Floristic Diversity and Biological Spectrum in Urban and Peri-urban Areas of Ganderbal, Kashmir

The study was conducted to investigate tree diversity, life forms and leaf spectra during 2022 and 2023.Vegetation analysis was conducted in nine wards of Municipal Committee of Ganderbal and peri-urban locations within a 1 -2 km vicinity of the wards. Random sampling of trees, shrubs and herbs was carried out using 10 m x 10 m, 5 m x 5 m and 1 m x 1 m quadrants, respectively. The study identified 115 species across 50 families, comprising 101 dicots, 8 monocots and 6 gymnosperms. Dominant families included Asteraceae (11.30 %), Rosaceae (9.56 %), Leguminosae (6.08 %) and Amaranthaceae (5.21 %). Prunus and Rosa were the most diverse genera, each with three species. Moreover, two species were recognized as endemic, with an additional 12 species classified as native to the study area. There was greater biodiversity in urban regions than in peri-urban areas, highlighting urbanisation’s impact on plant richness and composition. Of the surveyed species, trees, shrubs and herbs were 225.22 , 19.13 and 51.30 % respectively emphasizing the prevalence of herbaceous vegetation. According to Raunkiaer’s life form system, therophytes (34.78 %) were predominant, followed by nanophanerophytes (17.39 %), indicating a thero-phanerophytic phytoclimate. Microphylls (34.78 %) and simple leaves (66.09 %) were prevalent in the leaf size spectrum and leaf lamina type. The dominance of therophytes suggests an adaptation to harsh climate conditions and anthropogenic pressures in urban and peri-urban areas.