Pak. J. Bot., 47(SI): 15-22, 2015.

VEGETATION STRUCTURE, EDAPHALOGY AND ETHNOBOTANY OF MAHABAN

AND MALKA (DISTRICT BUNER) KPK, PAKISTAN

SHAUKAT ALI, ANJUM PERVEEN AND MUHAMMAD QAISER

Center for Plant Conservation, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan

*Corresponding author e-mail: bank_seed@yahoo.com

Abstract

The vegetation structure and soil analysis of Mahaban and Malka of District Buner (KPK) Pakistan were studied in four

consecutive years from 2011-2014. On the basis of important value index the dominated plant community was Pinus

roxburghii, Quercus incanna and Rhodendron arboreum (PQR). A total of 91 species were collected belonging to 80 genera

distributed in 44 families. The dominated life form classes were Hemicryptophyte and Therophyte shared (24.4%) of

species, while the dominant classes based on the leaf size spectrum were Microphyll (34.4%), followed by Nanophyll

(26.6%). The soil was mostly sandy with acidic pH, low organic matter and water content, further more the soil had low

concentrations of CaCo3 and K. Mucuna nigricans was collected first time from the District Buner. The ethnobotanical

knowledge was also gained by interviewing the Hakeems and local elders.

Key words: Vegetation, Soil, Ethnobotany, Life form, Leaf size, Buner