Floristic status of the Himalayan foothills in Haryana – vegetation composition, diversity and population structure

Dhiman, Himanshi; Saharan, Harikesh; Punia, Harish; Jakhar, Somveer

doi:10.2478/fsmu-2024-0006

Figures & Tables

Map of the study site showing the location of plots (blue dots) studied in the selected altitudinal ranges of Morni Hills forest.

Frequency class distribution (Raunkiaer, 1934) of the plant species encountered during the study in two altitudinal ranges, AR_1 (left) and AR_2 (right).

Graph showing the tree species percentage of AR_1 belonging to girth classes; A=0–10.4 cm, B=10.5–30 cm, C=31–60 cm, D=61–90 cm, E=91–120 cm, F=121–150 cm, G=151–180 cm and H=181–210 cm.

Graph showing the tree species percentage of AR_2 belonging to girth classes; A=0–10.4 cm, B=10.5–30 cm, C=31–60 cm, D=61–90 cm, E=91–120 cm, F=121–150 cm, G=151–180 cm and H=181–210 cm.

Pearson correlation between different phytosociological parameters under study.

Phytosociological analysis of tree species in the two altitudinal ranges of Morni Hills, Panchkula_

S.N.	Name of the plant	Family	AR_1 (400–600 m AMSL)				AR_2 (600–800 m AMSL)

			D	A/F	B.A.	IVI	D	A/F	B.A.	IVI
1	Acacia nilotica (L.) willd. Ex Delile	Mimosaceae	15	0.15	6.954	56.92	1.32	0.12	1.006	6.189
2	Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth.	Mimosaceae	1.64	0.15	0.286	6.799	3.32	1.2	1.027	7.197
3	Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br.	Apocynaceae	1.32	0.12	0.225	6.06	3	0.06	2.072	12.93
4	Azadirachta indica A. Juss.	Meliaceae	0.64	0.06	0.671	6.322	1	0.09	1.053	5.94
5	Bauhinia purpurea L.	Verbenaceae	0.64	0.06	0.702	6.422	0.64	0.37	0.941	3.585
6	Boehmeria rugulosa Wedd.	Urticaceae	-	-	-	-	7.32	1.23	0.042	17.7
7	Bombax ceiba L.	Bombacaceae	0.64	0.24	3.519	13.82	-	-	-	-
8	Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.	Fabaceae	2.64	0.1	1.32	13.35	2	0.008	0.172	6.37
9	Cassia fistula L.	Caesalpiniaceae	6.64	0.15	3.122	27.42	13.64	0.07	4.32	25.19
10	Cassia siamea Kurz	Caesalpiniaceae	-	-	-	-	2.32	0.21	0.039	5.162
11	Dalbergia sisso Roxb. Ex DC.	Fabaceae	1.32	0.53	0.269	3.565	-	-	-	-
12	Eucalyptus citriodora Hook.	Myrtaceae	1	0.04	0.401	7.647	-	-	-	-
13	Falconeria insignis Royle	Euphorbiaceae	-	-	-	-	1	0.09	0.153	3.952
14	Ficus bengalensis L.	Moraceae	-	-	-	-	1	0.09	1.892	7.791
15	Ficus racemosa L.	Moraceae	-	-	-	-	1	0.09	0.887	5.572
16	Ficus religiosa L.	Moraceae	0.64	0.06	0.663	6.297	-	-	-	-
17	Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr.	Salicaceae	1.32	0.48	0.011	3.83	5	0.11	0.029	10.63
18	Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. Ex R. Br.	Proteaceae	-	-	-	-	1	0.09	0.586	4.909
19	Grewia optiva J. R. Drumm. Ex Burret	Tiliaceae	0.64	0.06	0.177	4.755	2.64	0.1	1.108	9.146
20	Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don.	Mimosaceae	-	-	-	-	1	0.09	0.988	5.795
21	Kydia calycina Roxb.	Malvaceae	0.64	0.06	0.269	5.047	0.64	0.24	1.537	5.356
22	Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr.	Anacardiaceae	2	0.04	2.798	18.52	-	-	-	-
23	Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit	Mimosaceae	4.33	0.04	0.977	19.81	3.32	0.13	1.65	11.1
24	Mallotus philippensis (Lam.) Müll.Arg.	Euphorbiaceae	1.32	0.48	0.181	4.369	4.64	0.18	2.746	14.98
25	Mangifera indica L.	Anacardiaceae	1.32	0.12	4.6	19.96	1.32	0.053	4.673	15.55
26	Moringa oleifera Lam.	Moringaceae	-	-	-	-	1	0.09	0.537	4.801
27	Morus alba L.	Moraceae	1	0.09	0.468	6.29	-	-	-	-
28	Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz	Bignoniaceae	-	-	-	-	6.32	0.03	2.798	23.23
29	Phoenix dactylifera L.	Arecaceae	-	-	-	-	0.64	0.24	0.388	2.818
30	Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre	Fabaceae	2	0.18	1.153	10.16	10.64	0.96	6.203	27.98
31	Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce	Mimosaceae	3.32	0.3	0.353	9.864	1	0.09	0.404	4.506
32	Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) de Candolle	Mimosaceae	3.64	0.33	0.54	11	-	-	-	-
33	Pterospermum acerifolium (L.) Willd.	Sterculaceae	-	-	-	-	2	0.08	1.81	9.987
34	Pyrus pashia Buch.-Ham. Ex D. Don	Rosaceae	-	-	-	-	1	0.09	0.117	3.873
35	Tectona grandis L.f.	Verbenaceae	1.32	0.03	1.078	11.89	1.32	0.12	0.258	4.539
36	Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.	Combretaceae	1.64	0.15	0.236	6.64	1.64	0.15	2.097	8.953
37	Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K.Schum.	Apocynaceae	0.64	0.24	0.303	3.603	-	-	-	-
38	Wendlandia heynei (Schult.) Santapau & Merchant	Rubiaceae	-	-	-	-	6.32	0.14	3.689	20.13
39	Zizyphus jujuba Mill.	Rhamnaceae	1.64	0.03	0.195	9.632	1.32	0.12	0.08	4.145

	Total		58.89		31.47	300	90.32		45.3	300

Phytosociological analysis of herb species in the two altitudinal ranges of Morni Hills, Panchkula_

S.N.	Name of the plant	Family	AR_1 (400–600 m AMSL)				AR_2 (600–800 m AMSL)

			D	A/F	B.A.	IVI	D	A/F	B.A.	IVI
1	Acanthospermum hispidum DC.	Asteraceae	14.64	0.33	0.002	3.087	-	-	-	-
2	Achyranthes aspera L.	Amaranthaceae	99	0.55	0.016	10.67	23	0.52	0.005	3.841
3	Aerva sanguinolenta (L.) Blume	Amaranthaceae	66.32	0.37	0.004	7.837	69	0.3	0.004	8.75
4	Ageratum conyzoides L.	Asteraceae	32.32	0.72	0.004	4.116	84.32	0.47	0.01	9.791
5	Ageratum houstonianum Mill.	Asteraceae	18.32	1.65	0.015	3.547	76.32	0.56	0.007	8.432
6	Ajuga parviflora Benth.	Lamiaceae	4	1.44	3E-04	0.775	4	1.44	4E-05	0.741
7	Alternanthera pungens Kunth	Amaranthaceae	-	-	-	-	5.32	0.48	6E-05	1.345
8	Alycicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC.	Fabaceae	15.32	1.38	0.001	1.963	-	-	-	-
9	Amaranthus virdis L.	Amaranthaceae	-	-	-	-	16	1.44	3E-04	1.903
10	Anisomeles indica (L.) Kuntze	Lamiaceae	50.64	2.02	0.005	4.452	25.64	2.31	0.005	3.018
11	Argemone mexicana L.	Papaveraceae	4	1.44	5E-04	0.792	-	-	-	-
12	Bidens pilosa L.	Asteraceae	-	-	-	-	49	0.71	0.005	5.795
13	Boerhavia diffusa L.	Nyctaginaceae	11.32	0.45	2E-04	2.228	-	-	-	-
14	Cannabis sativa L.	Cannabinaceae	-	-	-	-	10.64	0.96	0.001	1.752
15	Celosia argentea L.	Amaranthaceae	2.64	0.96	2E-04	0.706	5.32	1.92	3E-04	0.836
16	Commelina bengalensis L.	Commelinaceae	22.64	0.51	9E-04	3.365	13.64	0.54	6E-04	2.364
17	Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm.	Brassicaceae	7.64	0.3	1E-04	2.053	17	1.53	2E-04	1.945
18	Croton bonplandianus Baill.	Euphorbiaceae	68.32	6.17	4E-04	4.158	10.64	0.96	3E-04	1.639
19	Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) Stapf.	Poaceae	35.64	3.22	6E-04	2.753	146.32	3.29	0.002	9.653
20	Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.	Poaceae	285	2.85	0.002	16.1	251	2.51	0.002	15.97
21	Cyperus cyperoides (L.) Kuntze	Cyperaceae	5	0.45	6E-04	1.418	14	1.26	8E-04	1.869
22	Dactyclotenium aegyptium (L.) Willd.	Poaceae	31	1.24	2E-04	3.082	49.32	1.11	3E-04	4.639
23	Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees	Poaceae	1.32	0.48	0.053	6.405	3.32	0.3	0.161	21.34
24	Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf.	Poaceae	101.64	4.06	0.001	6.299	36.64	3.31	5E-04	2.963
25	Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler	Poaceae	38.32	0.55	6E-04	4.582	34.32	3.1	3E-04	2.813
26	Echinochloa colona (L.) Link	Poaceae	12.32	0.49	2E-04	2.267	-	-	-	-
27	Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC. ex DC.	Asteraceae	7	0.63	1E-04	1.451	4.32	0.39	5E-05	1.294
28	Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Janch.	Poaceae	139.32	1.02	8E-04	10.16	121.32	1.75	5E-04	8.788
29	Eschenbachia leucantha (D.Don) Brouillet	Asteraceae	-	-	-	-	0.64	0.24	4E-05	0.573
30	Euphorbia maculata L.	Euphorbiaceae	-	-	-	-	2.08	3.01	3E-04	0.671
31	Euphorbia heterophylla L.	Euphorbiaceae	8.32	0.75	0.001	1.62	12	1.08	1E-03	1.794
32	Euphorbia hirta L.	Euphorbiaceae	68.32	0.38	5E-04	7.587	79.32	0.58	6E-04	7.788
33	Geranium occelatum L.	Geraniaceae	9	0.81	6E-05	1.534	21	0.47	2E-04	3.219
34	Hexasepalum teres (Walter) J.H.Kirkbr.	Rubiaceae	-	-	-	-	53.64	2.14	3E-04	4.319
35	Indigofera linifolia (Lf) Retz.	Fabaceae	39.32	3.55	5E-04	2.91	5.64	0.22	6E-05	1.904
36	Justicia adhatoda L.	Acanthaceae	63	0.46	0.048	11.97	43.64	0.43	0.012	6.961
37	Justicia procumbens L.	Acanthaceae	7.32	2.65	0.002	1.069	12	1.08	1E-04	1.688
38	Launaea nudicaulis (L.) Hook. fil.	Asteraceae	-	-	-	-	17.32	0.69	3E-04	2.509
39	Leucas cephalotes (Roth) Spreng.	Lamiaceae	13.32	1.2	0.001	1.855	-	-	-	-
40	Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br.	Lamiaceae	-	-	-	-	23	0.23	0.364	49.97
41	Lindenbergia indica (L.) Vatke	Scrophulariaceae	-	-	-	-	14.32	1.29	5E-04	1.846
42	Lindernia crustacea (L.) F. Muell	Linderniaceae	12.64	1.14	2E-04	1.705	-	-	-	-
43	Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke	Fabaceae	128	0.72	0.003	10.47	60	0.86	0.003	6.002
44	Martynia annua L.	Martyniaceae	23.64	2.13	0.005	2.726	-	-	-	-
45	Mazus pumilus (Burm. F.) Steenis	Scrophulariaceae	59.32	2.37	6E-04	4.363	15	1.35	2E-04	1.841
46	Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze	Lamiaceae	17	0.68	0.001	2.607	-	-	-	-
47	Nepeta leucophylla Benth.	Lamiaceae	-	-	-	-	40	3.61	0.002	3.283
48	Oplismenus undulatifolius (Ard.) Roem. & Schult.	Poaceae	15	1.35	1E-04	1.801	93	0.68	0.002	8.612
49	Oxalis corniculata L.	Oxalidaceae	31.32	1.25	2E-04	3.1	112.64	1.62	8E-04	8.401
50	Paspalidium flavidum (Retz.) A.Camus	Poaceae	12.64	0.5	2E-04	2.278	13.32	1.2	2E-04	1.759
51	Pentanema indicum (L.) Ling	Asteraceae	-	-	-	-	6.32	0.25	3E-04	1.962
52	Peristrophe bicalyculata (Retz.) Nees	Acanthaceae	34	1.36	0.004	3.62	6.64	0.6	1E-04	1.417
53	Phyllanthus niruri L.	Phyllanthaceae	16.32	1.47	1E-04	1.86	19.64	1.77	4E-04	2.102
54	Physalis minima L.	Solanaceae	6.64	0.6	0.002	1.638	0.64	0.24	2E-04	0.592
55	Polygonum plebeium R.Br.	Polygonaceae	22.4	2.04	4E-04	2.152	1.32	0.48	1E-05	0.603
56	Pupalia lappacea (L.) Juss.	Amaranthaceae	28.32	1.13	0.003	3.224	11	0.99	0.001	1.777
57	Saccharum benghalense Retz.	Poaceae	47.64	0.47	0.46	55.58	33.32	0.75	0.119	18.76
58	Senna occidentalis (L.) Link	Caesalpiniaceae	9	0.36	0.004	2.553	5.32	0.48	8E-04	1.433
59	Senna tora (L.) Roxb.	Caesalpiniaceae	151.32	1.11	0.256	38.48	48	0.48	0.079	15.48
60	Setaria viridis (L.) P.Beauv.	Poaceae	18.32	1.65	3E-04	1.97	7	0.63	4E-05	1.426
61	Sida acuta Burm.f.	Malvaceae	105	9.48	0.002	5.898	53	2.12	8E-04	4.348
62	Sida cordifolia L.	Malvaceae	49.32	1.11	0.001	4.547	23.64	0.94	1E-04	2.809
63	Solanum nigrum L.	Solanaceae	-	-	-	-	10	0.9	8E-04	1.666
64	Torenia violacea (Azaola ex Blanco) Pennell	Linderniaceae	-	-	-	-	24	2.16	0.001	2.453
65	Trianthema portulacastrum L.	Aizoaceae	7.32	0.66	9E-04	1.55	-	-	-	-
66	Tridax procumbens L.	Asteraceae	82	7.4	0.002	4.906	65.64	0.65	0.001	6.673
67	Trifolium indicum L.	Fabaceae	83.32	3.33	8E-04	5.43	-	-	-	-
68	Xanthium strumarium L.	Asteraceae	45.64	1.82	0.01	4.736	2.32	0.21	4E-04	1.233

	Total		2288.4		0.918	300	2008.76		0.799	300

Diversity indices of the selected altitudinal ranges in the foothills of the Himalayas_

S.N.	Habit	400–600 m AMSL				600–800 m AMSL

		H′	CD	E	d	H′	CD	E	d
1	Trees	2.958	0.0723	0.908	6.134	3.224	0.0479	0.9388	6.662
2	Shrubs	1.996	0.1897	0.7561	1.997	2.117	0.1832	0.7474	2.385
3	Herbs	3.370	0.0655	0.8449	7.371	3.467	0.0532	0.8538	7.383
4	Climbers	1.798	0.1959	0.9427	2.219	2.136	0.1556	0.8597	1.625

Phytosociological analysis of shrub species in the two altitudinal ranges of Morni Hills, Panchkula_

S.N.	Name of the plant	Family	AR_1 (400–600 m AMSL)				AR_2 (600–800 m AMSL)

			D	A/F	B.A.	IVI	D	A/F	B.A.	IVI
	Trees

1	Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet	Malvaceae	37.64	0.84	0.002	12.91	-	-	-	-
2	Barleria cristata L.	Acanthaceae	14.64	0.33	0.002	9.487	6.32	0.57	6E-04	3.404
3	Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand.	Apocynaceae	12.32	1.11	0.047	6.34	-	-	-	-
4	Carissa spinarum L.	Apocynaceae	8.64	0.78	0.014	5.179	19	0.27	0.035	9.367
5	Colebrookea oppositifolia Sm.	Lamiaceae	7.32	0.66	0.011	4.916	61.64	0.27	0.088	20.56
6	Dodonea viscosa L.	Sapindaceae	-	-	-	-	3.64	1.32	0.059	2.542
7	Eranthemum pulchellum Hort.	Acanthaceae	-	-	-	-	7	0.63	6E-04	3.487
8	Ipomoea carnea Jacq.	Convolvulaceae	13	0.57	0.016	5.86	9.32	0.84	0.011	3.916
9	Lantana camara L.	Verbenaceae	102.64	0.36	2.517	80.43	189.64	0.47	4.834	103.7
10	Murraya koenigii (L) Spreng.	Rutaceae	89.64	0.32	0.447	39.89	133.64	0.39	0.615	39.04
11	Naringi crenulata (Roxb.) Nicolson	Rutaceae	-	-	-	-	2.64	0.24	0.008	3.058
12	Parthenium hysterophorus L.	Asteraceae	366.32	1.09	0.699	87.59	312	0.92	0.06	53.37
13	Ricinus communis L.	Euphorbiaceae	-	-	-	-	1.64	0.15	2E-04	2.827
14	Solanum incanum L.	Solanaceae	-	-	-	-	11.64	0.46	0.002	5.399
15	Spermadictyon suaveolens Roxb.	Rubiaceae	4	1.44	0.091	4.098	20.32	7.34	0.196	6.422
16	Toxicodendron parviflorum (Roxb.) Kuntze	Anacardiaceae	7.32	0.66	0.166	7.812	15.32	1.38	0.357	9.278
17	Urena lobata L.	Malvaceae	2.32	0.84	4E-04	2.167	7.64	0.75	4E-04	3.562
18	Woodfordia fructicosa (L.) Kurz	Lythraceae	3.64	0.33	1.347	29.29	12	0.17	1.19	23.99
19	Ziziphus nummularia Aubrev.	Rhamnaceae	2.32	0.21	0.004	4.042	5.64	0.12	0.007	6.046

	Total		671.76		5.361	300	819.04		7.464	300

Phytosociological analysis of climber species in the two altitudinal ranges of Morni Hills, Panchkula_

S.N.	Name of the plant	Family	AR_1 (400–600 m AMSL)				AR_2 (600–800 m AMSL)

			D	A/F	B.A.	IVI	D	A/F	B.A.	IVI
	Trees

1	Abrus precatorius L.	Fabaceae	2	0.18	0.03325	79.31	1	0.09	0.00041	14.84
2	Aspidopterys wallichii Hook.f.	Malpighiaceae	-	-	-	-	1	0.36	0.00021	7.995
3	Asparagus racemosus Willd.	Asparagaceae	1.64	0.15	0.00105	12.39	-	-	-	-
4	Bauhinia vahlii Wight & Arn.	Caesalpiniaceae	0.64	0.24	0.01108	27.56	26.4	0.24	0.00197	59.89
5	Cissampelos pareira L.	Menispermaceae	-	-	-	-	8.32	0.33	0.00013	20.39
6	Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt	Cucurbitaceae	7.64	0.30	0.00045	26.13	-	-	-	-
7	Convolvulus arvensis L.	Convolvulaceae	4.64	0.42	0.00013	16.18	-	-	-	-
8	Cryptolepis buchananii Roem. & Schult.	Euphorbiaceae	-	-	-	-	3.64	0.33	0.00035	16.35
9	Dioscorea bulbifera L.	Dioscoreaceae	0.64	0.24	0.00005	4.88	16.32	0.052	0.00056	21.16
10	Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) R. Br.	Apocynaceae	14	0.20	0.00058	45.57	9.32	0.053	0.00034	54.33
11	Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet	Convolvulaceae	6.64	0.26	0.00049	24.32	-	-	-	-
12	Ipomoea muricata (L.) Jacq.	Convolvulaceae	9.64	0.38	0.00076	30.57	2	0.18	0.00003	9.124
13	Ipomoea quamoclit L.	Convolvulaceae	-	-	-	-	6.32	0.12	0.00008	9.344
14	Pueraria tuberosa (Willd.) DC.	Fabaceae	3	0.27	0.00065	14.15	5.32	0.21	0.00136	39.13
15	Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr.	Fabaceae	-	-	-	-	2	0.18	0.00009	10.18
16	Stephania glabra (Roxb.) Miers	Menispermaceae	1.32	0.12	0.00006	9.766	21.32	0.48	0.00015	37.25
17	Trichosanthes dioica L.	Cucurbitaceae	1	0.09	0.00005	9.127	-	-	-	-

	Total		52.8		0.04861	300	102.96		0.00568	300

Floristic status of the Himalayan foothills in Haryana – vegetation composition, diversity and population structure

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Figure 5.

Phytosociological analysis of tree species in the two altitudinal ranges of Morni Hills, Panchkula_

Phytosociological analysis of herb species in the two altitudinal ranges of Morni Hills, Panchkula_

Diversity indices of the selected altitudinal ranges in the foothills of the Himalayas_

Phytosociological analysis of shrub species in the two altitudinal ranges of Morni Hills, Panchkula_

Phytosociological analysis of climber species in the two altitudinal ranges of Morni Hills, Panchkula_

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