BIODIVERSITY AND MEDICINAL VALUES OF VASCULAR PLANTS FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD SECURITY OF MALAM JABBA VALLEY, HINDUKUSH RANGE SWAT, PAKISTAN
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Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
CENTRE OF PLANT BIODIVERSITY
Abstract
(A) TAXONOMIC STUDIES (VASCULAR PLANT BIODIVERSITY)
The Malam Jabba Valley, district Swat has a diverse flora with the spectacular scenic
beauty that attracts tourists across the globe and makes the valley a paradise for the nature lovers
and adventure seekers. Floristically the area is located in Hindukush Range, dominated by Sino-
Japanese type of vegetation.
A detailed investigation was carried out during 2013-2017 in order to explore and
determine the vascular plant biodiversity and their conservation value based on native,
naturalized, cultivated/alien species for sustainable livelihood security of Malam Jabba Valley,
Hindukush Range, District Swat, Pakistan. The study documented 476 taxa of vascular plants
taxonomically segregated into 334genera and 112 families.
Pteridophytes were represented by 26 species classified among 14 genera and 10
families. Gymnosperms consisted of 11 species in 9 genera belonging to 4 families.
Angiosperms were represented by 98 families, of these; 86 species of 69 genera in 16 families
were monocots while 353 species distributed within 242 genera in 82 families were dicots. The
number of plant species per family varies from 1 to 51.
Athyraceae with 5 species and 3 genera was recognized as leading family in Pteridophyta
followed by Adiantaceae, Aspleniacae, Dryopteridaceae and Pteridaceae with 4 species each
while the remaining five families, Dennstaedtiaceae, Equisetaceae, Marsileaceae,
Selaginellaceae, Thelypteridaceae were monospecific that contributes one species and one genus
each.
Pinaceae was prominent family in term of species diversity having 6 species and 4 genera
followed by Cupressaceae with 3 species and 3 genera, Ephedraceae and Taxaceae comprising of
two genera and each genus with single species.