Phytosociological status of the southern forest of Dang-Deukhuri district of Nepal

The study area, the southern part of Dang-Deukhuri, lies in the Siwalik Zone in mid-west Nepal, having an elevation ranging from 650 to 3300 ft. This study was done to collect ecological information and identify the important vegetation and plant species in this area.Vegetation analysis by list-count quadrant method revealed that about 80 tree species are distributed in the study area, indicating that the forest area is fairly rich in species. The majority of the trees have cauliflower or composite shape of their crown. Total canopy cover per hectare of the forest area is 11310m² which exceeds the ground area by 13.1%. As regards floral distribution, no species is found to possess a frequency range of 80-100%. Anogeissus latifolia has the maximum value which is 76%. The forest has a density of 2985 to 13500 individuals of trees, shrubs and large climbers per hectare depending on the localities. Anogeissus latifolia possesses the maximum value which is 949/ha. Dominance of species is determined on the basis of basal area. Total basal area of growing trees, shrubs and lianas per hectare of the forested land varies from 643 to 6848m² depending on site characteristics, and the mean value is 2535m² which is equivalent to 25.4% of the ground area. Phoenix humilis, Shorea robusta, Anogeissus latifolia, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Acacia catechu and Terminalia alata are the most dominating elements of the study area identified on the basis of basal area measurement. It is evident that this stand is richer in plant diversity than some of the stands of the adjoining part of India.