Central Nepal has long history in the field of botanical investigation in contrast with different parts of the nation. Nevertheless, the present study area (Manaslu Conservation Area) is still under-explored. The present floristic study was carried out with the aim of fulfilling this gap by giving particular attention on flowering plants and their documentation. Two field visits were directed in May-June 2012 and September-October 2012 in two unique seasons with a specific end goal to gather plant samples of both seasons. On the contrary, herbarium specimens were prepared and later identified at Tribhuvan University Central Herbarium (TUCH) and National Herbarium and Plant Laboratory (KATH). The present study uncovers the presence of 276 species of flowering plants belonging to 78 families and 200 genera of which 63 families belong to dicotyledons and 15 families belong to monocotyledons. Among these, 17 species (6.15%) of climbers, 178 species (64.49%) of herbs, 58 species (21.01%) of shrubs and 23 species (8.33%) of trees are found. Economically important flowering plants comprise about 156 species where 75 species are used as medicine, 29 species as fuel wood, 23 species as fodder, 29 species are edible, 6 species are for religious purpose, 5 specifically for construction purpose, 10 for ornamental and 13 species reported to have miscellaneous uses. MCA accounts to 9 flowering plant species for research and development and agro-technology development and 12 species are listed under IUCN and CAMP threatened categories. MCA and its affinity are likewise house to 10 endemic flowering plants. As from the study it can be infer red that Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA) is a treasure hub of flowering plants that not only represent its economic importance rather it is also a house to threaten and endemic flowering plants. Thus, proper management plans must be implemented for the conservation of resources in MCA.
KeywordsFlowering PlantsDocumentationEconomic Important PlantsThreatenedEndemicManaslu Conservation Area
Rajbhandari, K.R. (2002) Flora of Nepal: 200 Year’s March. In: Noshiro and Rajbhandari, Eds., Himalayan Botany in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries, The Society of Himalayan Botany, Tokyo.
Miehe, G., Pendry, C.A. and Chaudhary, R.P. (2015) Nepal: An Introduction to the Natural History, Ecology and Human Environment of the Himalayas. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
Koba, H., Akiyama, S., Endo, Y. and Ohba, H. (1994) Name List of Flowering Plants and Gymnosperms of Nepal, 1. The University Museum, University of Tokyo.
DPR (1986) Flora of Kathmandu Valley. Bulletin of Department of Medicinal Plant of Nepal. No. 11, Department of Plant Resource, Nepal.
Rajbhandari, K.R. and Dhungana, S.K. (2009) Endemic Flowering Plants of Nepal Part 1. Department of Plants Resources Bulletin-Special Publication No. 1. Department of Plant Resources, Kathmandu.
Rajbhandari, K.R. and Dhungana, S.K. (2010) Endemic Flowering Plants of Nepal Part II. Department of Plants Resources Bulletin-Special Publication No. 2. Department of Plant Resources, Kathmandu.
Rajbhandari, K.R. and Dhungana, S.K. (2011) Endemic Flowering Plants of Nepal Part III. Department of Plants Resources Bulletin-Special Publication No. 3. Department of Plant Resources, Kathmandu.
Rajbhandari, K.R. and Baral, S.R. (2010) Catalogue of Nepalese Flowering Plants I: Gymnomsperms and Monocotyledons. Government of Nepal, National Herbarium and Plant Labaoratories, Department of Plant Resources, Lalitpur.
Rajbhandari, K.R., Bhattarai, K.R. and Baral, S.R. (2011) Catalogue of Nepalese Flowering Plants II: Dicotyledons (Ranunculaceae to Dipsacaceae). Government of Nepal, National Herbarium and Plant Labaoratories, Department of Plant Resources, Lalitpur.
Rajbhandari, K.R., Bhattarai, K.R. and Baral, S.R. (2012) Catalogue of Nepalese Flowering Plants III: Dicotyledons (Compositae to Salicaceae). Government of Nepal, National Herbarium and Plant Labaoratories, Department of Plant Resources, Lalitpur.
Press, J.R., Shrestha, K.K. and Sutton, D.A. (2000) Annotated Checklist of the Flowering Plants of Nepal. The Natural History Museum, London.
Watson, M.F., Akiyama, S., Ikeda, H., Pendry, C., Rajbhandari, K.R. and Shrestha, K.K. (2011) Flora of Nepal. Vol. 3, The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, 451 p.
Kitamura, S. (1953) Fauna and Flora of Nepal Himalaya. Fauna and Flora Research Society, Kyoto University, Kyoto.
Suzuki, M. and Mikage, M. (1994) Japan-Nepal Co-Operative Botanical Expedition in Manaslu and Annapurna Himal, Central Nepal. Newsletter of Himalayan Botany, No. 16, 1-7.
Bajracharya, D.M. (1999) Status and Distribution of Orchidaceous Flora in Lower Gorkha Area of Manaslu Region. Abstract, BSC-058. In: 3th National Conference on Science and Technology: Abstracts, Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Kathmandu, 98.
Chhetri, R. (2011) Species Richness Pattern along Altitudinal Gradient in Manaslu Conservation Area, Central Nepal. M.Sc. Thesis, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.
Pandey, B. (2014) Ecological Status and Conservation of Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soó in Manaslu Conservation Area, Central Nepal. MSc Thesis, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.
KMTNC (1998) Project Proposal for Manaslu Conservation Area. King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, Lalitpur.
NTNC (2009) Profile Layout National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC): Project Proposal for Manaslu Conservation Area. National Trust for Nature Conservation, Lalitpur.
DNPWC (2010) Annual Report 2009-10. Government of Nepal, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), Kathmandu.
NTNC-MCAP (2013) Five-Year Management Plan of Manaslu Conservaion Area. Manaslu Conservation Area Project. National Trust for Nature Conservation, Lalitpur.
Korner, C. (2003) Alpine Plant Life: Functional Plant Ecology of High Mountain Ecosystems. Springer, Berlin. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18970-8
Negi, S.S. (1994) Forests and Forestry in Nepal. Ashish Publishing House, New Delhi.
Mani, M.S. (1978) Ecology and Phytogeography of High Altitude Plants of the Northwest Himalaya: Introduction to High Altitude Botany. IBH Publishing Co., New Delhi.
Polunin, O. and Stainton, A. (1984) Flowers of the Himalaya. Oxford University Press, Delhi.
Stainton, A. (1997) Flowers of the Himalaya: A Supplement. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
Hara, H. and Williams, L.H.J. (1979) An Enumeration of the Flowering Plants of Nepal. Vol. 2, British Museum (Natural History), London.
Hara, H., Chater, A.O. and Williams, L.H.J. (1982) An Enumeration of the Flowering Plants of Nepal. Vol. 3, British Museum (Natural History), London.
Hara, H., Stearn, W.T. and Williams, L.H.J. (1978) An Enumeration of the Flowering Plants of Nepal. Vol. 1, British Museum (Natural History), London.
Bhattarai, N.K. (1992) Medical Ethnobotany in Karnali Zone, Nepal. Economic Botany, 46, 257-261. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02866624
Balami, N.P. (2004) Ethnomedicinal Uses of Plants among the Newar Community of Pharping Village of Kathmandu District, Nepal. Tribhuvan University Journal, 24. https://doi.org/10.3126/tuj.v24i1.251
Amatya, K.R. and Amatya, G. (1995) Medicinal Plants in Gorkha District. In: Yadav, S.K. and Stoian, D., Eds., Proceedings of the Seminar on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Gorkha District: How to Promote Their Utilization and Marketing, District Forest Office Gorkha, Gorkha, 17-24.
Baral, S.R. and Kurmi, P.P. (2006) A Compendium of Medicinal Plants in Nepal. Mrs Rachana Sharma, Kathmandu.
Kunwar, R.M., Nepal, B.K., Kshhetri, H.B., Rai, S.K. and Bussmann, R.W. (2006) Ethnomedicinein Himalaya: A Case Study from Dolpa, Humla, Jumla and Mustangdistricts of Nepal. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2, 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-2-27
Rokaya, M.B., Münzbergová, Z. and Timsina, B. (2010) Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants from the Humla District of Western Nepal. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 130, 485-504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2010.05.036
Shrestha, S. (2012) Useful Woody Plants of the Manaslu Conservation Area of Nepal. ITS, Miami University, Oxford.
DPR (2012) Plants of Nepal: Fact Sheet. Government of Nepal. Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Department of Plant Resource, Kathmandu.
Shrestha, T.B. and Joshi, R.M. (1996) Rare, Endemic and Endangered Plants of Nepal. WWF Nepal Program, Kathmandu.
Rajbhandari, K.R., Rai, S. and Bhatt, G.D. (2016) Endemic Flowering Plants of Nepal: An Update. Bulletin of Department of Plant Resource, 38, 106-144.
Egan, P.A. (2011) Mecanopsis autumnalis and M. manasluensis (Papaveraceae), Two New Species of Himalayan Poppy Endemic to Central Nepal with Sympatric Congeners. Phytotaxa, 20, 47-56. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.20.1.4
Chhetri, R. and Bhattarai, P. (2013) Floristic Composition and Diversity in Upper Manaslu Conservation Area, Central Nepal. Asian Journal of Conservation Biology, 2, 111-121.
Thakali, A. (2013) Elevational Species Richness Pattern in Manaslu Conservation Area, Central Nepal. MSc Thesis, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.
Sapkota, S. (2013) Flowering Plants of Nubri Valley, Manaslu Conservation Area, Gorkha District, Nepal. MSc Thesis, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.
ICBLCC (2010) Distribution Pattern of Senecio L. (Senecioneae: Asteraceae) in Nepal Himalaya. Kathmandu.
Vetaas, O.R. (1997) The Effect of Canopy Disturbance on Species Richness in a Central Himalayan Oak Forest. Plant Ecology, 132, 29-38. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009751219823
Shrestha, K.K., Tiwari, N.N. and Ghimire, S.K. (2000) MAPDON-Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Database of Nepal. In: Proceedings of Nepal-Japan Symposium on Conservation and Utilization of Himalayan Medicinal Resources, Department of Plant Resources, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Government of Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal and Society for the Conservation and Development of Himalayan Medicinal Resources (SCDHMR), Tokyo, 53-74.
Malla, B. and Chhetri, R.B. (2012) Indigenous Knowledge on Medicinal Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) in Parbat District of Nepal. Indo Global Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2, 213-225.
Edwards, D.M. (1996) Non-Timber Forest Products from Nepal: Aspects of the Trade in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. FORESC Monograph No. 1/96, Forest Research and Survey Centre, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Kathmandu.
Olsen, C.S. (1998) The Trade in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants from Central Nepal to Northern India. Economic Botany, 52, 279-292. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02862147
Olsen, C.S. (1996) Medicinal Plants, Markets and Margins: Implications for Development in Nepal Himalaya. Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (RVAU), Copenhagen.
Kunwar, R.M. and Duwadee, N.P.S. (2003) Ethnobotanical Notes on Flora of Khaptad National Park (KNP), Far-Western Nepal. Himalayan Journal of Sciences, 1, 25-30. https://doi.org/10.3126/hjs.v1i1.182
Malla, B. and Chhetri, R.B. (2009) Indigenous Knowledge on Ethnobotanical Plants of Kavrepalanchowk District. Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology, 5, 96-109.
Muller-Boker, U. (1990) The Over-Exploitation of Natural Resources in Gorkha: Social and Economic Causes. Contribution to Nepalese Studies, 17, 75-80.