3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

The area of the Bara Gali was chosen for floristic study. The study area was visited frequently for data collection. The apparatuses were used during plant collection, like GPS twigs cutter, and polythene bags. The data was documented in the field not book. Collected plants specimens were properly tagged. Preserved plants specimens were identified with the help of flora of Pakistan.

 

3.1. Soil Sampling

One kilogram soil samples were collected up to a depth of 15 cm. The soil was kept in polythene bags and labeled. The soil samples were chemically and physically analyzed at Baffa Research Station, district Mansehra. The potassium, pH, phosphorus, nitrogen and organic matters were analyzed. Hydrometer technique was used for soil texture Moodi et al. (1959). Organic matter was determined with the method given by black Black (1965) method. The nitrogen sample was resoluted by Kjelaahl digention technique and available phosphorus was determined by Olsen method (Olsen, 1954).

 

3.2. Vegetation Sampling

Quadrate method was used for sampling the vegetation. The size of the quadrate was 5x2 m for shrubs, 10x2 m for trees and 0.5x0.5 m for herbs (Malik, 1986). Iron nails were used to making quadrates. The desired shape and size quadrates were laid down by fining nails at 4 points. At least 15-20 quadrates were taken at the pauses of 12 steps between each quadrate. Then after establishment of quadrates all the plant species inside were recorded. Then number of individuals of each plant species were calculated, their covers were measured with the help of measuring tapes.    

             

Dryopteris stewarti

Fig-1:         Selected important plants species of Baragali.

Euphorbia heliscopia

Geranium himlayense

3.3. Results

There was total 50 species belong to 33 families out of which 5 were trees species, 10 were shrubs and 35 were herbs investigated in the study area (Table 1. Figure 1).  Asteraceae were dominant with 6 species, then Roseaceae with 4 species followed by Pteridaceae, Caprifloreaceae with 3 species each. Polygonaceae, Labiateace, Pinaceae, Ramanculceae, Poaceae were found with 2 species each (Figure 2, Table 1).

Remaining 24 families had one species each. Seven life form classes were recorded from the study area in which hemicrytophytes was dominant life form (27.4%) then nanophenerophytes (25.4%), therophytes (17.6%) megaphanerophyte (9.8%) chamaephyte (7.8%) geophoyte (5.8%) and mesophanerophyte (3.9%) (Figure 3).

It was observed in study area that the Microphyll 52.9%, were dominant Nanophyll 23.5%, Mesophyll were 11.7%. Leptophyll were 9.8%, (Figure 4).

Table 1 Floristic list of plants species documented from Bara Gali
Name of Species	Family	Life Form	Leaf Spectra
Aesculus indica (Wall ex. Camb)	Hippocastancea	MP	Me
Juglans regia   L.	Juglandaceae	MP	Me
Quercus incana Roxb	Fagaceae	MP	Me
Cedrus deodara (Lamb)G.Don	Pinaceae	MP	L
Pinus wallichiana   A.B.Jackson	Pinaceae	MP	L
Berberis lycium Royle	Berberidaceae	NP	N
Viburnum grandiflorum   Wall. ex DC.	Caprifoliaceae	NP	Me
Indigofera heterantha Wall ex.Brandis	Pailionaceae	NP	Mi
Sarcococca sligna D.Don. (Muell)	Buxacaeae	NP	NP
Rosa indica L.	Rosaceae	NP	L
Rubus fruticosus L.	Rosaceae	NP	MI
Hypercum perforatum L.	Hypericaceae	NP	MI
Lonicera quinquelocularis Hard.	Caprifloreace	Me	MI
Melia tomentosa Kurz	Meliaceae	NP	MI
Centaurea calycitrapa L.	Asteraceae	NP	MI
Urtica dioca L.	Urticaecce	Np	MI
Adiantum capillus-venris L.	Pteridaceae	G	N
Oxalis carniculata L.	Onagracea	H	MI
Arisaema flavum Schott	Asteraceae	Th	Mi
Artemisia maritima L.Wallich	Asteraceae	Th	Mi
Plantago ovata Forssk.	Plantaginaceae	H	Mi
Asparagus filicinus D.DON	Asparagaceae	Th	Mi
Viola biflora   L.	Violaceae	H	Mi
Primula denticulata Sm.	Primulaceae	H	Mi
Rumex hastatus D.Don.	Polygonaceae	H	N
Mentha arvensis L.	Labiateae	Np	N
Hedra nepalensis K.Koch	Araliaceae	H	MI
Fragaria nubicola Lindnl	Rosaceae	H	Mi
Euphorbia heliscopia L.	Euphorbiacea	Th	MI
Gerenium himalayense Klotzsch	Gereniaceae	TH	N
Polygontum multiflorum L.	Polygonaceae	CH	MI
Dryopteris stewartii Fraser-Jenk.	Pteridaceae	G	N
Podophyllum emodii Wall ex. Royle	Podophyllaceae	H	Mi
Conyza canadensis L. Corgn	Asteraceae	H	Mi
Cynodan dactylon (L) Pers	Poaceae	CH	L
Ranunculus muricatus L.	Raunculacea	H	MI
Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad	Cucurbitaceae	TH	MI
Onychium contiguum Hope	Pteridaceae	G	L
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum J.	Asteraceae	TH	N
Vallarina jatamansi Wall	Vallerianaceae	H	Mi
Dioscorea deltoidea Wall	Dioscoraceae	NP	MI
Cynoglossum officinale L.	Boraginaceae	TH	N
Geum elatum D.Don	Rosaceae	H	Mi
Abelia triflora R. Br	caprifloraceae	NP	N
Sonchus asper (L.) Hil	Asteraceae	TH	MI
Aquvlegia vulgaris (Linn)	Ranunculaceae	H	MI
Calanthe plantagineae L.	Orchidaceae	H	MI
Nepta erecta (Benth)	Labiateae	NP	N
Origanum vulgare L.	Labiateae	TH	N
Skimmia laureola (DC.) Sieb. & Zuc	Rutaceae	NP	N

 

Figure 1 Plant habit documented from the study area

 

Figure 2 Graphical Representation of dominant Plant Families

 

Figure 3 Life form recorded from Bara Gali

 

Figure 4 Leaf size spectra of plants recorded from Bara Gali

Onychium contigum

Fig: Some important plants species of Baragali.

4. DISCUSSION

There were 50 species and 33 families in study area Asteraceae, Rosaceae and Pteridaceae were dominant families. In study area Hemicryptophytes were dominant. Hemicrytophtes are the indicator of moist temperate zone. Khan et al. (2016). Our findings are also agreed with Malik et al., (1996) observed that in the moist temperate part of Dherkot and Neelam valley of Kashmir, hemicryptophytes and therophytes were the dominant life form classes. Malik (2005) reported hemicryptophytes and therophytes species were dominant in Ganga Choti and Bedori hills at an elevation of 2000-3200m. Malik et al. (2007) reported that hemicryptophytes and therophytes were dominant in Pir Chinasi hills. Due to deforestation and other human activities growth of vegetation in the study area was badly affected.

Microphyll and Nanophyll are the dominant leaf spectra of the explored area. Nanophyll were present at lower altitude while Microphyll were present at higher   altitude. Our findings are similar to Qadir and Tareen (1987) who worked in Quetta and reported that Microphyll and Nanophyll were dominant leaf size spectra in Quetta district. Malik (2005) worked in Ganga Chotti and Bedori hills (A.J.K) and reported that Microphyll and Nanophyll were dominant so our result also agreed with this report. Our results also in line with Hussain et al., (2015) who reported dominant leaf size spectra as microphyll and Nanophyllous from Mastuj Valley, Chitral, Pakistan. Shaheen et al. (2016) also reported similar findings from Tehsil Havelian (Abbottabad), Pakistan.

The leaf structure, generally determines habitat condition in the area. The Present research study reveals that microphyll and nanophyll were present at higher elevations while leptophylls present in the lower elevation of Bara Gali. Malik (2005) also described microphyll & nanophyll were dominant at Ganga Choti and Bedori hills, Kashmir. His findings are in line with our results. In our research study, high ratio of microphylls signifies the cool climate. Malik (2007) reported similar findings from Pir Chinasi Hills, Kashmir. Saxena and Singh (1982) observed that the percentage of microphyll had positive correlation with the growing elevation. In explored area grazing and lopping of fodder was common. Many medicinal plants become the feed of animals. This study helps us in understanding physiological processes of plants.

 

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