Plant Science Research, Vol. 40, 2018

Qualitative and quantitative assessment of plant diversity of Chandaka-Damapara Sanctuary with special emphasis on identification of useful, keystone and threatened species

An exhaustive survey of flora and vegetation of Chandaka-Dampada Sanctuary revealed the occurrence of 655 species of angiospermic plants belonging to 454 genera under 119 families. Of these, Uvaria lurida, Uvaria hamiltonii, Cycas sphaerica, Pterocarpus marsupium, Alphonsea maderaspatana, Litsea glutinosa, Salacia chinensis and Oroxylum indicum were classified as threatened species needing immediate attention for conservation. Besides, several wild relatives of crop plants, parasites, epiphytes, lithophytes, insectivorous plants and botanically interesting species were also identified during the study. Quantitative assessment of 113 species of trees (GBH e”30cm) was made by laying 79 sample quadrates in the sanctuary and stand density of 222.21 stems/ ha and stand basal area of 11.2 m²/ ha were recorded. The values of diversity indices such as Shannon-Weiner Index, Simpson Index and Evenness Index were calculated as 3.962, 0.03 and 0.83 respectively. The sanctuary was found to be rich in terms of biological diversity of plants.