diversity and distribution of vascular macrophytes in

Diversity and distribution of vascular macrophytes in Ansupa Lake, Odisha, India

Project submitted to

Dhenkanal (Autonomous) college,

Dhenkanal

For the Degree of

Master of Science in Botany

By

Raimani Murmu

Roll No: PG 18 B013

Under the Guidance of

Dr. A. K. KHILLAR

Head Of the Department, Post Graduate Department of Botany

Dhenkanal (Auto.) College, Dhenkanal, Odisha

Dhenkanal (Autonomous) college,

Dhenkana- 759001, Odisha

Session: 2018-20

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the dissertation entitled “Diversity and distribution of

vascular macrophytes in Ansupa Lake,Odisha, India ” submitted for the degree

of Master of Science in Botany to Dehnkanal College, is a record of review work

carried out by Ms. Raimani Murmu under my guidance and supervision. The

assistance obtained in any form during the course of this research has duly been

acknowledged.

Signature of HOD Project supervisor

(Dr. A. K. KHILLAR)

DECLARATION

The review work embodied in this project is an original investigation carried

out by the author on the topic entitled “ Diversity and distribution of vascular

macrophytes in Ansupa Lake, Odisha, India” for M.Sc. degree in Botany from

Dhenkanal (Auto.) College, Utkal University. To the best of my knowledge and

belief this work has not been submitted to any other university or institution to

confer any degree or diploma.

Dhenkanal Signature of student

Date: 19.06.2020 Roll No.PG18-BO13

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I sincerely express my heartful gratitude and support of my supervisor , Head Of the

Department, Dr.A.K.KHILLAR,Dhenkanal Autonomous College,Dhenkanal. His

supervising style of warm-hearted patience, enthusiasm and encouragement is positively rare and

count very lucky to have been guided by. He creates a study environment. His guidance kept the

moral of the research student always high by kind words, active valuable tips with constant

inspiration and cordially sympathy.

I acknowledge with thanks to Mr. Jaydev Padhi, Reader in Botany, for providing the

appropriate environment to carry out the research work in laboratory. I express my sincere

thanks to all of my teachers of the P. G. Department of Botany, Dhenkanal,for their helping

views, scientific and constructive comments in course of completion of my research work. I

humbly acknowledge the help render by other teachers of the Department namely Dr. Devraj

Parida, Miss Sabnam Mohapatra, Miss Lijarin Senapati, Mr. Pradeep Jena(Demonstrator).

I am indebted to my parents and family who have been a constant source of inspiration in

my academic and research pursuit. I have the pleasure in placing on record my deep sense of

love and gratefulness to my family members for their persistent moral support and cooperation

during the hard trying periods of my research. Their care and affection encouraged me to carry

out this work successfully.

Last but not the least, I am very much thankful to my friends, Sthitipragnya Nayak,

Ipsita Pradhan,Lipika Rani Pati, and other nears and dears for their help at different stages of

work.

Signature of the student

CONTENTS

CHAPTERS

1.ABSTRACT

2.INTRODUCTION

3.MATERIALS & METHODS

4.DESCRIPTION OF PLANTS

5.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

6.CONCLUSION

7.GENERAL COMMENTS & REFERENCE

CHAPTER 1

ABSTRACT

Diversity and distribution of vascular macrophytes in Ansupa Lake,Odisha, India Abstract

Diversity and distribution of vascular macrophytes in Ansupa Lake, Odisha, India. Bonorowo Wetlands 1: 1-12. Macrophytes are indispensable component of any wetlands. They are the base of the trophic structure and variously affect function of aquatic ecosystem.

Large invasion of macrophytes enforced for present studies in Ansupa Lake, the largest freshwater lake of the state Odisha (India) to identify the causative plant species. Regular field inspection, quadratic sampling and specimen collections were carried to identify the present macrophytes of the lake and their quantitative aspects like frequency of occurrences, abundance, values of diversity indices, adaptation and growth forms and species distribution etc.

A total of 244 macrophyte species were identified that includes 182 semi-aquatic and 62 obligatory aquatic macrophytes. The latter group had 35% submerged, 15% free floating, 31% rooted floating and 19% marshy plant species. The comparison of growth form showed 66% annuals and remaining 34% perennial plants.

The diversity indices resulted, Simpson complement index-0.561, Shannon-Weiner index-1.367, Species richness index 3.079 and Species evenness index-0.156. The study showed that the lake provides suitable habitats for existence of a diverse group of macrophytes but still due to large invasion of few species has threatened the lake which needs to be managed properly to restore the health of this natural resource for the benefit of mankind.

CHAPTER-2

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Wetlands are the hotspots of biological diversity and invaluable for sustainable living. Plants in water are called macrophytes (Dodds 2002). They act as ‘‘biological engineers’’ in restoring water quality (Byers et al. 2006). It includes both flowering and non-flowering plants that start their life in and around water bodies (Chambers et al. 2008). A total of 2614 aquatic vascular macrophytes occur globally which represent only 1% of the total number of vascular plants (Ansari et al. 2017). Total number of aquatic plant species in Indian freshwaters exceeds 1200 (Gopal 1995). Many species of aquatic plant are invasive species (Oyedeji and Abowei 2012). These plants cause local losses of species diversity and alter ecosystem structure, resulting in a significant negative impact on aquatic biodiversity and water quality (Brundu 2015; Chamier et al. 2012; Wang et al. 2016; Zedler and Kercher 2004). In India, over 140 aquatic plants are reported to have attained the status of aquatic weeds in different situations (Gupta 2012; Naskar 1990; Shah and Reshi 2012; Varshney et al. 2008).

Ansupa Lake, the present study sites is the largest fresh water lake of the state Odisha (India) (Mohanty and Das 2008) and a lake of national importance (Das and Mohanty 2008). The lake provides livelihood provisions like fishing i.e., small indigenous fishes, table size fishes and ornamental fishes; agriculture, i.e., rice cultivation; edible aquatic plants and ecotourism due to its unique biodiversity and natural scenery (Sarkar et al. 2015). More than 25,000 fishermen and local residence make their livelihood on the lake water (Das and Mohanty 2008; Mohanty and Das 2008). The average water depth of the lake was 4 meters (Das and Mohanty 2008). The lake receives annual rainfall between 800mm to 1300mm (Das and Mohanty 2008; Panda et al. 2016) and most during months of July and August, each year. It hosts 44 species of phytoplankton, 32 species of zooplanktons and 30 species of fishes (Patra and Patra 2007). Panda et al. (2016) for the first time reported occurrence of Hygroryza aristata (Retz.) Nees. ex Wt. and Arn., a wild relative of edible rice in Ansupa Lake as the only habitat in the state for this species. There is few published work on Ansupa Lake and the macrophytes study is very poorly reported (Das and Mohanty 2008; Mohanty and Das 2008; Varshney et al. 2008; Sarkar et al. 2015; Panda et al. 2016). All previous studies reported the progressive degradation conditions of the lake due to siltation, shrinkage of water spread area and invasions of aquatic plants (Das and Mohanty 2008; Mohanty and Das 2008; Sarkar et al. 2015; Panda et al. 2016). Knowing the importance of Ansupa Lake, present studies were designed to identify the macrophyte diversity, the problematic weeds that need to be managed properly for the long term conservation of indigenous biota and creation of better livelihood opportunity from the lake.

CHAPTER 3

MATERIAL AND METHODS

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area Ansupa Lake is the largest fresh water lake of Odisha State, India, situated on the river bank

of Mahanadi (Figure 1). The area of the lake is around 375 acres and 385 acres during the dry and rainy seasons, respectively (Mohanty and Das 2008).

Field data collection and floristic study

The floristic studies were carried during November 2014 and an extensive regular field work from April to November 2017. The recorded macrophytes were identified with the help of available both regional and international scientific literatures (Calvert and Liessmann 2014; Campbell et al. 2010; Crow and Hellquist 2000; Das 2012; Gerber et al. 2004; Ghosh 2005; Gupta 2012; Haines 1921-1925; Naskar 1990). The scientific name and author citation were checked with, The plant list (http://www.theplantlist.org/) and International Plant Names Index (http://www.ipni.org/ipni/plantnamesearchpage.do). Quantitative status and ecological parameters were calculated from 25 fixed random plots, i.e. size, 1m � 1m (Figure 1).

Data analysis

The quadratic parameters like, Frequency and Abundance (Upadhyay et al. 2009), Whitford’s index (A/F) (Whitford 1949), Species richness index (Margalef 1958), Simpson complement index (1-DS) from Simpson Dominance index (Simpson 1949), Shannon-Wiener index (Shannon and Wiener 1963) and Species evenness index (J) (Pielou 1975) were calculated as follows:

Where, S is the total number of species in the community and N is the total number of individuals of all species of a community.

Figure 1. Location map of Ansupa Lake, Cuttack District, Odisha, India

CHAPTER 4

DESCRIPTION OF PLANTS

Table 1. List of Angiospermic macrophyte recorded from Ansupa Lake, Odisha, India

Plant family Si. No. Plant species Plant group

Macrophyte type

Life form

Acanthaceae

1

Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees

D

Semi-aquatic

Annual

2 Hygrophila auriculata (Schum) Heine D Semi-aquatic Annual

3 Hygrophila schulli (Buch.-Ham.) M.R.Almeida & S.M. Almeida

D Semi-aquatic Annual

4 Justicia diffusa Willd D Semi-aquatic Annual

5 � Ruellia tuberosa L.


Aizoaceae 6 � Trianthema portulacastrum L.


Alismataceae 7 � Alisma plantago-aquatica L.

M Aquatic (S) Annual

8 Limnophyton obtusifolium (L.) Miq. M Aquatic (S) Annual

9 Sagitaria sagittifolia L. M Aquatic (S) Annual

10 Sagittaria guayanensis var. lappula D. Don M Aquatic (S) Annual

11 Sagitaria trifolia L. M Aquatic (S) Annual

Amaranthaceae 12 � Achyranthes aspera L.


13 Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult. D Semi-aquatic Annual

14 � Alternanthera paronychioides A. St-Hil.


15 �

Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. D Semi-aquatic Annual

16 � Alternanthera sessilis (L.) DC.


17 � Amaranthus spinosus L.


18 � Amaranthus viridis L.


19 � Celosia argentea L.


20 � Gomphrena celosioides Mart.


Amaryllidaceae 21 Crinum latifolium L. M Aquatic (S) Annual

22 Crinum viviparum (Lam.) R.Ansari & V.J.Nair M Aquatic (RF) Annual

Apiaceae 23 Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. D Semi-aquatic Perennial

24 � Hydrocotyle modesta Cham. & Schltdl.

D Semi-aquatic Perennial

Aponogetonaceae 25 Aponogeton natans (L.) Engl. & Krause M Aquatic (S) Annual

Araceae

26 27

Alocasia indica (Roxb.) Schott Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott

M M

Semi-aquatic Semi-aquatic

Perennial Perennial

28 � Pistia stratiotes L.

M Aquatic (FF) Perennial

Asteraceae 29 � Ageratum conyzoides L.


30 Blumea lacera (Burm.f.) DC. D Semi-aquatic Annual

31 Caesulia axillaris Roxb. D Semi-aquatic Annual

32 � Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & H.E. Robins.


33 Cyanthillium cinereum (L.) H. Rob D Semi-aquatic Annual

34 � Eclipta alba (L.)


35 Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

36 Enydra fluctuans Lour. D Aquatic (S) Annual

37 Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC D Semi-aquatic Annual

38 � Gnaphalium polycaulon Pers.


39 Grangea maderaspatana L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

40 � Mikania cordata (Burm.f.) Robinson


41 Sphaeranthus indicus L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

42 Spilanthes paniculata Wall. Ex DC. D Semi-aquatic Annual

43 � Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn.


44 �

Xanthium strumarium L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

Boraginaceae 45 Coldenia procumbens L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

46 Heliotropium indicum L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

Capparaceae 47 Cleome monophylla L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

48 Cleome viscosa L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

Cariophyaceae 49 � Polycarpon prostratum (Forssk.) Asc. & Sch.


Ceratophyllaceae 50 Ceratophyllum demersum L. D Aquatic (S) Perennial

Colchicaceae 51 Gloriosa superba L. M Semi-aquatic Perennial Commelinaceae 52 Commelina benghalensis L. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

53 Commelina erecta L. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

54 Commelina longifolia Lam. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

55 Cyanotis axillaris (L.) D.Don ex Sweet M Semi-aquatic Perennial

56 � Evolvulus nummularius (L.) L.

M Semi-aquatic Perennial

57 Murdannia nudiflora (Linn.) Brenan. M Semi-aquatic Annual

58 Murdannia spirata (L.) Bruckn. M Semi-aquatic Annual

Convolvulaceae 59 � Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.

D Aquatic (RF) Perennial

60 � Ipomoea carnea Jacq. ssp. Fistulosa (Mart. ex Choisy) Austin


61 � Ipomoea pes-tigridis

L. D Semi-aquatic Perennial

62 Merremia tridentata (L.) Hall. f. D Semi-aquatic Perennial

Costaceae 63 Costus speciosus (J.Koenig) Sm. M Semi-aquatic Perennial Crassulaceae 64 Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb. D Semi-aquatic Perennial Cucurbitaceae 65 Mukia maderaspatana (L.) M. Roem. D Semi-aquatic Annual 66 Cucumis melo L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

Cyperaceae 67 Cyperus alopecuroides Rottb. M Semi-aquatic Annual 68 � Cyperus brevifolius (Rottb.)

Hassk. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

69 Cyperus cephalotes Vahl M Semi-aquatic Perennial

70 Cyperus compressus L. M Semi-aquatic Annual

71 Cyperus corymbosus Rottb. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

72 Cyperus difformis L. M Semi-aquatic Annual

73 Cyperus haspan L M Semi-aquatic Annual

74 Cyperus imbricatus Retz. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

75 Cyperus iria L. M Semi-aquatic Annual

76 Cyperus platystylis R. Br. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

77 Cyperus polystachyos Rottb. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

78 Cyperus rotundus L. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

79 � Cyperus strigosus L.

M Semi-aquatic Perennial

80 Eleocharis acutangula (Roxb.) schutt. M Aquatic (RE) Perennial

81 Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. M Semi-aquatic Annual

82 Eleocharis dulcis (Burm.f.) Trin. ex Henschel M Semi-aquatic Perennial

83 Fimbristylis dipsacea (Rottb.) C.B. Clarke M Semi-aquatic Annual

84 Fimbristylis ferruginea (L) Vahl. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

85 Fimbristylis littoralis Gaudich. M Semi-aquatic Annual

86 Fimbristylis miliacea (L.) Vahl M Semi-aquatic Annual

87 Fuirena ciliaris (L.) Roxb. M Semi-aquatic Annual

88 � Kyllinga tenuifolia Steud.

M Semi-aquatic Annual

89 Lipocarpha chinensis (Osbeck) J.Kern. M Semi-aquatic Annual

90 Cyperous compactus Retz. M Semi-aquatic Annual

91 Pycreus pumilus (L.) Nees M Semi-aquatic Annual

92 Schoenoplectus articulatus (L.) Palla M Semi-aquatic Annual

93 Schoenoplectus grossus (L.f.) Palla M Semi-aquatic Perennial

94 Schoenoplectiella supina (L.) Lye M Semi-aquatic Annual

Elatinaceae 95 �

Bergia ammannioides Roxb. ex Roth D Semi-aquatic Annual

96 Bergia capensis L. D Semi-aquatic Perennial

Eriocaulaceae 97 Eriocaulon quinquangulare L. M Semi-aquatic Perennial Euphorbiaceae 98 Acalypha indica L. D Semi-aquatic Annual 99 � Croton bonplandianus (Baill.)

Kuntze D Semi-aquatic Annual

100 Euphorbia hirta L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

101 � Euphorbia prostrata Aiton.


102 Jatropha gossypiifolia L. D Semi-aquatic Perennial

103 � Phyllanthus tenellus Roxb.


104 � Ricinus communis L.


Fabaceae 105 Aeschynomene aspera L. D Semi-aquatic Annual 106 Aeschynomene indica L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

107 Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC. D Semi-aquatic Annual

108 � Cassia tora L.


109 � Crotalaria pallida Aiton


110 Crotalaria quinquefolia L. D Semi-aquatic Perennial

111 Zornia diphylla (L.) Pers. D Semi-aquatic Annual

112 Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S.Irwin. & Barneby D Semi-aquatic Annual

113 � Senna occidentalis (L.) Link


114 Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W.F. Wt. D Semi-aquatic Annual

Gentianaceae 115 Hoppea dichotoma Willd. D Semi-aquatic Annual Hydrocharitaceae 116 Blyxa echinosperma (Clarke) Hook.f. M Aquatic (S) Annual 117 Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle M Aquatic (S) Perennial

118 Nechamandra alternifolia (Roxb. ex Wight) Thw. M Aquatic (S) Perennial

119 Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers. M Aquatic (S) Perennial

120 Vallisneria natans (Lour.) H. Hara M Aquatic (S) Annual

Hydrophyllaceae 121 Hydrolea zeylanica (L.) Vahl. D Aquatic (RE) Annual Lamiaceae 122 Anisomeles indica (L.) O. Kuntze. D Semi-aquatic Perennial 123 Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link D Semi-aquatic Annual

124 Pogostemon quadrifolius (Benth.) F. Muell. D Semi-aquatic Annual

Lemnaceae 125 � Spirodela polyrrhiza (L.) Schleid.

M Aquatic (FF) Perennial

126 Lemna gibba L. M Aquatic (FF) Annual

127 Lemna aequinoctialis Welw M Aquatic (FF) Annual

128 Wolffia globosa (Roxb.) Hartog & Vander Plas M Aquatic (FF) Annual

Lentibulariaceae 129 Utricularia aurea Lour. D Aquatic (S) Annual 130 Utricularia inflexa Forssk. D Aquatic (S) Annual

131 Utricularia bifida L. D Aquatic (S) Annual

Linderniaceae 132 Lindernia crustacea (L.) F.Muell. D Semi-aquatic Annual Lythraceae 133 Ammannia baccifera L. D Semi-aquatic Annual 134 Ammannia multiflora Roxb. D Semi-aquatic Annual

135 Ammannia octandra L.f. D Semi-aquatic Annual

136 Rotala densiflora (Roth. ex Roem. & Schult.) Koehne D Semi-aquatic Annual

137 Rotala indica (Willd.) Koehne D Semi-aquatic Annual

Malvaceae 138 Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet D Semi-aquatic Annual 139 Corchorus aestuans L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

140 Sida cordifolia L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

141 Urena lobata L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

Martyniaceae 142 � Martynia annua L.


Menyanthaceae 143 Nymphoides hydrophylla (Lour.) Kuntze D Aquatic (RF) Annual 144 Nymphoides indica (L.) Kuntze D Aquatic (RF) Annual

Mimosaceae 145 �

Mimosa pudica L. D Semi-aquatic Perennial

146 Neptunia oleracea Lour. D Aquatic (RF) Perennial

147 Neptunia plena (L.) Benth. D Aquatic (RF) Perennial

Molluginaceae 148 Glinus oppositifolius (L.) Aug. DC D Semi-aquatic Annual 149 Mollugo pentaphylla L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

Haloragaceae 150 Myriophyllum tetrandrum Roxb. D Aquatic (RE) Annual 151 � Myriophyllum aquaticum (Vell.)

Verdc. D Aquatic (RE) Perennial

152 Myriophyllum verticillatum L. D Aquatic (RE) Annual

Najadaceae 153 Najas faveolata A. Br. ex Magam. M Aquatic (S) Perennial 154 Najas indica (Willd) Cham. M Aquatic (S) Perennial

155 Najas marina L. M Aquatic (S) Perennial

Nelumbonaceae 156 Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. D Aquatic (RF) Perennial Nyctaginaceae 157 Boerhavia diffusa L. D Semi-aquatic Annual 158 Boerhavia repens L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

Nymphaeaceae 159 Euryale ferox Salisb. D Aquatic (RF) Perennial 160 Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f. D Aquatic (RF) Perennial

161 Nymphaea pubescens Willd. D Aquatic (RF) Perennial

162 Nymphaea rubra Roxb. ex Andrews D Aquatic (RF) Perennial

Onagraceae 163 Ludwigia prostrata Roxb. D Semi-aquatic Annual 164 Ludwigia adscendens (L.) H. Hara D Aquatic (RF) Perennial

165 Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H. Raven D Semi-aquatic Annual

166 Ludwigia perennis L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

Oxalidaceae 167 Oxalis corniculata L. D Semi-aquatic Annual Plantaginaceae 168 � Scoparia

dulcis L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

Poaceae 169 Apluda mutica L. M Semi-aquatic Annual 170 Arundinella pumila (Hochst. ex A.Rich) Steud M Semi-aquatic Annual

171 Axonopus compressus (Sw.) P.Beauv. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

172 Brachiaria deflexa (Schumach.) C.E.Hubb. ex Robyns M Semi-aquatic Annual

173 Brachiaria mutica (Forssk.) Stapf. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

174 Brachiaria ramosa (L.) Stapf M Semi-aquatic Annual

175 Brachiaria reptans (L.) C.A.Gardner & C.E.Hubb M Semi-aquatic Annual

176 � Chloris barbata Sw.


177 Cyrtococcum longipes (Hook.f.) A.Camus M Semi-aquatic Perennial

178 Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

179 � Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd.


180 Dichanthelium sp. M Semi-aquatic Annual

181 Echinochloa colona (L.) Link M Semi-aquatic Annual

182 Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv. M Semi-aquatic Annual

183 Echinochloa stagnina (Retz.) Beauv. M Semi-aquatic Annual

184 Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn M Semi-aquatic Annual

185 Elytrophorus spicatus (Willd.) A. Camus M Semi-aquatic Annual

186 Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R.Br. M Semi-aquatic Annual

194 Oryza rufipogon Griff. M Semi-aquatic Perennial 195 Panicum sumatrense Roth M Semi-aquatic Perennial 196 � Paspalum dilatatum

Poir M Semi-aquatic Annual

197 Paspalum distichum L. M Semi-aquatic Perennial 198 Paspalum vaginatum Sw. M Semi-aquatic Annual 199 Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult. M Semi-aquatic Annual 200 Saccharum spontaneum L M Semi-aquatic Perennial 201 Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv. M Semi-aquatic Annual 202 Sporobolus coromandelianus (Retzi.) Kunth M Semi-aquatic Annual

Papilionaceae 203 Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W.Wight. D Semi-aquatic Annual Polygonaceae 204 �

Persicaria glabrum (Willd.) M.Gomez D Semi-aquatic Perennial

205 �

Polygonum barbatum L. D Semi-aquatic Perennial

206 Polygonum plebeium R. Br. D Semi-aquatic Annual 207 �

Rumex maritimus L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

Pontederiaceae 208 Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solm-Laub. M Aquatic (RF) Perennial 209 Monochoria hastata (L.) Solm. M Aquatic (RF) Perennial 210 Monochoria vaginalis (Burm f.) Presl. M Aquatic (RE) Perennial

Portulacaceae 211 Portulaca oleracea L. D Semi-aquatic Annual Potamogetonaceae 212 � Potamogeton nodosus

Poir. M Aquatic (S) Annual

213 Stuckenia pectinata (L.) Börner M Aquatic (S) Perennial Rubiaceae 214 Dentella repens (L.) Forst. et Forst. D Semi-aquatic Annual

215 Oldenlandia diffusa (Willd.) Roxb. D Semi-aquatic Annual 216 Mitracarpus hirtus (L.) DC. D Semi-aquatic Annual 217 Oldenlandia corymbosa L. D Semi-aquatic Annual

Scrophulariaceae 218 Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell. D Semi-aquatic Annual 219 Dopatrium junceum (Roxb.) Buch-Ham. ex Benth. D Aquatic (RE) Annual 220 Limnophila aquatica (Roxb.) Alston D Aquatic (RE) Annual

221 Limnophila heterophylla (Roxb.) Benth. D Aquatic (RE) Annual 222 Limnophila indica (L.) Druce D Aquatic (RE) Annual 223 Limnophila sessiliflora (Vahl) Blume D Aquatic (RE) Annual 224 Lindernia anagallis (Burm.f.) Pennel D Semi-aquatic Annual 225 Lindernia antipoda (L.) Alston D Semi-aquatic Annual

187 Eragrostis gangetica (Roxb.) Steudel M Semi-aquatic Annual

188 Eragrostis japonica (Thunb.) Trin. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

189 Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P.Beauv. M Semi-aquatic Annual

190 Eragrostis tenella (L.) P.Beauv.ex Roem.& Schult. M Semi-aquatic Annual

191 Hygroryza aristata (Retz.) Nees ex Wight & Arn M Aquatic (RF) Perennial

192 �

Hymenachne amplexicaulis (Rudge) Nees M Aquatic (RF) Perennial

193 Leersia hexandra Sw. M Semi-aquatic Perennial

226 Lindernia parviflora (Roxb.) Haines D Semi-aquatic Annual 227 Mecardonia procumbens (Mills.) Small D Semi-aquatic Annual 228 Scoparia dulcis L. D Semi-aquatic Annual 229 � Verbascum chinense (L.)

Santapau D Semi-aquatic Annual

Solanaceae 230 Physalis minima L. D Semi-aquatic Annual Sphenocleaceae 231 Sphenoclea zeylanica Gaertn. D Semi-aquatic Annual Sterculiaceae 232 Melochia corchorifolia L. D Semi-aquatic Annual Trapaceae 233 Trapa natans L. var. bispinosa (Roxb.) Makino D Aquatic (RF) Perennial Typhaceae 234 �

Typha angustata Bory & Chaub. M Aquatic (RE) Perennial

Verbenaceae 235 �

Lantana camara L. D Semi-aquatic Perennial

236 � Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng.


237 Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene D Semi-aquatic Annual Violaceae 238 Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F.Muell. D Semi-aquatic Ann

Note: D= Dicot, M= Monocot, S= Submerged, FF= Free floating, RF= Rooted floating, RE= Rooted erect, �= species (Un-marked species are native or indigenous to India)

Table 2. List of Non-flowering (Pteridophyte) macrophytes of Ansupa Lake (Odisha), India

Exotic or non native

Family S. No. Plant species Habitat group Life form

Marsileaceae

1

Marsilea minuta L.

Aquatic (RF)

Perennial

2 Marsilea quadrifolia L. Aquatic (RF) Perennial

Salviniaceae

3

� Azolla microphylla Kaulf.

Aquatic (FF)

Annual

4 Azolla pinnata R.Br. Aquatic (FF) Perennial

5 � Salvinia minima Baker

Aquatic (FF) Perennial

6 �Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitch Aquatic (FF) Perennial

Note: RF=Rooted floating, FF=Free floating, �= Exotic or non native species (Un-marked species are native or indigenous to India) Table 3. Quantitave status of important macrophytes of Ansupa Lake, Odisha, India

Macrophyte species Total count

Total plots where recorded Frequency Abundance

Abundance/ frequency

(A/F) Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solm-Laub. 31 4 16 7.75 0.484 Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. 17 3 12 5.67 0.472 Cyperus strigosus L. 14 2 8 7.0 0.875

Cyperus iria L. 60 1 4 60.0 15.00 Cyperus rotundus L. 20 1 4 20.0 5.00 Ludwigia adscendens (L.) H. Hara 13 2 8 6.5 0.813 Ludwigia perennis L. 20 3 12 6.67 0.556 Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. 25 1 4 25.0 6.250 Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitch 37 3 12 12.33 1.028 Salvinia minima Baker 6 1 4 6.0 1.500 Cyperus compressus L. 62 2 8 31.0 3.875 Kyllinga tenuifolia Steud. 2 1 4 2.0 0.500 Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle 1240 12 48 103.33 2.153 Ceratophyllum demersum L. 4060 21 84 193.33 2.302 Najas faveolata A. Br. ex Magam. 335 9 36 37.22 1.034 Nymphaea pubescens Willd. 6 4 16 1.5 0.094 Trapa natans L. var. bispinosa (Roxb.) Makino 8 1 4 8.0 2.00 Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. 57 16 64 3.56 0.056 Pistia stratiotes L. 11 3 12 3.67 0.306 Spirodela polyrrhiza (L.) Schleid. 54 4 16 13.5 0.844 Utricularia sp. 171 4 16 42.75 2.672 Lemna gibba L. 78 7 28 11.14 0.398 Azolla pinnata R Br. 29 5 20 5.8 0.290 Polygonum barbatum L. 38 1 4 38.0 9.500 Marsilea quadrifolia L. 20 3 12 6.67 0.556 Aponogeton natans (L.) Engl. & Krause 5 1 4 5.0 1.250 Hygroryza aristata (Retz.) Nees ex Wight & Arn 7 2 8 3.5 0.438 Lindernia parviflora (Roxb.) Haines 10 2 8 5.0 0.625

A B

C D Plate 1. Some taxonomically important taxa from Ansupa Lake, Odisha, India. Note: A. Oryza rufipogon, B. Hygroryza aristata, C. Ottelia alismoides, D. Gloriosa superba

A B

C D

E F

G H Plate 2. Invasive weed species of Ansupa Lake, Odisha, India. Note: A-B. Eichhornia crassipes, C-D. Nelumbo nucifera, E. Salvinia molesta, F. Ceratophyllum demersum, G. Najas indica, H. Hymenachne amplexicaulis

Echinochlo crus-galli

Scientific classification -

Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Poales

Family:Poaceae

Genus:Echinochlo

Species:E. crus-galli

Common name - Barnyard grass

Habitat -Ditches roadsides and waste places in S. Europe. Wet places and rich soils in India .

Description -Polymorphous coarse, tufted annual, tall and often weedy; culms erect to

decumbent, 0.8-1.5 m tall, rather thick, branching at base.Leaves flat, glabrous, elongate, 30–50 cm long, 1–2 cm broad, scabrous, slightly thickened at margin; ligules absent; sheaths smooth, lower ones often reddish; panicle 8–30 cm long, green or purple, exerted, somewhat nodding, densely branched, the branches to 5 cm long, erect or ascending sessile .

Economic Importance -A warm-season grass used as cattle fodder and is sometimes

cultivated for this purpose. It is also suited for silage, but not for hay.This grass is also used for reclamation of saline and alkaline areas, especially in Egypt.

Eleocharis dulcis Scientific classification-

Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Poales

Family:Cyperaceae

Genus:Eleocharis

Species:E. dulcis

Common Name- chinese Water chestnut

Habitat- E. dulcis is an erect, perennial, aquatic and swamp sedge that is propagated by rhizomes, tubers and seed. Dense populations of the plant are recorded in swampy areas. It grows in open reed swamps, black water rivers, on the shores of lakes and in irrigation canals

Description- E. dulcis is an aquatic, perennial sedge which grows to a height of 1.5 m. The leafless stems are round,smooth, 2-10 mm thick and transversely septate. Tubers are often formed at the ends of the stolons.The single spikelet is cylindrical, broader than the stem, and several-to-many flowered.E. dulcis propagates vegetatively by rhizome, tuber and seed.

Economic Importance-Chinese water chestnut is used as a vegetable.The larger corms are widely eaten raw as a substitute for fresh fruits.In the warmer parts of China, E. dulcis has been cultivated and developed into a strain yielding tubers which are of superior size and sweetness to those produced by wild plants.

Fimbristylis ferruginea

Scientific classification-

Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Poales

Family:Cyperaceae

Genus:Fimbristylis

Species:F.ferruginea

Common Name- Rusty sedge

Habitat- Fimbristylis ferruginea grows along the edges of fresh and salt-water wetlands, roadsides, and dune systems.

Description- The actinomorphic flowers are arranged in lax, compound cymes. The individual flowers are arranged in broadly oval spikelets each subtended by 2-3 scales. 2-6 spikelets are grouped at the ends of the inflorescence branches. The lower flowers in each spikelet are infertile. There is no calyx or corolla. The scales below fertile flowers are red/brown. There are 3 stamens. The ovary is superior with a single locule and a 2-cleft style. The fruit is a light to dark brown achene at maturity.

Economic Importance- Fimbristylis ferruginea is not used medicinally in the Bahamas.

Fimbristylis littoralis

Scientific classification- Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Poales

Family:Cyperaceae

Genus:Fimbristylis

Species: F.littoralis

Common Name- Lesser Fimbry

Habitat- F. littoralis occurs in damp, open waste places where it may not establish itself well in submerged conditions but may compete heavily following germination during dry periods or during low water conditions. It is also common on wetlands in the Philippines.

Description- Annual or perennial tufted, erect sedge with fibrous root system; culms slender, 40-60 cm tall and often somewhat flattened.basal leaves half as long as culm, linear, threadlike and stiff, two-ranked, with sheaths; leaf bract shorter than inflorescence; inflorescence a rather lax and diffuse compound umbel, 6-10 cm long, spikelets globose or ovate,round or acute at apex, reddish brown, the lower scales fall early; stigmas three-branched, rarely in a few flowers two-branched; anthers yellow; glumes ovate, brown, about 1 mm long, spirally arranged, membraneous, obtuse or acute, the green midvein or keel broad.

Economic Importance- Fimbristylis species have been regarded as useful in turf. These plants are also ploughed in as green manures in rice fallows. Cattle readily eat their foliage.

Kyllinga tenuifolia


Order:Poales

Family:Cyperaceae

Genus:Kyllinga

Species:K.tenuifolia

Common Name- spikesedges

Habitat- Grasslands, along roads, in forest clearings and on river banks, at elevations up to 1,500

metres.Open grasslands, waste places, along dikes, rice paddies and other moist places in the Philippines.

Description- Kyllinga tenuifolia is a herbaceous, perennial plant with culms of grass-like leaves frowing from a long, slender rhizome creeping horizontally under or close to the ground surface. The stems can be 10 - 50 cm long.The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Economic Importance- The leaves, stems and rhizomes are analgesic, antiinflammatory, antimalarial, decongestant, diuretic, febrifuge and sudorific.A decoction of the whole plant is used as a treatment against a variety of complaints including malaria,colds with fever.

Cyperus compactus Scientific classification- Kingdom:Plantae Order:Poales Family:Cyperaceae Genus:Cyperus Species:C.compactus

Common Name- Sedge, smallflower umbrella.

Habitat- C. compactus is usually found on flooded or very wet soils, open soggy grasslands, pools (but not in deep water) and riverbanks, often associated with C. halpan and C. iria, where it is usually scattered but often becoming dominant. It prefers fertile soils but can also grow on poor sandy or clay soils.

Description- Erect perennials with short corm-like rhizome; culms 28-75 cm tall, obtusely trigonous, smooth. Leaves basal, few, 20-65 x 0.4-0.8 cm, linear, acuminate, canaliculate, scabrid on margins and midrib towards the tip, glaucous-green; sheaths 7-11 cm long, reddish-brown. Inflorescence compound, 8.5-19x8-23 cm; leafy bracts 4-7, lower 3 much exceeding the inflorescence, the longest upto 70 cm long; primary rays 6-11. Spikelets congested in globose heads, 5-10 x 0.5-1 mm, linear, subterete, reddish-brown. Glumes distichous, 3-4 x 1-1.5 mm, linear-oblong, apex obtuse, keeled, sides reddish-brown, basal 2 glumes empty. Stamens 3; anthers linear. Stigmas 3. Nuts 1.5-2 x 0.5 mm, linear-oblong, trigonous, brown, apiculate.

Economic Importance- C. compactus is a serious weed of rice in the United States, Australia, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Taiwan and the Philippines, and a principal weed of rice in several European and African countries.

Cyperus pumilus


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Poales

Family:Cyperaceae

Genus:Cyperus

Species:C.pumilus

Common Name- Low flatsedge

Habitat- The annual sedge typically grows to a height of 0.03 to 0.2 metres and has a tufted habit. It blooms between February and July and produces green-brown flowers.In Western Australia it is found around swamps and pools in the Kimberley region where it grows in sandy-clay soils.

Description- Annual with fibrous, yellowish roots. Leaves weak or somewhat rigid, canaliculate, gradually acuminate, scabrid in the upper part, 1-2 mm wide; Inflorescence simple or subcompound. Stamen usually 1, but not rarely in some or all flowers stamens 2.

Economic Importance- Sedges are traditionally used for their strong, fibrous leaves and stems for weaving household itemsand rope making. Some species are used in perfumery and pot pourri and several species for their medicinal properties.

Schoenoplectus articulatus


Order:Poales

Family:Cyperaceae

Genus:Schoenoplectus

Species:S.articulatus

Common Name- club-rush

Habitat- Commonly, grows as weed in low lying water-logged areas, usually in rice fields. Flowering:

June-August, Fruiting: September-November.

Description- Annual herbs, 70-120 cm high; roots stoloniferous, fibrous; stems (culms) erect, unbranched, smooth, intercepted by transverse septums at every 1.2-2.5 cm. Leaves absent or 1 or 2, short sheath involving base of culm. Spikelets many flowered, in a single lateral, dense bead, near base of stem; bracts many, oblong-pointed. Flowers small, bisexual; glumes ovate, acute. Stamens-3, anther basifixed. Nuts triquetrous smooth, white when young, black when matures.

Economic Importance- Tubers are used as a purgative 3,4 , curing diarrhoea and also check vomiting. 2 Less known use: Nuts are used in making Laddu by local communities of Lower Assam.The roasted endosperm from the matured nuts by making delicious food stuffs.

Schoenoplectus grossus


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Poales

Family:Cyperaceae

Genus:Schoenoplectus

Species:S.grossus

Common Name- club-rush, wood club-rush,Kasheru.

Habitat- Distributed throughout India, especially in swamps areas.The flowers and fruits are seen in the month of September to October.

Description- Scihoenoplectus are rhizomatous perennial herbs, with 3-angled stems and flat grass-like leaves. The flowers are in clusters of small spikelets, often brown or greenish brown.The fruits are small brownish colored. The rhizomes are blackish colored outside, having hair like structure.

Economic Importance- Schoenoplectus grossus is an Ayurvedic herb used for the treatment for diarrhea, thirst, nausea, scanty micturition, jaundice.In Indonesia the stems of S. grossus are commonly utilized for the production of cheap but strong and durable products such as coarse mats and bags, and for lining pandan mats. S.grossus can also be used as a fodder.

Schoenoplectiella supina


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Poales

Family:Cyperaceae

Genus:Schoenoplectiella

Species:s.supina

Common Name- bul rush

Habitat- S. supina is an annual sedge growing in temporary pools, depressions, inundated agricultural land, rice fields, alluvial flats, inundated sandy lands, damp places and around lakes, reservoirs and ponds. The species needs open, sandy places to establish a population. It is also found in low intensity rice fields and it is unlikely that it could cope with the ongoing intensification of rice field management.

Description- Annuals or perennials, with or without leaves.Culm scapose or nearly so, with or without a node above the base.Inflorescence a dense apparently lateral, but really terminal, cluster of few to many spikelets, less often a more open anthela.Spikelets with many bisexual flowers subtended by spirally arranged glumesPerianth bristles absent or present.Stamens usually 3,Filaments often persistent,Style 2–3-branched,fruits arenyutlet obovoid to round, usually apiculate, smooth or ridged.

Economic Importance- Schoenoplectiella species are often planted to inhibit soil erosion and provide habitat for other wildlife. They are also used in some herbal remedies.

Bergia ammannioides


Clade:Angiosperms

Order:Malpighiales

Family:Elatinaceae

Genus:Bergia

Species:B.ammannioides

Common Name- Ammania waterwort

Habitat- Fallow lands, paddy fields and grasslands.

Description- Erect, ascending or decumbent herbs, often deep-rooted, branches usually opposite,stems terete, slightly swollen at nodes, frequently woody at base. Leaves desussate, subsessile, elliptic, oblong or obovate-oblong, cuneate at base, shortly dentate-serrate at margin, acute at apex, midnerve very prominent and glandular beneath, sunken but prominent above, lateral nerves 3 or 4 pairs, alternate, stipules ovate-lanceolate or narrowly 3-angled, glandular hairy at margin. Flowers ca 1 mm across, in axillary fascicles, pedicels ca 1.5 mm long, pilose. Sepals 3, ovate-lanceolate, Petals 3, Stamens 3, Carpels 5, connate; ovary globose; styles 5, recurved. Capsules globose,, dehiscing into 5 valves at maturity; seeds numerous, minute, oblong or subcylindric, reticulate, shining, brown.

Economic Importance- This plants has numerous medicinal properties and also used vegetable. Infusion roasted leaves is given for cough,fever.

Bergia capensis


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Malpighiales

Family:Elatinaceae

Genus:Bergia

Species:B.capensis

Common Name- waterwort

Habitat- Fallow lands, paddy fields and grasslands

Description- Herbs, main stem creeping, branches erect or ascending,rooting at lower nodes , reddish or pink, fleshy. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, cuneate at base, minutely serrate at margin, midnerve very prominent and purplish beneath, sunken above,5 . Flowers ca 1 mm across, in dense axillary clusters; pedicels ca 1.5 mm long, glabrous. Sepals 3, ovate-lanceolate, entire at margin, acuminate at apex with a blunt swollen tip, ca 1.2 mm long. Petals 3, oblong or subspatulate, Stamens 5, ca 1.2 mm long. Carpels 5, connate, ovary globose,styles 5. seeds numerous, minute, oblong or obovoid, reticulate, brownish.

Economic Importance- capensis is mainly used as herbal medicine against fever and malaria, gastrointestinal problems, pain, parasitic worms, reproductive problems in women, respiratory problems, and skin diseases.

Eriocaulon quinquangulare


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Poales

Family:Eriocaulaceae

Genus:Eriocaulon

Species:E.quinquangulare

Common Name- pipeworts

Habitat- .They tend to be associated with wet soils, many growing in shallow water, in wetlands, or in wet savannas like flatwoods. In wet soils, their abundance appears to be related to water levels, fire frequency, and competition from other plants such as grasses.

Description- Leaves are falcate, acuminate, glabrous. Peduncles numerous, 10-30 cm high; sheath to 5 cm long, limb small. Head 6 x 5 mm, ovoid; involucral bracts 2 x 2 mm, obovate, toothed at apex, straw-coloured, floral bracts 2.5 x 1.2 mm, cuneate, abruptly acuminate, black, glabrous. Female sepals 3, equal, linear, sparsely hairy, black; petals linear-oblong, hairy, hyaline, glandulose; seeds oblong, appendages entire or cut up into rectangular strips on transverse walls. Male sepals black, united into a split sheath, minutely hairy, lobes truncate; petal equal, hairy; anthers black.

Economic Importance- Hepatoprotective activity of Eriocaulon quinquangulare in vitro using porcine liver slices against ethanol induced liver toxicity and free radical scavenging capacity.

Acalypha indica


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Malpighiales

Family:Euphorbiaceae

Subtribe:Acalyphinae

Genus:Acalypha

Species:A. indica

Common Name- Indian Acalypha, Indian Mercury, Indian Copperleaf.

Habitat- It grows in disturbed places such as waste lands, road sides, crevices in walls. It also grows in rocky hillsides, forest edges and river banks. It prefers moist and shaded places.

Description- An erect annual herb that can be easily distinguished by the cup-shaped involucre that surrounds the small flowers in the catkin-like inflorescence. The leaf base is rounded to shortly attenuate. The leaf margin is basally 5-nerved and is crenate-serrate with an acute or obtuse apex.The tiny male flowers are white-green, located on the upper part of the flower spikes, and are ebracteate, minute, and clustered with vermiculiform anthers.The green female flowers are located lower on the spikes, and are subtended by 3–7 mm long suborbicular-cuneiform.The ovary is hispid, 3-lobed. Styles are 3, each 2-fid.

Economic Importance- Acalyphin is used as a substitute for ipecacuanha, a vermifuge, expectorant and emetic.Acalypha indica leaves are used in the traditional medicine of India as a jaundice remedy.

Croton bonplandianus


Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Euphorbiales

Subfamily: Crotonoideae


Genus:croton

Species:C.bonplandianus

Common Name- Ban Tulsi, Kala Bhangra

Habitat- Found in all situations, railway lines and roadsides, in open and fallow fields.

Description- An erect herb. Stem much branched, clothed with branched hairs. Simple, dark green, leaves-alternately arranged, 1.96 inches long, lance shaped, milky, mild hairy stems& leaves, woody.Leaves crowded at the top, simple, ovate, serrate. Flowers in terminal spikes, male flowers upper and female flowers lower. Fruits – 3 angled globose capsule.

Economic Importance- The Croton bonplandianum (Euphorbiaceae) is treat liver disorders, skin diseases including ring worm infection, to cure the swelling of body, bronchitis and asthma. The seeds are used for the treatment of jaundice, acute constipation, abdominal dropsy and internal abscesses.

. Euphorbia hirta Scientific classification-

Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Malpighiales


Genus:Euphorbia

Species:E. hirta

Common Name- asthma-plant.

Habitat- It is a hairy herb that grows in open grasslands, roadsides and pathways

Description- Slender, erect, pubescent herbs about 20-35 cm tall. Leaves decussate, broadly oblong to elliptic-lanceolate, base obliquely truncate, margin serrulate, apex acute, hispid on both sides, basally 3-nerved; petiole to 3 mm long. Cyathia aggregated in single or paired axillary clusters. Involucre minute, c. 1 mm long; glands 5, red. Male flowers 4-6, ebracteolate. Female florets laterally pendulous; styles 2-fid from base. Capsule 1.5-2 mm across, pubescent. Seeds minute, red, 4-angled, minutely furrowed.

Economic Importance- Asthma weed is a very important herbal medicine both within its native range and also beyond. It has traditionally been used to treat respiratory system disorders including bronchitis, asthma, hay fever, emphysema, coughs, colds and laryngeal spasm, though in modern herbalism it is more used in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, including intestinal parasites, diarrhoea, peptic ulcers, heartburn, vomiting and amoebic .

Euphorbia prostrata Scientific classification- Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Malpighiales


Genus:Euphorbia

Species:E. prostrata

Common Name- prostrate spurge, prostrate sandmat.

Habitat-It is widely naturalized in many other parts of the world, where it can be found in varied habitat types and in many areas grows as a roadside weed.

Description- Euphorbia prostrata is an annual herb producing slender prostrate stems up to approximately 20 centimetres long, sometimes purple-tinted in color. The oval-shaped leaves are up to one centimetre long with finely toothed edges.The inflorescence is a cyathium less than two millimetres wide, with white petal-like appendages surrounding the actual flowers. There are four male flowers and a single female flower, the latter developing into a lobed, hairy fruit.

Economic Importance- Euphorbia prostrata extract has been found effective for treatment of bleeding hemorrhoids due to its contents of flavonoids, phenolics and phenolic acids. Euphorbia prostrata extract tablets have been marketed in India by Panacea Biotec Ltd.

Jatropha gossypifolia


Order:Malpighiales


Genus:Jatropha

Species:J. gossypiifolia

Common Name- Bellyache-bush, black physicnut, and cotton-leaf physicnut.

Habitat- This species is most commonly found in drier tropical environments, but is sometimes also naturalised in sub-tropical and semi-arid regions. It is a weed of degraded pastures, open woodlands, monsoon vine forests, grasslands, riparian vegetation, coastal foreshores, roadsides, disturbed sites, waste areas and old or abandoned gardens.

Description- Shrubs, purplish green and glandular hairy on younger parts. Leaves in close spiral, deeply 3-5-lobed, orbicular-cordate, margin with gland-tipped hairs, lobes obtusely acuminate, 5-nerved; stipules glandular-hairy; petiole 3-10 cm long, glandular-hairy. Flowers

red with yellow centre, unisexual in axillary and terminal monoecious corymbose cymes. Bracts linear-lanceolate, glandular-hairy. Male perianth lobes free, biseriate, reddish-brown, outer c. 5 mm long, lanceolate, inner ones c. 4 mm long, obovate, villous at base within. Stamens 8-10. Female tepals 5. Stamens 8, biseriate. Ovary 3-celled; ovules solitary in each; styles 3, connate below. Capsule, 3-lobed. Seeds oblong, 3-gonous.

Economic Importance- The leaves are blood purifier, febrifuge, purgative and stomachic. A decoction is taken to cleanse the blood and for treating venereal disease.The leaf-sap is applied to the tongues of babies for treating thrush.The fruits and seed are boiled in liquid as a remedy for stomach ache.

Phyllanthus tenellus


Order:Malpighiales

Family:Phyllanthaceae

Genus:Phyllanthus

Species:P. tenellus

Common Name- Long Stalked Leaf-Flower, Mascarene Island leaf-flower.

Habitat- It is commonly called Mascarene Island leaf flower as it is native to the Mascarene Islands. It is often a weed in flower beds, gardens, roadsides, and other disturbed areas.

Description- Erect annual herbs, stem simple or with permanent branchlets, subterete below, channelled above, glabrous. Leaves alternate,broadly elliptic to obovate, subacute at tip, acute to rounded at base; petioles 0.5-0.8 mm long, stipules lanceolate-acuminate. Flowers minute in axillary bisexual or unisexual cymules of 1-5 flowers on deciduous branchlets. Male flowers, white, 1-3 in unisexual cymules of 1 or 2 proximal nodes and in bisexual cymules of succeeding 3-10 nodes with female flowers; pedicels filiform,sepals 5, imbricate, broadly obovate, acute to rounded at apex,pedicels capillary, sepals 5, triangular-ovate, whitish with a thick greenish midrib, ovary smooth,style 3, appressed to ovary, cleft to 2/3; lobes diverging, the tips subcapitate. Capsule depressed-globose,greenish, smooth,seeds trigonous,densely papillose

Economic Importance-.Extracts of fresh and dried plants have antiviral and antimicrobial activity . The callus extracts of this herb have potential analgesic properties against neurogenic and inflammatory pain. Although this herb is beneficial for diabetes and treatment of hepatitis.

Ricinus communis


Order:Malpighiales


Subfamily:Acalyphoideae

Genus:Ricinus

Species:R. communis

Common Name- castor bean or castor oil plant.

Habitat- Ricinus communis is indigenous to the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa, and India, today it is widespread throughout tropical regions. In areas with a suitable climate, castor establishes itself easily where it can become an invasive plant and can often be found on wasteland.

Description- Ricinus communis is a robust shrub or small tree with a softly woody stem, growing up to 4 m high. The stems are smooth, round, and frequently red, with clear sap. The leaves are simple and alternate. Long purple leaf stalks are attached near the centers of the leaf blades. These are large, star-shaped with sharply-toothed margins; their color is shiny dark green or reddish .The flowers are clustered in terminal spikes with creamy male flowers (3-5) in the lower position and reddish females flowers (1-7) at the top of the inflorescence. The fruit is a spiny, greenish to reddish purple three-lobed capsule containing large, oval.The whole plant is poisonous.

Economic Importance- Methanolic extracts of the leaves of Ricinus communis were used in antimicrobial testing against eight pathogenic bacteria in rats and showed antimicrobial properties.

Aeschynomene aspera


Order:Fabales

Family:Fabaceae

Genus:Aeschynomene

Species:A. aspera

Common Name- shola (Bengali), sola pith plant, pith plant.

Habitat- It is an aquatic plant and is considered a minor weed of rice paddies across its range.

Description- Terrestrial or aquatic, perennial, erect subshrub up to 200 cm tall, partially submerged. Taproot or fibrous roots white or brown . Stems rounded, solid, warty, glabrous or hairy, often with white, spongy parenchyma at base. Stipules present, triangular, glabrous. Leaves compound, paripinnate, alternate spiral, stalked, leaflets glabrous on both sides, glaucous below, margin entire, apex obtuse, base obtuse or rounded, pinnately veined. Flowers bisexual, grouped together in an axillary, 1 to few- flowered raceme, stalked, petals 5, yellow. Fruit an articulated pod. Brown to black, glossy, oblong-kidney-shapped, with thin endosperm.

Economic Importance-In traditional Cambodian medicine, the young leaves and flowers are consumed in salad and used topically as a poultice. The crushed young shoot and leaves are taken orally as an anti-haemorrhagic during labour. The potential use of A. aspera as a fast-growing nitrogen source for wet-rice fields has only recently been noted.

Aeschynomene indica


Order:Fabales

Family:Fabaceae

Genus:Aeschynomene

Species:A. indica

Common Name- Indian jointvetch, kat sola,budda pea, curly indigo, hard sola.

Habitat- The plant often grows in wet, muddy habitat, such as floodplains, swamps, and paddy fields. It is also known from dry land.

Description- Indian Joint Vetch is an erect branching herb, with scattered spreading hairs on stems, and stalks. Leaves are compound, 5-10 cm long, with 15-30 pairs of narrow needle-like leaflets, 1-1.5 cm long, rounded at the tips. Stipules are arrow-shaped, about 1 cm long. Pale yellow flowers are borne in few flowered racemes. Flowers stalks have 2 bracteoles at base of the sepals. Flowers are about 1 cm long, pea-flower shaped. Sepal cup is 2-lipped. Pods linear, flat, 6-8-jointed, with central prominent wrinkles on each joint. Flowering: September-October.

Economic Importance- This plant is used as green manure. It is not very palatable to animals but it is sometimes given as fodder. It can be toxic, however. The seeds can poison pigs, causing loss of coordination, falls, and death.

Alysicarpus vaginalis


Order:Fabales

Family:Fabaceae

Subfamily:Faboideae

Genus:Alysicarpus

Species:A. vaginalis

Common Name- alyce clover, buffalo clover, Chauli, Sauri.

Habitat-This species can become weedy. It has been a weed of golf courses, where it easily survives frequent mowing. It is a weed of roadsides.

Description- Alyce Clover is a more or less prostrate, somewhat hairy branching herb, commonly found in lawns, by roadside ditches, and in waste ground exposed to the sun. Leaves are of two types, closely spaced elliptic, and narrower, lanceolate once spaced farther apart. Leaves are about 3-10 mm long, rounded at tips, obtuse, or truncate at base, with short stalks, about 1-5 mm long. Flowers are reddish purple, in racemes up to 13 cm long, at the end of branches. Flower are 6 mm long. Pods are cylindric, jointed, nearly 2 cm long, 5-7-seeded. Seeds are pale brown, 1.5 mm long, oval. Alyce Clover is found in India and SE Asia.

Economic Importance- A decoction of the roots is used as a treatment against coughs. The roots are chewed as a treatment for fevers.

Crassia tora


Order:Fabales

Family:Fabaceae

Subfamily:Caesalpinioideae

Tribe:Cassieae

Genus:Senna

Species:S. tora

Common Name- Foetid cassian,stinking cassia ,wild senna, java bean, chakvat,chakunda.

Habitat- In India it occur as wasteland rainy season weed.

Description- Stinking Cassia is a small erect hairlesss shrub, about 1 m tall, commonly found growing wild on roadsides.Stinking cassia has a disagreeable smell. It is widely spreading with numerous ascending, hairless branches. The compound leaves are arranged spirally and usually have three pairs of symmetrically egg-shaped leaflets up to 2 inches long. One to three yellow flowers appear on short axillary stems. The linear pods grow to 8 inches long, curve downward and contain many shiny, angular seeds.

Economic Importance- In organic farms of India, Stinking Cassia is used as natural pesticide.According to Ayurveda, the leaves and seeds are useful in leprosy, bronchitis.

Crotalaria pallida Scientific classification- Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Fabales

Family:Fabaceae

Subfamily:Faboideae

Genus:Crotalaria

Species:C. pallida

Common Name- smooth crotalaria, smooth rattlepod,

striped crotalaria.

Habitat- Occurs naturally on river banks, edges of lakes, extending into woodland, grassland and waste places from sea level to elevations of 1,000 metres.

Description- Terrestrial, annual, erect herb, up to 150 cm tall. Taproot white or brown. Stem grooved, solid, glabrous. Stipules present. Leaves trifoliolate, alternate spiral, stalked, leaflets elliptic or obovate, more than 2 cm long/wide, hairy on upper surface, margin entire, apex obtuse or rounded, base acute, pinnately veined. Flowers bisexual, grouped together in a terminal raceme, stalked, petals 5, yellow. Fruit a rounded pod.

Economic Importance- The plant is used as a ground cover and a green manure crop throughout the humid tropics, though on a limited scale.The plant is used in traditional medicine to treat urinary problems The plant is also used to reduce fever.

Crotalaria quinquefolia


Order:Fabales

Family:Fabaceae

Subfamily:Faboideae

Tribe:Crotalarieae

Genus:Crotalaria

Species:c.quinquefolia

Common Name- Leaf Rattlepod, Wild wetland sannhemp.

Habitat- Open forest, swampy locations andespecially wet rice fields, and moist places.

Description- Leaf Rattlepod is a coarse erect branching herb 1-2 m tall. Stems are greenish and grooved. Leaves are long-petiolate, usually with 5 leaflets. The leaflets are lanceshaped, elliptic, stalkless, 2.5-12 cm long and 2 cm wide, blunt-tipped. Flowers are in borne in raceme, at the end opf branches. They are yellow, the standard-petal purplish nerved. Sepal cup is hairless, half as long as the petals. Pod are oblong, hairless, inflated, about 5 cm long, brownish, with 30-40 seeds.

Economic Importance- An excellent green manure plant, but it is heavily attacked by pests in Java during the later stages of growth and produces hardly any seed.The seedpods are used for treating snake and millipede bites.

Zornia diphylla


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Fabales

Family:Fabaceae

Subfamily:Faboideae

Tribe:Dalbergieae

Genus:Zornia

Species:Z.diphylla

Common Name- Arundhalai otti,two-leaf zornia .

Habitat- Throughout plains of India, ascending up to 1,200 m in Kumaon, waste places, riverbanks, roadsides.

Description- Two-Leaf Zornia is a slender herb, spreading from a central woody root stock. Leaves are 2-foilolate, linear-lanceshaped, tapering at tip, hairless with scattered black glands. Leaf-stalks are 6-8 mm long. Stipules are 4-6 mm, ovate-lanceshaped, glandular. Flowers are borne in racemes in leaf-axils or at branch-ends, flower-cluster-stalks 2-5 cm long. Bracts are geminate, ovate, glandular outside, fringed with hairs on margins. Flowers are yellow.Sepal tube is about 1-2 mm long, sepals 5, unequal. Stamens 10, monadelphous; alternating filaments long and short; anthers dimorphic. Style is thread-like 6.

Economic Importance- The root is soporific and is used to induce sleep in children. This report probably should refer to Zornia gibbosa.

Senna obtusifolia Scientific classification-

Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Fabales

Family:Fabaceae

Genus:Senna

Species:S. obtusifolia

Common Name- sicklepod

Habitat- Forest or natural area in open woods, weedy in disturbed areas, fields.

Description- Branched, annual herb; leaves alternate, pinnately divided, without a conspicuous gland at the base of the leaf stalk,leaflets of 3 pairs; stipules usually not persistent and not conspicuously striated; flowers yellow, 5-parted; fruit long, slender.

Economic Importance- The plant's seeds are a commercial source of cassia gum, a food additive usually used as a thickener and named for the Chinese Senna's former placement in the genus Cassia. Roasted and ground, the seeds have also been used as a substitute for coffee.

Senna occidentalis


Order:Fabales

Family:Fabaceae

Genus:Senna

Species:S. occidentalis

Common Name- Stephanie coffee,coffee senna, stinkingweed ,Bana Chakunda.

Habitat- A weed of roadsides, waste areas, disturbed sites, pastures, grasslands, open woodlands, coastal environs and crops in tropical, subtropical and semi-arid regions.

Description- Coffee Senna is a smooth annual that can grow up to 2 m tall. The leaves are compound, leaflet, have a sharp tip. These leaflets are 2-9 cm long and 2-3 cm wide with a distinct gland 3-5 mm from the base of the stalk. Flowers occur in leaf axils. Sepals are green and 6-9 mm long. The petals are yellow and 1-2 cm long. The 6-7 stamens are of two different lengths. The seed pods are dark brown, 8 to 12 cm long, 7-10 mm wide and curve slightly upward. The seeds are dull brown, 4-5 mm long and flattened on both ends.

Economic Importance- In Jamaica the seeds are roasted, brewed and served as tea to treat hemorrhoids, gout, rheumatism, and diabetes.This plant is mainly used for the treatment of bone fractures and bone dislocation as an herbal treatment in India.

Sesbania bispinosa Scientific classification-

Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Fabales

Family:Fabaceae

Genus:Sesbania

Species:S .bispinosa Common Name- Dunchi, dhaincha, canicha, prickly sesban.

Habitat- S. bispinosa is adapted to wet, heavy soil but apparently adapts easily to drought-prone or sandy regions. It is cultivated widely in India and it is grown in rice paddies in Vietnam.

Description- Prickly Sesban is an erect, somewhat woody, low annual subshrub, growing up to 7 m tall. Usually it is seen only 2 m tall. Stems are fairly thick, hairless, branched from the base but soft and pithy. Leaves are up to 38 cm long, compound, with 18–55 pairs of leaflets, 1.2–2.5 cm long, smooth, glaucous. Flowers are borne in 2–8-flowered, 2.5–7.5 cm long clusters. Flowers are yellow and purple-spotted. Pods are up to 25 cm long, 0.3 cm thick, curved, many-seeded. Flowering: September–November.

Economic Importance- It can be used like industrial hemp for rope, fish nets, sackcloth and sailcloth. Its fibers are similar to those of birch trees and show promise as a source of paper fiber. Natural gum from the plant is useful as a thickening agent.It makes a good firewood.

Hoppea dichotoma


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Gentianales

Family:Gentianaceae

Genus:Hoppea

Species:H. dichotoma

Common Name- Indian Hoppea, Ram jeeta.

Habitat- Commonly found growing along the sides of ditches, roadsides and riverbanks, moist exposed places along river banks, at the edges of pools and tanks and in rice fields.

Description- Indian Hoppea is a dichotomously branched, annual, delicate herb. Stem is branched from base or above, lineolate. Leaves are inverted-lanceshaped-lanceshaped or elliptic, pointed, entire. Flowers are solitary, at branch-ends on 2-4 mm long flower-stalk, 4-merous. Calyx is 1.5-3 mm long, tube smaller than sepals; sepals are lanceshaped-inverted-lanceshaped, pointed-tapering, entire. Flowers are tubular, smaller than calyx,petals are ovate, entire, pointed. Stamens are 4, 3 sterile, 1 fertile; fertile larger than sterile. Ovary spherical, capsule many seeded, seeds netveined. Indian Hoppea is native to India.

Economic Importance- Root Medicines: paralysis, epilepsy, convulsions, spasm.

Blyxa echinosperma


Order:Alismatales

Family:Hydrocharitaceae

Subfamily:Anacharioideae

Genus:Blyxa

Species:B. echinosperma

Common Name- Round fruit Blyxa.

Habitat- ponds&paddy fields.

Description- The species are annual or perennial, with a creeping monopodial rhizome with the leaves arranged in two vertical rows, or an erect main shoot with roots at the base and spirally arranged or whorled leaves. The leaves are simple and usually found submerged, though they may be found floating or partially emerse. As with many aquatics they can be very variable in shape – from linear to orbicular, with or without a petiole, and with or without a sheathing base.The flowers are arranged in a forked, spathe-like bract or between two opposite bracts.

Economic Importance- Some species have become established ornamental plants, and subsequently serious weeds in the wilds .

Hydrilla verticillata


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Alismatales


Genus:Hydrilla

Species:H. verticillata

Common Name- water thyme,water weed,jhangi(hindi).

Habitat- Hydrilla found in a variety of aquatic habitats such as reservoirs, lakes, ponds, springs, rivers, and tidal zones.

Description- H. verticillata is a submerged aquatic perennial with heavily branched stems towards the water surface. Stems are slender and can grow up to 9m long. The leaves are strap-shaped with pointed tips and saw-tooth edges, and they grow in whorls of 4 to 8 around the stem. Leaf colour can vary from green, translucent, yellowish, to brown. Hydrilla produces turions in the axils of leaves and tubers within the sediment. Small white flowers on long slender stems are female, and small, green, free-floating, inverted bell-shaped flowers are male. The plant is usually rooted to the substrate but sometimes grows as floating mats at the surface.

Economic Importance- H. verticillata provides a food supply for waterfowl in areas where wetland degradation has lowered their food supply, such as in Florida.

Nechamandra alternifolia


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Alismatales


Subfamily:Hydrilloideae

Genus:Nechamandra

Species:N. alternifolia

Common Name- Indian oxygen weed .

Habitat- This is a rare plant in lakes and ponds.

Description- Indian Oxygen-Weed is a submerged water plant, but rooted in soil. Leaves are midvein slightly distinct, tip pointed. Male inflorescence with 60-100 flowers; flower-cluster-stalk translucent; spathe translucent, about 5 × 4 mm; male flowers with slender flower-stalk about 0.6 mm; sepals transparent; filaments about 0.3 mm. Female spathe tubular, about 5 mm, stalkless; sepals 0.5-1 × 0.4-0.7 mm; ovary 5-10 mm, flattened, margin minutely toothed on each side; styles retuse at tip, densely papillate.

Economic Importance- some important aquarium and watergarden ornamentals.

Ottelia alismoides


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Alismatales


Genus:Ottelia

Species:O. alismoides

Common Name- duck lettuce

Habitat- Common in stagnant water, lakes and slow moving streams, often growing gregariously in shallow water

Description- Fruit with numerous seeds. Seeds fusiform, 1–2 mm long, 0.3–0.7 mm in diameter, with 2 faint slightly curved longitudinal ridges. Testa light brown, dull to semiglossy, faintly wrinkled, with a tuft of unicellular white hairs. Hilum inconspicuous. Embryo linear-spatulate; endosperm absent.

Economic Importance- The leaves are antibacterial, febrifuge and rubefacient . The plant is used in the topical treatment of haemorrhoids, and is applied to the arms and legs as a poultice against fever.

Vallisneria spiralis


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Alismatales


Genus:Vallisneria

Species:V. spiralis

Common Name- straight vallisneria, tape grass, or eel grass is a common aquarium plant .

Habitat- Static or flowing freshwater habitats, including lakes, ponds, water courses, and wetlands.

Description- Acaulescent, submerged herbs; stolons to 4 cm, terete. Leaves radical, linear, flat, ribbon-like, brown-striped, 7-9-nerved, interconnected by cross-nerves, narrow at base, margin softly denticulate, apex obtuse. Flowers unisexual, dioecious. Male spathes oblong, peduncle to 3 cm; flowers numerous, pedicelled. Female spathes oblong, to 1.5 cm long, enveloping ovary, to more than half the length, apex 2-lobed lobes; ovate, suborbicular, peduncles spirally coiled or not, to 60 cm. Sepals 3, ovate-oblong, 2 x 1.5 mm, apex obtuse. Petals obscure or 0. Ovary : ovules numerous on marginal placentae; styles 3, to 3.5 mm, 2-lobed, rostrum short.

Economic Importance- Rooted submerged plant species are considered to have value for phytoremediation because of their soil binding roots, rhizomes and stolons which help facilitate colonization by benthic algae, other microbes and invertebrates.

Limnophila junceum


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Lamiales

Family:Plantaginaceae

Genus:Limnophila

Species:L. aquatica

Common Name- Giant Ambulia

Habitat- It grows best in medium or very high lighting, preferably in acidic soil. It can grow to a height of 25-50 centimetres.

Description- An extremely beautiful aquarium plant circled by light-green and finely branched leaves from South-East Asia. In the right growing conditions with added CO2 and a nutritious bottom this plant grows fast and can become 25-50 cm long and each stem up to 15 cm wide. In good light it forms horizontal side shoots and becomes attractive and bushy.

Economic Importance- Most decorative when several stems are planted in a small group.

Limnophila heterophylla


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Lamiales


Tribe:Gratioleae

Genus:Limnophila

Species:L. heterophylla

Common Name- marshweeds.

Habitat- They grow in wet habitat, such as marshes, and some are aquatic.

Description- These are annual or perennial herbs.Submerged leaves are whorled; aerial leaves are whorled or oppositely arranged. The leaves are lance-shaped or pinnate, and the blades have smooth or serrated edges. Some species have flowers solitary in the leaf axils, and others have flowers in inflorescences. The sepals are arranged in a tubular calyx, and the corolla is tubular or funnel-shaped.

Economic Importance- Its one of our favorite stem plants here at Buce Plant due to its "low tech" requirements and beautiful appearance as a background plant.

Limnophila sessiliflora


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Lamiales


Genus:Limnophila

Species:L. sessiliflora

Common Name- dwarf ambulia, ambulis

Habitat- L. sessiliflora will grow in a variety of aquatic habitats and can withstand a minimum temperature of 15°C, with an optimum temperature between 20-26°C .

Description- L. sessiliflora is described as an aquatic, or nearly aquatic, perennial herb with two kinds of whorled leaves. The submerged stems are smooth and have leaves to 30mm long.L. sessiliflora is described as an aquatic, or nearly aquatic, perennial herb with two kinds of whorled leaves. The submerged stems are smooth and have leaves to 30mm long.

Economic Importance- The plant is suitable for improving the water quality of ponds by capturing floating mud particles.

Lindernia parviflora


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Lamiales

Family:Linderniaceae

Genus:Lindernia

Species:L.parviflora

Common Name- Small-flowered Lindernia

Habitat- It is annual and mostly found in humid sandy places, rice fields, perennially moist areas and along river banks.

Description- Decumbent herbs, 10-20 cm high; stems glabrous. Leaves to 1.5 x 0.7 cm, ovate, acute, entire, sessile; nerves 3 pairs. Flowers in terminal racemes or upper axillary; bracts 5 x 3 mm, ovate; pedicel deflexed in fruit, 1.5 cm long; sepals 3 mm long, connate at base; corolla 6 mm long; upper lip bifurcated at apex; lower lip obtusely 3-lobed; staminodes with lateral vermiform appendages. Capsule 5 x 2.5 mm, ovoid, glabrous; seeds 0.3 mm long, obovoid, yellow, glabrous.

Economic Importance- The plant is considered to have emetic and cathartic properties. It has given good results in treating bilious disorders, dysentery, amenorrhoea, and hepatitis.

Lindernia antipoda


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Lamiales

Family:Linderniaceae

Genus:Lindernia

Species:L.antipoda

Common Name- Sheval' 'शवेाळ' In Marathi,Sparrow False Pimpernel

Habitat- Shaded or sunny, moist or swampy sites; open forests, village grooves, on cultivated lands and borders of ditches; up to 1800 m alt. Lowland-irrigated, rainfed and rice fields.

Description- Prostrate or diffuse herbs, rooting at the nodes. Leaves variable 1.5-2.5 x 0.5-1 cm, elliptic-obovate, base cuneate, margin subentire to serrate, apex obtuse, penninerved, subsessile. Flowers solitary, axillary or in terminal racemes; bracts leafy; pedicle to 1 cm long. Calyx divided to the base; lobes c. 4 mm long, lanceolate, margin scarious. Corolla bluish with an yellow mouth, 6-8 mm long, internally short pilose between the staminodes. Stamens 2, fertile; staminodes 2, hooked. Capsule 1-1.4 cm long, linear-lanceolate. Seeds yellow, ridged.

Economic Importance- In Malaysia, the root with the addition of an astringent is used to cure diarrhea. A decoction of roots and leaves is used as a dewormer. In Indonesia, the plant is part of a drug against vertigo. In Taiwan, the whole plant is considered an emmenagogue.

Mecardonia procumbens


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Lamiales


Genus:Mecardonia

Species:M. procumbens

Common Name- baby jump-up,Marathi:makardana

Habitat-Degraded moist deciduous forests, grasslands and waste places

Description- Diffuse herbs; stem 4-angled. Leaves 1-1.5 x 0.4-0.9 cm, ovate-lanceolate, base acute, margin crenate-serrate, apex acute, penninerved, subsessile. Flowers axillary, solitary; pedicles to 1 cm long, bractioles 2, c. 4 mm long, oblong. Calyx deeply 5-partite, lobes unequal; outer 3 c. 6 x 3 mm, ovate-lanceolate; inner 2 c. 4 x 1 mm, narrower. Corolla yellow, c. 7 mm long, obscurely 2-lipped, lobes unequal. Stamens 4, didynamous; anther cells stipitate. Stigma lamellate. Capsule to 6 x 2 mm, oblong-cylindric, 2-valved, included in the calyx. Seeds with testa reticulate.

Economic Importance- The plant is “traditionally used to heal all kinds of wounds.

Lipocarpha chinensis


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Poales

Family:Cyperaceae

Genus:Lipocarpha

Species:L.chinesis

Common Name- Red sprangletop

Habitat- beside streams and in other damp places.

Description- It is an annual and sometimes a perennial plant. Culms 40-65 cm high, 2 mm thick. Leaves 10-20 x 0.5 cm, stiff; margins scabrid towards the apex; bracts to 8 cm long. Spikelets 0.5-1 x 0.5 cm, obtuse; glumes 2.5 x 1 mm, obtusely acute, keeled, yellow or pale brown. Nut 1.2 x 0.4 mm, obtuse, hardly triquetrous, brown.

Economic Importance- L. chinensis is used as fodder. Normally it is regarded as a weed in paddy fields but livestock owners collect and feed it to their animals.

Scoparia dulcis


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Lamiales


Genus:Scoparia

Species:S. dulcis

Common Name- licorice weed, goatweed,scoparia-weed

Habitat- Moist thickets or along sandy stream beds, abundant in waste or cultivated ground.

Description- Sweet Broom Weed is a branched herb with wiry stems, growing up to 1 m tall. Small white, hairy flowers occur in leaf axils.The stamens are greenish and the ovary is green. Flower-stalk is 5-10 mm, hairless. Flowers are white. Stamens protruding. Style erect. Narrowly elliptic, almost stalkless leaves are arranged oppositely or in whorls of 3. Leaves are 3-4 X 1-1.5 cm wide, with serrated margins. The capsule is nearly round.

Economic Importance- It is traditionally used in treatment of diabetes, dysentery, earache.

Verbascum chinesis


Kingdom:Plantae

Order:Lamiales

Family:Scrophulariaceae

Tribe:Scrophularieae

Genus:Verbascum

Species:V.chinesis

Common Name- Chinese Mullein,poka sungha

Habitat- It is found on sandy areas along rivers, at altitudes of 100-1300 m, in Bangladesh, India, Laos, West Himalaya.

Description- Chinese Mullein is an annual erect herb, growing to 1 m tall. Cylindrical, hairy stems are branched at the top. Leaves arising from the root are 5-10 cm long, pinnately divided. Stem leaves gradually become small with the height, and end up becoming bracts. Yellow flowers occur in simple or branched racemes, 30-60 cm long, at the end of branches. The flowers are 1-1.5 cm, with 5 petals. The flowers have 4 stamens, with the filaments densely bearded with hairs. Capsule is spherical.

Economic Importance- These species have been used in traditional folk medicine for centuries, for treatment of a wide range of human ailments, inter alia bronchitis, tuberculosis, asthma.

Sphaeranthus indicus

Scientific Classification

Kingdom - Plantae

Order - Asterales

Family - Asteraceae

Genus - Sphaeranthus

Species - S.indicus

Common name - Gorakhmundi

Habitat - Commmon rabi weed found in rice field.

Description - S.indicus diffuse aromatic herbs; stems with toothed wings. Leaves alternate, 3-4 x 1-2 cm, oblanceolate, obtuse at apex, decurrent to stem at base, spinulose serrate, hispid. Heads in globose spikes, numerous, densely packed; spikes to 1 cm across, peduncles winged; bracts 2-types, basal bracts of the spike ovate, obtuse; bracts of each head lanceolate, ciliate. Flowers two types, few; outer female, inner bisexual, all tubular; corolla 5-lobed, pink; lobes acute; anthers tailed at base. Achenes angular, glabrous; pappus absent.

Economic Importance - S.indicus is widely used in Ayurvedic. medicine to treat vitiated

conditions of epilepsy, diabetes, fever, cough,hernia,leprosy,skin disease etc.

Spilanthes paniculata


Kingdom - Plantae

Order - Asterales

Family - Asteraceae

Genus - Spilanthes

Species - S.paniculata

Common name - Phakphet, Biribiri

Habitat - It grows in waste place,roadsides and river sides.

Description - S.paniculata wall an erect annual herb, perennial, growth up to 40cm.It has soft branching stem. Leaves-opposite, ovate-lanceolate,wavy margins. Flowers-bright yellow, flower heads radiate or discord, usually solitary. Achenes are abovoid 3-angled,3mm long, tip slightly depressed.Fruits are small, dry, hard,1-seeded achene.seeds-many, small, compressed, and brown colored. flowers and fruits appears during July-October.

Economic Importance - Flower, whole plant used for dysentery, skin disease.

Heliotropium indicum


Kingdom - Plantae

Order - Boraginales

Family - Boraginaceae

Genus - Heliotropium

Species - H. indicum

Common name - Hathisundha

Habitat - A common weed in waste places and settled areas.

Description - H. indicum is an annual, erect, branched plant that can grow to a height of about 15 - 50cm.It has hairy stem, bearing alternating ovate to oblong - ovate leaves. It has small white or purple flowers with a green calyx. Five stamens borne on a corolla tube. A terminal style and a four lobed ovary.

Economic Importance - The plant is chiefly used as a traditional medicine. The extracted juice from the pounded leaves of the plants is used on wounds, skin ulcers and furuncles.

Cleome monophylla


Kingdom - Plantae

Order - Brassicales

Family - cleomaceae

Genus - Cleome

Species - C.monophylla

Common name - Spindle pod

Habitat - Common weed of open places in dry areas.

Description - C. monophylla an erect annual herb with glandular hairs. Leaves are simple, ovate to lanceolate. Flowers are in leafy raeemes, purple, with clawed petals. Fruits are siliqua on a short gynophore.

Economic Importance - Leaves, young shoots and young flowering stems cooked and used like spinach. The seeds are used as mustard substitute. The seeds leaves and the violet flower to make the Ayurvedic drug. Roots are used for the treatment of cough.

Cleome viscosa

cientific Classification

Kingdom - Plantae

Order - Brassicales

Family - cleomaceae

Genus - Cleome

Species - C. viscosa

Common name - Tickweed and spider flower.

Habitat - Sandy and freely draining soils in open dry areas.woodland and grassland, and as a weed of fallow lands, fields, roadsides, and wasteland. Description - C. viscosa is an erect, branched, annual plant with sticky leaves, it can grow 40- 150cm tall. Leaves petiole 1.5-4.5cm,flowers ;sepals green, lanceolate, petals arranged in adaxial semicircle before anthesis bright yellow. Some time purple basally, oblong to ovate, stamens diamorphic 4-10 adaxial ones much shorter with swelling proximal to anthers, seeds are light brown.

Economic Importance - The leaves are used as application to wounds and ulcers. Seeds are anthelmintic and carminative. The juice of the leaves is used as remedy against discharge of pus from the ear.

CHAPTER 5

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 244 vascular macrophytes were identified to occur in and shoreline areas of the lake. Out of the total record, 238 species were of flowering plants, i.e., Angiosperms (Table 1) and 6 species of non-flowering macrophytes, i.e., Pteridophyte (Table 2). All six pteridophytes were strictly aquatic species; they belong to only two families (i.e., Marsileaceae and Salviniaceae) and except Azolla microphylla Kaulf., which was an annual species others were perennial in their growth form (Table 2). The angiospermic macrophytes belong to a total of sixty families. Among these families, Poaceae and Cyperaceae were recorded as the most diversified families (Figure 2). The classification of all the recorded macrophytes on the basis of habitat preference showed 182 (75%) semi-aquatic species and 62 (25%) aquatic species (Figure 3). Categorization of total angiosperms revealed 137 (58%) dicot species and 101 (42%) monocot species (Figure 4). Among the dicot group, only 26 (19%) species were strictly aquatic and 111 (81%) species were semi-aquatic plants (Figure 5). Similarly, the monocot group had 30 species (30%) and 71 species (70%) as aquatic and semi-aquatic plants, respectively (Figure 6). The comparison of growth form showed 160 species (66%) annual and remaining 84 species (34%) as perennial macrophytes (Figure 7). The classification of total aquatic species displayed 35% submerged, 15% free floating, 31% rooted floating and 19% marshy plant species (Figure 8). The study of nativity resulted 56 species out of 244 species as exotic or non native macrophytes of India (Table 1 and Table 2). Quadratic study revealed quantitative status of twenty eight common macrophytes (Table 3). Maximum species diversity was recorded in the peripheral or shoreline plots. Most frequent and abundant species were Ceratophylum demersum L., Hydrila verticelastar (L.) Pers., Nelumbo nucefera Gaertn., Najas sp., Utricularia sp.,Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solm-Laub. and Salvinia molesta D. S. Mitch from interior of the lake. Other species like, Polygonum barbatum L., Hymenachne amplexicaulis (Rudge) Nees, Cyperus iria L., Alternanthera philoxeroides A. St-Hil., Cyperus rotundus L. were more abundant at the land water interface (i.e., marshy areas). The distribution pattern (i.e. Whitford’s index) showed all species with more or less of contagious type of distribution (A/F � 0.05). The diversity indices study showed Simpson complement index-0.561, Shannon-Weiner index-1.367, Species richness index 3.079 and Species evenness index-0.156 (Figure 9).

The study found occurrence of wide habitat variability that helped establishment of different group of aquatic and semi-aquatic vascular macrophytes in the lake. Many macrophytes showed seasonal changes of population status, influenced by water level (Dalu et al. 2012).This affects the value of diversity index of the ecosystem, as calculated by ratio between the number of species and the number of individuals in that community (Ansari et al. 2017). The

low value of species evenness index showed the present species were not equally abundant, some species dominated over others. The lake hosts some unique macrophytes that found rarely elsewhere in the state. Hygroryza aristata (Retz.) Nees. Ex Wt. & Arn. and Oryza rufipogon Griff., the wild relative of edible rice were a common occurrence in the lake (Plate 1). The aesthetically important and endangerd plant species, Gloriosa superba L. has been recorded from shoreline areas of the lake for the first time (Plate 1). The semi-aquatic plants were diverse and many showed seasonal growth. Many of them were small herbaceous annual plants. Strong infestation of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solm-Laub., Salvinia molesta D. S. Mitch, Ceratophyllum demersum L., Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle, Najas indica (Willd) Cham.; Hymenachne amplexicaulis (Rudge) Nees, other grasses and marshy vegetation were found negatively affecting the lake (Plate 2). Soil erosion from surrounded hills and siltation, decreased water flow due to closing of inlets and outlets with Mahanadi River, intensive fertilizer load are the possible factorsfor degradation of the lake.

Figure 2. Classification as per habitat requirement: Aquatic Figure 3. Classification into Angiosperm group: Diversity of dicot and monocot species (%) and semi-aquatic plants (%)

Figure 4. Classification of dicots into habitat group: Aquatic Figure 5. Classification of monocots into habitat groups: Aquatic and semi-aquatic monocots (%) and semi-aquatic dicots (%)

Figure 6. Classification of macrophytes into growth forms: Growth form of macrophytes (%)

Figure 7. Classification of aquatic plants into their adaptation group: Adaptation forms of aquatic plants (%)

Figure 8. Diversity indices from quadrate data

CHAPTER 6

CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION

Besides being having these troublesome weeds, the lake also hosts many macrophytes that are used as food, fodder or medicine by the local households. Control of invasion and their management is a tedious and need multiple strategies. Management of this invasive grass must include a combination of strategies such as winter burning, herbicide application and hydroperiod control. The floating rotted macrophyte Euryale ferox Salisb., once occurred in the lake (recorded in October 2014) is now extinct from the lake. Implementation of physical (mechanical) methods and dredging to required depth will reduce current infested weeds and further regular monitoring, participation of both Governments agency and local community thought to restore a long term functioning of the lake.

CHAPTER 7

GENERAL COMMENTS &

REFERENCE

General comments Aquatic macrophytes are indispensable constituent of any wetland. They provide habitat to various aquatic fauna, act as primary producers, oxygenate water, maintain water quality, do nutrient cycling, stabilize shoreline of lakes, provide substrate for growth of algae, provide shelter to benthic fauna and breeding ground for fishes, check inflow of silt, reduce nutrient load by self utilizing and minimize development of algal blooms (Naskar 1990; Bornette and Puijalon 2009; Ansari et al. 2017). But, sometimes environments enforce and help for invasion of exotic weeds in aquatic ecosystems which negatively affect the entire ecosystem. These plants compete with native species and many times facilitate for loss or extinction of less aggressive and indigenous species (Stallings et al. 2015).In many instances they affect negatively to human activities (e.g. fishing, swimming, navigation and irrigation) and degrade the physical, chemical or biological aspects (Basak et al. 2015). In India, about 140 aquatic plants have been reported as attained the status of aquatic weeds (Naskar 1990, Gupta 2012) and many of them found in Ansupa Lake. The wetlands in India are also gradually shrinking and under severe anthropogenic pressure (Pattanaik et al. 2008; Udayakumar and Ajithadoss 2010). Regular physical visits, application of geospatial remote sensing techniques, monitoring of change in floristic composition, maintaining required depth, reducing fertilizer use in agriculture in nearby cultivation lands, creation of green coverage in surrounding barren lands can save native biota from alien species to invade many aquatic ecosystems.

REFERENCES

Ansari AA, Saggu S, Al-Ghanim SM, Abbas ZK, Gill SS, Khan FA, Dar MI, Naikoo MI, Khan AA. 2017. Aquatic plant biodiversity: A biological Indicator for the Monitoring and Assessment of Water Quality. In: Ansari AA, Gill SS, Abbas ZK, Naeem M (eds).

Plant Biodiversity: Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation. CAB International, Wallingford. Basak SK, Ali MM, Islam MS, Shaha PR. 2015. Aquatic weeds of Haor area in Kishoregonj district, Bangladesh: Availability, Threats and Management Approaches. Intl J Fish Aquat Stud 2 (6): 151-156. Bornette G, Puijalon S. 2009. Macrophytes: Ecology of Aquatic Plants. In Encyclopedia of Life Sciences (ELS). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Chichester, UK. Brundu G. 2015. Plant invaders in European and Mediterranean inland waters: profiles, distribution, and threats. Hydrobiologia 746: 61-79. Byers EJ, Cuddington K, Jones CG, Talley TS, Hastings A, Lambrinos JG, Crooks JA, Wilson WG. 2006. Using ecosystem engineers to restore ecological systems. Trends Ecol Evol 21: 493-500. Calvert G, Liessmann L. 2014. Wetland Plants of the TownsvilleBurdekin Flood Plain. Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Inc., Ayr. Campbell S, Higman P, Slaughter B, Schools E. 2010.

A field Guide to Invasive Plants of Aquatic and Wetland Habitats for Michigan. Michigan State University Extension, East Lansing, MI, USA. Chambers PA, Lacoul P, Murphy KJ, Thomaz SM. 2008. Global diversity of aquatic macrophytes in freshwater. Hydrobiologia 595: 9-26.

Impacts of invasive alien plants on water quality, with particular emphasis on South Africa. Water SA 38 (2): 345-356. Crow GE, Hellquist CB. 2000. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America. The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, WI.

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