Studies on Diversity Medico Botany And Phytochemistry Of Aquatic Plants of Khurda District of Odisha

Abstract

newlineHydrophytes are the most deserving elements for the changes of aquatic ecosystem and also can disturb water bodies by showing aggressive growth or weed like nature. They grow generally in water bodies, swamp areas, lake, pond and ditches. For their vegetative growth or reproductive system, they depend on water. The diversity of aquatic plant is an intrinsically valuable tool meant to characterize and estimate the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Studies on aquatic plant diversity have now assumed a considerable significance and efforts are being made to document diversity of these plants because due to over-invading capacity they are causing habitat loss as well as extinction of endangered and endemic flora. Due to various types of positive and negative interaction in the nature these hydrophytes are keystone species of some areas which are either beneficial or harmful for growth of other plants. On the other hand, some are quite beneficial for their multidirectionary use. They are used as fuel, for oil production, for phytoremediation, for fish food, for ornamental and especially for medicinal purpose. Besides, some of the hydrophytes have folklore claims as well as used in traditional medicines. newlineThe study area includes some selected locations of Khordha district namely Balianta, Balipatana, Jatni, Bhubaneswar, Tangi, Khorda sadara, Banapur, Begunia, Bolgarh and Chilika covering an area of 2,888 km2 is endowed naturally with a rich and diverse floristic community, though the phytodiversity has been modified over the years owing to a consistently changing environment and biotic stress challenges. Unfortunately, to date, a systematic study on the hydrophytes diversity of these areas has never been carried out to an adequate extent. This prompted the investigator to conduct an exhaustive study to document the aquatic newlineplant diversity along with its ethnic uses of this area. The outcome of the study can be used constructively in planning sustainability of the hydrophytes of the study site. The study