QUANTITATIVE DESCRIPTION OF UNDERSTOREY VEGETATION OF SHOGRAN VALLEY, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Quantitative analysis of understorey vegetation was carried out at twenty two different sites of Shogran valley at the elevation range between 2357 to 2784m. Circular plots of 2.5m were used for the purpose of sampling. The present study revealed that the most common understorey species of Shogran valley were Fragaria indica, Galium aparine, Galium boreata, Geranium wallichianum, Gentiana argenta, Micromeria biflora, Poa supina, Plantago lanceolata, Ranunculus puchellus, Rumex dentatus, Taraxacum officinale, Trifolium minus, Trifolium repens, Viburnum mullaha, Viola biflora, Anemone rivilaris, Arabidopsis thaliana, Indigofera pulchella, Rumex nepalensis and Trifolium minus. These species were frequently present at the higher elevation and not found at the low elevation. Galium boreata, Ranunculus pulchellus and Ranunculus sceleratus were found at both the elevations. Ranunculaceae was the most common family while Fabaceae, Pinaceae, Labiatae, Primulaceae, Rosaceae and Berberidaceae were the common in this area.