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Pak. J. Bot., 47(3): 927-935, 2015.

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PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE PLANT BIODIVERSITY OF THE FORT RANIKOT AND ADJOINING AREA (KIRTHAR RANGE)

MUHAMMAD ISHTIAQ HUSSAIN AND ANJUM PERVEEN

Abstract: The plant biodiversity, floristic composition and phytosociological attributes of the vascular plants of Fort Ranikot were analyzed. A total of 107 taxa were collected belonging to 41 families and 78 genera. The largest family was Poaceae containing 9 taxa, while the other major families were Papilionaceae with 6 species; Asclepiadaceae, Mimosaceae, and Solanaceae comprising of 5 species each respectively. Majority of the taxa are common throughout the study area, however, 6 species Viz. Aristolochia bracteolata, Physorrhynchus brahuicus, Plantago ciliata, Polygala erioptera, Salvadora persica and Viola stocksii were found to be very rare. The flora is dominated by Chamaephyte, followed by Therophytes, Phanerophytes, Hemicryptophytes and climbers. The aim of the present study is to provide comprehensive inventory of the study area along with its phytosociology and ecological parameters. Collectively on the basis of important value index six plants communities were recognized from different sites of the study area. The study area was categorized into six ecological sites on the basis of microclimatic conditions and topography. For comparison in these sites similarity index, beta diversity, diversity index, species evenness and maturity index was also calculated. The soil texture classes varied from loam to sandy loam and slit loam with pH of 7.78-8.24, electrical conductivity varied from 687-827 EC µS/cm, Total dissolved salts varied from 0.36-0.71 mg^-1, CaCo₃ varied from 3.48-4.21% and organic matter varied from 0.39-1.24%. Present study predict that there are certain edaphic factors, altitudinal variation, soil texture and amount of organic matter which are responsible for variation in vegetation.

Key words: Kirthar range, Fort Ranikot, Plant biodiversity.

Centre for Plant Conservation, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan

Corresponding author’s e-mail: ishtiaqajk@gmail.com