DIVERSITY OF GRASSES IN NIMAR REGION, MADHYA PRADESH

DIVERSITY OF GRASSES IN NIMAR REGION, MADHYA PRADESH *Ray S. and Sainkhediya J. Department of Botany, PMB Gujarati Science College, Indore, M. P. *Author for Correspondence ABSTRACT The Nimar region is situated in the south western part of Madhya Pradesh. Present study report 96 genera and178 species of grasses belong to family Poaceae and cyperaceae. The genus Cyperus (24) is the dominant genus. It is followed by Eragostis (12) and Digitaria (6). The study area has a rich species diversity of grasses. Present study observes some wild economically important grasses which are Brachiaria reptans (L.) Gard. & Hubb., Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.)Wats., Echinochloa colonum (L) Link., Eleusine coracana(l) Gaerln. Fimbristylis bisumbellata (Forssk.)Bubani, Oryza rufipogon Griff., Pennesetum pedicelatum Trin., Phragmites karka (Retz.) trin ex. Steud., Rottboellia exaltata L.F., Sporobolus capillaries Miq., Sorghum halepense (L) Kuntz., Thelepogon elegans Roth ex. Room, Urochloa panicoides P. Vetiveria zizanoides (L) Nash. Key Words: Nimar Region, Species Diversity, Economically Important Grasses INTRODUCTION Nimar region is located at the southern western part of Madhya Pradesh. There are 4 district in Nimar region namely West Nimar (Khargone), East Nimar (Khandwa), Burhanpur, and Barwani. It lies on 21º35-22º76 N Latitude and 74º25-76º14 E Longitudes. Topographically study area is situated centrally in Northern part covered with Vindhyan Scabs and in Southern part with Satpura hill ranges. The Satpura in East Nimar bifurcated into two parallel ridges on either side of Tapti valley. The northern part of Satpura extends up to eastern part of Harsud and more or less along the boundary between Khandawa and Burhanpur. The hill ranges of Asirgarh hill extends up to Western Ghats in the West Kalibith hill ranges cover extremely in eastern part of Nimar region. Satpura plateau covers two third part of the south-western part of Nimar, Bhikangoan, Sendhawa, Jhirniya, Torunmal come under Satpura hill ranges. Major part of Barwah, Khargone, and Khandwa occurs in Narmada valley (Sainkhediya and Ray, 2012). Narmada, Tapti, Kunda, Chhota-Tawa, Machak, Abna, Veda is the major river flowing in the area phytogeographically the study area is near to Gujarat state and bordering Maharashtra. The aridity and dryness of the climate, different topography of the area i. e. Junction of Vindhyan and Satpura hill ranges and great river Narmada provides a favourable ground for the varied ecological habitats with overlapping vegetation pattern and different floral elements. Nagalwadi, Pipaljhopa, Kalibith, Torunmal, Asirgarh, Sendhawa, Barwani has a rich pocket of vegetation and dense forest. MATERIALS AND METHODS Field survey was carried out in different Target sites such as Asirgarh, Anjad, Balwada, Bhikangaown, Bhagawanpura, Bistan, Barud, Bawangaja, Bokrata, Jhirniya, Khargone, Kalibith, Katkut, Maheshawar, Mandleshawar, Omkareshawar, Thikari, Rajpur, Segawoan and Sendhawa. Standard methods have been followed for plant collection and preparation of herbarium (Jain & Rao, 1977). Plants have been identified with the help of the flora (Mudgal, Khanna and Hajara, (1977); Singh Dixith and Khanna, (2001); Sinha and Shukla, (2004); Sinha and Shukla, (2007); Roy, (1984); Patunkar, (1980); Hains, (1924); Bor, (1960). All habitats of the study area were surveyed carefully. Some plant specimens were confirmed from Botanical survey of India, central circle Allahabad. 144

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Present study report 96 genera and 179 species grasses whichbelong to Poaceae and cyperaceae (Table1). Table 1: Grass diversity of Nimar region S. No. Botanical Name Family Vernacular Name Locality Status Uses 1 Alloteropsis cimicina (L.) Stapf. P Ghangru Oon NT 2 Andropogon pumilus Roxb. P Lani gawat Segawoan NT 3 Apluda mutica L. P Ponia Barud C 4 Arachne racemosa P Baru Bagwanpura C 5 Aristida adscensionis L. P Lupadio Bagiyapur C 6 Aristida funiculata Trin & Rupf. P Burane Bistan C 7 Aristida radacta Stapf. P Lampdo Pipaljopha Rare & Soil binder 8 Arthraxon hispidus (Thenb.) P Machario Sirvel Rare Mal. C. 9 Arthraxon lancifolius P Baric Bijagarh Rare (Roxb.)Hochst machario 10 Arthraxon quartinianus (A. P Panclie Kelie C Rich.) Nash. 11 Arundo donax L. P Nalani Nagalwadi C Thatching, Paper making 12 Avena sativa L. P Daniyo Rajpur Cul. Horse food, Cultivated, 13 Bothriochloa glabra (Roxb.) A. P Phoptai Anjad Rare Camus 14 Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A. Camus P Bhalka Thikari C Hey & lawn grass 15 Brachiaria eruciformis (Sm.) P Chundi Badwani C Griseb. 16 Brachiaria ramosa (L.) Stapf. P Popti Bokrata Rare 17 Brachiaria reptans (L.) Gard. & Hubb. P Dangio Bawangaja C Grain is eaten 18 Bulbostylis barbata (Rottb.) CB Clarke C Dongliyo Khargone C 19 Capillipedium hugelii P Morphakdia Badwah Rare (Hack.)Stapf. 20 Capillipedium parviflorum R. Br. P Morphakdia Sanawad Rare 21 Cenchurus cilliaris L. P Damniyo Mortaka Rare 22 Chionachne koengii (Spreng.) P Nani kaha Balwada Rare Thwaites. 23 Chloris barbata Sw. P Kadi sukali Rosiya Rare 24 Chloris dilichostachya Lagasca P Aranio Khandwa C 25 Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz.) Trin. P Gorio Deshgawoan C Making brooms, 145

26 Chrysopogon fulvus (Spreng.) Chiov. P Khad Bhikangawoan C 27 Coix gigantea Koenig ex. Roxb. P Kasaiyo Aashpur C 28 Coix-lacryma Jobi L. P Jargadi Rustampur C Tonic, 29 Coix aquatica Roxb. P Jaswadi C 30 Crypsis Schoenoides (L.) Lam. P Gangridio Naghun Rare 31 Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats. P Rosha Jaswadi C Economicall y 32 Cynodon barberi Range & Tad. P Duwat Asirgarh Rare Religious, 33 Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. P Duwato Burghanpur C Religious, 34 Cyperus compressus L. C Nepanagar C 35 Cyperus exaltatus Retz. C Chichoda Chandgarh C Medicinal 36 Cyperus elatus L. C khandwa C 37 Cyperus alopecuroides Rottb. C Dangio Pandhana C Making bandal 38 Cyperus alutatus Kern C Chadiyo Harsud C 39 Cyperus brevifolius C Dangiyo Pansemal C Mats making (Rottb.)Hassk. 40 Cyperus corymbosus Rottb. C Donglie Niwali Rare Making mats 41 Cyperus difformis L. C Cahdiyo Torunmal C Good soil binder 42 Cyperus eleusinoides Var. nutans(kuntz.) Haines. C Barwani C Good soil binder 43 Cyperus esculentus L. C Maheshawar Rare 44 Cyperus flavidus C. B. Clarke C Kasurio Mandleshawar C for cattle 45 Cyperus halpan L. C Gunchi Kasrawad C Snakebite, wall making in villages 46 Cyperus exaltatus var. dives C Mandleshawar C (Del.) C. B. A. 47 Cyperus imbricatus Retz. C Khalghat Rare 48 Cyperus iria auct. non. L. C Agarmotha Bediya C Medicinal 49 Cyperus laevigatus L. C Jhirnia Rare 50 Cyperus nutans var. nutans Vahl. C Motha Gotiya Rare Root astringe paste in sun stroke 51 Cyperus niveus Retz. C Barwani C 52 Cyperus pumilus L. C Sapatiyto Kurampura C Making hats & Mats 53 Cyperus michelianus (L.)Delile C Sapatiyto Maheshawar C Making hats & Mats 54 Cyperus rotandus L. C Nagarmoth Kasrawad C Religious, Bodywashing 146

55 Cyperus squarrosus L. C Nagarmoth Kasrawad C 56 Cyperus schoenoides C Sangvi Rare 57 Cyperus triceps Endl. C Tipodio Palsud C Medicinal 58 Dactyloctenium aegyptinum (L.) P Manchi Ommkareswar Rare P. B. eauv. 59 Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.)Willd. P Vaslo Gotiya C Religious, Trade, House making, P Was Oon C Making roof 60 Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Ness. 61 Desmostachya bi pinnata (L.) P Daab Thikari C Medicine, Stapf. 62 Dichanthium annulatum P Zinzvo Khargone C (Forssk.) Stapf. 63 Dichanthium aristatum (Poir.) P Mavliyo Katkut C Hubb. 64 Dichanthium bicornis P Karad Balwada Rare 65 Dichanthium caricosum (L.) A. P Felayelo Rosiya Rare Can. 66 Dichanthium kuntzeana (Hack.) P Nepanagar Rare Jain & Desh. 67 Dichanthium maccanii Batt. P Daniya Bijagarh EN marvel 68 Dichanthium pertusum (L.) W. P Marbeli Khirkiya C D. Clayton 69 Dichanthium setigera P Diwani C 70 Digitaria abludens (Roem & P Aar Chandgharh Rare Schult.)Veldk. 71 Digitaria bicornis (Lam.) Roem P Harkalio Bistan C & Schult. ex. Loud. 72 Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.)Keeler. P Ario Pipaljopha C 73 Digitaria longiflora (Retz.) Pers. P Sirvel Rare 74 Digitaria setigera Roth ex. Roem P Torunmal Rare & Schult. 75 Digitaria stricta Roth ex. Roem P Tipayo Katkut C Grass for & Schult. Hey 76 Dimeria ornithopoda Trin. P Suwaliyo Bokrata C 77 Dinebra retroflexa(vahl.)panz. P Khariyo Oon C 78 Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link. P Sawank Nagalwadi C Grain eaten in scarcity 79 Echinochloa stagnina (Retz.) P. 80 Eleocharis atropurpurea (Retz.) J. Presal & K. Presl. 81 Eleocharis dulcis (Burm. f.) Hensch. P Oon C c Poenio Segawoan C Soil binder c Bhadrasio Kasrawad C Tuber is edible 147

82 Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaerln. P Bawangaja Rare Grain is eaten 83 Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. P Pandhari Bhagwanpura C Soil binder 84 Elyonurus royleanus Ness ex A. P Mortaka Rare Rich. 85 Elytrophorus spicatus (Willd.) A. P Khandwa C Camus. 86 Eragrostiella bifaria (Vahl.) Bor. P Bhumsi Jhirniya C 87 Eragrostiella brachyphylla P Omkaresawar C (Stapf.) Bor. 88 Eragrostis nutans (Retz.) Nees P Anjad Rare ex. Steud. 89 Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) P Changarh C Trin ex. Steud. 90 Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) P Bhumasiyo Bijagharh C Vegnolo-Letati. ex F. T. Hubb. 91 Eragrostis cilliaris var. cilliaris P Murmuri Ghotiya C R. Br. 92 Eragrostis gangetica (Roxb.) P Punjaro Jhirnia C Medicine Steud. 93 Eragrostis japonica (Thumb.) P Bairi ko Kasrawad Rare Trin. padiyo 94 Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P Futliyo Khalghat Rare 95 Eragrostis tremula (Lam.) P Chirio Sirvel Rare Hochst. Mahadev 96 Eragrostis tenella (L.) P. Beav. P Burbhusi Mahesawar Rare Grain is edible 97 Eragrostis unioloides (Retz.) P Suwalio Mandleshawar C Nees ex. Steud. 98 Eragrostis viscosa (Retz.) Trin. P Bhumsi Nagalwadi Rare 99 Eragrostis zeylanica Ness. P Rosiya Rare &Meyen. 100 Eremopogon faveolatus (Delile) Stapf. P Suraliyo Nepanagrr C Good grass 101 Eriophorum comosum (Wall.) C Bhabhar Chandgarh Rare Cordage Wall. 102 Eulaliopsis binata (Retz.) Hubb. P Sendhwa C 103 Eulallia trispicata (Sehult.) P Kalibith C Henr. 104 Fimbristylis aestivalis (Retz.) c Argirio Thikri Rare Vahl. 105 Fimbristylis bisumbellata c Toplio Oon C Making (Forssk.)Bubani 106 Fimbristylis dichotoma auct. non. Vahl. 107 Fimbristylis ferruginea (L.) Vahl. baskets c Punkeshiyo Segawaon C rhizome is used in ringworm c Barud Rare Root is used to kill lice 148

108 Fimbristylis litloralis Gaud. c Bargirio Bhagwanpura C 109 Fimbristylis milliacea (L.) Vahl. c Bistan Rare Seed edible 110 Fuirena ciliaris (L.) Roxb. c Band kobi Pipaljopha C 111 Hemarthria compressa (L. f.)r. P Sirvel C Br. 112 Heteropogon contortus (L.) P. P Kusaliyo Torunmal C Cordage, Tonic, Fever, 113 Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. P Phalange Katkut C 114 Isachne globosa (Thunb.) P Bokrata C Kuntze. 115 Ischaemum indicum (Houtt.) P Nagalwadi C Merr. 116 Ischaemum pilosum (Klein ex. Willd.) Wight. P Kundaliyo Bijagarh C Packing 117 Ischaemum rugosum salisb. P Khundho Oon C Soil binder 118 Iseilema laxum Hack. P Musan Segawoan C 119 Juncellus pygmaeus C. B. Clarke c Bawangaja C 120 Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb. c Bhagwanpura C 121 Leptochloa panicea (Retz.) P Jhirio Mortaka Rare Ohwi. 122 Lophopogon tridentatus P Khandawa Rare (Roxb.)Hack. 123 Melanocenelris jacquemontii P Pulsario Jhirniya C Jaub. & Spach. 124 Meriscus squarrosus C. B. c Omkaresawar C Clarke 125 Microchloa indica (Linn. f.)p. P Anjad Rare 126 Mnesithea granularis (L.) Koing P Suwaliyo Sirvel Rare Thatching & Sosef. 127 Ophioros exaltatus (L.) Kuntze. P Lahi Katkut C 128 Ophismenus burmannii (Retz.)P. P Bokrata C Beuv. 129 Oplismenus compositus (L.) P Nagalwadi C 130 Oropetium roxburghianum (Steud.) SM. Phillis P Triyo Bijagarh NT Lawn grass, Mat making 131 Oropetium villosulum Stapf. ex. Bor. P Oon Rare Grain eaten,, 132 Oryza rufipogon Griff. P Bhat ka Segawoan C chokha 133 Panicum walens Mez. P Barwani C 134 Panicum antidotale Retz. P Chinari Oon Rare 135 Panicum brevifolium L. P Aru Segawoan Vul. 136 Panicum deccanense Naik & Patunkar P Bagwanpura C 149

137 Parahyparrhenia bellariensis P Bagiyapur Rare (Hack.)WD 138 Paspalidum flavidum (Retz.) A. Camus P NanoSamo Bistan C 139 Paspalidum geminatum (Forssk.) Stapf P Pipaljopha C Child birth, 140 Paspalum scrobiculatum L. P Sirvel Cul. 141 Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin P Lal pundaliyo Bijagarh Rare 142 Pennisetum orintale (Rich.)Willd. P Kelie Rare Edible grain, 143 Pennisetum typoide Rich P Bajajro Nagalwadi Cul. 144 Perotis indica (L.) Kuntze P Rajpur C 145 Phalaris minor Retz. P Chirio Anjad Rare Mats, 146 Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin ex. Steud. P Narkul Thikari Rare Baskets 147 Pogonatherum paniceum (Lam.)Hack. P Badwani C Grazed by cattle 148 Polypogon monospeliensis (L.) P Kaalio Bokrata C Desf. 149 Pseudanthistiria hispida Hook F. P Bawangaja Rare 150 Pycreus sanguinolentus Nees. c Khargone C 151 Rikliella squarrosa. Raynal. c Badwah C 152 Rottboellia exaltata L. F. P Katkut Rare Paper-pulp, Soil binder 153 Saccharum spontaneum L. P Shatto Sanawad C 154 Schizachyrium brevifolium P Mortaka C (Sw.)Nees. 155 Schoene feldia graciliss Kunth P Balwada Rare 156 Schoenoplectus articulatus c Rosiya C 157 Schoenoplectus corymbosus c Khjandwa Rare (Roth. ex. Roem &Schult.)Rajnal 158 Schoenoplectus lateriflorus (J. F. Gmelin)Tye c Deshgawoan Rare Seed paste is used for washing hairs 159 Scleria tessellate acut. non. Willd. C Daniyo Bhikangawoan Rare 160 Sehima nervosum (Rottl.) Stapf. P Pawaniyo Aashpur C 161 Setaria intermedia Roem & P Cipkianio Rustampur Rare Schult. 162 Setaria verticillata (L.) P. Beuv. P Lapti Oon C 163 Sorghum controversum (Steud.)Snowden P Segawoan Rare House making, 164 Sorghum halepense (L.) Kuntz. P Baru Barud C 165 Spodiopogon rhizophorus (Steud.) Pilger. P Bagwanpura Rare Packing, 150

167 Sporobolus capillaries Miq. P Bagiyapur C Packing, 168 Sporobolus tenuissimus P Machario Sendwa C (schrank) kuntze 169 Sporobolus coromandelianus P Chinari Bistan Rare (Retz.) Kuntz. 170 Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br. P Machario Pipaljopha Rare 171 Tetrapogon tenellus (Roxb.) P Farodi Sirvel Rare Chiov. 172 Thelepogon elegans Roth ex. P Suklo Oon Rare Thatching Roem & Schult. 173 Themeda laxa (Anderess) A. P Fumta Segawoan Rare Camus 174 Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.) P Barud C Kuntze. 175 Tragus roxburghii Panigrahi P Bagwanpura C Soil binder 176 Tripogon Jacquemontii Stapf. P Tintagyo Bagiyapur C 177 Tripogon lisboae Stapf. P Bistan Rare 178 Urochloa panicoides P. P Pipaljopha C, grain is eaten 179 Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash. P Kush Sirvel C Medicinally P=Poaceae, C=Cyperaceae, Cul. =Cultivated, C. =Common, EN. =Endemic, NT. =Notthreatened, CR=Critically rare Some grasses are directly or indirectly related to uplift men of economy of local people these grasses are Brachiaria reptans (L.) Gard. & Hubb., Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats., Cyperus michelianus (L.)Delile, Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link., Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaerln., Fimbristylis bisumbellata (Forssk.)Bubani, Oropetium villosulum Stapf. ex. Bor., Rottboellia exaltata L.F., Sporobolus capillaries Miq., Thelepogon elegans Roth ex. Roem & Schult., Urochloa panicoides P., Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash. Present study reveals that some grasses have lost their existence in the area due to anthropogenic influences habitat change, megaproject, BT cotton cultivations. Aristida radacta Stapf., Arthraxon hispidus (Thenb.) Mal. C., Arthraxon lancifolius (Roxb.)Hochst., Bothriochloa glabra (Roxb.) A. Camus., Brachiaria ramosa (L.) Stapf., Capillipedium hugelii (Hack.)Stapf., Capillipedium parviflorum R. Br., Cenchurus cilliaris L., Chionachne koengii (Spreng.) Thwaites., Chloris barbata Sw., Cyperus nutans var. nutans Vahl., Dichanthium caricosum (L.) A. Can., Dichanthium maccanii Batt., Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaerln., Elyonurus royleanus Ness ex A. Rich., Eragrostis japonica (Thumb.) Trin., Eragrostis pilosa (L.), Eragrostis tremula (Lam.) Hochst., Eragrostis tenella (L.) P. Beav., Eriophorum comosum (Wall.) Wall., Oropetium villosulum Stapf. ex. Bor., Panicum brevifolium L., Pennisetum orintale (Rich.)Willd., Phalaris minor Retz., Rottboellia exaltata L.F., Sorghum controversum (Steud.)Snowden, Thelepogon elegans Roth ex. Roem & Schult., These weeds are depleting in BT Cotton field. Some invaders which was not found in traditional cultivation field previously but now dominant over in the BT Cotton field and first time reported. These weeds are Arachne racemosa (Heyne) Ohwi., Eragrostis japonica (Thumb.) Trin., Ophioros exaltatus (L.) Kuntze., Sporobolus capillaries Miq., Pseudanthistiria hispida Hook F., Ophioros exaltatus (L.) Kuntze., Imperata cylindrica (L.) P.. Dichanthium maccanii Blatt. are first time reported from the study area. 151

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Authors are thankful to department of Botany PMB Gujarati Science College Indore, Madhya Pradesh. We are thankful to forest department and villagers of Nimar Region for their help during field survey. Financial assistance rendered by MP State Biodiversity Board Bhopal is highly appreciated and acknowledged. REFERENCES Bor NL(1960). The grasses of Burma, Ceylon, India and Pakistan, Pergamon Press, London. Cook T (1957). Flora of the presidency of Bombay, BSI Calcutta, India 1-11. Hooker JD (1892-1897). Flora of British India BSI Publication, Calcutta, India 17. Jain SK and Goel AK(1995). A manual of Ethno botany, edited by Jain SK, Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, India. Jain SK and Mudgel VA (1999). Handbook of Ethno botany, Bishen Sing Mahendra pal Singh Publication, Dehradun, India. Hains HH (1921-1924). The Botany of Bihar and Orissa part 1-6 (BSI Reprint), Calcutta, India. Mudgal V, Khanna KK and Hajra PK(1997). Flora of Madhya Pradesh, BSI Publication, Calcutta, India 2. Naik VN (1998). Flora of Marathawara District, Amrut Prakashan Aurangabad M. S. India 1-2 1-3. Patunkar BW (1980). Grasses of Marathawara, Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, India. Roy GP (1984). Grasses of Madhya Pradesh, Allahabad, India. Sainkhediya J and Ray S (2012). Preliminary study of flowering plant diversity of Nimar region. Bioscience discovery 3(1) 70-72. Shah GL (1978). Flora of Gujrat State. Sardar Patel University Vallabh Vidya nagar, Gujarat, India 1-2. Sing NP, Khanna KK, Mudgal V and Dixit RD (1997). Flora of Madhya Pradesh, BSI Publication, Calcutta, India 3. Sinha BK and Shukla BK (2007). Synoptic flora of Khargone district Madhya Pradesh. Journal of Economic & Taxonomic Botany India 31(2). Sinha BK and Shukla BK (2007). Synoptic flora of Khargone district Madhya Pradesh. Journal of Economic & Taxonomic Botany India 31(3). Sinha BK and Shukla BK (2009). Synoptic flora of Khargone district Madhya Pradesh. Journal of Economic & Taxonomic Botany India 33(1). Verma DM Balakrishnan and Dixit RD (1993). Flora of Madhya Pradesh. BSI Publication, Calcutta, India 1. 152