Study of rare and endangered plants of Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, India

Abstract

India is one of the 17 countries designated as mega biodiversity centers among the 196 countries of the world and geologically has elements of the Palearctic and Indo Malayan Realm. Situated in Central India are the lofty hills and plateaus of Satpura Ranges made up of multilayered sandstone dating from Permian to Cretaceous. Pachmarhi, a UNESCO declared Biosphere Reserve covering an area of 4,98172 sq. km at an elevation of 1100 meters above mean sea level, is located amidst these ranges, at 22° 11’ to 22°50’N and 77°47’ to 78°52’ E meridian. Pachmarhi is endowed with moderate tropical summer and up to 1200 mm rainfall which foster dense forest. The medicinal plants of Pachmarhi were studied with a view to understand the habitat, biodiversity, availability and their status. Large trees form the upper canopy of the forest with one of the finest timber yielding species of Tectona grandis and Shorea robusta. The midsized tree, shrubs and climbers together with undercover herbs lodge a treasure trove of medicinal plants. The study revealed more than 600 species of Angiosperms having medicinal value; some species which were once common but now rare and threatened are Aristolochia indica, Berberis aristata, Balanites aegyptiaca, Boswellia serrata, Chlorophytum tuberosum, Gardenia gummifera, Gloriosa superba, Pterocarpus marsupium, Rouwolfia serpentina, Eulophia nuda, Pueraria tuberosa, Mallotus philippensis, Oroxyium indicum, Litsea glutinosa, Terminalia bellerica, T. chebula, Uraria picta.Keywords: Artificial intelligence valueloading problem, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, artificial intelligence safety. With the unsustainable harvesting by local inhabitants and overexploitation by profiteers for commercial purposes, their availability has subsequently declined to the extent that many species have become endangered up to critical levels. To salvage this dwindling treasure immediate attention is required for their in-situ and ex-situ conservation