Floristic diversity assessment of dry temperate and alpine region of Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh

Assessment of floristic diversity provides basis for devising suitable strategies for conservation of the plant resources. Accordingly a study was conducted to understand the floristic diversity of dry temperate and alpine region of Kinnaur under different forest groups/types/sub-types. Out of 140 species 4 families belonging to trees, 11 shrubs, 25 herbs, 11 grasses and 2 ferns were encountered during the sampling of vegetation. Among trees species Pinaceae; among shrubs Berberidaceae, Cupressaceae, Fabaceae and Rosaceae; among herbs Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Ranunculaceae and Rosaceae and among grasses Poaceae were the dominant families. Among the total plant species recorded from the area 8 species viz Betula utilis, Juniperus communis, J indica, J macropoda, Rhododendron campanulatum, Picrorhiza kurroa, Bergenia stracheyi and Ephedra gerardiana fell in the category of threatened species.