Floristic Diversity and Seasonal Variation of Herbaceous Species in Taxus contorta Griff. Bearing Stands of Kashmir Himalayas

The study was conducted in the Kashmir himalayan region during the year 2022 to assess the plant diversity, the species associated with Taxus contorta, aspect and seasonal variation of herbaceous species in Taxus bearing sites of the Kashmir Himalayas. A total of 9 sites were selected across the Kashmir Himalayas Viz., S1-Pahalgam (Northwest), S2-Vastoorwan (Southeast), S3-Daksum (Northeast), S4-Naranag (Northeast), S5-Ganidobh (Southwest), S6-Gund (Northeast), S7-Tangmarg (Northwest), S8-Lolab (Southeast) and S9-Gulmarg (Northwest). The purposive sampling method was employed and three quadrants of size 1m×1m were laid at each site. A total of 57 herbs species belonging to 23 families were reported with Poaceae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae, being dominant families recorded 12, 07 and 05 herb species respectively from study sites. Herb density peaked in summer at Ganidobh (S5) on the southwest aspect and was lowest in autumn at Daksum (S3) on the northeast aspect. The herbaceous density followed the trend in decending order Ganidobh > Lolab > Vastoorwan > Tangmarg > Gulmarg > Pahalgam > Gund > Naranag > Daksum. Phytolacca acinosa showed the highest IVI in spring season at S3 (23.34) and S2 (22.13) and the lowest IVI values were recorded for Polygonum heterophyllum (3.39) at S6 and Viola odorata at S9 (3.08). During the summer season, Phytolacca acinosa maintained dominance with an IVI of 27.52 at S3, while Plantago lanceolata (20.63) at S3, Cannabis sativa had notable values at S6 (19.58) and S4 (19.13). The lowest values were observed for Thymus linearis (3.57) at S9 and Myosotis arvensis (3.20) at S2. Similarly, in the autumn season, Phytolacca acinosa again recorded the highest IVI (28.34) at S3. The lowest IVI values included Daucus carota (2.21) at S2 and Festuca rubra (2.94) at S6. The IVI of herb species depends upon the density, basal area and frequency at the site. Phytolacca acinosa emerged as the dominant species exhibited the highest Importance Value Index (IVI) during spring (23.34), summer (27.52) and autumn (28.34) at Daksum (S3). Cannabis sativa dominated at Gund across all seasons, while Plantago lanceolata dominated at Gulmarg.