Pak. J. Bot., 45(SI): 279-288, January 2013. FLORISTIC ACCOUNT OF EMERGENT-AQUATIC AND MARSHLAND ANGIOSPERMS OF D.I. KHAN DISTRICT, KPK, PAKISTAN SARFARAZ KHAN MARWAT1, KHALID USMAN2, RIAZ ALI SHAH3, AMIN SHAH4 AND EJAZ AHMAD KHAN2 1University Wensam College, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan,KPK, Pakistan 2Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan 3Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad Pakistan 4Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan *Corresponding e-mail: [email protected] Abstract In the present study an account is given of an investigation based on the results of the Taxonomic research work conducted in Dera Ismail Khan (D.I. Khan) District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, during 2005-2007. The area was surveyed and collection of semi-aquatic and marshland angiosperms was made at least 2 times from 15 sites of various aquatic habitats. The collected materials were identified with the help of available literature and by comparing with voucher specimens at the herbarium of the Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad (ISL). In total 40 semi aquatic plant species belonging to 26 genera of 15 families were identified. Cyperaceae was the largest family that contributed 16 species (40%), followed by Poaceae with 6 species (15%), Polygonaceae 4 species (10 %), Ranunculaceae and Typhaceae with 2 species (5% each); while 10 families contributed 1 species (2.5% each). Data inventory consists of botanical name, family, class, flowering period, availability, distribution and diagnostic characters. Detailed account of the semi aquatic and marshland angiosperms of Dera Ismail Khan is not available. Therefore, the present study is an attempt to highlight such angiospermic plant species. Introduction Some floristic work has been carried out and a number of research papers have appeared in different Dera Ismail Khan is located in northwestern Pakistan journals on aquatic plants in the country by Jafri (1966), (Fig. 1) and has an elevation of 173 m above sea level. It Stewart (1972), Beg & Samad (1974), Qaiser (2001), has a total geographical land mass of 0.896 million ha of Ahmed & Younis (1979), Omer & Hashmi (1987), which 33% is cultivated (Khan, 2003). The climate is Leghari et al., (1999), Leghari (2004), Maseeh (2007) & continental with marked temperature fluctuations both Marwat et al., (2011a, b) but no detailed account of the seasonal and diurnal, with significant aridity. January is semi aquatic and marshland angiosperms of Dera Ismail the coldest month of the year and July the hottest. The Khan is available. Therefore, the present study was mean maximum and minimum temperatures during winter conducted to highlight floristic account of such are 20.3oC and 4.2oC, respectively, compared to 42oC and angiospermic plant species of the research area. 27oC during summer. Average annual rainfall is 259 mm (Chaudhry, 1998). Materials and Methods Worldwide there are more than 100 families of A floristic study of the semi aquatic and marshland vascular aquatic plants. These plants are structurally Angiosperms of Dera Ismail Khan District, KPK, different from mesophytes or xerophytes by having less Pakistan, was conducted during 2005-2007. The developed protective and conductive tissues. They have specimens were collected by hand from various aquatic unique adaptations for buoyancy and aeration, particularly habitats such as slow-running water, sides of stagnant in the ground tissue of the petiole and leaf mesophyll and ponds, paddy fields, streams, sewerage canals and marshy in the cortex of stem and root (Marwat et al., 2011a). The places of the study area (Table 1). Data included date of aquatic plants are of various types, some emergent and collection, collection number, habitat, flowering season, rooted on the bottom and others submerged. Still others and occurrence. The collected material was identified by are free-floating, and some are rooted on the bank of the comparing with voucher specimens at the herbarium of impoundments, adopting semi-aquatic habitat (Ahmad & the Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam Younis, 1979). Such habitats include banks of canals, University, Islamabad (ISL) with the aid of a dissecting rivers, periphery of water bodies which are mostly in light microscope (Zeis, 2000). Literature used for earthen dams, and partly in masonry dams, drainage identification included Jafri (1966), Beg & Samad (1974), ditches and water ponds near villages. These may be Bhopal & Chaudhri (1977a, b), Qaiser (2001), Ahmad & called semi-aquatic but more appropriately referred to as Younis (1979), Cope (1982), Marwat et al., (1996), emergent aquatic. Leghari et al., (1999) & Leghari (2004). After There are situations where vast areas of land remain identification, the plants were deposited in the herbarium inundated with water for long periods of time, and may of the said university. Plants with botanical names, common names, family, class, habit, flowering and only dry out in severe drought conditions. Such lands are fruiting period, availability, relative distribution, total known as marshes or swampy areas. They support a number of species of each genus, major diagnostic different type of vegetation which may include plants that characters and % age share of families were listed in are capable of growing under both flooded and saturated Tables 1-4. Photographs of some plants were also made conditions (Lancar & Krake, 2002). and were included in the paper (Plates A-J). 280 SARFARAZ KHAN MARWAT ET AL., Fig. 1. Map of Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan. Table 1. Semi-aquatic and marshland angiosperms of D.I.Khan district. S.# Botanical name Vern. name Common name Habit Class Availability 1. Alternantherasessilis -------------- Sessile joyweed Perennial herb Dicot Common 2. Bacopa moneiri Jal birahmi Waterhyssop Perennial herb Dicot Not common 3. Bolboschoenus affinis ------------- --------------- Perennial herb Monocot Common 4. B. glaucus ------------- ------------------ Perennial herb Monocot Common 5. Brachiaria ramosa Gandheri, Kori Browntop millet Annual herb Monocot Common 6. Centella asiatica Brahmi Booti Pennywort Perennial herb Dicot Not common 7. Coronopus didymus Jangli Halon Swine cress Annual herb Dicot Common 8. Cyperus alopecuroides ------------ ------------- Perennial herb Monocot Common 9. C. difformis Bari Ghoin Variable flat sedge Annual herb Monocot Common 10. C. iria Bhoin Flat sedge Annual herb Monocot Common 11. C. pymaeus Perennial herb Monocot Not common 12. C. rotundus Deela Nut-sedge Perennial herb Monocot Common 13. Cynodon dactylon Kabbal Bermuda grass Perennial herb Monocot Common 14. Echinochloacrus-galli Swank, Dhiddan Barnyard grass Annual herb Monocot Common 15. Eclipta prostrata Bhangra, bhringraja False daisy Annual herb Dicot Common 16. Eleocharis geniculata Spike-rush Annual herb Monocot Not common 17. E. palustris Common spikerush Perennial herb Monocot Common 18. Fimbristylis bisumbellata Annual herb Monocot Not common 19. F. dichotoma Choti bhoin Forked fringerush Annual herb Monocot Not common 20. F. ferruginea Annual herb Monocot Not common 21. F. quinquangularis Five angle fimbry Annual herb Monocot Not common 22. Mentha logifolia Jangli poodina Horse mint Perennial herb Dicot Common 23. Oxalis carniculata Khatti booti Wood-sorrel Annual herb Monocot Common 24. Paspalum papaliodes Naru ghas Water grass Perennial herb Monocot Common 25. Phalaris minor Dumbi sittee Bird’s seed grass Annual herb Monocot Common 26. Phragmites karka Drumbi, Nar, Nalu. Common reed Perennial herb Monocot Common 27. Phyla nodiflora Bukan Frogfruit,capeweed Perennial herb Dicot Common 28. Polygonum barbata Joint Weed Perennial herb Dicot Common 29. P. flaccidum Smart weed Annual or perennial Dicot Not common 30. P. glabrum Marsh buckwheet Annual Dicot Not common 31. Portulaca oleracea Kulf, salunaka Purslane Annual Dicot Not common 32. Pycreus flavidus perennial Monocot Not common 33. Ranunculus muricatus Butter-cup Annual Dicot Not Common 34. R. scleratus Jal dhania Blister butter-cup Annual Dicot Common 35. Rumex detatus Jangli palak Toothed dock Annual Dicot Common 36. Schoenoplectus litoralis Perennial herb Monocot Common 37. S. triqueter Streambank bulrush Perennial herb Monocot Not common 38. Suaeda fruticosa Laani, Laana Sea Blite Annual Dicot Common 39. Typha domingensis Kundar, Lukha Southern cat-tail Perennial herb Monocot Common 40. Typha elephantina Kudar, Lukha Elephant grass Perennial herb Monocot Common FLORISTIC ACCOUNT OF EMERGENT-AQUATIC AND MARSHLAND ANGIOSPERMS 281 Result and Discussion (Townsend, 1974). In D.I. Khan District two species, A. sessilis (L.) DC. and A. pungens, are found. This qualitative floristic survey was conducted for the A. sessilis (Fig. 4E) is a common species, very first time in D.I. Khan District, KPK, Pakistan. During the widepsread in waste and cultivated ground, especially in study 40 species and 26 genera belonging to 15 families damp or wet conditions (Townsend, 1974). It is an were recorded from the research area (Table 1). Of these "agricultural weed that invades disturbed wet areas in monocots are represented by 24 species belonging to 13 tropical and subtropical areas of the U.S." Overall, A. genera and 3 families, while eudicots contributed by 16 sessilis has a "low significant ecological impact" species belonging to 13 genera and 12 families. (Tomaino, 2006). Cyperaceae was the largest family that contributed 16 Bacopa (Scrophulariaceae)