Endemic species of Astraceae in the flora of Kashmir Himalayas Jammu and Kashmir State, India

Keywords: Floristics, endemic species, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

ABSTRACT: The present paper put on record 90 taxa of family Asteraceae endemic to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. These species were present in different climatic conditions, some special habitats and varied altitudinal zones in this region. The phytogeographical and variation in the climate of the state has a tremendous impact on the flora of State. The number of endemic species is high on account of its topographic and mostly mountainous region.

067-070 | JRPS | 2012 | Vol 1 | No 1

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Journal of Research in

Plant Sciences An International Scientific

Research Journal

Authors:

Bhellum BL.

Institution: Department of Botany,

Govt. Degree College,

Kathua- 184 101, J and K

State, India.

Corresponding author:

Bhellum BL.

Web Address: http://plantsciences.info/

documents/PS0018.pdf.

Dates: Received: 21 Jan 2012 /Accepted: 28 Jan 2012 /Published: 25 Feb 2012

Article Citation: Bhellum BL. Endemic species of Astraceae in the flora of Kashmir Himalayas Jammu and Kashmir State, India. Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 2: 067-070.

Original Research

Journal of Research in Plant Sciences

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An International Scientific Research Journal

INTRODUCTION

Located on North-West of Indian republic the

State of Jammu and Kashmir lies between 32 17 N to 36

26 N latitude and 73 26 to 80 30 E longitude. The state is

divided in to three geographical regions namely Jammu,

Kashmir and Ladakh. The climate varies with regard to

change in elevation in different regions which reflects a

lot of diversity in vegetation. The precipitation is in the

form of snow particularly in higher reaches of

mountains. Valley of Kashmir experiences irregular

climate with large variation in the amount of

precipitation. Notwithstanding minor climatic changes

the winters are extremely cold. Ladakh is a cold desert

and two distinct bio-climates are recognized as cold

temperate. The average rainfall is quite low in this part of

the state. In Jammu the winters are cold and summers are

extremely hot.

Asteraceae is one of the largest families of the

flowering plants in India comprising of 1052 taxa

representing 161 genera (Hajra et al. 1995). The family

is represented by 109 genera and 481 species (Singh et

al., 1999; Singh & Mathur, 2001). According to Nayar

(1980) there are 141 genera of angiosperms endemic to

India of these 67 genera are confined to the Himalayas.

The members of this family are dominant in Jammu and

Kashmir. Many of them are endemic this region. The

family shows high state of endemism to the extent of

39% according to Singh et al., 2002. The dominance of

these elements is because of unique topography,

ecosystems and geographic position of the state.

Recently, Bhellum (2012) reported a new record for the

flora of North-West India which indicates that report of

some more species is possible. In the present study a list

of 90 taxa belonging to Asteraceae are listed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This species listed were studied from the present

limits of Jammu and Kashmir State. The plant specimens

were collected between 2003- 2007. These specimens

were carried in the polythene bags. The Plant specimens

were collected and studied in the Laboratory and

identified both with the help of dissection microscope

and stereoscope. The relevant literature has been

consulted to know their endemic status.

Enumeration

In the present paper as many as 90 taxa

representing 24 genera of family Asteraceae are recorded

as endemic to the state of Jammu and Kashmir State.

These species occupies different habitats and elevations

in this region. The variation in the climate of the state

has a tremendous impact on the flora of State. The

number of endemic species is high on account of its

topographic and mostly mountainous region. Endemic

species belonging to family Asteraceae are enumerated

below in alphabetica order.

1.Artemisia amygdalina Decne.

2.A. salsoloides Willd.var. vellayi Hemsl.

3.A stronglycephalum Pamp. Var. typica f. gemunia

Pamp.

4.A. stronglycephalum Pamp.

5.Bidens minima Huds.

6.Bidens tetraspinosa Kak and Javeid

7.Chondrilla graminea M. Bieb. Var. kashmiriana Hk.f.

8.C. pauciflora Ledeb.

9.C. maniforma

10.C. setulosa clarek

11.Chrysanthemum tibeticum Hk.f. & Thoms.

12.Circium wallichii (DC). Var. pletlepis Hook.f.

13.Cousenia falconeri Hk.f.

14.Cremanthodium ellisii Kitam.

15.Crepis dachhigamensis Gurcharan Singh

16.C. kashmirica Babc.

17.C. pulchra L.

18.Erigeron Jaeschkei. Vierh

19.E. pseudohyrcanicus Grierson ex. Stewart

20.Erigeron semibarbata (DC.) Hk.f.

21.Gerbera lacei Watt.

22.Heteropappus holohermaphroditus Grierson

Bhellum, 2012

068 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1: 067-070

23.Hieracium umbellatum L.var. lanceolatum Hook.f.

24.Inula clarkei (H.k.f.) R. R. Stewart.

25.Inula.royleana DC.

26.Jurinella macrocephala var. tibetica (Stewart)

Karthik. & Moorthy

27.J. macrocephala Aswal & Goel

28.J. rosulata Klatt.

29.Lactuca. kashmiriana Mamgain & R. R. Rao

30.L. lessertiana Clarke var. lyrata Stebbins

31.L. tatarica (L.) Mey.

32.L. benthamii Clarke

33.Leontopodium conocephalum Edgew.

34.Ligularia jacquemontiana (Decne.) Rau

35.L. sibirica (L.) Cass. var. racemosa (DC.) Kitam.

36.Olgaea thomsoii (Hk.f.) Iljin.

37.Picris hieracioides L.

38.Saussurea bracteata Decne.

39.S. candolleana (Wall.ex DC.) Clarke

40.S. clarkei Hook.f.

41.S. costus (Falc.) Lipschitz.

42.S. glanduligera Sch.-Bip.

43.S. graminifolia wall.ex.DC.

44.S. obvallata (DC.) Beh.-Bip.

45.S. stoliczkai Clarke.

46.S. subulata Clarke.

47.S. uniflora (DC.) Sch.-Bip.

48.Scorzonera alba stewart.

49.Senecio laetus var. analogus (DC.) R. Mathur ex

Karthik & Moorthy

50.S. laetus var. specatabilis (DC.) R. Mathur ex

Karthik. & Moorthy

51.S. laetus var. cymbiformis (DC.) Aswal

52.Tragopogon kashmirianus Singh

53.Taraxacum amblylepidocarpum V. Soest

54.T. apargiaeforme Dahlst.

55.T. coronatum Hand. Mazz.

56.T. elegans V. Soest

57.T. eriocarpum H. Hartm.

58.T. flavum V. Soest

59.T. fulvescens V. Soest

60.T. fulvo brunneum V. Soest

61.T. gulmargense V. Soest

62. T. harbhajan-singhii V. Soest

63.T. harbhajan-singhii ssp. pahalgamense V. Soest

64.T. helianthemum V. Soest

65.T. heteroloma Hand. Mazz.

66.T. hooftii V. Soest

67.T. karakoricum V. Soest

68.T. kashmirense V. Soest

69.T. kjellmaniiforme V. Soest

70.T. ladakense V. Soest

71.T. laevigatum (Willd.) DC.

72.T. latibasis V. Soest

73.T. lobbichleri. V. Soest

74.T. longicarpum V. Soest

75.T. luridum G. Hagl.

76.T. nagaricum V. Soest

77.T. nasiri V. Soest

78.T. nigrum V. Soest

79.T. nivale J. Lange

80.T. parvuliforme V. Soest

81.T. phoenicolepis V. Soest

82.T. pseudobicorne V. Soest

83.T. pseudoeriopodum V. Soest

84.T. pseudostaticifolium Hand-Mazz.

85.T. pseudosteven V. Soest

86.T. stereodiforme V. Soest

87.T. stewartii (Spreng.) DC.

88.T. violaceo-maculatum V. Soest

89.T. vulpinum f. pallidocarpum V. Soest

90.T. xanthophyllum Haglund

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the present study the endemic species of the

Kashmir Himalayas have been studied. Of the 90 taxa

representing 24 genera of family Asteraceae, it

represents Artemisia 4.44%; Chondrilla 4.44%; Crepis

3.33%; Erigeron 33.3%; Jurinella 3.33%; Lactuca

Bhellum, 2012

Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1: 067-070 069

4.44%; Saussurea 11.11%; Senecio 3%; Taraxacum

44.4%. The highest %age of the taxa is found in the

genus Taraxacum followed by Saussurea 11.11%. The

lowest number of taxa is found in the genera such as

Bidens, Chrysanthemum, Circium, Cousenia,

Cremanthodium, Gerbera, Heteropappus, Hieracium,

Inula, Leontopodium, Ligularia, Olgea, Picris,

Scarzonera and Tragopogon. Singh et al. (2012) reported

11 species from Asteraceae which constitutes 12.22% of

the repoted species from Jammu and Kashmir State.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author is grateful to Prof. A. K. Koul, BGSB.

Rajouri and Prof. Rani Magotra, Department of Botany,

University of Jammu for encouragement.

REFERENCES

Bhellum BL. 2012. Conyza sumatrensis (Retz.) E.

Walker (Asteraceae) A new record for the flora of

North-West India. Journal of Research in Plant Sciences

1:045-047.

Hajra PK, Rao RR, Singh DK and Uniyal BP. 1995.

Flora of India. 12 & 13. Asteraceae . BSI., New Delhi.

Nayar MP. 1980. Endemic Flora of Paninsular India and

its significance. Bull. Bot. Surv., India. 22:12-13.

Singh NP and Sing DK. 2002. Protected area Network.

In: N. P. Singh & K. P. Singh(eds.) Floristic Diversity

and Conservation Strategies in India. 2341-2412. BSI.

Dehra Dun.

Singh P and Chauhan AS. 1999. Sikkam. In:V. Mudgal

and P.K. Hajra (eds.) Floristic Diversity and Coservation

Strategies in Inda. III. 1419-1450. BSI. Dehra Dun.

Singh DK and Mathur R. 2001. Asteraceae. In: N.P.

Singh & D.K. Singh (eds.) Floristic Diversity and

Conservation Strategies in India. IV.1903-1960.

Singh NP and Singh DK and Uniyal BP. 2002. Flora of

Jammu and Kashmir.BSI. Kolkata. Vol. I.

Bhellum, 2012

070 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1: 067-070

Fig. 1. Pie diagram showing Endemic species

with more than two taxa

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