Community study of plant species in coastal areas of Mohana and Old Digha of Purba Medinipur District with special reference to Eco-sustenance of life in near future
Debabrata Das
Angiospermic Taxonomy and Ecology Laboratory Post Graduate Department of Botany Darjeeling Govt. College, Darjeeling, West Bengal (India) (Ex-JRF, CNS, ICFRE Project, Ex-JRF, SRF, CNH, BSI, Flora India Project, Howrah-1) Email: dr.debabratadas@rediffmail.com, Cell No.: 09434232596/09851223359
ABSTRACT
The present paper reflects vegetation cover along with plant species of different kinds in Coastal area of Mohana to Old Digha of West Bengal, India. It consists of 81 plant species under 76 genera and 42 families of angiosperms. The five dominant families, as per the relative abundance (RA) studied are Asteraceae with 13.7, Fabacaea with 9.7, Scrophulariaceae with 5.4, Solanaceae with 8.6 and Verbenaceae with 9.7 value. The family Poaceae with four species having 11.3 abundance values (Total), but only the species Spinifex littoreous showed 9.0 RA which is highest for a single species of monocot among all the members of Poaceae in the said area. This species is dominant in the said area and found as soil and sand binder. Majority of the plant species found there are natural kind but a few of them are agricultural type and some are plants of introduced type used for various purposes. The tidal areas along with coastal canals are diverse due to presence of halophytes and halophytic associates. Some exotic elements of ecological importance have also been recorded from the sites with stress conditions need further study. These are Lantana, Eupatorium and Parthenium species as exotics. All the plants have made influence on the said habitat and extensively used by local people as fire wood or fuel purpose. Others species forming large vegetation of the said area boosts huge protection for the eco-habitat and change the habitat best suit for new comer. As the site is saline prone and stressed in condition, need elaborate work to advocate the requisites to a stress tolerant condition for sustenance of life by eco-restoration programme.