Diversity of Grasses from Rehekuri Sanctuary, Karjat, Dist. Ahmednagar, M.S., India

Abstract

Grasses constitute a natural homogenous group of plants belonging to the family Poaceae (Gramineae). They are economically the most important of all flowering plants because of their nutritious grains and soil-forming function and they have the most-widespread distribution and the largest number of individuals. During extensive field survey of grasses samples were a total number of 41 genera 66 different grass species have been collected, identified, described and illustrated from the Rehekuri Sanctuary, Karjat. It is found that out of 41 genera of study area, 26 have only one species each (monotypic) it is also noted that the genera which are represented in India by a single species also occur in this region. These are Achrachne racemosa and Apluda mutica. It also shows that 06 genera have two species each, 03 have 03 species each, 03 have 04 species and 01 genera have 07 species. The poaceae family showed Setaria, Aristida, Brachiaria and Eragrosti were found most dominant genera and luxuriantly grow in rainy season and cold climatic conditions. This is first time report from Rehekuri Sanctuary, Karjat of Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra