Site ecological factors have great influence on the vegetation density, distribution and diversity. Its prediction is of prime importance for the forest ecosystem conservation and management. Therefore, density, taxonomic diversity and distribution of understory vegetation on varied soil and topographic conditions of 32 Acacia modesta (Wall) d ominating forests in Malakand Division between an elevation ranging from 598-1050 m above sea level, in Northern Pakistan (71°03-72°04 E Longitude and 34°31-34°45 N Latitude) were studies during 2013-14. These forests for ecological attributes were sampled by laid down 20 quadrates of 5×5 m along a line transect of 200 m with 10 step intervals. Site physiographic and soil physiochemical features were also analyzed for each forest stand. A total of 3836 individuals (plants), comprising 32 species and belonging to 20 angiosperms families were recorded. The analysis of understory vegetation revealed that Asteraceae, Poaceae and Sapindaceae were the dominant families in terms of taxonomic diversity and Family Importance Value (FIV) index, respectively. The members of Chenopodiaceae and Poaceae were distributed on six different aspects. However, species richness and diversity were generally high on East and West aspects of the study area. Dodonea viscosa (L.) Jacq was the dominant shrub species in terms of density and percent cover. In addition, percent species and abundance show contrast variations with relative frequency. The site environment and species relationship show that lower basicity, high sand and water contents have a great influence on the plant species diversity and richness. The results suggested that certain physiographic and edaphic variables confined the species richness, diversity and distribution of the vegetation in the study area.

Punica granatum L. (Wild) is an important fruit-yielding species of the world and a source of income for people, particularly in the Hindukush-Himalayas of Pakistan. Considering its ecological and commercial importance, an attempt was made to provide a primary assessment of its compositional pattern with relation to environmental variables for ecologically unexplored Punica granatum forests located in a subtropical dry temperate zone using multivariate techniques. The vegetation data were collected from 40 Punica granatum forest stands along with the associated environmental data (12 variables) at different locations. Classification of the stands was carried out using Ward's agglomerative cluster analysis. In total, 20 tree species belonging to 13 families of 19 genera with 78 understories were surveyed. Finally, nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination with associated Monte Carlo permutation tests was performed to explore the patterns of variation in vegetation distribution explained by the environmental variables. Four community types were identified in different altitudinal and microclimatic thickets that significantly varied in species composition. The soil physical properties, i.e. sand and clay, forming an amalgam with chemical properties, i.e. N +1 and K +1 concentrations, were the most influential variables responsible for distribution of Punica granatum and associated species and compositional variation in the subtropical dry temperate areas of Pakistan. The present study will help in the understanding of conservation and management of this ecologically and commercially important species and will provide baseline information for other forests species growing in the area.

| Exploration of regional flora provide base for conservation management, taxonomy and ethnobotany. In addition, Diverse ecosystems are habitat rich and highly productive. Determining species diversity and exploration, we conducted the taxonomical survey and collected information's about the floristic composition of Sheikh Buddin National Park (SBNP). As a result 117 plant species belonged to 99 genera and 52 families were collected, preserved, identified, and deposited as voucher specimens in the Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Botany, University of Malakand. Among these monocots were represented by 17 species under 15 genera and 6 families, while Dicots were represented by 100 species belonging to 84 genera's and 46 families. The data obtained from the survey revealed that Poaceae and Lamiaceae having 9 plant species (each), followed by Asteraceae with 7 species, Apocynaceae and Fabaceae with 6 plants species each while Mimosaceae and Solanaceae with 5 species were the dominant families. Among tree strata Acacia modesta, Olea ferruginea and Capparis decidua, in shrub stratum Prosopis juliflora, Dodonea viscosa, Echinops echinatus while among herbs Cymbopogon jawarncusa, Cynodon dactylon, Peganum harmala were common abundant species of the study area. Throughout study area ground flora was common with scattered shrubs. Studied flora reflect xerophytic nature.

Abstract:The present stduy is aimed to study the phytosociological attributes of the Sheikh Buddin National Park, situated in district Dera Ismail Khan. For this study, various field tours were conducted in March, 2013-August, 2015. A total of 26 plant species belonging to 22 generas and 19 families were identified. The data was collected, using quadrate method. The park was divided in 29 stands and 25 quadrates sized (10×10 m) were examined in each stand. Vegetation parameters such as Diameter at Breast Height (DBH), density, frequency and Important Value Index (IVI) of the woody species were recorded. The communities generated on the basis of IVI values resulted in the isolation of seven tree communities. Acacia modesta followed by Olea ferruginea were the dominant communities of the study area. Acacia modesta, Olea ferruginea, Acacia nilotiea, Caperis decidua, Tamarix aphylla, Prosopis cineraria and Ailanthus altissima were common species of the study area, while species such as Acacia nilotica, Tecomella undulate, Ziziphus jujube were randomly distributed. The results revealed that generally the park was dominated by small sized tree species indicating a secondary generation stage and it needs proper management, protection and care.