Phytodiversity

Bhadrak district of Odisha, India harbors many water bodies, varying in shape and size, which remain underwater during the rainy season and provide a good habitat to various plant taxa. To assess the status and distribution of aquatic flora, trips were conducted in the intensive study area. A total of 167 plant species were recorded, of which 38 species of hydrophytes (including three pteridophytes) were found in aquatic habitat and 129 species in moist habitat. The most represented plant families were Poaceae (28 sp.) and Cyperaceae (19 sp.). Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart) Griseb., Alternanthera sessilis (L.)R.Br.ex DC., Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., Commelina benghalensis L., Cyperus alopecuroides Rottb. Descr., Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., Eichhornia crassipes Solms, Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle., Hygrophila auriculata (Schum.) Heine., Ipomoea aquatica Forssk., Ipomoea carnea Jacq., Glinus oppositifolius (L.) A.DC., Ludwigia adscendens (L.) Hara, Nymphaea pubescens Willd., Oxalis corniculata L., Pistia stratiotes L., and Typha angustata Bory. & Chaub. were the most common species in all the habitats. Therophytes with 41.9% (70 species) were the highest life form followed by Hydrophytes (22.7%) and Chamaephyte (15%). The status of flora, management and its ecosystem services has been discussed in the paper. In order to conserve the aquatic biodiversity in this region, some strategies and measures are suggested including strengthening scientific research and biodiversity education in the local people, balancing economic development and ecological conservation.