Diversity of Vascular Plants Associated with Wetland Paddy Fields (Vayals) of Wayanad District in Western Ghats, India

Parameswaran Prajeesh*, Ratheesh Narayanan MK, Anil Kumar N.

Abstract


A study was conducted in Wayanad District of Kerala, India during 2011-2012 to document the diversity of vascular plants associated with wetland paddy fields (vayals). The plants were recorded from the paddy fields and paddy levees; stream sides, parts of homesteads, wasteland and road sides in the immediate vicinity of the paddy fields. One Hundred and Eighty Nine (189) genera (178 Angiosperm genera-nearly 20% of the total genera reported from the District and 11 Pteridophyte genera) were recorded. The total number of species recorded was 319 (308 Angiosperms, 11 Pteridophytes) which included 233 herbs, 40 shrubs, 17 climbers and 29 trees. Seventy Two (72) families (66 Angiosperms, 6 Pteridophytes) were recorded and the highest number of species was represented by Cyperaceae (34) followed by Poaceae (33), Asteraceae (27), Fabaceae (25), Scrophulariaceae (18) and Malvaceae (13).

Keywords


Paddy Fields; Vayal; Wayanad; Western Ghats

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