PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT PLANTS IN A DRY DECIDUOUS FOREST OF MARUTHAMALAI HILLS, COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU
- Psychological Observation, Maruthamalai hills, dry deciduous forest
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out in a dry deciduous forest of Maruthamalai hills to know the changes in species composition according to altitude and ecology of economically important plants. A total number of 128 plant species were identified and 112 of them are recognized as economically important.
Based on importance value index, the species like Acacia torta, Chloris barbata, Eragrostis viscosa, Erythroxylon monogynum Pterolobium indicum and Zizyphus oenoplia are ecologically well established plants in the study forest. On the other hand the spices such as Polygala Jacobi, Portulaca guadrifida, Ruellia patula,
Sida rhomboidea, Waltheria indica, Calotropis gigantean, Solanum torvum, Acacia leucophloea, Acacia nilotica, Acacia trotitis, Agave Americana, Bambusa arundinacea, Cassia fistula, Chloroxylon swietenia, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Pithecellobium dulce, Pongamia pinnata, Prosopis juliflora, Samanea saman,
Thespesia populnea, Canavalia mollis, Leptadenia reticulata, Rivea hypocrateriformis etc., are considered as ecologically weaker species in the community. Hence priorities must be given to these species so as to protect the genetic stock and species as well.