Diversity and Medicinal Significance of Ornamental Climbers and Vines in Meerut City, Uttar Pradesh, India

Climbers and vines constitute an important component of urban vegetation and contribute significantly to landscape beautification, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem functioning. The present study documents the diversity and medicinal significance of ornamental climbers cultivated in Meerut City, Uttar Pradesh, India. Field surveys conducted during 2024–2025 in educational institutions, public parks, residential gardens, and roadside plantations recorded 25 species belonging to 13 families. Taxonomic identification was performed using standard floras and verified through current nomenclatural databases following the APG IV classification system. Bignoniaceae was the most dominant family, followed by Fabaceae, Apocynaceae, and Acanthaceae. Several recorded species possess medicinal value and contain pharmacologically important compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, and phenolics. Species including Clitoria ternatea, Passiflora caerulea, Bougainvillea spectabilis, Combretum indicum, and Mansoa alliacea have recognized therapeutic applications. The study highlights the ecological, ornamental, and medicinal importance of climbers in urban ecosystems and provides baseline information for future floristic and conservation studies in western Uttar Pradesh.