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Floristic Diversity of Dhamrai Upazila of Dhaka with Emphasis on Medicinal Plants

M OLIUR RAHMAN
Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka

RUMANA TANJIN ANTARA
Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka

MOMTAZ BEGUM
Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka

MD ABUL HASSAN
Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A total of 263 angiosperm species under 210 genera and 79 families have been recorded from Dhamrai Upazila of Dhaka district. Of these, Magnoliopsida is represented by 200 species under 154 genera and 62 families while Liliopsida is represented by 63 species under 56 genera and 17 families. Asteraceae is the largest family in Magnoliopsida represented by 17 species, and Poaceae is the largest family in Liliopsida represented by 20 species. Habit analysis shows that herbs, shrubs and trees are represented by 166, 23 and 74 species, respectively. Sixty two medicinal plants have been documented with their uses for the cure of more than 30 diseases, and some of these are diabetes, jaundice, diarrhoea, dysentery, spleen and liver complaints, chronic ulcers, bronchitis, rheumatism, irregular menstruation, piles, urinary problems and heart diseases. Threats to the species have also been assessed and appropriate conservation measures suggested.

Keywords: Angiosperm diversity, Dhamrai, Medicinal plants

Location: Dhaka

Start Date: 01-01-2009

End Date: 31-12-2010

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity:

Objectives:

The present study aimed at making an inventory of the angiosperm species of Dhamrai Upazila and to document the medicinal uses of plant species by local people.

Methodology:

Plant specimens have been collected from all over Dhamrai through several field trips covering all seasons during 2009 - 2010. The collected specimens have been critically examined, studied and identified at Dhaka University Salar Khan Herbarium (DUSH). Identifications have been confirmed by consulting standard literature (Khan 1972 - 1987, Khan and Rahman 1989 - 2002, Dassanayake and Fosberg 1980 - 1985), and matching with identified herbarium specimens housed at DUSH and Bangladesh National Herbarium (DACB). Nomenclature has been updated following recent literature including Ahmed et al. (2007 - 2009) and Rashid and Rahman (2011). The families are arranged according to Cronquist (1981), and the species are listed alphabetically under each family along with their Bangla name, habit, phenology and voucher number. Emphasis has also been given to the economically important species particularly the medicinal plants used as primary health-care. The information on the uses of medicinal plants has been gathered through interview of the local people. The voucher specimens are preserved at DUSH.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Bot. 41(1): 71-85, 2012 (June)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Out of 263 angiosperms recorded from Dhamrai area, 221 species are wild and 42 tree species are planted. Cultivated herbs and shrubs were not taken into consideration in this account. Among the 62 medicinal plants used by the local people for their primary health care 50 species have been found wild. Luxuriant growth of aquatic plants is found in Dhamrai. The macrophytes which are very common in the study area include Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Aponogeton natans, Vallisneria spiralis, etc. Shallow water bodies support Nymphaea nouchali, Ipomoea aquatica and Enhydra fluctuans. Commonly found climbers are Asparagus racemosus and Tinospora cordiofolia. Vanda tessellata and Cuscuta reflexa were observed on the homestead trees as epiphyte and parasite, respectively. Very commonly growing roadside plants include Heliotropium indicum, Mimosa pudica, Spilanthes calva, Croton bonplandianus, Sporobolus diander, Leucus aspera and Senna tora. Several plants are found rare and endangered in Dhamrai. Some of the rare plants of Dhamrai are Alternanthera paronychioides, Amorphophallus campanulatus, Dipteracanthus prostratus, Ficus rumphii, Heliotropium ovalifolium, Hygrophila schulli, Persicaria barbata, Solanum torvum, Syngonium podophyllum and Vitex negundo. Threats to the species and suggested measures: Plant diversity of Dhamrai is under great risk because of many threats which have been identified based on the field observations and group discussion with local people during the field visits. Some of the important threats include modern agriculture, urbanization, lack of knowledge of collection techniques particularly for medicinal plants, over-exploitation, lack of awareness, exotic plantation, etc. If the current situation goes on, the area will lost a number of important plants including the medicinal ones. Therefore, immediate steps should be undertaken to conserve the plant species along with habitat protection. In order to conserve plant diversity and to ensure habitat protection the following recommendations are suggested: (i) extensive inventory of the flora of the area should be done immediately along with distribution map of the species, (ii) conservation of medicinal and threatened plants through exsitu method should be undertaken, and the local people should be involved in this activity, (iii) awareness among the local people should be created for the conservation of botanical diversity, (iv) traditional usage of medicinal plants should be recorded and documented, (v) nursery should be developed for the propagation of threatened plants and (vi) commercial cultivation of medicinal plants should be undertaken to meet the local demand.

Knowledge Management: Journal