Floristic composition, biological spectrum, and phytogeographic distribution of the Bin Dara Dir, in the western boundary of Pakistan

Abstract

This study assessed the floristic composition, biological spectrum, and phytogeographical elements of the Bin Dara western boundary of Pakistan. The flora consisted of 140 plant species belonging to 47 families. The most dominant family was Poaceae (with 14 species), followed by Asteraceae (11 species). The biological spectrum showed the therophytes (71 species, 50.71%) as the dominant life form class, followed by mega-phanerophytes (27 species, 19.28%), nano-phanerophytes (15 species, 10.71%), geophytes (10 species, 7.14%), chamaephytes (9 species, 6.42%), and hemi-cryptophytes (8 species, 5.71%). Leaf size classes comprised of nanophylls (48 species, 34.28%), microphylls (32 species, 22.85%), mesophylls (22 species, 15.71%), macrophylls (17 species, 12.14%), leptophylls (12 species, 8.57), megaphylls (8 species, 5.75%), and aphyllous (1 species, 0.71%). Cosmopolitan was the most prominent form of phytogeographic elements (with 17 species, 12.14%), followed by pantropical and Euro-Siberian Mediterranean Irano-Turanian (14 species, 10%) each. The pluriregional represented (13 species, 9.28%), Holarctic and Mediterranean Irano-Turanian (10 species, 7.14%), Irano-Turanian and Western Himalayan (9 species, 6.42%) each. It is recommended that further study is needed to map the vegetation, its indicators, and rare species that face a huge threat of endangerment.

Vegetation–edaphic correlation and importance value index in himalayan ‘ecotone’ temperate conifer forest using the multivariate technique

“…It is therefore imperative to quantify the relationship between floristic composition, edaphic variables, and environmental determinants in order to conserve, protect, and sustainably manage forests for the present and for the future. It is important to interpret plant species from any geographical location in terms of floristic characteristics, IVI value, and correlation between vegetation, edaphic, and climatic conditions ( Hanz et al, 2022 , Manan et al, 2022 ). As a result, floristic composition may be influenced by various factors, including climate, soil type, topography, human activities, and biotic interactions ( Aslam et al, 2022 , Abedi et al, 2022 , Bisht et al, 2022 ).…”

The role of plants in traditional medicine and current therapy: A case study from North part of Kashmir Himalaya

“…According to (Pan et al2013: Qureshi et al 2016, modern medicine has interest in traditional uses of medicinal plants, which had previously been used to treat and manage a variety of illnesses. The importance of plant-based medical knowledge is rising, and it is now acknowledged on a global scale as an invaluable resource for health care practices and as a motivator for the preservation of medicinal plants (Haq et al 2023a;Waheed et al, 2022). Examples of expertise seen as essential to the knowledge needed for drug development include ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology.…”

Ethnobotanical study of Makra Hills district Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

“…The realm of traditional medicine continues to flourish across various domains, encompassing both cultivated and uncultivated terrains, extending its influence across both developed and developing nations . Furthermore, the historical legacy of wild plants persists and seamlessly integrates with modern practices across a diverse spectrum, encompassing vital roles in animal sustenance, veterinary care, agricultural applications, cosmetic formulations, household utilities, and even spiritual and ceremonial contexts (Haq et al, 2023b).…”

“…The elevated ecosystems of the Himalayas are widely recognized as a focal point for researchers who are dedicated to exploring and documenting ethnobotanical treasures (Haq et al, 2022a;Haq et al, 2023c;Haq et al, 2023d). These treasures not only provide direct financial benefits to local communities but also serve as a crucial source of medicinal resources (Haq et al, 2023b). The majority of documented medicinal plants in Pakistan are believed to be concentrated in mountainous regions (Ahmad et al, 2014;Ibrar et al, 2015;Rashid et al, 2015).…”