ETHNO-FLORISTIC STUDY, VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND NUTRACEUTICAL ASPECT OF SELECTED PLANTS OF DISTRICT BANNU, PAKISTAN Ph.D THESIS BY IHSAN ULLAH DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY UNIVERSITY OF PESHAWAR 2012-2015 ETHNO-FLORISTIC STUDY, VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND NUTRACEUTICAL ASPECT OF SELECTED PLANTS OF DISTRICT BANNU, PAKISTAN A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan in Partial fulfillment for the Award of Degree of DOCTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN BOTANY BY IHSAN ULLAH DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY UNIVERSITY OF PESHAWAR 2012-2015 DECLARATION The materials contained within this thesis are my original work and have not been previously submitted to this or any other university. IHSAN ULLAH DEDICATION Sincerely dedicated to My parents and teachers CONTENTS S. No. Title Page No. Acknowledgement i Abstract ii CHAPTER-1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Area Introduction 1 1.2 Introduction to Ethno botany 3 1.3 Floristic study 6 1.4 Nutraceutical Aspects 7 Aims and Objectives 8 CHAPTER-2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 2.1 Ethnobotany Review 9 2.2 Floristic study Review 14 2.3 Vegetation Structure Review 19 2.4 Nutraceutical Review 25 CHAPTER-3 MATERIALS AND METHODS 3.1 Ethnobotanical Study 31 3.1.1 Field Equipment 31 3.1.2 Ethnobotanical data collection 31 3.1.3 Plant Sampling and Photography 32 3.1.4 Plants Preservation 32 3.1.5 Taxonomic Identification 32 3.1.6 Morphological Description 32 3.2 Floristic Structure and Ecological Characteristics 32 3.2.1 Biological Spectra 33 3.2.2 Morphological Description 34 3.2.3 Phytosociology/Vegetation Structure 35 3.2.3.1 Density 35 3.2.3.2 Herbage Cover 36 3.2.3.3 Frequency 36 3.2.3.4 Importance Values 37 3.2.3.5 Family importance Value 37 3.2.3.6 Determination of Similarity Index 37 3.2.3.7 Species Diversity 37 3.2.3.8 Species Richness 38 3.3 Multiple Correlations 38 3.4 Edaphology 39 3.4.1 Soil Texture 39 3.4.2 Organic matter 39 3.4.3 Nitrogen 39 3.4.4 Phosphorus 39 3.4.5 Potassium 39 3.4.6 pH 39 3.4.7 Electrical Conductivity 39 3.5 Palatability of Vegetation 40 3.6 Elemental analysis 40 3.6.1 Reagents and Equipment 40 3.6.2 Sample Preparation 41 3.6.3 Procedure 41 3.7 Nutritional investigation 42 3.7.1 Proximate analysis 42 3.7.2 Determination of moisture 43 3.7.3 Determination of ash 43 3.7.4 Determination of Protein by “Macrojeldahl distillation method” 44 3.7.5 Determination of fats (ether extract) 45 3.7.6 Determination of crude fiber 46 3.7.7 Carbohydrates contents 47 3.7.8 Gross energy 47 CHAPTER-4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 4.1 Floristic Studyq 48 4.2 Ethnobotany 66 4.3 Phytosociology 77 4.4 Shannon diversity index and species richness 103 4.5 Effect of rain on density, frequency, cover and importance values 104 4.6 Edaphology 106 4.6.1 Principal correlation analysis among the soil variables 109 4.6.2 Correlation of different soil variables in three different sites with total values 112 4.6.2.1 Correlation of different soil variables in three different sites with total density 112 4.6.2.2 Correlation of different soil variables in three different sites with total frequency. 112 4.6.2.3 Correlation of different soil variables in three different sites with total cover. 113 4.6.2.4 Correlation of different soil variables in three different sites with total importance values 113 4.6.3 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in spring season. 124 4.6.3.1 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in spring season with density. 124 4.6.3.2 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in spring season with frequency. 124 4.6.3.3 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in spring season with cover. 125 4.6.3.4 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in spring season with importance values. 125 4.6.4 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in autumn season. 136 4.6.4.1 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in autumn season with density. 136 4.6.4.2 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in autumn season with frequency. 136 4.6.4.3 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in autumn season cover. 136 4.6.4.4 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in autumn season with importance values. 136 4.6.5 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in winter season. 147 4.6.5.1 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in winter season with density. 147 4.6.5.2 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in winter season with frequency. 147 4.6.5.3 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in winter season with cover. 147 4.6.5.4 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in winter season with importance values. 148 4.6.6 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in summer season. 159 4.6.6.1 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in summer season with density. 159 4.6.6.2 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in summer season with frequency. 159 4.6.6.3 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in summer season with cover. 159 4.6.6.4 Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in summer season with importance values. 160 4.7 Palatability 170 4.8 Nutraceutical aspect of selected plants species. 183 Aristida adscensionis 183 Dichanthium annulantum 183 Polypogon mospeliensis 184 Bromus pectinatus 184 Rostraria cristata 185 Farsetia jacquemontii 185 Astragalus scorpiurus 185 Euphorbia dracunculoides 186 Plates 188 Conclusions 206 Recommendations and suggestions 208 References 209 LIST OF TABLES Table No. Title Page No. Table 1. Rainfall data during the 2012-2014. 2 Table 2. Ten density classes were established as follows; and the mid points were used for calculations 35 Table 3. Ten cover classes were established for estimating plant cover. Mid-point values were used for calculation 36 Table 4. Optimal analytical conditions for the elemental analysis using air-acetylene flame on atomic absorption spectrophotometer 42 Table 5. Floristic list of plant Species of District Bannu 51 Table 6 Percentage of family, genera, and species in the study area 61 Table 7. Distribution of plant species in the various habitats 63 Table 8. Distribution of plant species in the various aspects 63 Table 9. Distribution of plant species in the various life form spectra 63 Table 10. Comparison of Biological spectrum of the area with Raunkiaer’s 64 standard Biological Spectrum (SBS). Table 11. Distribution of plant species according to leaf size spectra 64 Table 12. Distribution of plant species according to lamina shape 64 Table 13. Ethno botanical important plant list used in District Bannu 68 Table 14. Genera and species distribution in different families 73 Table 15 Classification of plants on the basis of their uses 74 Table 16. Classification of plants on the basis of their habit 76 Table 17. Classification of plants on the basis of their parts used 76 Table 18. Phytosociological attributes of plant community in Site I 36 Table 19. Phytosociological attributes of plant community in Site II 90 Table 20 Phytosociological attributes of plant community in Site III 94 Table 21. Family importance values in Site I 100 Table 22. Family importance values in Site II 101 Table 23 Family importance values in Site III 102 Table. 24. Shannon diversity index and species richness in three sites 104 Table 25 Rain effect on total values of three sites 105 Table 26. Soil elements in three sites 108 Table 27. Principal Component Analysis table 110 Table 28. Correlation of different soil variables in three different sites with total density 115 Table 29. Correlation of different soil variables in three different sites with total frequency 116 Table 30. Correlation of different soil variables in three different sites with total cover 117 Table 31. Correlation of different soil variables in three different sites with total importance values 118 Table 32. Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in spring season with density 127 Table 33. Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in spring season with frequency 128 Table 34. Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in spring season with cover 129 Table 35. Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in spring season with importance values 130 Table 36. Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in autumn season with density 138 Table 37. Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in autumn season with frequency 139 Table 38. Multiple correlation of different soil variables in three different sites of herbs in autumn season with cover 140 Table 39.