auriculata (Schumach.) Heine. Justicia simplex D. Don.

Nirkkumpicceti

Herb

NT

NATIVE

Not recorded

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Agave americana L.

Kattukkatalai,

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw.

Parukikkarralai

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

Sansevieria roxburghiana Schult. & Schult.f.

Marul

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Achyranthus aspera L.

Naaiyuruvi

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Aerva javanica (Burm.F.) Juss. Ex Schult. Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. Ex. Shultz.

Not recorded

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

Poolaipoo

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Allmania nodiflora (L.) R.Br. Ex Wight. Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R.Br.Ex DC.

Vannikkeerai

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Not recorded

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

Ponnanganii

Prostrate herb

LC

NATIVE

Celosia cristata L.

Pannaikeerai

Herb

NT

NATIVE

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don.

Nithyakalyani

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Gomphrena globosa L.

Vaadaamalli

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Kottikilangu

Herb

NT

NATIVE

Panai

Tree

LC

NATIVE

5

Aponogetonaceae

6

Arecaceae

Aponogeton natans (L.) Engl. & Krause. Borassus flabellifer L.

7

Asclepidaceae

Calotropis gigantea (L.) R.Br

Arukku

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Caralluma adscendens (Roxb.) Haw.

Kallimulayan

Herb

NT

NATIVE

Hemidesmus indicus (L.) Schult.

Nannari

Climber

NT

NATIVE

Gymnema sylvestre R.Br.

Sirukkurinja

Climber

VU

NATIVE

Sarcostemma acidum (Roxb.) Voigt.

Kodikalli

Climber

LC

NATIVE

Wattakaka volubilis (L.F.) Stapf.

Perunkurinja

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Acanthospermum hispidum DC.

Mullichedi

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) R.M.King & H.Rob.

Poompillu

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

8

Asteraceae

201 Efficient Floristic Diversity and Conservation Status of Ammankkuruchi Reserve Forest, Pudukkottai District, Tamilnadu


Ageratum conyzoides L.

Poompillu

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.

Karusalanganni

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC.

Muyalccevi

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Parthenium hysterophorus L.

Parthenium

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less.

Neichattipoondu

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

Xanthium strumarium L.

Marulumathai

Tree

LC

INVASIVE

9

Boraginaceae

Heliotropium indicum L.

Thelkodukkuchedi

Herb

LC

NATIVE

10 11

Cactaceae Caesalpiniaceae

Cereus pterogonus Lem. Cassia roxburghii DC.

Railkalli Kondrai maram

Shrub Tree

LC LC

NATIVE NATIVE

Pterolobium hexapetalum (Roth.) Santapau & Wagh.

Karu indu

Str-Shrub

LC

NATIVE

12

Capparidaceae

Cleome viscosa L.

Naikkadugu

Herb

LC

NATIVE

13

Cassythaceae

Cassytha filiformis L.

Kottankodi

Climber

LC

NATIVE

14

Commelinaceae

Commelina benghalensis L.

Kanavalai

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Commelina communis Eugelm. EX Kunth. Cyanotis cristata (L.) Don.

Not recorded

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Kutirai kulampati

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Evolvulus alsinoides L

Vishnukranthi

Creeper

LC

NATIVE

Ipomoea carnea (Mart. Ex Choisy.) Austin. Ipomoea sepiaria Roxb.

Not recorded

Climber

LC

INVASIVE

Talikkodi

Twiner

LC

NATIVE

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrader.

Komatti

Trailer

LC

NATIVE

Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt.

Kovai

Climber

LC

NATIVE

Coccinia trilobata (Cogn.) C.Jeffrey.

Koval

Climber

LC

NATIVE

Bulbostylis barbata Rottb.

Mukkorraikkorai

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Chloris barbata SW.

Cevvarakupul

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Cyperus rotundus L.

Korai kilangu

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Cyperus triceps (Rottb.) Endl.

Korai

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Cyperus tuberosus Rottb.

Neerkkorai

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Kyllinga nemoralis (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) Dandy ex Hutch. & Dalziel.

Velutta nirbasi

Herb

LC

NATIVE

15

16

17

Convolvulaceae

Cucurbitaceae

Cyperaceae

18

Ehretiaceae

Ehretia microphylla Lam.

Kattu vetrilai

Shrub

VU

NATIVE

19

Eriocaulaceae

Eriocaulon cinereum R.Br.

Not recorded

Herb

LC

NATIVE

20

Euphorbiaceae

Acalypha indica L.

Kuppaimeni

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Croton bonplandianum Baill.

Reilpoondu

Herb

LC

INVASIVE



21

Fabaceae

Euphorbia antiquorum L.

Chathurakkalli

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Euphorbia corrigioloides Boiss.

Not recorded

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Euphorbia hirta L.

Ammanpachaiarisi

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

Euphorbia tortilis Rottler.

Tirukkalli

Shrub

NT

NATIVE

Jatropha gossypifolia L.

Kattamanakku

Shrub

LC

INVASIVE

Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thenn.

Kilanelli

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

Jatropha curcas L.

Vellamanakku

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Securinega leucopyrus (Willd.) Muell.-Arg.

Vellaipoola

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Abrus precatorius L.

Kundumani

Climber

LC

NATIVE

Aeschynomene aspera L.

Kidaichchi

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Alysicarpus monilifer (L.) DC

Ottupullu

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Clitoria ternatea L.

Sanguppu

Climber

LC

NATIVE

Indigofera linnaei Ali.

Cenneruncil

Herb

NT

NATIVE

Mucuna pruriens (L).DC.

Totadulagondi

Climber

NT

NATIVE

22

Flinderaceae

Chloroxylon swietenia DC.

Vammaram

Tree

LC

NATIVE

23

Hyacinthaceae

Urginea indica (Roxb) Kunth.

Kaattuvengayam

Herb

VU

NATIVE

24

Hypoxidaceae

Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.

Kurumpalaikkilanku

Herb

VU

NATIVE

25

Lamiaceae

Anisochilus carnosus Wall.

Karpooravalli

VU

NATIVE

Anisomeles indica (L.) O.Kuntze.

Vattapeymarutti

Erect herb Herb

LC

NATIVE

Geniosporum tenuiflorum (L.) Merrill.

Marumatikkoluntu

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link.

Thumbai

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Ocimum americanum L.

Naaithulasi

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Ocimum sanctum L.

Thulasi

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Aloe barbadensis Mill.

Chotthukatthalai

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Gloriosa superba L.

Kalappaikizhangu

Climber

VU

NATIVE

26

Liliaceae

27

Lythraceae

Lawsonia inermis L.

Maruthani

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

28

Malvaceae

Abelmoschus ficulneus (L.) Wight & Arn. Hildegardia populifolia Schott & Endl. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.

Kaatuvendai

Un-shrub

LC

NATIVE

Malaipoovarasu

Tree

CR

NATIVE

Semparuthi

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Pavonia zeylanica Cav.

Kuruntotti

Un-Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Sida acuta Burm.f.

Malaitangi

Un-Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Marsiliea quadrifolia L.

Aarakkeerai

Herb

LC

NATIVE

29

Marsilaceae



30

Menispermaceae

Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels.

Kattukkodi

Climber

LC

NATIVE

31

Mimosaceae

Acacia arabica Sensu Baker.

Karuvelaamaram

Tree

VU

NATIVE

Acacia horrida (L.) Willd.

Kakkamul

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd.

Vellaivelan

Tree

LC

NATIVE

Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd.. Ex Del.

Velanmaram

Tree

LC

NATIVE

Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boivin.

Usil

Tree

LC

NATIVE

Dichrostachys cinerea Wight & Arn.

Karukavimaram

Tree

LC

NATIVE

Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.

Vellikkaruvai

Tree

LC

INVASIVE

32

Molluginaceae

Mollugo pentaphylla L.

Turapoondu

Herb

LC

NATIVE

33

Moraceae

Ficus bengalensis L.

Aalamaram

Tree

LC

NATIVE

34

Myrtaceae

Eucalyptus globulus Labill.

Eucalyptus

Tree

LC

NATIVE

35

Nyctaginaceae

Boerhavia diffusa L.

Saaranai Keerai

Creeper

LC

INVASIVE

Mirabilis jalapa L.

Anthimantharai

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Jasminum angustifolium Vahl.

Kaattumalli

Climber

LC

NATIVE

Jasminum grandiflorum L.

Sadimalligai

Climber

LC

NATIVE

36

Oleaceae

37

Onagraceae

Ludwigia parviflora Roxb.

Neerkirambu

Herb

NT

NATIVE

38

Orchidaceae

Habenaria plantaginea Lindl.

Valikizhangu

Herb

VU

NATIVE

Habenaria roxburghii Nicolson

Valikizhangu

Herb

VU

NATIVE

Martynia annua L.

Telkotukki

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

Pedalium murex L.

Aanai nerunji

Herb

LC

INVASIVE

Agropyron repens Beauv.

Naaippul

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Aristida adscenscionis L.

Periya thudappampillu

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Brachiaria ramosa Stapf.

Not recorded

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.

Arugampullu

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Cyperus tuberosus Rottb.

Neerkkorai

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd.

Mattankayppul

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Saccharum spontaneum L.

Naanal

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase.

Pullu

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.

Elanthai

Tree

LC

NATIVE

Zizyphus oenoplia (L.) Miller.

Soorai

Tree

LC

NATIVE

Canthium coromandelicum N. Burm.

Kaarai

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

39

40

41

42

Pedaliaceae

Poaceae

Rhamnaceae

Rubiaceae



43

44

Rutaceae

Sapindaceae

Canthium parviflorum Roxb.

Nallakkaarai

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Carissa carandas L.

Kilakkaay

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Carissa spinarum L.

Cirukala

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tirveng. Ixora nigricans Br.

Madukarei

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Mashagani

Shrub

NT

NATIVE

Oldenlandia herbacea (L.) Roxb.

Parpadagam

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Pavetta indica L.

Vellaippavattai

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Spermacoce hispida L.

Nathaichuri

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa Ex. Shultz. Clausena dentata (Willd) Roeme.

Vilvam

Tree

VU

NATIVE

Kattukkaruveppilai

Shrub

LC

NATIVE

Cardiospermum halicacabum L.

Mudakkathan

Climber

LC

INVASIVE

Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq.

Virali

Un-shrub

LC

NATIVE

45

Solanaceae

Datura metel L.

Oomathai

Herb

LC

NATIVE

46

Tiliaceae

Corchorus aestuans L.

Siruvalichedi

Herb

LC

NATIVE

47

Verbenaceae

Gmelina asiatica L.

Kumizha maram

Tree

LC

NATIVE

Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene.

Poduthalai

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Lantana camera L.

Arisimalar

Shrub

LC

INVASIVE

Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.F.) Muell. Cayratia pedata (Lam.) Gagnep.

Oritaltamarai

Herb

LC

NATIVE

Eliilaipirandai

Climber

CR

NATIVE

Cayratia trifolia (L.) Domin

Kattupirandai

Climber

NT

NATIVE

Cissus quadrangularis L.

Pirandai

Climber

LC

NATIVE

Cissus vitiginea L.

Cempirandai

Climber

NT

NATIVE

Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Inji

Herb

LC

NATIVE

48

Violaceae

49

Vitaceae

50

Zingiberaceae

(18.62%) shrubs, 23 (15.86%) climbers including lianes, twinners, creepers and trailers and the rest 17 (11.72%) were trees (Fig 2). This tropical dry scrub forest type is a low forest having trees of 4 to 10 m high however, a complete canopy comprising small, coriaceous-leaved evergreen trees of short boles and spreading crowns with some deciduous emergent, without marked differentiation of canopy layers was

also observed. Floristically, it is distinguished by a fair representation of characteristic and preferential species, exclusively or mostly confined to this vegetation type [14].

3.2. Species, Family and Relative Dominance



Albiziaamara was the most abundant species when compared to other species in the study area. Euphorbiaceae and Rubiaceae were the dominant families followed by Poaceae and Asteraceae in terms of species number whereas, Rubiaceae was followed by Poaceae, Asteraceae and Euphorbiaceae in terms of abundance. The most species rich families included Euphorbiaceae with 7 genera and 10 species and Rubiaceae with 7 genera and 9 species was the dominant family followed by Asteraceae and Poaceae with 8 genera and 8 species each, Amaranthaceae with 5 genera and 7 species, Mimosaceae with 4 genera and 7 species, Acanthaceae, Asclepidaceae, and Fabaceae with 6 genera and 6 species each, Lamiaceae with 5 genera and 6 species, Cyperaceae with 4 genera and 6 species, Malvaceae with 5 genera and 5 species,Vitaceae with 2 genera and 4 species, Agavaceae and Verbenaceae with 3 genera and 3 species each, Commelinaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cucurbitaceae with 2 genera and 3 species each,Apocynaceae, Ceasalpinaceae, Liliaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Pedaliaceae, Rutaceae, sapindaceae with 2 genera and 2 species each, Rhamanaceae, Oleaceaeand Orchidaceae with 1 genera and 2 species each, Aponogenataceae, Arecaceae, Boraginaceae, Cactaceae, Capparidaceae, Cassythaceae, Ehretiaceae, Eriocaulaceae, Flinderaceae, Hyacinthaceae, Hypoxidaceae, Lythraceae, Marseliaceae, Menispermaceae, Molluginaceae, Moraceae, Myrtaceae, Onograceae, Solanaceae, Tiliaceae, Violaceae,and Zingiberaceae with 1 genera and 1 species each (Fig 3).

Figure 3. Analysis of Genera and Families contributing more than one species at Ammankuruchi RF

Assessments of conservation status at the species level was performed using the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List criteria [15]. In the present study, out of 145 species recorded 2 species namely Hildegardia populifolia and Cayratia pedatawere critically endangered, 12 species including Barleria acuminata, Ecbolium ligustrinum, Hygrophila auriculata, Caralluma adscendens, Hemidesmus indicus, Euphorbia tortilis, Indigofera linnaei, Mucuna pruriens, Ludwigia parviflora, Ixora nigricans, Cayratia trifolia and Cissus vitiginea were nearly threatened, 11 species viz., Barleria acuminate, Gymnemasylvestre, Ehretia microphylla, Chloroxylonswietenia, Curculigo orchioides, Anisochilus carnosus, Gloriosasuperba, Acacia arabica, Habenaria plantaginea, Habenaria roxburghii, and Aegle marmeloswere vulnerable and the remaining 120 species were categorized as least concern. The 3 species namely Blepharis acuminata, Habenaria plantaginea and Habenaria roxburghii were endemic to South India (Fig. 4). Similar classification of species occurrence status offlowering plants has been observed in earlier reports [16, 17, 18]. 3.4. Geographic origin of taxa

Figure 2. Habit wise analysis of Ammankuruchi enumerated plants

3.3. Conservation status of taxa

The geographic origin of recorded taxa wasdone based on the literature available from ENVIS. Ammankuruchi RF represents 26(17.93%) invasive



origin of recorded taxa wasdone based on the literature available from ENVIS. Ammankuruchi RF represents 26 (17.93%) invasive and 119(82.07%) native species. All the recorded species in the family Asteraceae (8) and Pedaliaceae (2) were Invasive species. Highest number of invasive species were documented in the family Asteraceae (8) followed by Euphorbiaceae (4), Amaranthaceae (3), Agavaceae and Pedaliaceae (2 species each), and the remaining Apocynaceae, Aponogetonaceae, Convolvulaceae, Mimosaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Sapindaceae and Verbenaceae were represented by one species each (Fig. 5). The listed invasive species were Agave Americana, Furcrae afoetida, Aervajavanica, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Celosia cristata, Catharanthus roseus, Aponogeton natans, Acanthospermum hispidum, Ageratina adenophora, Ageratum conyzoides, Eclipta prostrate, Emilia sonchifolia, Parthenium hysterophorus, Vernonia cinerea, zanthium strumarium, Ipomoea carnea, Croton bonplandianum, Euphorbia hirta, Jatrophagossypifolia, Phyllanthus amarus, Prosopis juliflora, Boerhavia diffusa, Martynia annua, Pedalium murex, Cardiospermum halicacabum and Lantana camera.

Figure 5. Families representing invasive vs total recorded species at Ammankuruchi RF

native seedlings, which is likely interferes with the biology and existence of native species, poses serious threat to the ecosystem by altering RF regeneration cum forest composition and causes economic loss. Documenting the Geographic origin of taxa of species creates a valuable database, useful for implementing better management and conservation of this patchy RF of Ammankuruchi. Presently, the forest site is subjected to various anthropogenic pressures. Data of plant diversity presented in the current study on trees and shrubs will be useful in highlighting the importance of these forests for species conservation and forest management in the near future.

4. CONCLUSION Figure 4. Conservation status of recorded species at Ammankurichi RF

Majority of the naturalized/invasive species of the plains are of tropical American origin [19, 20].The characteristics of invasive or non-native species are slightly different from those of the surrounding native plants and spreads naturally, which results in a highly successful species that is altering the composition and function of the native communities it invades. All the non-native species recorded were herbs and invades the understory of a RF affecting the growth rate of

RFs provide potential refugia for unique species assemblages, habitat for invertebrate wildlife and soil micro-organisms that have not been well studied to date. No forestland in Pudukkottai is free of human impact. The problem with the chronic form of forest disturbance is that plants or ecosystem often do not get time to recover adequately because the human onslaught never stops. An obvious approach to conserve plant biodiversity is to map distributional patterns and look for concentrations of diversity and endemism. Further, management of forest requires understanding of its composition in relation to other 207



forests, the effects of past impacts on the present status and the present relationship of the forest with surrounding land uses. Thus, the enumeration of the Ammankuruchi RF at Ponnamaravathytaluk and the assessment of the floristic wealth, IUCN conservation status and geographic origin would provide a strong basis for evolving measures for their protection.

Conflict of Interest

7.

8.

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. 9.

Acknowledgment The author are grateful to UGC for financial assistance and to her Husband Mr. M. Ponnaiah with gratitude for the immense help and support rendered during field study and also extend the sincere thanks to Rapinant herbarium, St. Joseph’s college, Tiruchirappalli for plant identification.

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