Assessment of Floristic Diversity in the Amarkantak Region, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Amarkantak, located in Anuppur District of Madhya Pradesh, is an ecologically important landscape situated at the confluence of the Vindhya and Satpura hill ranges and is renowned for its rich floral diversity. The present study aimed to document the floristic composition and diversity of the region through systematic field surveys. A total of 143 plant species representing 57 families were recorded, encompassing four major growth habits: trees, herbs, shrubs, and climbers. Trees constituted the dominant growth form with 69 species (48.25%), followed by herbs with 47 species (32.87%), shrubs with 16 species (11.19%), and climbers with 11 species (7.69%). Among the recorded families, Fabaceae was the most species-rich family, with 17 species, followed by Asteraceae and Malvaceae, with 8 species each, while Apocynaceae and Lamiaceae contributed 7 species each and Moraceae recorded 5 species. Together, these dominant families accounted for 36.36% of the total recorded flora. The predominance of tree species reflects the forested character of the landscape, while the substantial herbaceous component indicates habitat heterogeneity supporting diverse plant communities. The findings provide baseline information on the floristic diversity of Amarkantak and can support future biodiversity assessments, ecological monitoring, threat evaluation, and conservation planning. The study highlights the ecological significance of the Amarkantak landscape and emphasizes the need for continued conservation and sustainable management of its plant resources