188
D. S. Gandhi and S. Sundarapandian
Table 3 (continued)
Name of the species
Family
Abundance/30 ha Mean ± SE
Carissa spinarum L.
Apocynaceae
1
0.03 ± 0.03
Dioscorea bulbifera L.
Dioscoreaceae
1
0.03 ± 0.03
Maerua oblongifolia (Forssk.)
A.Rich.
Capparaceae
1
0.03 ± 0.03
Pisonia aculeata L.
Nyctaginaceae
1
0.03 ± 0.03
Toxocarpus kleinii W. and A.
Apocynaceae
1
0.03 ± 0.03
Alysicarpus monilifer and Amaranthus spinosus were represented by single individual and seven species viz., Acanthospermum hispidum, Agave americana, Barleria
lupulina, Blepharis boerhaviifolia, Commelina diffusa, Euphorbia thymifolia and
Hyptis suaveolens were encountered with <10 individuals.
Pterolobium hexapetalum (899 individuals) was the predominant climber species
across the study plots followed by Combretum albidum (262 individuals) and Acacia caesia (157 individuals). The top five climber species comprised 70.41% of
the total liana density across the study plots. Six species including Ampelocissus
tomentosa, Carissa spinarum, Dioscorea bulbifera, Maerua oblongifolia, Pisonia
aculeata and Toxocarpus kleinii were represented by mono individuals and three
species such as Cissampelos pareira, Jasminum angustifolium and Trichosanthes
cucumerina were represented by less than ten individuals. Alien invasive species
such as Lantana camara (100%) and Ageratum conyzoides (93%) were the most
commonly distributed and dominant species in shrub and herbaceous communities.
Another exotic invasive species Prosopis juliflora was also recorded in 43% of plots.
3.3 Importance Value Index and Family Diversity
Albizia amara was the predominant tree species with regard to IVI value across all the
30 one-hectare study plots followed by Chloroxylon swietenia and Acacia catechu
(Tables 4, 5, 6 and 7). Among shrub species, Lantana camara, Clausena heptaphylla
and Tarenna asiatica scored greater IVI values, whereas Sida cordifolia, Ageratum
conyzoides and Sida acuta were among the predominant herb species in terms of IVI
values. Pterolobium hexapetalum registered the highest IVI values among climber
species followed by Combretum albidum and Acacia caesia.
Euphorbiaceae was the most speciose plant family across the study plots represented by 17 species followed by Fabaceae and Poaceae with 13 species each
(Table 8). Plant families such as Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae were represented in
all the four life-forms studied. However, 24 families were represented by just one
species in the present study.
D. S. Gandhi and S. Sundarapandian
Table 3 (continued)
Name of the species
Family
Abundance/30 ha Mean ± SE
Carissa spinarum L.
Apocynaceae
1
0.03 ± 0.03
Dioscorea bulbifera L.
Dioscoreaceae
1
0.03 ± 0.03
Maerua oblongifolia (Forssk.)
A.Rich.
Capparaceae
1
0.03 ± 0.03
Pisonia aculeata L.
Nyctaginaceae
1
0.03 ± 0.03
Toxocarpus kleinii W. and A.
Apocynaceae
1
0.03 ± 0.03
Alysicarpus monilifer and Amaranthus spinosus were represented by single individual and seven species viz., Acanthospermum hispidum, Agave americana, Barleria
lupulina, Blepharis boerhaviifolia, Commelina diffusa, Euphorbia thymifolia and
Hyptis suaveolens were encountered with <10 individuals.
Pterolobium hexapetalum (899 individuals) was the predominant climber species
across the study plots followed by Combretum albidum (262 individuals) and Acacia caesia (157 individuals). The top five climber species comprised 70.41% of
the total liana density across the study plots. Six species including Ampelocissus
tomentosa, Carissa spinarum, Dioscorea bulbifera, Maerua oblongifolia, Pisonia
aculeata and Toxocarpus kleinii were represented by mono individuals and three
species such as Cissampelos pareira, Jasminum angustifolium and Trichosanthes
cucumerina were represented by less than ten individuals. Alien invasive species
such as Lantana camara (100%) and Ageratum conyzoides (93%) were the most
commonly distributed and dominant species in shrub and herbaceous communities.
Another exotic invasive species Prosopis juliflora was also recorded in 43% of plots.
3.3 Importance Value Index and Family Diversity
Albizia amara was the predominant tree species with regard to IVI value across all the
30 one-hectare study plots followed by Chloroxylon swietenia and Acacia catechu
(Tables 4, 5, 6 and 7). Among shrub species, Lantana camara, Clausena heptaphylla
and Tarenna asiatica scored greater IVI values, whereas Sida cordifolia, Ageratum
conyzoides and Sida acuta were among the predominant herb species in terms of IVI
values. Pterolobium hexapetalum registered the highest IVI values among climber
species followed by Combretum albidum and Acacia caesia.
Euphorbiaceae was the most speciose plant family across the study plots represented by 17 species followed by Fabaceae and Poaceae with 13 species each
(Table 8). Plant families such as Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae were represented in
all the four life-forms studied. However, 24 families were represented by just one
species in the present study.