Contribution to the Flora of Lower Manang (Gyasumdo) and its Adjoining Areas, Central Nepal

Abstract

Floristic study was conducted in Gyasumdo and its adjoining area of Manang district, central Nepal to explore and document Angiospermic flora. The study area covers Gyasumdo area, lower part of Manang at altitudes from 1600m (Tal) to 3400m (Humde). Three field visits were made from June-October 2006.

Altogether from the present study area 245 species under 203 genera and 79 families including 5 varieties (2 species were identified upto generic level only) were identified and described upto the species level. Among them, 189 species of Dicotyledonae belong to 153 genera and 65 families and 56 species of Monocotyledonae belong to 50 genera and 14 families.

The study revealed four taxa as new record for Nepal. They are: Calamagrostis lahulensis G. Singh (Gramineae), Oryzopsis aequiglumis Duthie ex Hook. f. (Gramineae), Cyperus squarrosus L. (Cyperaceae), and Platanthera edgeworthii R. K. Gupta (Orchidaceae). Altogether 79 species were found having different altitudinal ranges than reported in Hara et al. (1978, 1979 and 1982) and Press et al. (2000). Likely 13 species were found having new locality to central Nepal.

The present study area was found to be dominated by Compositae with 30 species followed by Labiatae (22 species), Rosaceae (16 species), Gramineae (16 species), Orchidaceae (15 species), Leguminosae (14 species), Ranunculaceae (12 species), Polygonaceae (10 species), Scrophulariaceae and Cyperaceae (8 species each), Gentianaceae (7 species) and Umbelliferae (5 species).

The largest genera recorded were Swertia and Elsholtzia with 4 species each followed by Geranium, Strobilanthes, Viburnum, Anaphalis and Carex with 3 species each and so on. Two monotypic families Cannabaceae and Toricelliaceae were reported from the study area. The study area was dominated by the Eastern elements and differed from upper Manang which was dominated by Western elements in the horizontal distribution of floristic elements.