1.1.2 Aquatic Angiosperm Diversity in Wetlands of India
India is endowed with variety of geographical land, wide range of climatic condition,
fertile soil, tranquil spread of meadows and dense forest. Aquatic ecosystem and
terrestrial ecosystem both have their exclusive significance. The unique ecological
features that provide services to humanity as well as numerous products are wetland
ecosystem (Prasad et al. 2002). The land transition between aquatic and aquatic
ecosystem is wetland ecosystem which is considered as third amongst most productive ecosystem. In India wetland ecosystem comprises of most of the natural water
bodies in major (rivers, coastal lagoons) and artificial wetlands (ponds, lakes,
irrigated fields) (Ramsar 2013). Such areas support a broad extent of water resources
including cold, warm, brackish and marine water results in vast natural habitats with
rich in biodiversity as compare to other countries. The wetland ecosystem provides
key services such as nutrient removal, toxic retention, flood control, biodiversity
maintenance and carbon sequestration (Turner et al. 2000). Wetlands of India are
ranging from warm and arid zone of Gujarat and Rajasthan to the tropical monsoonbased regions of Central India, from warm and arid zone of Gujarat and Rajasthan to
the tropical monsoon-based regions of Central India, from cold arid zones of
Laddakh to wet Imphal. In India estimated wetlands are 4.1 million hectares
(0.44%) which includes both natural and artificial wetlands.
Aquatic angiosperm plant comprises very flexible and complex morphology
which results in numerous structural modifications than terrestrial plants. These
modifications of aquatic plants result in phenotypic variations which might have
adaptive significance. So, these plants pose challenge for taxonomist in their identification. Indian flora fluctuates from one geographical region to another so, flora is
essential tool to study plants and their utilities at various geographical areas.
However, literature on plant biodiversity in wetlands of Gujarat especially on
Baroda district of Gujarat is scarce. Though, few studies had been carried out earlier
on this aspect by Phatak and Satakopan (1956–1957) who had made extensive
studies on Harni pond with particular reference to the phenology of the Angiosperms
and Cryptogams. Thereafter in 1961, Chavan and Sabnis reported 32 species of
Cyperaceae from Baroda district and enlisted them as Amphibious hydrophytes. As
mentioned by the same authors (1960) that they found a lacuna on the data on the
ecology of the vegetation in and around running water, carried out floristic composition and seasonal changes in the vegetation along the bank of River Vishwamitri at
Baroda District. They had recorded 151 plants belonging to 45 families. More
systematic study on Hydrophytes of Savli taluka of Baroda district had undertaken
by Chavan and Padate 1962. There were 68 species reported that belonged to
53 genera and 34 families.
Dave and Krishnayya during 2000–02 assessed vegetation cover in and around
Harni pond. They noticed that changes have occurred in the overall floristic composition growing in and around Harni pond at Baroda due to the impact of anthropogenic pressure over the past 45 years. Unadkat (2017) carried out Biodiversity
study on wetlands of Vadodara district of Gujarat state. She documented a total of
15 Potential of Free Floating Macrophytes for Bioremediation of Heavy Metals. . .
311
India is endowed with variety of geographical land, wide range of climatic condition,
fertile soil, tranquil spread of meadows and dense forest. Aquatic ecosystem and
terrestrial ecosystem both have their exclusive significance. The unique ecological
features that provide services to humanity as well as numerous products are wetland
ecosystem (Prasad et al. 2002). The land transition between aquatic and aquatic
ecosystem is wetland ecosystem which is considered as third amongst most productive ecosystem. In India wetland ecosystem comprises of most of the natural water
bodies in major (rivers, coastal lagoons) and artificial wetlands (ponds, lakes,
irrigated fields) (Ramsar 2013). Such areas support a broad extent of water resources
including cold, warm, brackish and marine water results in vast natural habitats with
rich in biodiversity as compare to other countries. The wetland ecosystem provides
key services such as nutrient removal, toxic retention, flood control, biodiversity
maintenance and carbon sequestration (Turner et al. 2000). Wetlands of India are
ranging from warm and arid zone of Gujarat and Rajasthan to the tropical monsoonbased regions of Central India, from warm and arid zone of Gujarat and Rajasthan to
the tropical monsoon-based regions of Central India, from cold arid zones of
Laddakh to wet Imphal. In India estimated wetlands are 4.1 million hectares
(0.44%) which includes both natural and artificial wetlands.
Aquatic angiosperm plant comprises very flexible and complex morphology
which results in numerous structural modifications than terrestrial plants. These
modifications of aquatic plants result in phenotypic variations which might have
adaptive significance. So, these plants pose challenge for taxonomist in their identification. Indian flora fluctuates from one geographical region to another so, flora is
essential tool to study plants and their utilities at various geographical areas.
However, literature on plant biodiversity in wetlands of Gujarat especially on
Baroda district of Gujarat is scarce. Though, few studies had been carried out earlier
on this aspect by Phatak and Satakopan (1956–1957) who had made extensive
studies on Harni pond with particular reference to the phenology of the Angiosperms
and Cryptogams. Thereafter in 1961, Chavan and Sabnis reported 32 species of
Cyperaceae from Baroda district and enlisted them as Amphibious hydrophytes. As
mentioned by the same authors (1960) that they found a lacuna on the data on the
ecology of the vegetation in and around running water, carried out floristic composition and seasonal changes in the vegetation along the bank of River Vishwamitri at
Baroda District. They had recorded 151 plants belonging to 45 families. More
systematic study on Hydrophytes of Savli taluka of Baroda district had undertaken
by Chavan and Padate 1962. There were 68 species reported that belonged to
53 genera and 34 families.
Dave and Krishnayya during 2000–02 assessed vegetation cover in and around
Harni pond. They noticed that changes have occurred in the overall floristic composition growing in and around Harni pond at Baroda due to the impact of anthropogenic pressure over the past 45 years. Unadkat (2017) carried out Biodiversity
study on wetlands of Vadodara district of Gujarat state. She documented a total of
15 Potential of Free Floating Macrophytes for Bioremediation of Heavy Metals. . .
311