CONSERVATION STATUS AND ECONOMIC UTILITY OF REGUNATHAPATTI PALAKKURUCHI RESERVE FOREST, PUDUKKOTTAI DISTRICT, TAMILNADU.
Keywords:
Abstract
The present study has been carried out in R. Palakkuruchi reserve forest (RF) in Ponnamaravathytaluk of Pudukkottai District, TamilNadu, India, to document the current floristic composition Conservation status and economic utility of the Forest area. A total of 104 species belonging to 85 genera and 39 families were recorded from the study area. Out of the recorded 39 families 38 were angiosperms and 1 was Pteridophyte (Marsileaceae). The monocots were represented by 19 (18.27 %) species belonging to 18 genera and 6 families, and dicots contributing 84 (80.77%) species belonging to 66 genera and 32 families. Based on habit classification of the enumerated plants, the majority of species were herbs 78 (51.46%) followed by 27 (18.45%) shrubs, 23 (16.51%) climbers and the rest 17 (13.59%) were trees. Of all the documented plant species, 3 species Catunaregam spinosa, Canthium parviflorumand Canthium coromandelicum was abundant. Euphorbiaceae with 6 genera and 10 species and Rubiaceae with 8 genera and 10 species were the dominant families followed by Poaceae with 8 genera and 9 species, Cyperaceae and Acanthaceae with 5 genera and 5 species each in terms of number whereas Rubiaceae was followed by Poaceae, Cyperaceae and Euphorbiaceae in terms of abundance. In the present study, the recorded 104 plant species were categorized as food (27), fodder (18), medicinal purpose (39), timber (7), firewood (8) and other purposes (5) based on the economic utility by local residents. Plant parts used as food by local residents in R. Palakkuruchi reserve forest includes edible tubers (1), Leafy vegetable (12), Edible stem (1), unripe fruits (2), fruits (10) and seeds (1). 39 Plants categorized as medicine by local residents were used to treat Asthma (1), hair growth (3), Ear ache (1), Poison bites (1), heel cracks (1), diabetes (2), body pain (2), eye infection (1), body cooling (3), Venereal diseases (2), Oral diseases (2), Cold (5), Fever (2), Head ache (2), Skin diseases (3), Stomach Problems(2), Cough (4) and Wounds (2).In the present study, out of 104 species recorded 6 specieswas nearly threatened,6 species was vulnerable and the remaining 92 species were categorized as least concern. The geographic origin of recorded taxa ofR. Palakkuruchi RF represents 4 (17.93%) invasive and 100 (82.07%) native species.
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