Floral diversity of Baanganga Wetland, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Baanganga wetland, a 45 km long channel originates near Bishenpur and flows in Idrishpur-Chakheri forest block of Haridwar district in Uttarakhand, India represents riverine ecosystem. The study area harbors many islands, varying in shape and size, which remains underwater during the rainy season and provide a good habitat to various plant taxa, birds (resident as well as migratory) and animals mainly Swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli duvauceli), a critically endangered species and Hog deer (Axis procinus). To asses the status and distribution of flora, trips were conducted in the intensive study area. The plants were classified based on their habit and their presence was visually observed. A total of 178 plant species were recorded, of which 40 species (hydrophytes) were found in aquatic habitat, 122 species on moist shores and 117 species in upland habitat. Phragmites karka, Polygonum barbatum, Ipomoea carnea, and Typha elephantina were the most common species in all the habitats. The majority of plants (40) are from Indian oriental region. The moist shore and upland habitats had maximum similarity (64 %) followed by aquatic and moist shore (26%) habitats. The status of flora and management of Baanganga wetland ecosystem has been discussed in the paper.