Diversity of Macrophyte Species of The Wetlands of Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Wet lands are one of the important natural resources and they are the most threatened of all the natural resources. A wide variety of wetlands, like marshes, swamps, open water bodies, saline marshy swamps and tidal flats etc., exist in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The total area of the district is 13 076Sq.km. The total wetland area is 2154 sq.km, equal to 16.47% of the total area of the district. There is a seasonal change in the area of wetlands in the district. The wetlands exhibit rich floral diversity. A qualitative field study was carried out in the wetlands of Nellore district, during 2010–2011 to assess the diversity of macrophytes of the wetlands. Atotal of 180 species are found in the wetlands, of which 13.9% of species are found in marine-coastal wetlands. 80% of the flora is marshy plants; 71.6% are annuals.