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Community Characteristics and Coexistence of Four Medicinally Important Plants in Quercus Leucotrichophora A. Camus Forest of Central Himalaya, India.


 Background: The Quercus leucotrichophora is a keystone species in maintaining the biodiversity of several other species and provides ecosystem service to the people residing around the forest. The present study is to investigate the community characteristic and coexistence of four medicinally important plants species viz. Boenninghausenia albiflora (Hk.) Reichb. ExMeissn. Hedychium spicatum (Ham. Ex Smith), Origanum vulgare (Linn.) and Rubia manjith (Linn.) in Quercus leucotrichophora forest in different canopies at three different sites i.e. Hanumangarh, Kailakhan and Pines in the Central Himalaya.Results: In the present study, a total of 81 herbaceous species encountered in the sample, out of which 41 species showed Importance Value Index (IVI) ≥ 5. About 50% species were common in different sites whereas about 54 % species were common in different canopies. There was variation in species richness among the sites (52-67 species), whereas, amongst the canopies, species richness was higher in open canopy and least in close canopy. The co-existence between the selected four species showed a frequency distribution <60% indicating their presence as rare, seldom or often. Amongst the sites, Boenninghausenia albiflora and Origanum vulgare showed its dominance in Pines, Hedychium spicatum at Kailakhan and Rubia manjith at Hanumangarh site. The coexistence between Origanum vulgare and other three species viz. Boenninghausenia albiflora, Rubia manjith and Hedychium spicatum showed negative values, while Boenninghausenia albiflora and two other species viz. Rubia manjith, Hedychium spicatum and Rubia manjith & Hedychium spicatum showed positive coefficient of association. The chi-square in both the cases indicated the values are non-significant resulting not a strong coexistence in the Oak forest, therefore their occurrence together in the community might be by chance. Conclusion: The growth of species in different habitat and association of medicinal plants is important in identifying the suitable habitat and canopy toward future multiplication of the different species in the Himalayan region. The finding of the present study would be also helpful to develop the structure and adequate strategy & plan for conservation and management of habitats, species and communities for their sustainable utilization in different part of the world.