Diversity and Adaptation of Plant Life Forms in Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary: A Phytoclimatic Analysis

Abstract

Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the South-Eastern part of Rajasthan, India. This study resulted in plant life form diversity and distribution using Raunkiaer's classification system.  Extensive field surveys were conducted in BWS between April 2017 and March 2019 to identify and record plant species. The collected specimens were identified by using state and regional floras (Shetty & Singh, 1987, 1991, 1993; Tiagi and Aery, 2007; Yadav& Meena, 2011; Harikrishna et al., 2022). A total of 468 plant species belonging to 322 genera and 85 families were recorded. The results indicate that therophytes (55.8%) are the dominant life form, followed by phanerophytes (23.5%), hemicryptophytes (7.3%), cryptophytes (6.8 %) and chamaephytes (6.6%). On comparison with Raunkiaer’s normal spectrum, the present study area depicts Thero-phanerophytic type of phytoclimate. This study also provides valuable insights into the plant ecology of BWS and contributes to the understanding of the region's biodiversity.