Check List 9(2): 186–207, 2013 © 2013 Check List and Authors Chec List ISSN 1809-127X (available at www.checklist.org.br) Journal of species lists and distribution Check List of Wild Angiosperms of Bhagwan Mahavir PECIES S OF Mandar Nilkanth Datar 1* and P. Lakshminarasimhan 2 ISTS L (Molem) National Park, Goa, India *1 CorrespondingAgharkar Research author Institute, E-mail: G. [email protected] G. Agarkar Road, Pune - 411 004. Maharashtra, India. 2 Central National Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, P. O. Botanic Garden, Howrah - 711 103. West Bengal, India. Abstract: Bhagwan Mahavir (Molem) National Park, the only National park in Goa, was evaluated for it’s diversity of Angiosperms. A total number of 721 wild species belonging to 119 families were documented from this protected area of which 126 are endemics. A checklist of these species is provided here. Introduction in the National Park are Laterite and Deccan trap Basalt Protected areas are most important in many ways for (Naik, 1995). Soil in most places of the National Park area conservation of biodiversity. Worldwide there are 102,102 is laterite of high and low level type formed by natural Protected Areas covering 18.8 million km2 metamorphosis and degradation of undulation rocks. network of 660 Protected Areas including 99 National Minerals like bauxite, iron and manganese are obtained Parks, 514 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 43 Conservation. India Reserves has a from these soils. The general climate of the area is tropical and 4 Community Reserves covering a total of 158,373 km2 with high percentage of humidity throughout the year. of geographical area of the country which is approximately The variation in temperature does not exceed 20°C. The 4.82% (National Wildlife Database 2011). There are also minimum temperature during the coldest month is about 15 Biosphere Reserves and 30 Tiger Reserves as well. The 15°C while maximum in summer is about 37°C (Naik, and 13 National Parks in the Western Ghats. (National extends up to the middle of October. WildlifeGovernment Database of India 2011). has declared 2 biosphere reserves 1995).According Monsoon to Championstarts during and the Seth first (1968), week ofthe June. forest It Though fragmented, protected areas in Western types in the National Park falls within the biogeographical province 5A/5B and contains pristine vegetation which of view, because most of these areas are under threat of rapidGhats destruction.of India are Goa important is an important from conservation state located alongpoint Western Ghats occupying an area of c. 600 km2 out of the total 3702 km2 geographical area of the state. Western Ghats range extends over the length of c. 125 km in Goa. Due to existence of two and recent declaration of two new protected areas, the prospects of conserving the rich biodiversity have increased. Bhagwan Mahavir National Park is one such habitat with tremendous diversity and forms an important constituent in the green jewel of Western ghats ranges in Goa. Bhagwan Mahavir National Park also known as Molem National Park is the only National Park in Goa, spreading over a total area of 107 km2 on the western escarpment of Western Ghats in the Sanguem Taluka of Goa between 15°14’09.82”-15°24’34.3” N latitude, 74°13’20.6”- 74°20’02.92” E longitude (Figure 1). Dudhsagar waterfall, National Park. The National Park forms the core area of Bhagwansecond largest Mahavir waterfall Wildlife in India, Sanctuary lies in andBhagwan is located Mahavir on National Highway 4A (Panaji- Belgaum) c. 60 km from Panaji and c. 85 km from Belgaum. The National Park area is mountainous in terrain with succession of hills and valleys. The altitude ranges from 80 m to about 750 m above m. s. l. in the National Park. Tallest peak in the National Park is a hill near Karanzol railway station, which is about 753 m above m. s. l. The major types of rocks seen Figure 1. Location of Bhagwan Mahavir National Park. 186 Datar and Lakshminarasimhan | Wild Angiosperms of Bhagwan Mahavir (Molem) National Park, India Most of the forest in the National Park between the below. is classifieda. West Coast into Tropicalthree main Evergreen forest types Forests as explained plants found in these areas are Careya arborea, Dillenia The tall trees found in West Coast Tropical Evergreen pentagyna,altitudes from Grewia 80 to 200tiliifolia, m lies inLannea this category. coromandeliaca, Important Forests of the National Park include Actinodaphne Terminalia spp., Schleichera oleosa, Xylia xylocarpa, Haldina angustifolia, Canarium strictum, Diospyros buxifolia, cordifolia, etc. Other trees found in moist deciduous forests Diospyros pruriens, Garcinia gummi-gutta, Holigarna are Falconeria insignis, Wrightia sp., Flacourtia montana, etc. grahamii, Knema attenuata, Mammea suriga, Polyalthia The dominant families are Rubiaceae (Ixora, Mitragyna), fragrans, Syzygium laetum, Vitex altissima, etc. The middle- Bignoniaceae (Heterophragma, Stereospermum, Oroxylum) sized trees found are Litsea coriacea, Aporusa cardiosperma, Euphorbiaceae (Mallotus, Glochidion, Antidesma, Bridelia) Antidesma acidum, Blachia andamanica subsp. denudata, and Leguminosae (Dalbergia, Acacia, Albizia). These Ixora nigricans, Psychotria dalzellii, Memecylon terminale, elements are sometimes intermixed with species of Dracaena terniflora, etc. The trees found in the riparian Dendrocalamus and Bambusa. forests are Calophyllum calaba, Lophopetalum wightianum Hopea ponga and Crateva magna are seen. The shrubs and Hydnocarpus pentandrus. Some woody climbers or or second storey of trees includeIn Catunaregamthe riparian patches,spinosa, lianas found in this type of forests are Entada rheedei, Flemingia strobilifera, Canthium spp., Strychnos nux-vomica, Gnetum ula, Chonemorpha fragrans, Ancistrocladus Meyna laxiflora, Ziziphus xylopyrus, Xantolis tomentosa. heyneanus, Luvunga eleutherandra, Paramignya Common epiphyte, especially on most of the Terminalia monophylla and Toddalia asiatica. Undergrowth is spp. is Rhynchostylis retusa. Aerides crispa and A. maculosa formed by shrubby species like Dracaena terniflora, Ixora coccinea and herbaceous species of families Cyperaceae, in forest clearings and exposed situations comprises Zingiberaceae, Commelinaceae and Asteraceae. membersare also found of Leguminosae:epiphytic on many Papilionoideae trees. The ground(Geissaspis, flora Epiphytic plants in evergreen forests are restricted Crotalaria, Indigofera, Alysicarpus, Desmodium, Tadehagi), to family Orchidaceae (belonging to the genera like Acanthaceae (Justicia, Lepidagathis, Rungia), Rubiaceae Aerides, Bulbophyllum, Cymbidium, Eria and Vanda) (Spermacoce, Neanotis, Hedyotis), Euphorbiaceae and Apocynaceae (Hoya wightii). Other epiphytes or (Phyllanthus, Euphorbia), Asteraceae (Blumea, lithophyres like Utricularia striatula and Argostemma Elephantopus, Senecio, Phyllocephalum) and Lamiaceae courtallense are also found in the crevices of rocks and on (Leucas, Platostoma, Pogostemon, Hyptis trunks of tall trees where there is little soil and moisture. climbers and twiners of Convolvulaceae, Leguminosae: Costus speciosus, Impatiens Papilionoideae, Smilacaceae, Ranunculaceae). In openhave areasbeen spp., Phyllanthus spp., Urena lobata, Gynura nitida, etc. recorded. Theb. herbaceous West Coast flora Semi includes - Evergreen Forests This type of forest is found in upper parts of ghats and grasslands in the National Park. This varied vegetation and lower elevations near stream beds. These forests is responsibleIn addition for to thethese diversity forests, of therethe national are some park. plateaus are transitional between moist deciduous forests and evergreen forests. The semi- evergreen formations are Materials and Methods seen with isolated patches of evergreen forests in ravines The present checklists of wild angiosperms of Bhagwan and valleys. Mahavir National Park is an outcome of intensive and The following two edaphic types are found depending on local variation in soil and moisture within semi- the years 2001-2006. Plants were collected during regular evergreen forests. extensive field collections and laboratory work between A) Cane Breaks - These occur on the slopes of the ghat region. Calamus thwaitesii is more common in lower (Dalgadofield visits 1898; and wereVartak processed 1966; Rao using 1985-86; standard Naithani methods. et elevation areas. al.The identification was done using local and regional flora. B) Lateritic Semi - evergreen forests - These comparing with authentic specimens deposited at Agharkar forests are distributed over elevations above 200 m. 1997). The identity of the (AHMA)plants were, Botanical confirmed Survey by Actinodaphne (BSI), Central National Herbarium, Howrah angustifolia, Canthium dicoccum, Macaranga peltata, Research(CAL), Institute herbarium (DD) and Goa CareyaImportant arborea, species Lagerstroemia found in these lanceolata, forests are Pterospermum of India, Pune diversifolium, Macaranga peltata, etc. The second storey by otherForest collectors Research from Institute, Bhagwan Dehra Mahavir Dun National Park includes Glochidion hohenackeri, Olea dioica, Ixora inUniversity these herbaria Herbarium. were In also addition, studied. specimens All the specimens collected nigricans, Celtis timorensis, etc. The shrubs found in collected during the work were deposited in Botanical undergrowth are Chassalia curviflora var. ophioxyloides, (BSI). A comprehensive checklist for Glycosmis pentaphylla, Maesa indica, Leea asiatica, L. wild angiosperms in the National Park is presented