Abstract:

Field surveys were carried out to evaluate the floristic diversity and biological spectrum of Lower Tanawal, District Abbottabad in different seasons during 2016-2018. This study area was divided into 80 stands on the basis of physiognomy of the vegetation. Life form classes and leaf spectra were classified following Raunkier’s methodology. In total, 286 plant species belonging to 86 families were recorded, out of which herbaceous growth form dominated the study area with 187 species, followed by shrub with 54 species. Among all 86 families, Asteraceae was found to be the most dominant family with 25 species, followed by Fabaceae with 24 species and Rosaceae with 20 species. Based on life form classes, Therophytic life form was the leading class with 113 species (39.5104%), followed by Nanophanerophytes with 45 species (15.7342%). In leaf size spectra, Microphylls dominated the flora with 88 species (30.7692%), followed by Mesophyll with 81 species (28.3216%). This study shows the complete floristic composition that may be important as reference work for future ethnobotanical, ecological and conservational studies.

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