Plant Diversity of the Baraiyadhala National Park in Chattogram, Bangladesh

Abstract

The floristic diversity was carried out from the selected trails while studying wildlife at the Baraiyadhala National Park of Chattogram in Bangladesh from August 2012 to July 2013 and June to October 2017. In total 267 species of plants (Bryophytes three, Pteridophytes 15, Gymnosperm one, Dicotyledons 200 and Monocotyledons 48) belonging to 186 genera and 80 families were recorded, which included 102 (38.20%) species of trees, 84 (31.46%) shrubs, 66 (24.71%) herbs and 15 (5.61%) species of climbers. Overall, Euphorbiaceae (dicotyledon) constituted the largest family in the study area having 12 genera and 18 species, while Cyperaceae (monocotyledon) was the second largest family represented by four genera and 11 species. The single gymnosperm species was Cycas pectinata Griff. (Assam cycas) under Cycadaceae family that naturally grows there. Most of the recorded plants were terrestrial while the others were aquatic or swampy. Among the plants, 210 (78.66%) species were native, of which 152 were Native (wild), 40 Native (wild & cultivated) and 18 Native (cultivated), and the remaining 57 (21.34%) alien species. Of the alien species seven were Alien (wild), ten Alien (wild and cultivated), four Alien (invasive) and 36 Alien (cultivated). Of the 267-plant species, the highest number was medicinally followed by 41 edible, 31 timber, 13 fuel wood and ornamental, 13 fodder, seven ornamental, six species used for domestic purposes and fodder, five edible and medicinal, three vegetables, two vegetables and medicinal, two edible and timber, two timber and leaf, two ornamental and medicinal, one chemical indicator, one ornamental and timber, and the use of 17 rest species was unknown.