Enumeration of Plant Species Inhabiting Oil Palm Trees (Elaeis-guineensis) at Zawlpui Plantation Site, Serchhip District, Mizoram

Abstract

A survey of plant species inhabiting oil palm trees was conducted in Zawlpui area of Serchhip district, Mizoram. The study area is a tropical potent agriculture zone, wherein small-scale business of Elaeis guineensis plantation is carried out by several farmers mainly within the gentle sloppy terrain. Oil palm with a rough bark harbors immense inhabitation by a variety plants, that rooted mostly on the debris at leaf base. Species diversity on the plant stem supposedly encourage insects and termites to establish herewith, thus causing harming to the tree. The sample stands within 400 m–800 m altitude were picked randomly. A total of 50 palm tree were accounted and all associated plants on the stem above 30 cm from the ground are all recorded. Species that cannot be identified on the site were pressed and observed at Botany Research lab, Pachhunga University College. The survey documented 38 vascular plant species which include 4 epiphytes and 1 non-vascular species of lichen, 1 bryophyte and 4 fungal species at that time. Invasive Peperomia pellucida and epiphytic pteridophytes Nephrolepis biserrata was found in most of the stand sample; however, Peperomia population decreases with the increasing elevation. Dynamics of inhabitant species diversity also correlate to location of tree. The study also established that diversity of inhabiting species was comparatively high on parts of the stem facing sunlight.