Phytosociology of tree species in the Riverine Forest of Amirthi River, Amirthi Range of Vellore Forest Division, Tamil Nadu, India

A rapid inventory on phytosociology of tree species and their relation to the riverine forest of Amirthi river, Vellore Forest Division, Tamil Nadu, was explored using tree spies data-set of 35 quadrates in the study area. A very high species diversity of 69tree species with 754 individuals were recorded within the 0.35ha of area sampled. Among those species, Albizialebbeck, Ziziphusmauritiana, Bambusaarundinacea, Dalbergialanceolaria, Wrightiatinctoria, Tamarindusindica, Tectonagrandis, Pongamiapinnata, Ailanthus excelsa and Syzygiumcuminiwere the predominant tree species estimated top ten ranking order of Important Value Index (IVI). Fabaceae, Moraceae, Euphoraceae, Anacardiaceae, Meliaceae, Mimosaceae and Rubiaceae were the seven dominant families reported maximum species richness ranged from eight to four species. Shannon-Weiner index (H′) ranged from 3.61 to 3.69 while Simpson index from 0.95 to 0.96, and evenness index from 0.53 to 0.58. Since the IVI deals the density, distribution and dominance of a species, selected species of top 20 ranked IVI value were recommended for restoring the riverine forest of Amirthi river.