Floristic Composition of Pinus gerardiana Wall. ex D. Don. Forests in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, North-Western Himalaya, India

Abstract

Pinus gerardiana Wall. ex D. Don forests in the dry temperate regions of the North Western Himalaya represent a unique ecological system, characterized by considerable plant diversity. These forests provide a wide range of ecosystem services and also form an important basis for traditional subsistence and local economies. The present study aimed to assess the floristic composition of P. gerardiana forests in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir UT in the North Western Himalaya, India. Extensive field surveys were conducted across 63 natural populations of P. gerardiana forests using standard phytosociological methodologies. Vegetation sampling was carried out using quadrat-based techniques to document floristic composition in Pinus gerardiana forests. A total of 199 (trees 9, 33 shrubs and 157 herbs) species belonging to 144 genera and 51 families have been recorded from the studied 63 natural populations of P. gerardiana in the state of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir UT. Dominant families were Asteraceae (41 species), Lamiaceae (18 species), Fabaceae (13 species), Poaceae and Rosaceae (11 species, each). Artemisia (9 species), Aster (5 species), Erigeron, and Lactuca (4 species, each) were dominant genera. Floristic composition studies in P. gerardiana forests in different forest ranges of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir UT revealed that Gulabhgarh, Kishtwar forest range in Jammu & Kashmir UT was most diverse with 47 species, 42 genera and 23 families followed by Sonder, Marwah Forest range with 41 species, 38 genera and 21 families; and Arki-II, Bahrmour forest range in Himachal Pradesh with 34 species, 34 genera and 19 families. In past no study was conducted on floristic composition of P. gerardiana forests of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir UT, North Western Himalaya. Hence, the findings of present study will definitely act as base line data for further detailed and in-depth research on their diversity, ecology, conservation, sustainable management and in restoration programmes.