Phytosociological Diversity and Community Structure of Herbaceous Flora in Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, Telangana, India

Abstract

Herbaceous vegetation constitutes a vital component of tropical dry deciduous forest ecosystems by regulating nutrient cycling, soil stability, and regeneration processes. The present investigation documents the diversity, composition, and phytosociological structure of herbaceous flora in Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, Telangana, India. Vegetation sampling was carried out in 100 systematically laid plots (0.1 ha each) across four forest ranges (Tadvai, South Eturnagaram, North Eturnagaram, and Pasra) using stratified random sampling. A total of 51 herbaceous species belonging to 27 families were recorded, with dominant families including Asteraceae, Acanthaceae, Amaranthaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Fabaceae. The herb layer exhibited a very high Simpson’s diversity index (1–D = 0.978), along with a high Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′ = 3.899) and evenness (E = 0.992), indicating a highly diverse community with very low species dominance and a near-uniform distribution of individuals. Dominant species based on Importance Value Index (IVI) were Desmodium triflorum (10.01), Alternanthera sessilis (9.83), Celosia argentea (9.33), Barleria cristata (9.22), Dicliptera paniculata (8.09), Tridax procumbens (7.98), and Andrographis paniculata (7.95). The distribution of IVI values suggests a heterogeneous herbaceous layer where ecological dominance is shared among multiple species rather than being concentrated in a single taxon. The coexistence of native forest herbs with disturbance-associated species indicates moderate anthropogenic influence and canopy openness, while the overall diversity pattern reflects a structurally stable and ecologically resilient herbaceous community. The very high diversity and evenness values further indicate efficient resource utilization and minimal competitive exclusion within the herb layer.