Bioscience Discovery, 5(2):154-159, July - 2014 © RUT Printer and Publisher (http://jbsd.in) ISSN: 2229-3469 (Print); ISSN: 2231-024X (Online) Received: 05-05-2014, Revised: 10-06-2014, Accepted: 25-06-2014e Full Length Article Phytosociological Studies of two sacred groves in Mahe, U.T. of Puducherry, India K. Sasikala1, C.C. Harilal2 and G. Pradeepkumar1 1P.G. Department of Plant Science, Mahatma Gandhi Govt. Arts College, Mahe, U.T. of Puducherry, India. 2Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Kozhikode, Kerala. [email protected] ABSTRACT Mahe, a part of the U.T. of Puducherry administration encompasses an area of 9 sq. km. Of the 19 sacred groves present in the region, two major groves i.e. Pandokavu and Sri Chembra Ayyappan Kavu were selected for phytosociological studies. Studies using line transect method revealed higher extent of diversity of major species in Pandokavu with 41 species followed by Chembra Kavu with 20 species. The results of the index of similarity among the two groves were noted to be 0.2622 and with that of dissimilarity were 0.7378. This indicates that the groves under study were more dissimilar with respect to their species composition. In addition to the assessment of floristic diversity, numerical strength of individual species and growth pattern, major threats operating in and around the groves were evaluated and conservation measures proposed. Keywords: Mahe, Sacred groves, Phytosociological studies, Conservation. INTRODUCTION a part of the biodiversity rich Western Ghats, which Sacred groves are an ancient means of in in turn is one among the hottest of the hotspots of situ conservation of genetic diversity. They are biodiversity. The phytodiversity of various regions conserved through social, cultural and in India have been studied by Hari Shankar Lal & environmental values since time immemorial. They Sanjay Singh (2012), Jeetendra Sainkhediya & Sudip play an important role in the conservation of Ray (2012) and Mary Suba et al. (2014). The natural resources. Due to the advent of documentation of floristic diversity of the region industrialization, urbanization and changing socio- was carried out recently by Sasikala et al. (2009), economic scenario, the cultural norms and taboos Sasikala & Pradeepkumar (2012) and Sarishna et al. were annihilated, leading to drastic deterioration of (2013). these natural resources. There need to be serious In Puducherry region, studies on the efforts to conserve these groves from further biodiversity of sacred groves are quite extensive. depletion. Around 123 sacred groves have been subjected to Mahe, a province of the Union Territory of in depth studies Kadamban (1998), Ramanujam and Puducherry is occupying a unique geographical Kadamban (1999, 2002), Ramanujam et al. (2002), position in the west coast of Peninsular India and is Ramanujam and Cyril (2003), Krishnan (2004), approximately 620 kms. away from its Devaraj et al. (2005), Parthasarathy et al. (2005) administrative headquarters at Puducherry. The and Ramanujam et al. (2007). The studies on the region is falling between Kozhikode and Kannur phytodiversity of the sacred groves of Mahe are districts of Kerala and is located at 11˚ 42' - 11˚ 43' scanty as compared to Puducherry region. Jisha North latitude and 75˚ 31' - 75˚ 33' East longitude. (2005) documented the phytodiversity of five Mahe comprises of 3 major regions namely Mahe groves of Mahe. proper, Kallayi and Naluthara enclave. Mahe forms http://biosciencediscovery.com 154 ISSN: 2231-024X (Online) K. Sasikala et al., Sasikala et al. (2010-11, 2014) documented noted to be rich in species diversity. The present the phytodiversity, socio-economic status and study has been carried out to assess the conservation and management aspects of selected phytosociological characteristics of the two major sacred groves of Mahe region. The present study is groves (Table 1 and 2), together with an an attempt to document the phytodiversity and to assessment of the indices of similarity and analyse the phytosociological relationship of two dissimilarity associated with the groves. major sacred groves i.e. Pandokavu and Sri Pandokavu (Ayyappan Kavu, Pandakkal) is situated Chembra Ayyappan Kavu of Mahe. in Pandakkal, which is 4 km away from Mahe town. It covers an area of 1.2 ha and is reported to be MATERIALS AND METHODS 1200 years old. It lies between 11˚75'82'' North Regular field trips to the groves were latitude and 75˚53'67'' East longitude. The carried out at seasons representing pre monsoon, vegetation is thick with evergreen and semi- monsoon and post monsoon. During field visits, evergreen species. A total of 214 species was plant species were identified, phytosociological recorded on enumeration, of which 95 herbs, 28 studies were carried out and specimens were shrubs, 62 trees and 29 climbers are noted. The collected. Plant materials collected were made into common shrubs include Antidesma montanum, herbarium specimens following standard Chassalia ophioxyloides var. ophioxyloides, herbarium techniques (Fosberg & Sachet, 1965) Flueggea leucopyrus, Ixora coccinea and and are deposited at Herbarium of the P.G. Melastoma malabathricum. Exotic species such as Department of Plant Science, Mahatma Gandhi Dalbergia sissoides and Tectona grandis have been Government Arts College, Mahe, for reference. noted with the natural vegetation. Noxious weeds Plant specimens are identified using relevant flora such as Acasia caesia, Chromolaena odorata, (Nayar et al., 2006; Ramachandran & Nair, 1988 Mikania micrantha and Pennisetum polystachyon and Sasidharan, 2004). are found to dominate in certain areas, which are For phytosociological studies of major likely to be a threat to the native species. plants, frequency, density, abundance and thereby Pteridophytes include Bolbitis prolifera, Christella Importance Value Index (IVI) of species were dentata, Pteris quadriaurita and Stenochlaena worked out using line transect method, as palustris. Macrofungi like Agaricus and Polyporus proposed by Curtis (1959). This index is used to are also observed. Artocarpus hirsutus, Holigarna determine the overall importance of each species arnottiana, Hydnocarpus pentandrus, Impatiens in the community structure. For calculating this minor, Ixora malabaricum, Jasminum malabaricum, index, percentage values of relative frequency, Justicia nagpurensis, Kamettia caryophyllata and relative density and relative abundance are Mussaenda bellila are found to be endemic. Butea summed up. The results pertaining to Pandokavu monosperma was noted only in this grove, which and Chembra Kavu are depicted in Table 1 and 2 was indicative of the remnants of evergreen forest respectively. For the estimation of indices of that must have existed in this area. The species similarity and dissimilarity, the method proposed bordering the grove include Bridelia retusa, by Misra (1989) has been used as follows. Connarus monocarpus, Ficus heterophylla, Index of similarity (S) = 2C/A+B Hydnocarpus pentandra, Kammetia caryophyllata, Where, A = Number of species in the community A Morinda citrifolia, Sterculia guttata and Thunbergia B = Number of species in the community B fragrans. Species such as Dracaena terniflora, C = Number of common species in both the Trema orientalis and Vitex altissisima are found to communities be rare. Index of dissimilarity = 1-S. Chembra Ayyappan Kavu is situated in Chalakkara village and lies between 11˚72'65'' North latitude, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 75˚53'01'' East longitude. The area occupied by the Studies on the Phytodiversity and Socio- grove is about 1 Acre and is also reported to be economic status of the sacred groves of Mahe about 1200 years old. A total of 87 species was region, including the present one was worked out reported from the grove, of which 30 are herbs, 15 by Sasikala et al. (2010-11). Of the 19 sacred groves shrubs, 28 trees and 14 climbers. The common worked out in the region the present groves shrubs include Chassalia curviflora, Hibiscus (Pandokavu and Chembra Ayyappan Kavu) were hispidissimus, Ixora coccinia, Leea Indica, http://biosciencediscovery.com 155 ISSN: 2231-024X (Online) Bioscience Discovery, 5(2):154-159, July-2014 ISSN: 2229-3469 (Print) Naregamia alata and Uvaria narum. The climbers among the two groves were noted to be 0.2622 include Abrus precatorius, Anamirta cocculus, and with that of dissimilarity were 0.7378. This Cissus repens, Cyclea peltata, Dioscorea bulbifera, indicates that the groves under study were more Ichnocarpus frutescens, Jasminum angustifolium, dissimilar with respect to their species Pothos scandens, Smilax zeylanica and Tinospora composition. cordifolia. Some of the dominant trees include Though the groves are rich in Acacia auriculiformis, Alstonia scholaris, phytodiversity, they are facing anthropogenic Anacardium occidentale, Carallia brachiata, pressures of various sorts. Changes in socio- Caryota urens, Erythrina variegata, Ficus economic conditions and land use patterns over benghalensis, Macaranga peltata, Vateria indica years threatened both the form and size of the and Zanthoxylum rhetsa. Artocarpus hirsutus, groves. There is considerable change in the nature Cissus repens, Globba sessliflora, Holigarna of vegetation and species composition in both the arnottiana, Impatiens minor, Justicia nagpurensis, sacred groves, as being stated by local inhabitants. Mussaenda belila and Vateria indica are found to Destruction of natural resources is evident in both be endemic. Noxious weeds such as Chromolena the