Aquatic plants diversity in arid zones of Northwest China: patterns, threats and conservation

We investigated aquatic plant diversity by conducting the field investigation and collecting the published data in the arid regions of Northwest China. Two hundred and twenty four taxa of vascular aquatic plants representing 64 genera and 34 families occur in this area, 8.48% of which are endemic. Among these, 1 genus and 6 species were new state records and 1 family, 9 genera and 29 species were new area records. Typhaceae, Potamogetonaceae, Juncaginaceae and Haloragaceae were the most frequent families (considering relative frequency of occurrence), whereas Cyperaceae, Potamogetonaceae and Ranuncnlaceae are the most species-rich. The most frequent genera were Typha, Potamogeton, and Triglochin, and the most species-rich were Potamogeton, Eleocharis and Scirpus. The most frequent species are Triglochin palustre, Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamogeton pectinatus and Typha angustifolia. Aquatic plants diversity is distributed unevenly in the region. The maximum species occurs in Dzungarian basin while the least species in Hexi corridor. The aquatic flora in arid zone of China is not distinctive although some endemic species are found, most species are widely distributed. Local aquatic plants diversity can be influenced by many factors such as hydrological alteration, habitat loss, over-grazing, high human population pressure, global climate change, an inappropriate economic development policy. Among them, the largest threat to aquatic plants biodiversity may be habitat loss due to hydrological alteration. In order to conserve the aquatic plants biological resources and biodiversity in this region, some strategies and measures must be suggested including strengthening scientific research and biodiversity education in the local people, balancing economic development and ecological conservation, and enhancing governmental assistance and subsidy to the local residents.     

湖北特有种子植物分布特征分析

通过查阅相关文献并进行统计,确认湖北特有种子植物共计129种,无特有属分布。129种植物隶属于45科92属,其中含4种以上的科共有10个,含特有种最多的科为蔷薇科,共有7属15种。特有种以草本植物占绝对优势,藤本植物最少。按地理分区,可将129种植物归入5个区,其中包含种类最多的为大巴山区(仅神农架地区至少就有17种),大别山区和幕府山区的特有种极少。基于湖北与湿地、森林植被有关的自然保护区和特有植物的模式产地进行作图,结果显示,保护区的分布范围和密度与特有植物的分布基本重合,说明绝大部分特有种在保护区内都能得到有效地保护。     

西藏佩枯错种子植物区系研究

为了丰富西藏高原植物区系地理研究资料,深入开展该区域植被生态学研究、生物资源开发利用与保护,该研究通过野外调查、标本采集以及查阅相关的文献资料,对西藏佩枯错种子植物区系进行了统计分析。结果表明:(1)植物种类较贫乏。佩枯错共有种子植物31科77属115种,仅占西藏种子植物的18.90%、6.73%、2.17%。其中裸子植物2科2属2种,被子植物29科75属113种;被子植物中双子叶植物有23科58属91种,单子叶植物6科17属22种。(2)优势科明显,单种科占绝对优势。所有科中有5个科至少含有7种种子植物,占该研究区总种数的39.13%,是该区系的主要组分;同时科数中有11科仅含1种植物,该类科占一定优势。(3)种子植物的区系成分较复杂,划分为3个科分布区类型和10个属分布区类型,其中温带成分占绝对优势:温带分布科、属分别占总数的29.03%和77.92%,表明本区系具有明显温带性质。(4)科属特有现象不明显,没有中国特有科分布,仅有1个中国特有属分布,说明佩枯错植物区系的特有化程度极低,表现出寒旱化与高山、高原特化综合而成的高寒植物区系的年轻性。     

西藏米林县珍稀濒危药用植物优先保护评价

通过设置样方和路线踏查,对米林县的野生药用植物资源进行调查,并利用多个指标定量计算各濒危植物的优先保护值,确定其珍稀濒危物种优先保护序列,对珍稀濒危药用植物的种类、药效和入药部位多样性进行了分析。结果表明:米林县共有药用保护植物37科72属97种,分别占药用植物总科数、总属数、总种数的48.05%、32.00%、30.70%。其中,被子植物有35科69属95种,裸子植物有2科2属2种。97种珍稀濒危药用植物中,处于Ⅰ级保护的药用植物有9科11属11种,处于Ⅱ级保护的药用植物有18科25属27种,处于Ⅲ级保护的药用植物有28科46属59种。从珍稀濒危药用植物的药效来看,清热功效和补虚功效的药用植物较多,分别有32种和20种,各占濒危药用植物总种数的32.99%、20.62%;从药用部位统计,根与根茎类和全草类的药用植物分别有34种和26种,占珍稀濒危药用植物总数比例较大,分别为35.05%、26.80%。该区评估的优先保护等级和濒危等级与保护植物名录有一定差异,桃儿七在本区的保护等级由Ⅲ级升为Ⅰ级,另外有7种植物的濒危程度在本区加强。基于调查和研究结果分析了米林县珍稀濒危药用植物的致濒原因,并就此提出了一些具体的保护建议和措施。     

Shorebirds as important vectors for plant dispersal in Europe

Shorebirds (Charadriiformes) undergo rapid migrations with potential for long‐distance dispersal (LDD) of plants. We studied the frequency of endozoochory by shorebirds in different parts of Europe covering a broad latitudinal range and different seasons. We assessed whether plants dispersed conformed to morphological dispersal syndromes. A total of 409 excreta samples (271 faeces and 138 pellets) were collected from redshank Tringa totanus, black‐winged stilt Himantopus himantopus, pied avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata and black‐tailed godwit Limosa limosa in south‐west Spain, north‐west England, southern Ireland and Iceland in 2005 and 2016, and intact seeds were extracted and identified. Godwits were sampled just before or after migratory movements between England and Iceland. The germinability of seeds was tested. Intact diaspores were recovered from all bird species and study areas, and were present in 13% of samples overall. Thirteen plant families were represented, including Charophyceae and 26 angiosperm taxa. Only four species had an ‘endozoochory syndrome’. Four alien species were recorded. Ellenberg values classified three species as aquatic and 20 as terrestrial. Overall, 89% of seeds were from terrestrial plants, and 11% from aquatic plants. Average seed length was higher in redshank pellets than in their faeces. Six species were germinated, none of which had an endozoochory syndrome. Seeds were recorded during spring and autumn migration. Plant species recorded have broad latitudinal ranges consistent with LDD via shorebirds. Crucially, morphological syndromes do not adequately predict LDD potential, and more empirical work is required to identify which plants are dispersed by shorebirds. Incorporating endozoochory by shorebirds and other migratory waterbirds into plant distribution models would allow us to better understand the natural processes that facilitated colonization of oceanic islands, or to improve predictions of how plants will respond to climate change, or how alien species spread.     

广东阳春重阳传统药市药用民族植物学研究

该研究自2013年开始对阳春开展了全面的中药资源普查工作,在全面了解阳春地区药用植物资源的基础上,于2013年和2014年两次对阳春重阳传统药市进行全面跟踪调查。结果表明：阳春重阳传统药市出售的药物种类丰富,共收集鉴定得出134种药用植物,隶属于60科117属,并对收集到的药用植物进行编目,包括俗名、学名、药用部位、用途和用法等。从药用植物的科、属分布上来看,其中种类较多的科有大戟科(11种)、蝶形花科(10种)、菊科(10种)、茜草科(9种)、马鞭草科(6种)、姜科(5种)、防己科(5种)。药用植物的种类广泛分布于各科和属中,而非集中于少数科、属内。此外,还对阳春重阳传统药市所形成的文化基础、植物应用特色和药材地域特色进行了分析,在药市中调查到一批具有当地特色的滋补养生类的药材,得出阳春当地具有将药用植物融入日常饮食的习惯。药市中售卖的药材功效与当地的自然环境密切联系,其中尤以治疗与岭南地区湿热的气候和瘴疠虫蛇等特点所引起的常见疾病为主。同时,对阳春药市的可持续发展提出了意见和建议。     

惠州西湖风景名胜区维管植物资源与多样性研究

为了明确惠州西湖风景名胜区维管植物资源及多样性特征,该研究通过野外实地调查和文献查阅,统计惠州西湖风景名胜区维管植物种类构成及其科、属、种层面的具体组成,并分析其分布区类型、濒危物种、药用植物和水生植物状况。结果表明:(1)惠州西湖风景名胜区共有维管植物169科650属1 061种,其中被子植物种类最丰富,有145科613属1 002种,科、属、种数分别占总数的85.80%、94.30%、94.44%;裸子植物9科20属36种,科、属、种数分别占总数的5.33%、3.10%、3.39%;蕨类植物15科17属23种,科、属和种数分别占总数的8.88%、2.60%、2.17%。(2)惠州西湖风景名胜区植物资源的优势科明显,含10种及以上的科有29科653种,占总种数的61.55%,其中菊科最多(有63种),禾本科次之(有60种);研究区有单属、种的植物442种,表明单种或少数种的科在研究区维管植物中占大多数。(3)惠州西湖风景名胜区有种子植物154科,分属13个分布区类型,其中泛热带分布区类型有60科,所占的比例最高(55.56%),表明该区种子植物具有明显的热带特性,其种子植物区系以热带分布为主。(4)惠州西湖风景名胜区有珍稀濒危植物29种(其中国家保护植物26种),药用植物702种,水生植物150种。研究表明,惠州西湖风景名胜区维管植物资源种类丰富,多样性程度高,应特别加强植物资源的保护和利用以及生态景观的建设。     

神农架川金丝猴栖息地优势树种生态位及食源植物

该文采用定量分析法, 研究了湖北神农架千家坪地区川金丝猴 (Rhinopithecus roxellana) 现生栖息地优势树种的生态位宽度、生态位重叠和生态位相似比例, 分析了优势树种生态位对神农架川金丝猴生存的影响。结果如下:1) 在64000m2的样方中, 木本植物255种, 隶属于44科105属, 其中乔木23科51属129种, 灌木22科49属113种, 木质藤本7科9属13种。优势科主要有蔷薇科、樟科、槭树科、忍冬科、壳斗科和四照花科等。2) 生态位宽度在栖息地森林群落乔木层中最高的为红桦 (Betula albo-sinensis) (5.261), 华山松 (Pinus armandii) (4.545) 、巴山冷杉 (Abiesfargesii) (4.289) 和糙皮桦 (Betula utilis) (3.256) 次之;灌木层中最高的为红晕杜鹃 (Rhododendron erubescens) (2.245), 多枝柳 (Salixpolyclona) (2.064) 、华中山楂 (Crataegus wilsonii) (1.508) 和陇东海棠 (Malus kansuensis) (1.453) 次之。3) 主要树种生态位宽度大于1的有30种, 占总数的11.67%, 其中21种是川金丝猴食源植物, 占神农架川金丝猴食源植物总数的10.40%;重要值排名前25位的树种中, 18种为食源植物, 占重要值总和的74.50%。4) 优势种的生态位重叠值在0.4以上的有7对种群;大部分种群的生态位相似性比值在0~0.3之间, 占全部种对的83.82%。结果表明, 神农架川金丝猴栖息地植物组成复杂, 优势种多为食源植物;优势种的生境高度相似、生态位多有重叠、种间竞争较为激烈, 将导致现有栖息地森林群落结构及植物组成发生变化, 食源植物短缺, 甚至栖息地面积缩减等现象, 这些都会影响川金丝猴的生存。因此, 加强保护神农架千家坪川金丝猴现生栖息地森林为川金丝猴创造适宜生存空间迫在眉睫。     

Benthic hydroids (Cnidaria,Hydrozoa) from the Balleny Islands (Antarctica)

Twenty-two species of benthic hydroids, belonging to ten families and 14 genera, were found in a hydroid collection obtained in the Balleny Islands during the BioRoss expedition with the NIWA research vessel Tangaroa in 2004. Twenty of those species constitute new records for the Balleny Islands, raising the total number of known species in the area to 25. Most are members of the subclass Leptothecata, although the subclass Anthoathecata is also relatively well represented. Kirchenpaueriidae and Sertulariidae constitute families with the greatest numbers of species in the collection, with five species (20%) each. Oswaldella with five species (20%) and Staurotheca with four (16%), were the most diverse genera. Twelve species (63%) are endemic to Antarctic waters, most of them with a circum-Antarctic distribution, and 17 (89%) are restricted to Antarctic or Antarctic/sub-Antarctic waters. Although the Balleny Islands hydroid fauna seems to be a typical Antarctic assemblage, it has some striking peculiarities, namely the absence or low representation of some typical and widespread Antarctic genera (Antarctoscyphus and Schizotricha/Symplectoscyphus, respectively).     

Phylogenetic diversity and ecological features in the Egyptian flora

Until fairly recently, regional-scale ecological and evolutionarypatterns have tended to be ignored as conservation efforts have been concernedwith species and their habitats. Here we compare frequencies in the Egyptianflora of particular rank sizes (order, family and genus) with patterns ofspecies abundance (classified as very rare, rare, common, or very common) and anarray of life-history attributes. The angiosperm flora of Egypt is representedby 2446 taxa (2088 species), including taxa in 10 subclasses, 51 orders, 120families, and 742 genera. A high degree of monotypism was observed: four ordersare monotypic (each existing as single species), and have very rare overallabundances; 30 families are monotypic (17 of which are very rare or rare); and 354genera are monotypic (over 70% of which are very rare or rare). Fourteenfamilies (in particular the Resedaceae and Zygophyllaceae) have at leastone-fifth of their global species represented in the Egyptian flora. Introducedspecies in general, and tree, aquatic herb and liana life forms all are especially well represented among monotypic genera. Native taxa are highlyrepresented among rare and very rare abundance classes, while introduced taxadid not differ significantly in their abundance patterns, compared to overallflora values. Few large genera (>20 spp.) occur in the flora, with mostspecies concentrated in genera containing 8–19 species per genus.Similarly, few families were highly speciose. Annual and herbaceous species weresignificantly over-represented, mainly among large, speciose genera andfamilies. However, perennials, trees, shrubs, aquatic herbs, lianas and parasiticspecies were found mainly in families and genera having very few taxa.Life-history attributes may have important implications to speciation rates.Taxonomically based results, involving abundances and life-history attributes,are discussed in the context of biodiversity and conservation.     

乐山地区外来入侵植物风险评估

[目的]全面了解乐山地区的外来入侵植物现状,为乐山地区外来入侵植物的防控提供可行性建议对策,并为防控进展研究和预警机制的建立提供参考。[方法]通过实地调查、查阅文献和标本数据库分析乐山地区外来入侵植物情况,利用层次分析法建立乐山地区外来入侵植物的评估体系,评估所有外来入侵植物的风险值,并根据等级划分标准和风险值将外来入侵植物划分为5个风险等级(I~V级)。[结果]乐山地区入侵植物种类共109种,隶属38科86属。其中菊科17属20种,为最大优势科,豆科、苋科、茄科、禾本科次之,且草本植物占优。I级风险(恶性入侵)植物有10种,II级风险(严重入侵)的有11种,III级风险(局部入侵)的有13种,IV级风险(一般入侵)的有27种,其他48种(有待观察)为V级风险。中高危害风险的外来入侵植物共34种,隶属18科32属。[结论]乐山地区外来入侵植物种类繁多且危害风险高,基于上述入侵现状和风险等级提出了防控外来植物入侵的对策。     

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) from Reserva Ecológica Michelin,Bahia, Brazil

New records and distributional notes are provided for Reserva Ecológica Michelin, an Atlantic Forest fragment near the southern coast of Bahia State, Brazil. Two families, four genera and five species are recorded for the first time in Bahia State. Additionally, one family, two genera and three species are also recorded for the first time in the Northeast Region of Brazil, resulting in nine families, 48 genera and 96 species recorded to this region. Amongst the recorded species, Hermanella mazama (Nascimento, Mariano, and Salles, 2012) has been classified as an endangered species on the official Brazilian red list.     

Benthic hydroids (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) from Peter I Island (Southern Ocean, Antarctica)

Twenty-three species of benthic hydroids, belonging to eight families and 13 genera, were found in a hydroid collection from Peter I Island, collected during both the Bentart 2003 and Bentart 2006 Spanish expeditions with BIO Hespérides in 2003 and 2006. Fourteen out of the 23 species constitute new records for Peter I Island, raising the total number of known species in the area to 30, as also do seven out of the 13 genera. The majority of the species are members of the subclass Leptothecata; the subclass Anthoathecata being scarcely represented. Sertulariidae is the family with the greatest number of species in the collection, with eight species (35%), followed by Lafoeidae with five (22%). Symplectoscyphus with four species (17%) and both Antarctoscyphus and Halecium with three (13%), including H. frigidum sp. nov., were the most diverse genera. Twenty species (ca. 77%) are endemic to Antarctic waters, either with a circum-Antarctic (11 species, ca. 42%) or West Antarctic (9 species, ca. 35%) distribution. Twenty-four (ca. 92%) are restricted to Antarctic or Antarctic/sub-Antarctic waters; only two species have a wider distribution. Peter I Island hydroid fauna is composed of typical representatives of the Antarctic benthic hydroid fauna, though it is characterized by the low representation of some of the most diverse and widespread Antarctic genera (Schizotricha and Staurotheca).     

Medicinal plants of Erute county,Lira district,Uganda with particular reference to their conservation

A medicinal plant study was carried out in eighteen parishes and 54 villages of Erute county, Lira district, Uganda. Parishes and villages were selected using stratified random sampling techniques. Questionnaires, interviews and discussions with the local people were used to obtain information on the names of the plants, their medicinal uses and conservation methods. The number of the medicinal plants species used was 180 belonging to 144 genera and 57 families of flowering plants. The major families recorded for medicinal purpose included Fabaceae (37 species), Asteraceae (26 species), Euphorbiaceae (eleven species), Vitaceae (eight species), Verbenaceae (seven species), Poaceae (six species), Solanaceae (five species), and Rubiaceae (four species). There is a need for putting in place measures to conserve these plants. Unfortunately, most of the healers or users were not interested in cultivation of the plants. The situation could worsen with the social changes and demand for land for agriculture in the district.     

Oligochaetes (Naididae, Tubificidae, Opistocystidae, Enchytraeidae, Sparganophilidae and Alluroididae) of Guyana

About 50 species in more than 20 genera of the microdrile oligochaete families Tubificidae, Naididae, Opistocystidae, and Enchytraeidae and the freshwater megadrile families Sparganophilidae and Alluroididae were identified in recent collections made in Guyana. Only seven species in these families were previously recorded from Guyana. The aquatic oligochaete fauna has similar components to those of the southeastern United States, other locations in South America, and across lower latitudes in the northern hemisphere. A high diversity of species is found in the naidids especially in the genera Pristina and Pristinella, especially considering the small number of locations that have been sampled. The collections include approximately 12 new species of rhyacodrilines (Tubificidae), Dero, Pristina, Pristinella (Naididae), Brinkhurstia (Alluroididae), Hemienchytraeus and Aspidodrilus (Enchytraeidae). This is the first record of Aspidodrilus from outside of Africa and the first new record since 1952.     

Checklist of Wadi Hassan flora,Northeastern Badia,Jordan

In this study, we survey the plant diversity of Wadi Hassan, which is located in the Northeastern Badia of Jordan, about 120 km east of Amman. All plant species were collected and herbarium specimens have been prepared, identified and deposited at the University of Jordan herbarium(Department of Biology,Faculty of Science). The final plant checklist includes 206 species belonging to 138 genera and 35 families.The most diverse families are Compositae(20.5%), Cruciferae(10.2%), Leguminosae(8.3%) and Boraginaceae(6.8%), followed by Caryophyllaceae and Gramineae(5.4%). These six families represent 60% of the total families recognized in the study area, while nine families each are represented by only one species. Most plants recorded are annual plants(61%), some plants are hemicryptophtes(18%) and camaephytes(15%), while the least frequent life form class was the phanerophyte shrub and perennial(0.5%). Chorological characteristics of the recorded flora show that Saharo-Arabian Region elements, IranoTuranian elements and Mediterranean elements constitute(58%) of the total flora. This research shows that even small portion of the Jordan Badia such as the Wadi Hassan plant community has high species diversity. Thus, we recommended further of the unexplored Wadi plants communities of the Jordan Badia.     

Global diversity of aquatic macrophytes in freshwater

Aquatic macrophytes are aquatic photosynthetic organisms, large enough to see with the naked eye, that actively grow permanently or periodically submerged below, floating on, or growing up through the water surface. Aquatic macrophytes are represented in seven plant divisions: Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, Xanthophyta, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta and Spermatophyta. Species composition and distribution of aquatic macrophytes in the more primitive divisions are less well known than for the vascular macrophytes (Pteridophyta and Spermatophyta), which are represented by 33 orders and 88 families with about 2,614 species in c. 412 genera. These c. 2,614 aquatic species of Pteridophyta and Spermatophyta evolved from land plants and represent only a small fraction (∼1%) of the total number of vascular plants. Our analysis of the numbers and distribution of vascular macrophytes showed that whilst many species have broad ranges, species diversity is highest in the Neotropics, intermediate in the Oriental, Nearctic and Afrotropics, lower in the Palearctic and Australasia, lower again in the Pacific Oceanic Islands, and lowest in the Antarctic region. About 39% of the c. 412 genera containing aquatic vascular macrophytes are endemic to a single biogeographic region, with 61–64% of all aquatic vascular plant species found in the Afrotropics and Neotropics being endemic to those regions. Aquatic macrophytes play an important role in the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems and certain macrophyte species (e.g., rice) are cultivated for human consumption, yet several of the worst invasive weeds in the world are aquatic plants. Many of the threats to fresh waters (e.g., climate change, eutrophication) will result in reduced macrophyte diversity and will, in turn, threaten the faunal diversity of aquatic ecosystems and favour the establishment of exotic species, at the expense of native species. Guest editors: E. V. Balian, C. Lévêque, H. Segers & K. Martens Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment     

Preliminary Investigation of Extrafloral Nectaried Plants the Tropical Rainforests in Xishuangbanna,China

In order to understand the distribution pattern of the extrafloral nectaried plants in the tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan , China, we investigated seven forest communities ( three primary forests and four secondary forests at different ages) in Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve . Fifty-two species belonging to 36 genera and 23 families accounting for 12.3% of 424 angiosperm species in the seven communities were found to bear extrafloral nectaries ( EFNs ). Among which, eight genera and 37 species were the first time to be recorded as plants to bear EFNs. The study indicated, (1)The EFN species mainly occurred in subclasses Dilleniidae, Rosidae and Asteridae of the Magnoliopsida , and the most common EFNs were flattened glands situated on leaf blades ; (2) The proportions of EFN species within the seven communities ranged from 9.5% ( Vatica guangxiensis forest ) to 18 .5% ( Macaranga denticulata forest ), and the EFN species appeared to be more abundant in the secondary forests than those in the primary forests; (3) EFN species were disproportionally distributed among different growth forms, with the abundance being: tree > shrub > liana > herb , and no epiphytic and parasitic plants were found to bear EFNs.     

The alien flowering plants of Mexico

A list of 618 species of alien flowering plants recorded for Mexico is presented; they are distributed in 355 genera and 87 families. The families with the largest number of species are Poaceae (171), Fabaceae sensu lato (57), Asteraceae (56), and Brassicaceae (45). The representation of most families with alien species in Mexico agrees with the average distribution frequencies estimated by Pysek (1998 ) for 26 floras throughout the World. Exceptions are an under‐representation of Asteraceae and an over‐representation of Poaceae. Most alien species (78.9%) in Mexico have their origin in the Old World; South America ranks second with 9.6%. As defined by Richardson et al. (2000 ), 19.8% of the alien species could be considered casual aliens and 80.2% of them naturalized. The proportion of alien species relative to the 22,968 native flowering plant species recorded for Mexico is 2.7%.     

High plant endemism in an Indian hotspot – eastern Himalaya

A preliminary investigation in the Subansiri area of the eastern Himalaya recorded high plant endemism. As a regular exercise of field sampling of various forest types to map the biorich areas, the number of species observed was evaluated to analyze their endemic status in one of the important hotspot regions of the world. The total number of individuals, species, genera and families observed were recorded in various natural and semi-natural forest types. A total of 122 plots sampled randomly in various forest types recorded 764 plant species, of which 59 were found to be endemic. The overall species endemism is observed to be 13 per ha. These 59 species belong to 27 families and 46 genera. Fifty percent of species were from just five families, Rubiaceae, Lauraceae, Acanthaceae, Magnoliaceae and Rosaceae. Stem size class distribution of the most abundantly found endemic tree species in three primary forest types indicated a quantitative status. This study envisages the status of plant endemism carried out following a proportional stratified random sampling method for various classified vegetation cover types using satellite remote sensing data. Many primitive genera and families were recorded which are indicative of long evolutionary age and affinities of the area with respect to species endemism.