Diversity of Family Leguminosae in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh (India)
1P. Dewangan and 2V. Acharya
1Research Scholar, Department of Botany, Govt. D.B Girls P.G. College, Raipur (India) 2Asst. Prof. Botany, Govt. D.B Girls P.G. College, Raipur (India)
ABSTRACT
Plants show great diversity in their habit, habitat and morphology. Higher plant families are full of diversities. Leguminosae is the third largest family of flowering plants “Angiosperms” after Compositeae and Orchidaceae. According to different workers the number of Genera and species varies for ca 650-670 and 8000-20000 respectively in the world. The family exhibits greatest diversity in the tropics and sub-tropics. The family is divided into three subfamilies. The Papilionoideae constitute ca 71% of total legume flora while Caesalpinoideae and Mimosoideae constitute 14.6% respectively. Raipur is the capital of the state of Chhattisgarh with the Mahanadi River to the East and thick forests to the South. The Maikal Hills rise on the North-west of Raipur; on the North, the land rises and merges with the Chota Nagpur Plateau. Raipur is situated on 220 15’- 210 14’ North latitude and 820 6’- 810 38 East longitude’. The climate of the city is quiet warm during the months of summer from March to June with temperature reaching up to 48°C. The winters last from November to January are quiet pleasant with temperature dropping up to 10 °C. In the present study Leguminous plants of Raipur show diversity in habitats three sub-family 1) Papilionoideae having 48 plants, 2) Mimosoideae-20 plants, 3) Ceasalpinoideae- 20 plants. This family exhibit herb, prostrate herb, shrub and trees and climbers both wild and cultivated. Flowering in most plants of this family occurs between march to August. Total 88 plants of the family Leguminosae are found during study. These plants show diversity in habits. Plants recoeded during survey : Herbs- (36), shrubs- (15), Trees- (37), Some of the plants are Acacia catechu(Khair), Butea monosperma(Palas), Hardwickia binata(Anjan), Aeschynomene indica(Phulan), Desmodium gangeticum(Salparni), Albizzia lebbeck(Siris) . Most of the plants are economically important plants. Presence of Nitrogen fixing bacteria in the root nodules of plant increases fertility of soil. Plants are sources of pulses, edible oils. Some Trees are forest produces as timber, dye, gum, nonwood forest produce. The present study provides the present status of the Family Leguminosae and database for future studies. The plants of the family controls pollution, increases fertility of soil, checks soil erosion and are of aesthetic value.