I J R B A T, Vol. II, Issue (7), Nov 2015: 479-483 ISSN 2347 – 517X

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCHES IN BIOSCIENCES, AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY © VISHWASHANTI MULTIPURPOSE SOCIETY (Global Peace Multipurpose Society) R. No. MH-659/13(N) www.vmsindia.org

STUDIES ON AQUATIC PLANTS OF PERENNIAL LAKES OF WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, DISTRICT,

Vijay B. Bhagat 1, Santosh N. Patole 1 and Atul D. Bobdey 2 1Shri Shivaji Arts, Commerce and Science College, Akot Dist-Akola (M.S.) 2Shri Shivaji Science College, (M.S.) [email protected]

Abstract The present paper deals with the aquatic plants and its role in understanding the wetland ecosystem dynamics and species composition of aquatic plants, seasonal distribution in the lakes of Narnala Wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary consists of a wide range of vegetation growing at different locations. These wetlands show a plant diversity of 28 genera and 31 species belonging to 20 families. These aquatic plant species includes free floating, rooted floating, submerged and emergent species. Keywords : Aquatic plants, Narnala Wildlife Sanctuary, Perennial lakes,

Introduction: for its richness of flora and fauna. The Lakes are complex ecosystems composed of Sanctuary area has special historical, biological, distinct habitats influenced by biological, mythological, archaeological, scenic and physical and chemical processes. Aquatic plants recreational values and is a point of attraction are those plants which actively grow for the tourists and the people of Maharashtra. continuously or periodically depending upon the The rich and varied miscellaneous forests of the availability of required amount of water. They area provide natural habitat to birds and wild occur submerged below or floating on the animals. The Government of Maharashtra’s surface or growing up through the water Notification No WLP/1096/CR-279/F-1 dated surface. These plants play an important role in 2nd May 1997 declared the ancient Narnala the structure and function of the aquatic and its surrounding patch of thick green forests ecosystem. Threats to fresh waters such as as the Narnala Wildlife Sanctuary. The plants pollution of different kinds, unfavorable climatic are studied from Narnala Fort and the vicinity of changes, eutrophication, acidification, and alien the Fort. This area is rich in plant diversity. The species invasion lead to reduction in native sanctuary consists of a wide range of vegetation plant diversity which also threatens the faunal growing at different locations. diversity of aquatic ecosystem (Chambers et al. Narnala Wildlife Sanctuary is unique in 2008). The fresh water ecosystems in Asia are possessing perennial lakes in the area. The no exceptions and they are also exposed to these vegetations of lakes and ponds are rich in serious threats. Conservation of freshwater aquatic flora and constitute very important biodiversity faces serious challenges because of resources of food and medicine for the tribal lack of public awareness about its magnitude population. But these natural resources, have and importance (Dudgeon 2000). Aquatic flora hardly been given due attention for scientific of is studied by various workers. Earlier, studies, and thus their potentialities remain still Subrahmanyam (1962) has described 117 untapped. The importance of the aquatic flora in aquatic angiosperms. Lavania et al. (1990) has agriculture, pisciculture, and as a source of food compiled the wetland flora of India; Cook (1996) and medicine can hardly be emphasized. Water has published the aquatic and wetland flora of plants are taxonomically different as there is India. From plant biodiversity point of view, generally a lack of adequate herbarium material many of the perennial and ephemeral lakes of and a paucity of critical studies in the Tamil Nadu still remain unexplored. In this development of various organs due to the high paper, for the first time we present a checklist of degree of adaptability in form and structure in aquatic angiosperms of lakes of Narnala Wildlife relation to aquatic environment. The peak Sanctuary, Akola district, Maharshatra, India. flowering time of the aquatic flora is generally STUDY SITE during the monsoon but some exhibit freak Narnala is an ancient fort in the hills in flowering out of the season while others are the north of AKOT taluka at a point where a constantly in flower throughout the year. ife narrow tongue of Akola District runs a few miles sciences Leaflets 3:54– 68, 2010. ISSN 0976 - in to the . This area is Southern part of 1098 . Melghat Tiger Reserve. The area is well known

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The aquatic plants are the most ENNUMERATION important component of the aquatic ecosystem. 1. Alternanthera sessilis (L. ) R.Br. ex DC. They are used as producers and phytoplankton Family: Amaranthaceae in the aquatic ecosystem. The aquatic plants are An annual floating herb, rooting at nodes. also produced carbohydrate with the help of Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, entire, and acute. sunlight, chlorophyll, carbon dioxide and water. Flowers in axillary heads, white. Fruit an They are Ceratophyllum, Eichhornia, Hydrilla, utricle, compressed, ovoid-orbicular or Lemna, Nymphaea, Ottelia, Pistia, Potamogeton, obcordate, margins often winged or thickened. Scirpus, Ludwigia, Vallisaneria, Wolffia etc. The 2.Ceratophyllum demersum Linn. aquatic plants are increases productivity of Family: Ceratophyllaceae aquatic ecosystem and thus help to maintain Leaves densely whorled, variable in thickness ecosystem balance. and amount of toothing, often terminated by 1 or 2 sharp, pointed bristles. Flowers unisexual, Material and Methods male and female flowers at different nodes. Fruit A study on the aquatic angiosperms a small nut let, green to dark pinkish in colour, throughout the Narnala WS was carried out. A sessile with persistent involucres, ovoid, total of 31 species under 28 genera belonging to compressed. 20 families were collected and identified. Plant 3.Colocasia esculenta Linn. species were collected as systematically as Vernacular name: Arvi possible from the study area. The following data Family: Araceae: were recorded from the herbarium specimen, i.e. An perennial herb, usually tall and coarse, Date of collection, collection number, habitat, sometimes small and handsome, with tuberous flowering season, vernacular names and rhizomes or a short, stout caudex. Leaves with distribution. The preliminary identifications can stout petioles, sheathing below, lamina petal, be confirmed by matching with the help of ovate-cordate. Flowers monoecious. Fruit of voucher specimens. The major identifications small obconic or oblong barries. Seed oblong, were made with the help flora of Akola district sulcate. by Kamble & Pradhan (1988). ciencesLeaflets3:54– 68, 2010. ISSN 0976 - Results and Discussion: 1098 . 4.Cynodon dactylon Linn. The taxonomic investigation on the Vernacular name: Durbaghas aquatic angiosperms in the Narnala Wildlife Family: Poaceae: Herb, stem prostrate, leaves Sanctuary was carried out. A total 31 species short, subulate, glaucous, linule hairy, spike under 28 genera belonging to 20 families were green or purplish, rachis very slender. Spikelet collected and identified. The submerged aquatic about 0.21-0.25 cm. glumes I and II spreading plants are produce oxygen in the process of ovate, acute; III much larger cymbiform, keel photosynthesis at the littoral zone of ponds. and margin scabrid. This oxygen is control by the dissolve oxygen in 5.Cyperus rotundus the ponds. As a result the balance of oxygen in Vernacular name: Lahali the water and this water is suitable for Family: Cyperaceae pisciculture. There are different types of aquatic plants, i.e . submerged; semi-submerged and A glabrous floating sedge. Stolons covered by ovate, acute, striate, pale-brown scale. Culm free floating is used in the habitat and triquetrous, steff, scabrid on angles. Leaves reproductive area of fish. Most of the aquatic often as long as stems, linear to broadly linear plants of any aquatic environment are needed and coarse, flattish-plicate, acuminate, light for fish culture. Some fishes are directly secretes brown to purple brown. Inflorescence a of their eggs on submerged hydrophytes. Many compound umbel. Achenes oblong- ellipsoid or fishes are lives on a part of decomposed aquatic oblong, ovate, pale brownish, trigonous with plants. Ecologically the aquatic plants are a concave sides, deciduous. good oxygenator of water and are used by fish 6.Cyperus rotudus for food. However, the water and marsh plants Vernacular name: Golamethi are playing an important role to maintain the Family: Cyperaceae balance of aquatic ecosystem. In this research A tall, glabrous, ressh-like sedge. Stem both of aquatic and amphibious angiosperm trigonous at top. Leaves short, rarely half the plants were included. length of stem. Inflorescence in a spike,

spikelets spicate, rachilla of spikelets distinctly

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winged, glumes approximately, closely 13.Lemna perpusilla Torrey imbricate. Family: Lemnaceae 7. Eichhornia crassipes (M art.) Solms.-Laub. A free floating herb. Fronds rather thin, solitary Vernacular name: Jalkumbhi or in groups of 2-5, ovate to obovate or obovate- Family: Pontederiaceae: oblong; base strongly asymmetric, obtuse or Aquatic, free floating herb. Leaves emerged, slightly acute at both the ends, green. Stamen radical, with petioles spongy, short, and very solitary. Fruit asymmetric, ellipsoid, laterally much swollen in young specimens. Flowers 10- slightly compressed. 20, expanding and withering almost 14. Ludwigia perenis L. simultaneously, very showy, posterior lobe with Family: Onagraceae a bright yellow, blue bordered median blotch. A floating herb rooting at the nodes and with Fruit a capsule, linear-oblong. fe sciences conspicuous white, erect, spindle shaped, Leaflets 3:54– 68, 2010. ISSN 0976 - 1098 . mucronate pheumatophores arising in clusters 8.Hygrophila auriculata (K.Schum.) Heine at the nodes of floating stems. Leaves broadly Vernacular name: Talmakhna oblong- elliptic, obtuse or retuse, main veins Family: Acanthaceae: A stout, erect, hispid herb prominent. Flower white in colour and fruit a with usually fascicled, undivided stems. Leaves capsule. lanceolate, sub sessile, acute at both ends, 15.Limnophila indica (L.) Druce sparsely hispid with long white hairs, whorls Vernacular name: Karpur large, dense with straight stout spines. Flowers Family: Scrophulariaceae in axillary whorls. Fruit a capsule, 4-8 seeded. A simple or branched plant, smelling of 9.Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle turpentine, with a few upper opposite, entire Vernacular name: Kureli leaves and numerous whorled, capillaceo- Family: Hydrocharitaceae multifid ones at its base. Flowers axillary, A glabrous, submerged weed. Leaves sessile, solitary, rarely subracemose. Calyx narrow, linear, green, often with reddishbrown dots and hemispheric in fruit, lobes ovate, acuminate. dashes, sharply serrate-dentate, acute. Male 16.Lippia nodiflora Rich flower solitary in a spathe and female spathe Vernacular name: Bhui-okra with apex shortly bidentate. Fruit subulate, Family: Verbenaceae smooth or softly echinate. An annual herb, creping minutely strigose, 10.Hydrocharis dubia (Bl.) Backer, Handb. leaves cuneate-spathulate serrate, peduncles Family: Hydrocharitaceae axillary rarely opposite, bracts obovate shortly A stoloniferous herb. Leaves ovate-cordate to acuminate as long as the corolla tube. broadly ovate, apex obtusely rounded to broad Life sciences Leaflets 3:54– 68, 2010. ISSN 0976 acute, veins parallel, curved; stipules 1 or 2, - 1098 . transparent, scarious. Male spathes longer than 17.Monochoria hastata (L.) Solms. the female ones. Petals pale yellow or white. Vernacular name: Baranukha: Fruit filled with mucilage. Family: Pontederiaceae 0976 - 1098 . A perennial robust herb with often long rhizome 11.Ipomoea aquatica Forsk: covered with the remains of old leaf sheaths. Family: Convolvulaceae Leaves many nerved, basal lobes divergent, A glabrous trailer on mud or floating on water. petioles of radical leaves longer, broad and Leaves ovate, ovate-oblong, deltoid, lanceolate or sheathing at the base, those of the floral leaves linear, base cordate, sagittate or hastate. shorter, tumid above and embracing the short Flowers 1-few in axillary cymes. Fruit a capsule, scape. Flowers in racemes or sub umbellate; glabrous, ovoid to globose. perianth segments pale blue. Fruit a capsule, 12.Ipomoea fistulosa M art. ellipsoid. Vernacular name: Beshrum 18.Oxalis corniculata Linn. Family: Convolvulaceae Vernacular name: Khat buti A shrub, branches ascending, usually fistular Family: Oxalidaceae Life sciences Leaflets 3:54– containing milky juice. Leaves ovate to ovate- 68, 2010. ISSN 0976 - 1098 . oblong base cordate to truncate, acuminate, Herbs, with acid juice, leaves alternate, lernately mature leaves pubescent below on the veins digitate, often sub sensitive; stipules. Flowers more or less glabrous above. Flower is pink in regular, on axillary 1 or more flowered colour. Fruit is capsule. peduncles. Fruit a loculicidally dehiscent capsule with persistent valves.

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19.Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers. 26.Polygonum barbatum Linn. Vernacular name: Panikala Vernacular name: Biskatali Family: Hydrocharitaceae Family: Polygonaceae A submerged herb attached and rooted on the An annual, erect or prostrate herb, branches mud. The floating leaves broad ovate, sub erect, glabrous, internodes generally shorter orbicular or cordate-reniform, transparent to than the leaves. Leaves sub sessile, lanceolate transluscent, dentate or entire, base cordate or or linear-lanceolate, acuminate, entire, base truncate, apex obtuse, sometimes apiculate. tapering, ventral side pubescent. Nut trigonous, Spathes peduncled, the sessile female and black.76 - 1098 hermaphrodite ones 1-flowered, pedicilled male 27.Sagittaria sagitifolia Linn. ones many flowered. Fruit oblong, apex Vernacular name: Muyamuya attenuate. Family: Alismataceae 20.Nymphoides indicum (L.) O. Kuntze A common scapigerous aquatic herb with long Family: Menyanthaceae stolons ending in tubers. Leaves hastate, A floating annual herb with several long terminal lobes acute or obtuse, basal lobes branches which reach the surface of the water, finely acuminate. Flowers of the upper whorls producing a node with a tuft of roots, a cluster male, of the lower female. Achenes obliquely of flowers, a single floating leaf and a branch. obovate with entire or sub crenate wings. Seeds Leaves orbicular, deeply cordate, with obtuse pale brown. basal lobes and a triangular sinus and with 28.Scirpus articulatus (L.) Palla. somewhat sinuate margins. Flowers appearing Vernacular name: Patpati, Chechur above the water between the basal lobes of leaf. Family: Cyperaceae Fruit subglobose. A tufted perennial herb. Culms erect or 21.Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. recurved, terete, wide blew, transversely septate, Vernacular name: Kamal hollow, Upper basal sheaths cylindrical, lower Family: Nymphaeaceae sheaths reduced and scale-like. Inflorescence a Leaves are sagittate to cordate, sharply sinuate- pseudo lateral head, located at the midway toothed. Flower buds oblong, open flower 5-15 position of the culm, bearing spikelets in a cm. across. Sepals oblong, obtuse, 5-10 ribbed, dense cluster, bract 1, culm like, glumes ovate, green or rarely reddish. Petals linear or ovate- imbricate. Achenes broadly ovate. oblong, white or red or any shade in between. 29.Vallisneria spiralis Linn. Fruit a globose berry with persistent stamens. Family: Hydrocharitaceae 23.Panicum paludosum Roxb. A fully submerged, tufted, stemless, Vernacular name: Dalakri grass, Borati stoloniferous, dioeciously herb. Leaves radical, Family: Poaceae sciences Leaflets 3:54– 68, linear, ribbon-shaped, sheathing at base, apex 2010. ISSN 0976 - 1098 . obtuse. Male spathe on a scape, ovoid, flowers A matted perennial grass, stem erect from a many, white, stamens 1-3. Female spathe on floating base, lower nodes spongy. Leaves linear long, slender, filiform scape; flowers solitary, or ensiform, serrulate, acute; sheath loose, style 3. Fruit 5-13 cm. long, the basal part ligule a ring of hairs. Panicle with long, enclosed in the spathe. Seeds numerous. spreading branches; spikelets lanceolate, upper 30.Wolffia arrhiza (L.) Horkel ex Wimmer. glume orbicular and ovate; the lower lanceolate, Family: Lemnaceae palea minute or linear or 0. Stamens 3. Fronds 0.5 mm long, resembling small dots or 24.Pistia stratiotes Linn. grains floating on still water in the form of thick, Family: Araceae green, granular mass, usually as long as wide, A monoiceous, free floating, gregarious herb rarely somewhat longer, base and apex obtuse. with offsets. Leaves sessile, obovate cuneate. 31.Xanthium strumarium. L. Spathe small, shortly stalked, tubular below Vernacular name: Gokharu and open above, spadices subequalling the Family: Asteraceae spathes. Stamens 2-8. Fruit few seeded. An erect, hispid herb, unarmed, leaves petioled 25.Potamogeton mucronatus Presl. scabrid triangular-cordate or Orbicular lobed Family: Potamogetonaceae and toothed, base cuneate, head in terminal and Perennials herbs. Leaves many nerved, axillary racemes, fruiting involucres ovoid or undulate, mucronate, blade twice as long as the oblong, beaks erect or diverging. Pappus absent. petiole, lanceolate. Peduncle very long, spike of interrupted groups or whorls of flowers. Fruit orbicular, shortly beaked.

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References: Hooker, J.D., 1877. Flora of British India . Chambers, P.A., P. Lacoul., K.J. Murphy and Vols.1-7. L. Reeve and Co. Ltd. London, U.K. S.M. Thomaz. 2008. Global diversity of aquatic macrophytes in freshwater. Hydrobiologia 595: Kamble, S.V. & S.G. Pradhan. 1988. Flora of 9-26. Akola district, Maharashtra. Bot. Surv. India. 320 p. Cook, C.D.K. 1996. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of India . Oxford: Oxford University Press. 385 p. Lavania, G.S., S.C. Paliwal and B. Gopal, 1990. Aquatic vegetation of the Indian subcontinent; Daubenmire, R.F. 1947. Plants and p. 29-78. In E. Gopal (ed.). Ecology and Environment: A Textbook of Plant Autecology . management of the Aquatic Vegetation of the Indian Subcontinent . Dordrecht: Kluwer New York: Jonn Wiley and Sons 148 p. Academy Publishers. Dudgeon, D. 2000. Conservation of freshwater biodiversity in Oriental Asia: constraints, Subrahmanyam, K., 1962. Aquatic Angiosperms. Botanical Monograph 3 . New Delhi: Council of conflicts, and challenges to science and sustainability. Limnology 1: 237-243. Scientific and Industrial Resea ch.190 p.

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