Diversity and use values of wild plant resources in Pragati Estates, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

INTRODUCTION

Intensive floristic explorations resulting in documentation of floristic wealth in terms of field observations, photographs and herbarium is of immense significance in assessing the floristic wealth of a particular area. Management actions, planning strategies, and biodiversity conservation are efficient and effective only with an in-depth knowledge of how many and which taxa constitute the floristic richness of a territory [1]. Biodiversity documentation at the micro level is important for a biodiversity register for future monitoring and conservation. Biodiversity is highly significant in securing different fundamental human needs [2]. Wild edible plants (WEP) provide staple food for indigenous people, serve as complementary food for non-indigenous people and offer an alternative source of cash income [3].

 Documenting flora at the micro level (10-25 sq. km) provides critical baseline data for mapping of distribution for understanding ecosystems at multiple scales. Documenting the floristic wealth along their use values stimulates the economic sector and also for bioprospecting genetic resources [4].  Pragati Estates is a typical representative of deccan plateau ecosystem falling in Greater Hyderabad, supporting a great diversity of herbaceous species with medicinal value. Till date, no comprehensive floristic work has been done on the study area except [5] which documented 382 medicinal plants covering 240 wild species. The present study was intended to document the complete floristic wealth of the Pragati estates along with documented use values in the literature pertaining and relevant to the study area.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area

Pragati Estates, situated near Proddatur Village in the Ranga Reddy district of Telangana, is the study area. Three locations in the study area are: Site -I (Green Meadows), spanning 1000 acres, located at 17^o232^΄173^՛՛ N and 78^o 102^΄523^՛՛ E; Site -II (Green Heights), spanning 700 acres, situated at 17^o 222^΄ 433^՛՛ N and 78^o 112^΄ 053^՛՛ E; and Site -III (Green Valley), spanning 800 acres, positioned at 17^o 222^΄ 063^՛՛ N and 78^o 132^΄ 243^՛՛ E. (Fig. 1). The soil in the region is predominately red and the area experiences a tropical, semi-arid climate with average daily temperatures ranging from 26 to 38°C and an average annual rainfall of 833 mm. Diversified habitats in the study area include moist, aquatic, sandy and rocky areas.  

Explorations, Herbarium & Identification

Field explorations were held for a period of two years (2022-2024). Representative specimens of 360 species were collected, and made into a herbarium following standard methods and identified using relevant references [6,7,8]. The specimens were deposited in Sri Krishnadevaraya University Herbarium (SKU), Ananthapuramu. GPS photographs were recorded for 120 species as they are very common throughout. Families were updated following [9]. The nomenclature was updated according to [10] and species under different threat categories were identified following [11]. Endemic species were evaluated following [12, 13].  The use values of the plants have been documented following [14, 15, 16]. All the species encountered in the study area are tabulated with their habit form and their use values.

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

A total of 485 wild angiosperm species were documented from the study area which comprise 61 tree species, 32 shrubs, 58 climbers, herbs 333 and one parasite Dendrophthoe falcata (L.f.) Ettingsh (Table 1). The study area despite of its 0.001% geographical area of the Telangana state, it covers 21.82% plant taxa of the state [7]. These 485 species belong to 80 families and 303 genera. The largest family is Poaceae (81 species) followed by Fabaceae (79), Asteraceae (30), Malvaceae (24), Convolvulaceae (16), Euphorbiaceae (16), Lamiaceae, Cyperaceae (15 each), Acanthaceae and Apocynaceae (14 each). Dominant genus is Cyperus (11 species), followed by Ipomoea (9), Alysicarpus, Crotalaria, Indigofera (8 each), Eragrostis, Euphorbia, Phyllanthus, Sporobolus (6 each), and Cleome (5). Endemic and threatened plants are Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari (Burseraceae) a critically endangered species, and Chloroxylon swietenia DC. (Rutaceae) a vulnerable species (IUCN, 2025) Acalypha malabarica Mull.Arg. (Euphorbiaceae), Alysicarpus hamosus Edgew (Fabaceae), Crotalaria pusilla Roxb. ex Roth (Fabaceae), Cyanotis fasciculata (B. Heyne ex Roth) Schult. & Schult.f. (Commelinaceae), Leucas lavandulifolia Sm. (Lamiaceae), Cleome felina L.f. (Cleomaceae) etc.. Three species found interesting while exploring and they have been collected, made into herbaria and identified as Erigeron canadensis L. (Asteraceae), Erigeron sumatrensis Retz. (Asteraceae), Stemodia verticillata (Mill.) Hassl.(Plantaginaceae) are new records to the flora of Telangana state.

Among 485 taxa, 362 species (74.63%) are having medicinal values, 20 edible plants along with medicinal uses (4.12%), 103 species (21.23%) have fibre, ornamental, forage and other miscellaneous uses. Significant medicinal plants include Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. (Plantaginaceae), Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br. ex Sm. (Apocynaceae), Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC. (Oxalidaceae) Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. & Thomson (Menispermaceae), Plumbago zeylanica L. (Plumbaginaceae) etc. Edible plants include Annona squamosa L. (Annonaceae), Carissa spinarum L. (Apocynaceae), and Canthium coromandelicum (Burm.f.) Alston (Rubiaceae), Ziziphus oenopolia (L.) Mill. (Rhamnaceae) etc. Aquatic plants found in this area are Lemna perpusilla Torr. (Araceae), Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers. (Alismataceae). Some of the significant grasses are Oropetium thomaeum (L.f.) Trin., Lophopogon tridentatus (Roxb.) Hack., Bothriochloa glabra (Roxb.) A. Camus, Imperata cylindrica (L,) Raeusch., Microchloa indica (L.f.) P. Beauv, etc. In the grass-dominated areas, Heteropogon contortus (L.) P.Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult., Aristida hystrix L.f., Urochloa ramosa (L.) T.Q.Nguyen, Tragus mongolorum Ohwi are common. The most dominant herbaceous plants are Sida acuta Burm.f. (Malvaceae), Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze (Lamiaceae), Stylosanthes fruticosa (Retz.) Alston (Fabaceae), Tridax procumbens L. (Asteraceae), Boerhavia erecta L. (Nyctaginaceae), etc. Significant geophytes found in the area are Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. (Hypoxidaceae), Ledebouria hyacinthina Roth (Asparagaceae), Drimia indica (Roxb.) Jessop (Asparagaceae).

            The study area has rich floristic wealth accounting 21.82% of the Telangana state flora, although represent a meagre 0.001% geographic area of the state. This particular geographical area with wide array of habitats is one of the factors for rich biodiversity. Dominance of grasslands indicate that the area experiences periodic drought and having highly fertile soils, which supports rich biodiversity. Dominance of herbs is due to diversified habitats. Among 479 taxa 74.63% are with significant medicinal values and it is the need of the hour to conserve this diversity. Wild plants edible and medical value especially of weeds are accessible to local residents. Significant therapeutic properties of the wild plants documented from this study are used to cure Arthritis, Diabetes, Cancer, Hypertension, Rheumatism, Tuberculosis, Antidote for snake bite etc.

CONCLUSION

            Floristic documentationat the micro level provides deep insights in understanding the biodiversity. This baseline assessment of flora in the study area will be useful for future monitoring of plant resources. The study area is offering great ecosystem services by virtue of greater diversity in a smaller area and this documented work will be of great help to study the floristic wealth of the neighborhood as well the add species distribution pattern to the state flora. Regular monitoring is necessary for the sustainable use of biodiversity and wild plants are affordable for many people in rural and tribal areas, in terms of food or medicine, an may impact the economic sector at rural level.

Acknowledgement

Thanks to the authorities of Pragati Green Meadows and Resorts Private Ltd., Hyderabad for funding the research project. We are grateful to Sri Ajay Chandra, Managing Director and his team, who supported time to time for the effective completion of the study.

Author contribution

            First and Senior author contributed for the collections and identification. All the other authors contributed their knowledge on the flora.

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