Floristic composition and ecological characteristics of plant resources of Landi Kotal, district Khyber, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Floristic composition and ecological characteristics of plant resources of Landi Kotal, district Khyber, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Muhammad Farooq1*, Lal Badshah2 and Sanam Zarif1
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to assess the ecological resources of Landi Kotal, Khyber during 2016-2017. The floristic diversity consisted of 93 species within 40 families. Based on number of species Asteraceae (10 spp.), Lamiaceae (8 spp.), Brassicaceae, Solanacea, Poaceae each with 6 species were the leading families. Mimosaceae (5 spp.) Caryophyllaceae (4 spp.) were the next dominant families. The other families had either 3 or less than 3 species. Biological spectrum of flora indicated that therophytes (34 spp., 36.5%), followed by nanophanerophytes (16 spp., 17 %) were the dominant. Similarly, hemicryptophytes (14 spp., 15%), chamaephytes (11 spp., 11.8%), microphanerophytes (10 spp., 10.7%) and geophytes (8 spp., 9%) were the other most prevailing life forms. Leaf size spectra revealed that microphylls (36 spp., 38.7%) followed by leptophylls (23 spp., 24.73%), nanophylls (22 spp., 32.65%), mesophylls (11 spp., 11.82%) were the most prominent leaf classes. Periploca aphylla was the only aphyllous species in the area. The investigated rangelands are less productive and need rehabilitation through ecological management. This would be possible with participation of local communities and NGOs to make the plant resources sustainable. There is a dire need to provide an alternate source of energy to overcome the burden on rangeland resources.
Key words: Spectrum, Rangeland, Life form, Leaf size, Ashkhel, Shekhmalkhel
Key words: Spectrum, Rangeland, Life form, Leaf size, Ashkhel, Shekhmalkhel
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March 2021
Vol. 71, Iss. 1
