DIVERSITY, DISTRIBUTION AND UTILIZATION PATTERN OF SHRUBS OF BETALGHAT REGION (KUMAUN HIMALAYA)
NAVEEN CH. PANDEY *
Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India.
LALIT M. TEWARI
Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India.
G. C. JOSHI
Regional Ayurvedic Research Institute (RARI) CCRAS, Thapla, Ranikhet, Uttarakhand, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study was conducted to document the diversity of shrubs in Betalghat region of Nainital district (Kumaun Himalaya, India). A total of 200 species belongs to 144 genera and 50 families were recorded from the study area. The dominant families were Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Apocynaceae, Rosaceae, Malvaceae, Rhamnaceae, Solanaceae, Acanthaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Oleaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Urticaceae, Asparagaceae, Rubiaceae and Rutaceae. The maximum and minimum number of species was reported in the altitudinal zones (1001-1300m), (1600-1800 m) respectively. Total recorded species from the region were used for various purposes such as fodder (130), medicinal (78), edible (56), fuel (50), ornamental (22), fibre (18), religious (12), bio-insecticides, padding for cattle (4), fish poison (3) and broom making (2). For each species, vernacular and botanical names, habitat preference, altitudinal range (m), flowering and fruiting period and utilization patterns were provided. This study is useful for determining the composition and their utilization pattern with developing strategies for the conservation and management of species.
Keywords: Shrubs, diversity, distribution, utilization pattern, Betalghat, Kumaun Himalaya