2019 Journal of Plant Resources Vol.17, No. 1 2019J. Pl. Res. Vol. 17, No. 1, pp 69-81, 2019 Journal of Plant Resources Vol.17, No. 1 Alien Enumeration of the Flowering Plants of Singha Durbar Premises, Origin English Nepali Invasive Collection S.N. Family Scientific Name (Native, G Gd Nb Kathmandu, Nepal Name Name species No. Alien) (Yes/No) 94 Acanthaceae Rungia pectinata (L.) - Ͳ Native No * G37 Krishna Ram Bhattarai * Nees Department of Plant Resources, Kathmandu, Nepal 95 Poaceae Saccharum Fodder cane ȡȱ Alien No * Gd74 *Email: [email protected] spontaneum L. 96 Lamiaceae Salvia plebeia R.Br. Australian Ͳ Native No * G46 Abstract sage 97 Cyperaceae Schoenoplectiella - Ͳ Native G07 This study documented the trees, shrubs and herbs conserved in the gardens and premises of juncoides (Roxb.) Lye No * different offices in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu in 2017. A total of 229 plant species 98 Plantaginaceae Scoparia dulcis L. Licorice Ǔȡ ȡ Alien No * * * G12/Gd147/ (Angiosperm=212 and Gymnosperm=17) belonging to 176 genera and 88 families have been weed Nb93 documented. Among the documented plants, Asparagaceae =15, Compositae=12, Arecaceae =9, 99 Leguminosae Senna tora (L.) Roxb. Foetid Alien Yes * * G6/Gd132 ȪȪ ȡĤȯ Rosaceae =9, Rutaceae =9, Cupressaceae =8 and Araceae =7 were dominant families. These Cassia 100 Poaceae Setaria pumila (Poir.) Knotroot Ͳ Native No * * * G30/Gd78/ plants were conserved mainly for greenery and ornamental purposes. Many plants were edible Roem. & Schult. bristle grass Nb127 and medicinal too. Of the documented plants, 11 species were under various conservation and 101 Malvaceae Sida acuta Burm.f. Broomweed Alien No * Nb103 threat categories of CITES, Government of Nepal (Under forest Act, 1993) and IUCN. Rare, Ǖ ȡ endangered, endemic and valuable plant species has to be managed with proper scientific 102 Malvaceae Sida cordata Heartleaf Ǖ ȡ Alien No * G29 information. The gardens in the Singha Durbar premises have conserved many exotic species as (Burm.f.) fanpetals well. Borss.Waalk. 103 Malvaceae Sida rhombifolia L. Cuban jute ȡȪ Alien No * * G54/Gd141 Keywords: Categories, Conservation, Exotic, Garden, Native plants, Ornamental Plants ǔ ã ȡ 104 Solanaceae Solanum surattense Bitter brinjal Û ȡȣ Native No * * G56/Gd163 Introduction Gardening practices have existed and evolved in Burm. f. Nepal with the interactions with the outer world. For 105 Compositae Sonchus wightianus Corn Ǖ ȯ, Native No * Ph4 Plants are the major components of worlds DC. Sowthistle instance, during the Malla period, gardens mostly ȡȡǕ ȯ biodiversity and an essential resource for human used to be located at the backside of the palaces and 106 Compositae Spilanthes acmella Para cress Native No * * G01/Gd134 welfare and play a big role for the environmental ȡȪ ȡȱ the houses (Tiwari, 2016). However, after the (L.) L. balance. Human are intricately associated with plants 107 Araceae Spirodela polyrrhiza Common Ͳ Native No * Gd170 ascension of the Ranas, gardens began to be located not only for their food, clothes and shelter (L.) Schleid. duckweed at the front of the palaces with traditional architecture 108 Caryophyllaceae Stellaria media (L.) Chickweed Ͳ Alien No * G15 requirements but also for aesthetic fulfillments in design. After the departure of the Ranas in 1950 Vill. (Joshi, 2009; Bhattarai & Khadka, 2017). The 109 Compositae Tridax procumbens Coat- Alien No * * * G06/Gd133/ AD, the costly, luxurious and big gardens designed ¡ Ǖ Ǖ ȯ ȡ relationship of humans and plants and love of flowers (L.) L. buttons Nb97 in the premises of many palaces were fallen out, but 110 Malvaceae Triumfetta Chinese burr ã ȯ Ǖ Ȫ Native No * Nb83 goes back to thousands of years in the history of rhomboidea Jacq. human civilization (Harborne, 1984; Rai et al., cultivation of ornamental plants from different parts 111 Typhaceae Typha angustifolia L. - ȯ Native No * Ph5 2010). Egyptians and Assyrians had understood the of the world still continues. There are different parks and gardens in Nepal but the practice of well 112 Malvaceae Urena lobata L. Caesar weed ȡǕ Ǖ Ȫ Native No * * Gd173/Nb8 art of cultivation of flowers as early as 3000 BC. 5 Greek and Romans, who inherited the methods of managed sophisticated garden with large space and 113 Lentibulariaceae Utricularia aurea Native No * * Gd155/Nb1 flower cultivation developed in Egypt, Syria and complex landscape with topiaries is not still Lour. 08 practiced. With the growing unmanaged 114 Hydrocharitaceae Vallisneria natans Tape-grass Ǔ Native No * G38 Mesopotamia, further developed their interests and (Lour.) H.Hara refined the culture of ornamental flowers. In the east, urbanization, more and more of the open areas are Ǖ Û ȡȡ Japanese and Chinese gardeners developed disappearing and much of the public open spaces 115 Compositae Xanthium strumarium Burweed ȯȯ Ǖ Ȫ Alien Yes * * G18/Gd136 L. independently their own charming tradition of have been encroached already (Bajracharya et al., gardening (Bajracharya et al., 1999). The history of 1997), resulting in consequences for public life and ornamental gardening may be considered as aesthetic activity (Shrestha, 2001). Existing gardens in expressions of beauty through art and nature, a government offices are also destroyed to construct display of taste or style in civilized life, an expression building and parking areas. But, recently of an individuals or cultures philosophy, and Government Nepal, Ministry of Forests and sometimes as a display of private status or national Environment has been celebrating forest decade pride-in private and public landscapes. program from 2014-2023 AD, promoting plantation 68 14 69 2019 Journal of Plant Resources Vol.17, No. 1 with a slogan one home, one tree; one village, one 1973 was the largest government secretariat in Asia. forest; and one city many gardens (DOF, 2014) with The palace with 7 courtyards and 1700 rooms was the aim of development of forest in private and public occupied by successive Rana prime ministers until land, construct garden in public places, urban 1951. After this, the durbar became the government forestry, biodiversity conservation and awareness by secretariat which boasted of housing every ministry protecting rare, endangered and endemic plant within the same compound (Tandukar, 2017) until species in private and public land including it was caught by fire and almost completely government offices with proper scientific destroyed, except for the front wing on 9th July, 1973. information (MFSC, 2015). The present land use policy of Nepal also emphasized on greenery in Set in a large area of well-trimmed lawns, it private settlement and public places to develop a contained numerous gardens with exotic plants, a hygienic, beautiful, well-facilitated and safe human deer park, a polo ground, playing field, tennis courts, settlement in a planned and sustainable ways streams, fountains and lush green vegetation with (MoLRM, 2015).The present study aims to finely spaced trees (Bhandari, 2014). After the end document the existing status of flowering plants in of Rana regime, Government of Nepal declared it the gardens of Singha Durbar premises and helps to as National Property and used Singha Durbar planners for further beatification. premises to house government offices. At present about 70% of the area is used for administrative Materials and Methods purpose and the rest of the area is managed as gardens and landscapes. Since it is located in the Study area centre of Kathmandu valley, its mean elevation is Singha Durbar (Lat. 27°4150.28" N; Long. about 1,300 msl. with average temperature 180C, 85°1930.72" E; Area 50 Hectare), which literally average humidity 75% and the average rainfall 1400 means the Lions Palace, is located in the centre of millimetres (CBS, 2013). Kathmandu Valley, to the north of the Babar Mahal and the east of Bhadrakali. It was built in neo- Plant documentation and identification with classical style by Chandra Shumsher JB Rana in necessary information 1903 AD (Pokharel, 2017) immediately after The different species of trees, shrubs and herbs accession to the post of Prime Minister. There is a conserved in the premises of Singha Durbar were myth that once Chandra Shumsher, with his queen, enumerated in the month of March, April and May, was enjoying the eye catching view of the valley, he 2017. The plants were listed with their scientific caught sight of a beautiful palace complex and asked name. The unidentified plant specimens were his queen about it. The queen answered that it was identified with the help of various literatures known as Bagh Durbar. The King then declared that (Polunin & Stainton, 1984; Stainton, 1988; his palace would be even more famous and would Bajracharya et al., 1997; Shrestha, 1998; Press et be called Singha Durbar (Bhandari, 2014; al., 2000; Anonymous, 2008) and with experts of Tandukar, 2017). The most amazing fact about Department of Plant Resources, Kathmandu. The Singha Durbar is that it was built in three years at nomenclature of APG III was followed the expense of 5 million Nepali rupees. Chandra (www.theplantlist.org). Study also focused on Shumsher, after living for few years in the palace whether rare, endangered, threatened plants were declared it the official residence of all prime collected and conserved or not with proper scientific ministers of Nepal after him and sold it to the Nepal information. The plants were categorized either Government for twenty million Nepali rupees. With native or introduced (Bajracharya et al., 1997; the profit, he built nine more palaces in Kathmandu Shrestha, 1998) or government protected, under for his sons. The palace, in 1904, claimed to be the CITES or under IUCN category by comparing the biggest and most luxurious palace in Asia and until enumerated list with available literatures (HMG, 70 2019 Journal of Plant Resources Vol.17, No. 1 2019 Journal of Plant Resources Vol.17, No.