Post Monsoon Floristic Inventory of Nagarparkar, District Tharparkar, Sindh, Pakistan

Pure Appl. Biol., 8(1): 968-976, March, 2019 http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2019.80038

Research Article

Post monsoon floristic inventory of Nagarparkar, District Tharparkar, Sindh, Pakistan

Mumtaz Ali Saand1, 2, Ameer Ahmed Mirbahar1, Naeema Khatoon Khaskheli2, Khalil Ahmed Ansari2, Shakeel Ahmed Khaskheli1, Muhammad Mahmood-ur-Rehman Jamro3 and Muzafar Hussain Sirohi2* 1. Centre for Conservation and Biodiversity (CBC), Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur-Pakistan 2. Department of Botany, Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur-Pakistan 3. AZRI field station Khairpur, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC)-Pakistan *Corresponding author’s email: [email protected] Citation Mumtaz Ali Saand, Ameer Ahmed Mirbahar, Naeema Khatoon Khaskheli, Khalil Ahmed Ansari, Shakeel Ahmed Khaskheli, Muhammad Mahmood-ur-Rehman Jamro and Muzafar Hussain Sirohi. Post monsoon floristic inventory of Nagarparkar, District Tharkarpar, Sindh, Pakistan. Pure and Applied Biology. Vol. 8, Issue 1, pp968-976. http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2019.80038 Received: 12/12/2018 Revised: 07/03/2019 Accepted: 11/03/2019 Online First: 27/03/2019 Abstract The monsoon rain brings a green carpet of landscape to Thar Desert including Karoonjhar mountains range. We explored Nagarparkar, District Tharparkar, Sindh to record post monsoon botanical inventory of the region. The study confirmed 89 plant species of 26 plant families. The vegetation was dominated by Poaceae (18 spp.) and Fabaceae (15 spp.) families. About two third of the families were represented by single species. The vegetation was rich with grasses and herbs making about 60% of the species while the rest includes tress shrubs and subshrubs. The lifespan analysis revealed the dominance of perennials. The life form spectrum shows the abundance of Phanerophytes (30%), Chamaephyte (28%) and Therophyte (25%) across the region. The present study demonstrates vegetation variations triggered by monsoon down pours and indicates the presence of various microhabitats in the study area. The current inventory would be useful for further ecological studies and conservation of species and habitats. These records would help to detect invasive species, their distribution and other environ- mental impacts on plant species in future. Keywords: Floristic inventory; Life form; Life-span, Nagraparkar; Plant habits; Thar Desert Introduction change on regional vegetation and the The flora is an assembled checklist of plant distribution of species [3, 4]. The valuable species which provides information about data records compiled through floras could plant biodiversity of any specific be utilized for future reference [2]. The geographic zone [1, 2]. A floristic inventory flora may range from a local to regional not only reveals the identification and level casing varied habitats [1, 5-9]. description of local and regional species but Pakistan is rich in floristic diversity and also offer the evidence of plant phenology, consists around 5,700, both indigenous and invasion of new species and vegetation alien, plant species of vascular plants [10]. stress [1]. The information may also be Numerous studies demonstrated the useful to understand the impact of climate inventories of floras and their importance in

Published by Bolan Society for Pure and Applied Biology 968 Saand et al.

Pakistan [1, 10]. Additionally, several Flora of Karachi [19] and floral studies at forest, desert and wetland floristic Nara Desert [20]. The species were inventories have been conducted in deposited in the Herbarium of Centre for different parts of Sindh Province [2, 11-13]. Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC), District Tharparkar, a part of the Thar Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU), Desert, is situated at the south-eastern part Khairpur, Sindh for record. To get of Pakistan, at about 433 km form the vernacular names of taxa, the local people capital city of Sindh, Karachi. Thar is not of study area were interviewed. only a fertile desert with a unique flora and Raunkiaer’s system [21] of classification fauna but also attributed to stunting was used to determine the life forms of the landscapes and cultural diversity, thus often species. This system uses the position of referred as open air museum [14]. perennating buds to determine the life form Nagarparkar is one of the Talukas of of a species. Tharparkar District stretched over 3,862 Results and discussion km2. It is located between Thar Desert and A total of 89 plant species belonging to 68 Rann of Kutch and contains the dramatic genera and 26 families were identified from Karunjar Hills covered by enormous plant study area (Table 1) Plant family Poaceae species [14]. However, the study area is (14 gen., 18 spp.) was found predominant tropical desert climate in nature, it is cooler with high species richness, followed by the than the rest of the Tharparkar. During families Fabaceae (9 gen., 15 spp.), monsoon it receives considerable quantity Malvaceae (3 gen., 6 spp.) and Asteraceae of rainfall in the month of July to (3 gen., 5 spp.) (Figure 1). About 50% of September. April, May and June are the the identified families contained two to four hottest months (max: temperatures 39℃ species each, while another 35% were and min: 20℃) and January and February represented by single species (Table 1). Of are the coldest (max: temperatures 26℃ and 26 identified families, Poaceae and min: 6℃). After the rains in August it Cyperaceae, making less than 20% of becomes extremely green and pleasant and species, represented Monocot clad while a temperatures become bearable (max: high proportion of the species characterized temperature 34℃ and min: 13℃) [15]. This Dicot clad (Figure 2a). study was conducted to record the post Previous studies had unveiled the floristic monsoon floristic inventory of the area to inventories including deserts and mountain observe plant biodiversity of Nagarparkar regions of Sindh province [11-13, 20-24]. which is the part of Thar Desert, Sindh, The first ever report of floristic inventory of Pakistan. The study provides information of Thar Desert was conducted by Chauudri flora of study area after it receives the [22] that revealed 122 plant species. This monsoon rain and demonstrated the study confirmed 72% of those species in a checklist of flora, their life-spans, life forms part of that desert. This can be attributes to and habits. the varied microhabitats in the Nagarparkar Materials and methods District. Moreover, Thar Desert had been The study area was visited in post monsoon found to be dominated by plant families season 2017 and 2018. The plant species Amaranthaceae, Cucrbitaceae and were collected from varied habitats e.g. Euphorbiaceae [25]. In contrast, this study sand dunes and rocky area of Nagarparkar. confirmed the higher species richness of All collected specimens were processed for families Poaceae and Fabaceae (Figure 1). making herbarium and determination of One reason for this contrast may be the their life-span and life form categories as recent changes in positions of genera in suggested [2]. The identification of species plant families. This study follows the recent was carried out with keys published in classification suggested in the online Flora literature, i.e. Flora of Pakistan [16-18], of Pakistan [26].

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This study recorded Acacia senegal evident after monsoon downpours (Figure (Fabaceae); interestingly the same plant 3). Similar results have been reported from species is absent in Nara Desert, Khairpur other parts of Pakistan [2, 12]. [20]. Moreover, Aerva javanica (Fabaceae According to Raunkiaer’s life form family), Leptadenia pyrotechnica. spectrum [21], the vegetation was (Apocynaceae family), Calotropis procera dominated by Phanerophytes (30%), (Apocynaceae family) and Prosopis Chamaephyte (28%) and Therophyte cineraria (Fabaceae family) were found the (25%), while Hemicryptophyte and most frequent species at sand dunes. Xeropsammophyte were poorly Whereas the Prosopis glandulosa and represented (Figure 4). Though the Prosopis multiflora (Fabaceae family) were percentage of various life form in found abundant at rocky areas of neighboring desert areas varied, a high Karoonjhar mountain. These species representation of Therophytes and provide ecosystem services and play a role Phanerophytes have been recorded in the in human wellbeing [23, 27]. Jaisalmer, Ajmer, Sariska and other parts of Moreover, the flora was rich with a high Rajasthan, India [28]. A high representation proportion of herbs and grasses making of Phanerophytes in the study may indicate about 60% of the total species (Figure 3). the humid bioclimate of the area [29]. On This may explain the upshot of monsoon the other hand, Therophytes, having a short resulting in a growth of annual herbs. This life cycle, are mostly annuals and often is in consensus with Yaseen et al. [25] as grow in rainy season especially monsoon they reported the 74% herbs, 18% shrubs [29]. and 8% trees, in ethnobotanical survey of The monsoon rain provides enough water Thar, desert of Sindh. The flora of the study for the annual herbs and grasses to flourish area had only two, annual (37%) and in the study area (Figure 2). The herbs perennial (63%), life spans (Figure 2b). abundantly grow around Karoonjhar hills However, Convolvulus glomeratus of the Nagarparkar [14]. This type of (Convolvulaceae) and Corchorus olitorius vegetation may raise on the water (Malvaceae) are contained within perennial temporarily adsorbed in the top soil layer, and annual life span in this study, synchronic to precipitation. Further, this is respectively, both species sometimes show supported with the added layer of moisture biennial behaviour. The plant species present in the subsurface soil and the belonging to four families, Cyperaceae, sandstone laying beneath the soil. Limeaceae, Neuradaceae and However, the dominance of perennial may Zygophyllaceae, had only annual life-span. indicate the resistance of species towards On contrast, nine families (of 26) revealed the harsh climate or access to plentiful perennial nature while the rest (46%) of moisture for long periods after monsoon families had both, annual and perennial, rains. natured species. The dominancy of herbs is

Table 1. Information of plant species distributed in Nagarparkar, Sindh. The position of various genera has been updated after the publication of flora of Pakistan. The legitimate name and plant families are updated with the new online version of flora of Pakistan [26] Local No. Plant Species Family Habit Life-span Life form name 1 Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet Pat-teer Malvaceae Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte 2 Acacia jacquemontii Benth. Banwar Fabaceae Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte Sindhi ba- 3 Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile Fabaceae Tree Perennial Phanerophyte bur Acacia senegal (L.) willd (Benth.) 4 Kumbat Fabaceae Tree Perennial Phanerophyte Brenan

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Aerva javanica var. javanica Amaran- Xeropsammo- 5 Booh Herb Perennial (Burm.f.) Juss. ex. thaceae phyte 6 Albizia lebbeck (L) Beth. Sarenh Fabaceae Tree Perennial Phanerophyte 7 Alhagi maurorum Medic. Kandero Fabaceae Herb Perennial Chamaephyte Amaran- 8 Amaranthus graecizans L. Marero Herb Annual Therophyte thaceae Amaran- 9 Amaranthus viridis L. Lulur Herb Annual Therophyte thaceae Lumb 10 Aristida adscensionis L. Poaceae Grass Annual Therophyte Gaah 11 Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Nim Meliaceae Tree Perennial Phanerophyte 12 Barleria prionitis L. Khussaro Acanthaceae Shrub Perennial Chamaephyte Boerhavia procumbens Banks ex Nyctagina- 13 Dakhri Herb Perennial Chamaephyte Rxb. ceae 14 Brachiaria ramosa (L.) Stapf Sawri Poaceae Grass Annual Therophyte Brachiaria reptans (L.) Gardner & 15 Sawri Poaceae Grass Annual Therophyte Hubbard Calotropis procera (Aiton) W. T, Apocyna- 16 Ak Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte Aiton ceae Capparis decidua (Forssk.) Capparida- 17 Kirar Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte Edgew. ceae 18 Cassia italica (Mill.) Spreng. Ghora wal Fabaceae Herb Annual Therophyte 19 Cenchrus biflorus Roxb. Bhorut Poaceae Grass Annual Therophyte Citrullus colocynthis (Linn.) Cucurbita- Hemicrypto- 20 Trooh Herb Perennial Schrad. ceae phyte 21 Cleome scaposa DC. Kano gah Cleomaceae Herb Annual Therophyte Cucurbita- 22 Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt. Kanduri Herb Perennial Chamaephyte ceae Nyctagina- Xeropsammo- 23 Commicarpus boissieri Cufod. Ruper Herb Perennial ceae phyte Commiphora stocksiana (Engl.) Large 24 Gugur Burseraceae Perennial Phanerophyte Engl. Shrub Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Large 25 Gugur Burseraceae Perennial Phanerophyte Bhandari Shrub Convolvu- 26 Convolvulus arvensis L Narro Herb Annual Chamaephyte laceae Convolvu- 27 Convolvulus glomeratus Choisy Sankavli Herb Perennial Chamaephyte laceae Convolvulus rhyniospermus Phesura Convolvu- 28 Herb Annual Therophyte Choisy wal laceae 29 Corchorus depressus Stocks. Mundheri Malvaceae Herb Perennial Chamaephyte 30 Corchorus olitorius L. Datehri Malvaceae Herb Annual Therophyte Cordia gharaf (Forssk.) Ehrenb. Boragina- Small 31 Leyar Perennial Phanerophyte Ex Asch. ceae tree Crotalaria burhia Buch.-Ham. ex sub- Semi per- 32 Chag Fabaceae Chamaephyte Benth. Shsrub ennial Cymbopogon commutatus (Steud.) Hemicrypto- 33 Katan Poaceae Grass Perennial stapf phyte Cymbopogon jwarancusa (Jones) Xeropsammo- 34 Katan Poaceae Grass Perennial Schult. phyte 35 Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Chhabar Poaceae Grass Perennial Chamaephyte 36 Cyperus rotundus L. Kabah Cyperaceae Sedge Annual Chamaephyte Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Gandheer 37 Poaceae Grass Annual Chamaephyte Wild Gaah Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) 38 Drabh Poaceae Grass Perennial Chamaephyte Stapf. Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) 39 Palwan Poaceae Grass Perennial Chamaephyte Stapf

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Amaran- 40 Digera muricata (L.) Mart. Lulur Herb Annual Therophyte thaceae Pachar 41 Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koel. Poaceae Grass Annual Therophyte Gaah sub- 42 Dipterygium glaucum Decne. Phair Cleomaceae Perennial Phanerophyte shrub Daryai Hemicrypto- 43 Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. Asteraceae Herb Annual buti phyte Euphorbia- 44 Euphorbia caducifolia Haines Thohar Shrub Perennial Chamaephyte ceae Kheer Euphorbia- 45 Euphorbia hirta L. Herb Annual Therophyte Wal ceae Kheera Euphorbia- 46 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Herb Annual Therophyte Wal ceae Fagonia indica var. schweinfurthii Zygophyl- Sub- Xeropsammo- 47 Dramaaho Annual Hadidi laceae shrub phyte 48 Grangea maderaspatana (L.) Poir. Mundi Asteraceae Herb Annual Therophyte 49 Grewia erythraea Schweinf. Gangi Malvaceae Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte 50 Grewia tenax (Forssk.) fiori. Gangi Malvaceae Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte 51 Grewia villosa Willd. Gangi Malvaceae Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte Boragina- Xeropsammo- 52 Heliotropium crispum Desf. Kharsan Herb Annual ceae phyte Under- 53 Indigofera argentea Burm.f. Lathio Fabaceae Perennial Therophyte shrub Indigofera cordifolia Heyne ex 54 Lathio Fabaceae Herb Annual Therophyte Roth Launaea procumbens (Roxb) Ra- Bhattar Hemicrypto- 55 Asteraceae Herb Perennial mayya & Rajagopal. phyte Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forsk.) Apocyna- 56 Khip Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte Decne. ceae Limeum indicum Stocks.ex T. An- 57 Khir wal Limeaceae Herb Annual Therophyte derson Convolvu- 58 Merremia aegyptia (L.) Urb. Naaro Herb Perennial Therophyte laceae Small 59 Moringa oleifera Lam. Moa Moringaceae Perennial Phanerophyte tree Mukia maderaspatana (L.) M. Cucurbita- Hemicrypto- 60 ------Herb Annual Roem. ceae phyte Chha- 61 Neurada procumbens L. pri/Chhipr Neuradaceae Herb Annual Therophyte i Ochthochloa compressa (Forssk.) Hemicrypto- 62 Ghander Poaceae Grass Perennial Hilu. phyte Apocyna- 63 Oxystelma esculentum (L.f.) R. Br. Phuli Herb Perennial Chamaephyte ceae Hemicrypto- 64 Pennisetum orientale Rich. Bhurut Poaceae Grass Perennial phyte Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin. ex 65 Nar/Naro Poaceae Grass Perennial Chamaephyte Steud. Pluchea lanceolata (DC.) C. B. Under- 66 Phaar Buti Asteraceae Perennial Chamaephyte Clarke shrub 67 Prosopis cineraria (L) Druce Kandi Fabaceae Tree Perennial Phanerophyte 68 Prosopis glandulosa Torr. Devi Fabaceae Tree Perennial Phanerophyte 69 Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. Devi Fabaceae Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte 70 Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC. Wanverhi Fabaceae Herb Perennial Chamaephyte Euphorbia- 71 Ricinus communis L. Heran Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte ceae 72 Saccharum bengalense Retz. Booro Poaceae Grass Perennial Chamaephyte 73 Saccharum griffithii Munro ex Kanh Poaceae Grass Perennial Phanerophyte

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Boiss. Booro/Mu 74 Saccharum spontaneum L. Poaceae Grass Perennial Chamaephyte nian Solvador- 75 Salvadora oleoides Decne. Jar/Peroon Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte aceae 76 Sesuvium sesuvioides Verdc. Kori lonak Aizoaceae Herb Annual Therophyte Kanderi 77 Solanum surattense Burm.f. Solanaceae hrub Annual Chamaephyte Wal Stipagrostis plumosa (L.) Munro Lumb 78 Poaceae Grass Annual Therophyte ex T. Anderson. Gaah Tamarica- 79 Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. Lawo Tree Perennial Phanerophyte ceae Tamarica- 80 Tamarix dioica Roxb. Ex Roth. Lawo Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte ceae Tamarica- 81 Tamarix indica willd. Lai Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte ceae ------82 Tephrosia falciformis Ramasw. Fabaceae Shrub Perennial Phanerophyte - 83 Tephrosia uniflora Pers. Andhari Fabaceae Herb Annual Chamaephyte 84 Trianthema portulacastrum L. Waho Aizoaceae Herb Annual Therophyte Bakhro/B Zygophyl- Hemicrypto- 85 Tribulus longipetalus Viv. Herb Annual hurt laceae phyte 86 Vernonia cinerascens Sch. Bip Lanski Asteraceae Shrub Perennial Chamaephyte 87 Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal Akri Solanaceae Shrub Perennial Chamaephyte 88 Zaleya pentandra (L.) Jeffrey. Waho Aizoaceae Herb Perennial Chamaephyte Ziziphus nummularia (Burm.f.) Xeropsammo- 89 Ber Phamnaceae Shrub Perennial Wt. & A. phyte

Figure 1. Plant families and species richness of flora of Nagarparker Sindh. Plant families Meliaceae, Cyperaceae, Acanthaceae, Limeaceae, Cappridaceae, Moringaceae, Phamnaceae, Neuradaceae, Solvadoraceae were represented by single species each therefore excluded from the figure.

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Figure 2. Vegetation characteristics of flora of Nagarparker, Sindh (a) Clad of

the species and (b) Life span of the species

Figure 3. Plant habits of the species of the flora of Nagarparker, Sindh

Figure 4. Life form of species identified in the flora of Nagarparker, Sindh

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Conclusion Bhatti GR, Pirzada SA, & Alam K The monsoon season embellishes the Na- (2013). Floristic Composition of the garparkar region, District Tharparkar, Plants of the Cholistan Desert, Paki- through addition of plants in its existing stan. Am J Plant Sci 4: 58-65. vegetation cover. The study recorded an in- 7. Gange M & Ebadi A (2015). Flora, ventory of 89 species of 26 plant families in Life Form and Geographical Distribu- post monsoon season. The vegetation cover tion of Plants in Meyantangan Moun- was dominated by the species of family Po- tain Refuge, East Dena Protected Area, aceae and Malvaceae. The diversity in the Kohkiloye and Boyerahmad Province, life forms of the species was supported by a Iran. J Appl Environ Biol Sci 5(9): 45- wide range of microhabitats present in the 52. study area. The study will serve as a com- 8. Ali A, Badshah L, Hussain F, & Shin- prehensive inventory of flowering plant to wari ZK (2016). Floristic composition perceive the potential threats of invasive and ecological characteristics of Plants species and climate change. of Chail valley, District Swat, Pakistan. Authors’ contributions Pak J Bot 48(3): 1013-1026. Conceived and designed the experiments: 9. Al-Hawshabi OS (2017). Floristic MA Saand, AA Mirbahar Composition, Life-forms and Choro- Performed the experiments: SA Khaskheli types of Al-Asabah region, Ash Sha- & NK Khaskheli, Analyzed the data: KA mayatayn District, Taiz Governorate, Ansari & MM Jamro, Contributed materi- Yemen. Feddes Repertorium 128: 42– als/ analysis/ tools: SA Khaskheli & AA 54. Mirbahar, Wrote the paper: MH Sirohi & 10. Shaheen H, Qureshi R, Iram Z, Munir MA Saand. M, & Ilyas M (2014). Floristic Diver- References sity of Santh Saroola, Kotliattia, Ra- 1. Ali SI (2008). Significance of flora walpindi. Pakistan. Pak J Bot 46(6): with special reference to Pakistan. Pak 1945-1954. J Bot 40(3): 967-971. 11. Qureshi R & Bhatti GR (2005). Nara 2. Qureshi R, Bhatti GR & Shabbir G Desert, Pakistan: Part 1: Soils, Climate (2011). Floristic inventory of Pir Mehr and Vegetation. Rangeland 27(5): 27- Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University 31. Research Farm at Koont and its sur- 12. Qureshi R (2008). Preliminary floristic rounding areas. Pak J Bot 43(3):1679- list of Chotiari Wetland Complex, Na- 1684. wab Shah, Sindh, Pakistan. Pak J Bot 3. Ames M & Spooner DM (2008). DNA 40(5): 2281-2288. from herbarium specimens settles a 13. Qureshi R & Bhatti GR (2010) Floris- controversy about origins of the Euro- tic inventory of Pai Forest, Nawab pean potato. Am J Bot 95(2): 252–257. shah, Sindh, Pakistan. Pak J Bot 42(4): 4. Lammertsma EI, de Boer HJ, Dekker 2215-2224. HC, Dilcher DL, Lotter AF, & Wag- 14. Ahmed A, Arif T, Amanullah M, ner-Cremer F (2011). Global CO2 rise Wasila H, Ahmad I, Amrani B, Abro leads to reduced maximum stomatal SA, Channa SA, & Jalbani ZH (2013). conductance in Florida vegetation. In-situ Conservation of Commi- PNAS 108 (10): 4035-4040. phorawightii: An Endangered Medici- 5. Badshah L, Hussain F & Sher Z nal Shrub through Integrated Participa- (2013). Floristic inventory, ecological tory Approach in the Nagarparkar Hills characteristics and biological spectrum of Tharparkar, Pakistan. Uni J Agri Res of rangeland, District Tank, Pakistan. 1(3): 103-109. Pak J Bot 45(4): 1159-1168. 15. PMD (2017). Pakistan Meteorological 6. Wariss HM, Mukhtar M, Anjum S, Department. Govt of Pakistan.

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