Floristic composition and phenology of vegetation in district Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Ghani Subhan, Shakir Ullah, Shahab Ali, Rafia Zainab, Mohammad Sohail, Lubna Shakir, Izhar Khan, Mansoor Ali, Sajid Ali, Hasnain Khan, Wardah Hayat Khan, Izhar Ullah

Abstract


The present study explores the floristic composition and phenology of vegetation in district Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This district features diverse biological and climatic conditions, creating a unique environment for ecological studies. The research was conducted from May to November in 2018 and 2019, documenting 206 plant species across 182 genera and 82 families. The dominant families were Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae. Using Raunkaier’s life form classification, the study found a dominance of therophytes (41%) and nanophanerophytes (13%), indicating the local ecosystem’s adaptation to annual climatic changes. In terms of leaf size spectrum, microphylls were the most abundant (39%), followed by mesophylls (27%) and Nanophylls (22%). The distribution of plant species in the research area reflects the adaptation of the local flora to specific environmental conditions. Phenological observations revealed two distinct flowering seasons: the primary season from May to August and the secondary season from September to November. During the first season, the majority of plants (85%), predominantly herbs, were in bloom. In contrast, the second season showed a smaller diversity of blooming plants, including six fern species. Fruiting patterns mirrored the flowering trends, with a higher fruiting rate observed from May to August (106 species) compared to September to November (100 species). This research provides a comprehensive overview of the floristic diversity, biological spectrum, and phenological patterns in district Dir Lower, contributing valuable information to plant ecology and conservation in the region.


Keywords


Floristic composition, biological spectrum, Phenological behavior, Tehsil Timergara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abbas, S., Mayo, A., 2021. Impact of temperature and rainfall on rice production in Punjab, Pakistan. Environment, Development and Sustainability 23 (2), 1706-1728.

Al-Yemeni, M., Sher, H., 2010. Biological spectrum with some other ecological attributes of the flora and vegetation of the Asir Mountain of South West, Saudi Arabia. African Journal of Biotechnology 9 (34).

Asim, Z., Haq, F., Iqbal, A., 2016. Phenology, life form and leaf spectra of the vegetation of Kokarai Valley, district Swat. Journal of Applied Environmental and Biological Sciences 9, 23-31.

Batalha, A., Martins, R., 2004. Floristic, frequency, and vegetation life-form spectra of a cerrado site. Brazilian Journal of Biology 64, 201-209.

Büntgen, U., Piermattei, A., Krusic, P.J., Esper, J., Sparks, T., Crivellaro, A., 2022. Plants in the UK flower a month earlier under recent warming. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 289 (1968), 2021-2456.

Cortés-Flores, J., Cornejo-Tenorio, G., Ibarra-Manríquez, G., 2015. Flowering phenology and pollination syndromes in species with different growth forms in a Neotropical temperate forest of Mexico. Botany 93(6), 361-367.

Fang, J., Wang, X., Shen, Z., Tang, Z., He, J., Yu, D., Guo, Z., 2009. Methods and protocols for plant community inventory. Biodiversity Science 17(6), 533.

Hamayun, M., 2005. Ethnobotanical profile of Utror and Gabral valleys, district Swat, Pakistan. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 2005(1), 9.

Hassan, N., Din, U., Hassan, F., Abdullah, I., Zhu, Y., Jinlong, W., Zeb, U., 2020. Identification and quantitative analyses of medicinal plants in Shahgram Valley, district Swat, Pakistan. Acta Ecologica Sinica 40(1), 44-51.

Hazrat, A., Ali, Q., Nisar, M., Sher, K., Jan, T., Ullah, A., 2020. Bryophyte’s flora of Sheringal Valley Dir Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Weed Science Research 26 (1).

Hussain, K., Nisar, F., Majeed, A., Nawaz, K., Bhatti, K., 2010. Ethnomedicinal survey for important plants of Jalalpur Jattan, district Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 2010 (7), 11.

Irfan, M., Jan, G., Jan, F.G., Murad, W., 2022. Floristic diversity and chorotype analysis of the pteridophytes of Pakistan. JAPS: Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences 32 (1).

Khan, N., 2012. A community analysis of Quercus Baloot Griff, Forest District Dir, Upper Pakistan. African Journal of Plant Science 6 (1), 21-31.

Khan, N., Ahmed, M., Shaukat, S.S., Wahab, M., Siddiqui, M.F., 2011. Structure, diversity, and regeneration potential of Monotheca buxifolia (Falc.) A. DC. dominated forests of Lower Dir District, Pakistan. Frontiers of Agriculture in China 5, 106-121.

Khatri, M., Nasir, A., Robina Saleem, S., Fatima Noor, F., 1995. Characteristics and chemical composition of the fixed oil of Achras zapota Manilkara zapota seeds. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 6 (1).

Lalrinkima, R., 2013. Study of Medicinal Plants in Eastern Himalayan Montane Forests of Mizoram (Doctoral dissertation, Mizoram University).

Mantovani, E., Viti, M., Babbucci, D., Tamburelli, C., Cenni, N., 2019. How and why the present tectonic setting in the Apennine belt has developed. Journal of the Geological Society 176 (6), 1291-1302.

Nasir, M., Alam, S., Ahmad, W., Bateni, M., Iqbal, J., Almazroui, M., Ahmad, B., 2023. Geospatial soil loss risk assessment using RUSLE model: a study of Panjkura River Basin, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Arabian Journal of Geosciences 16(7), 440.

Nasrullah, K., Fayaz, A., Kishwar, A., Shahid, S., 2015. Composition, structure, and regeneration dynamics of Olea ferruginea Royle forests from Hindukush range of Pakistan. Journal of Mountain Science 12, 647-658.

Rafferty, N., Ives, A., 2011. Effects of experimental shifts in flowering phenology on plant-pollinator interactions. Ecology Letters 14 (1), 69-74.

Rahman, A., Khan, N., Ali, K., Ullah, R., Khan, M., Jones, D., Rahman, I., 2021. Plant species classification and diversity of the understory vegetation in oak forests of Swat, Pakistan. Applied Sciences 11 (23), 11372.

Rashid, A., Swati, M., Sher, H., Al-Yemeni, M., 2011. Phyto ecological evaluation with a detailed floristic appraisal of the vegetation around Malam Jabba, Swat, Pakistan. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 1 (6), 461-467.

Raunkiaer, G., 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical geography. Claredon, Oxford.

Sajid, M., Rahim, F., Ullah, S., Ullah, R., Bilqees, R., Shakir, L., 2023. Qualitative and quantitative ethnobotanical study of Arrang Valley of district Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Journal of Agriculture & Forestry Research 2 (6), 83-97.

Shah, M., Khan, M., 2006. Checklist of medicinal plants of Siran Valley, Mansehra, Pakistan. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 2006 (1), 6.

Shah, S., Khan, S., Sulaiman, S., Muhammad, M., Badshah, L., Bussmann, R.W., Hussain, W., 2020. Quantitative study on medicinal plants traded in selected herbal markets of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Ethnobotany Research and Applications 20, 1-36.

Shinwari, Z., Jan, A., Khalil, T., Khan, A., Ali, M., Qaiser, M., Zahra, B., 2018. Identification and phylogenetic analysis of selected medicinal plant species from Pakistan: DNA barcoding approach. Pakistan Journal of Botany 50 (2), 553-560.

Shuaib, M., Ali, K., Ahmed, S., Hussain, F., Ilyas, M., Hassan, N., Hussain, F., 2018. Impact of rapid urbanization on the floral diversity and agriculture land of district Dir, Pakistan. Acta Ecologica Sinica 38 (6), 394-400.

Siraj, K., Gul, J., Hameeda, B., Kifayat, U., Farzana, G., Shakir, U., 2018. Plants Traditional Medication in Arid and Semi-Arid Zone of Tehsil. Journal of Applied Environmental and Biological Sciences 8 (8), 14-1.

Ullah, S., 2017. Ecological Study of Different Communities Site from District Lower Dir Laram Timergara Khyber Pakhtun Khwa Pakistan. Journal of Botany 1 (1), 60-78.

Ullah, S., Begam, L., Abasi, F., Khan, S., Bacha, I., Sohil, M., Ihsan, M., 2019a. Floristic list and biological spectra of plants of Arrang Sire Ghar, Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Ullah, S., Begam, L., Ullah, Z., Naz, R., Ihsan, M., Abasi, F., 2019b. Ecological study of different community sites from district Karak Khyber Pakhtun Khwa Pakistan. International Journal of Research in Agronomy 2(1), 12-16.

Ullah, S., Said, M., Ihtisham, U., Ikram, U., Rizwana, B., Asghar, A., Muhammad, S., 2023a. Ethnobotanical study of village Darangal Kambat tehsil Samarbagh, district Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Journal of Agriculture & Forestry Research 2, 1-18.

Ullah, S., Shakir, L., Subhan, G., Sohail, M., Bilqees, R., Khan, Y., Ali, S., 2024. Phytodiversity and Conservation Assessment of Ethnobotanically Significant Flora in Khall Hagram Dara, Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Plant Protection 8 (1), 143-162.

Ullah, S., Sohil, M., Khattak, M., Ihsan, M., Begum, L., 2019c. List of some selected pteridophytes from Maidan valley of Dir lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. International Journal of Horticulture and Food Science 1 (2), 15-22.

Ullah, S., Ullah, R., Shakir, L., Ullah, R., 2023b. Checklist of ethnobotanical plants of tehsil Colony, Samarbagh, district Dir lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Research 2 (3).

Ullah, S., Ullah, R., Ullah, L.S.R., 2021a. Medicinal uses of selected plants of Tehsil Munda District Lower Dir KPK, Pakistan. International Journal of Agriculture and Nutrition 3 (2), 19-26.

Ullah, S., Ullah, Z., Iqbal, J., Abasi, F., Khan, S., Sohail, M., Ihsan, M., 2021b. Traditional uses of plants and their role in the community development of Sheen Ghar Valley district Dir lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. International Journal of Agriculture and Nutrition 3, 2664-6064.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.33804/pp.008.03.5264

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.