FLORISTIC STUDIES OF ANGIOSPERMS OF RAWALAKOT AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR PAKISTAN

Flora of Rawalakot is under immense pressure after earthquake 2005. The present study was conducted to provide a check list of angiosperms for plant conservation. A total of 381 species of angiosperms belonging to 78 families and 238 genera were recorded from Rawalakot. The dominant families were Asteraceae with 38 species, Poaceae with 37 species, Papilionaceae with 26 species, Rosaceae with 22 species, Lamiaceae with 20 species, Brassicaceae and Cyperaceae with 12 species each and Polygonaceae with 10 species. In this check list 61 species were designated as rare. Some of important species Ulmus wallichiana, Melia azedarach, Celtis eriocarpa, Bauhinia variegata, Grewia eriocarpa, Populus alba, Acer caesium, Sapindus mukorossi, Albizia odoratissima, Debregeasia salicifolia, Hypericum oblongifolium, Zanthoxylum armatum, Astragalus psilocentros, Cydonia oblonga, Cotoneaster microphyllus, C. roseus, Buddleja asiatica, Calotropis procera and Vitex negundo are very important from conservation point of view. This study also indicated that deforestation and poplar industry along habitat loss, over grazing, unawareness, annual fire practices and exploitation of medicinal plants were the major threats to the angiosperms of Rawalakot. It is now realized that strengthening of laws is an immediate need at local and national level for conservation of floral diversity.