BIODIVERSITY

I M P A C T AND ASSESSMENT

CONTRIBUTORS COPY

Prof. P.C. Trivedi

Ph.D., Post-Doct. (U.S.A.), F.L.S. (London), F.B.S., F.P.S.I.,
F.N.S.I., F.B.R.S., F.E.S., F.N.R.S., F.M.A., F.I.A.T.
Department of Botany
University of Rajasthan
Jaipur-302 004, India

Pointer Publishers
Jaipur 302 003 (Raj.) India
 CD
DIVERSITY OF AQUATIC AND WET LAND
PLANTS OF WEST DINAJPUR DISTRICT,
WEST BENGAL
S. M l T R A AND SOBHAN K. MUKHERJEE

INTRODUCTION
W e t lands - are imported self sustained ecosystem plays a significant role for
the formation of a wide range of well diversified flora. These aquatic and w e t land
plants have i m m e n s e importance for sustainable life support systems including
economic and aesthetic values and as such have played a central role in the evolution
of human settlement, agriculture, culture, industrial growth etc.
But in actual, it is very difficult to draw a line between the hydrophytes and
the terrestrial plant communities because aquatic habitat can not be sharply distinguished
from the terrestrial ones. Therefore, they are defined in various ways by different authors
- According to W e a v e r and Clement (1938) the hydrophytes are plants that grow in
water, in soil covered with water or in soil that is usually saturated with water.
Muenschar (1944) described the hydrophytes as "those species which normally stand
in water and must grow for at least a part of their life cycle in water, either completely
submersed or immensed." Presently Cook (1996) provide a broader definitation of
h y d r o p h y t e s w h i c h r e a d as - ' A l l pteridophytes a n d s p e r m a t o p h y t e s w h o s e
photosynthetically active parts are permanently or at least for several months of each
year part or whole submerged with water or which float in the surface of water," and
regarding the wetlands plants idea of cook is very definite which stated wetland plants
are those which grows in places where inundation must occurred for at least fourteen
days and saturation for at least sixty consecutive days. This idea of C o o k (I.e.) is followed
here to identified the wet land and aquatic plants.

In Indian perspective Agarkar (1923), Biswas and Caldar ( 1 9 3 6 ) , Bhandari et al.

(1962), Subramanyam (1962), Deb (1976), Cook (1996) etc. are the prominent workers
170 S. M l T R A AND SOBHAN K. MUKHERJEE

who studied the aquatic and wetlands flora of different state as well as India as a
whole. Besides these there are several publications like of M a j u m d a r ( 1 9 6 5 ) .
Mukhopadhyay (1987), Naskar (1990), Ghosal et al (1993), Dutta et al. (2002), etc. which
deal with the aquatic and wet lands plants of West Bengal state and its different districts
and regions. Prain (1903) has also treated aquatic and wetland plants of the state
in his book entitled ' B e n g a l Plants'. But unfortunately there is no such work regarding
the aquatic and wetland plants of West Dinajpur district.
The Land
t h
The district W e s t Dinajpur comes to exist on 1 5 Aug. 1947 with the independence
and partition of India. T h e Dinajpur district of the then Bengal province was partioned
by Radcliffe's line and its eastern part incorporated within the present Bangladesh and
retained its older n a m e "Dinajpur" where as the western part remains in W e s t Bengal
of India and renamed as W e s t Dinajpur.
T h e district W e s t Dinajpur lies between 2 6 ° 2 9 ' 5 4 " N to 2 5 ° 1 0 ' 5 5 " N latitude and
between 8 9 ° 0 ' 3 0 " E to 8 7 ° 4 8 ' 3 7 " E longitude in the Jalpaiguri division of W e s t Bengal,
comprising an area of 5350 sq. km.
The west-south limit of the district is surrounded by the M a l d a district of W e s t
Bengal, Purnea district of Bihar. Rajshai and Bogra district of Bangladesh, while the
north-east portion of the district is surrounded by the river Mahananda, the district
Bogra and the Dinajpur of Bangladesh.
T h e district is traversed by 5 main river systems and viz., Mahananda, Nagar,
Atrai, Tangan and Punarbliaba, these rivers and their tributaries forming a net work
through out the district, as these rivers and their tributaries are seasonal, so forming
a numbers of lakes and natural wetlands aquaring an area of about of 392 sq. km.
of land mass. A m o n g these numerous lakes, chalna beel, Pulal beel, and Baglai beel
have been considered by the M o E F (1990) to conserve as Ramsar site in near future.
The general direction of all the rivers is from north to south direction without any
exception towards the river Ganga or they entered in the Bangladesh becomes a
tributary of river P a d m a and ultimately poured their water in B a y of Bengal.
Geology of the district is not much important to the geologist, as the district
consists of alluvium soil entirely. The area forms the part of the great barind or
Pleistocene (older) alluvium, which is the largest the alluvial unit of Bengal basin. T h e
northern half of the district made up of a broad piedmont alluvial plain formed by
the rivers borrow the head waters in the Himalayan foot hills and deposited to this
broad piedmont alluvial plains which overlaps the barind on the north. In the southern
half of the district, the soil consists of an ash coloured clayey silt, locally called as
Khiar, in the rainy season it becomes a soft sticky loam and in the s u m m e r time it
is as hard as stone and not suitable for any vegetation. T h e river banks and the northern
portion of the district (specially Itahar S.D.) the soil consists of a sandy loam mixed
with gravels and it is locally called as Pali.
DIVERSITY OF AQUATIC AND W E T LAND PLANTS 171

The district situated at the northern half of the "tropic of Cancer"; therefore it
is not so hot and humid. T h e average summer temperature varies between 22-36.5°C
and in the winter the avg. temperature varies between 8°-26°C. T h e annual rainfall
varies between 195-250 cm or in the northern part the rainfall m a y reach upto 300 c m /
annum. T h e January is the coldest month when the minimum temperature is near about
8°C and night temperature may fall upto to 3°C, where as the hottest month of the
season in the M a y w h e n the day temperature may rises up to 4 2 ° C .
Out of 5350 sq. km area of the district 651.87 sq. km. area covered by the aquatic
bodies and wet lands which is about 12.18% of the total land area of the district, this
aquatic and marshy wet land is the inhabitant of the various species of aquatic and
wetland plants, or c o m m o n l y they called as the hydrophytic plants. General
composition in the hydrophytic plants of the district a r e -
1. Azolla - Lemnea Community
2. Eichhornia - Pistia Community.
3. Hygrophilla - Alternanthera Community.
4. Nehimbo - Nymphaea Community.
5. Nymphaea - Nymphoides Community.
T h e c o m m o n habitats, for the aquatic plants of the districts are the natural "bils",
ponds, rivers, and canals. Beside these many seasonal ponds, pools, ditches are remain
scattered throughout the districts which also harbour a numbers of hydrophytic plants.
The most significant features of this seasonal water bodies is the continuous transition
of the plant groups. T h e rice fields of the district is also support the diversity of the
hydrophytic vegetation of the district to some extend.
But at present, due to rapid pace of urbanisation, formation of n e w h u m a n
settlement and Industrialization these aquatic bodies are in severe threat of extinction
and some of which like the ditches have already been extinct, with the extinction of
there waterbodies including plants and animals. It is therefore, an urgent and utmost
need to record and to assess the diversity and potentiality of these aquatic plant
communities of the district before they will vanish forever. For this reason, the present
work has been undertaken.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The present work was the out come of the extensive survey of the water bodies
and wetlands of undivided West Dinajpur district during 1 9 9 5 - 1 9 9 8 in different months
of the year to cover the variation of plants in all the seasons of the year. For collection,
preparation and preservation of the specimens, standard guide lines were followed
with minute changes as it was required. For the confirmation of the identity of the
specimens for their upto-date nomenclature different latest Floras, Monographs and
Revisions have been consulted. Often the specimens were matched with the deposited
specimens of herbarium ( C A L ) , and in case of some critical specimens, floral parts were
dissected for studies. All the specimens were deposited at C N H ( C A L ) after proper
identification and treatment.
In the present study the aquatic and wet land plants are classified on the basis
172 S. MlTRA AND SOBHAN K. MlJKHERJEE

of classification system adopted by Cook (1996). It is interesting to note that almost

all the 8 growth forms namely - Epihydate, Helophyte, Hyperhydate, Plankton,
Pleustophyte, Rosulate, Tenagophyte and Vittate as mentioned by Cook (I.e.) are reported
from the district except the Haptophytes.
In the present work, all the studied taxa are placed in different families and
the families are arranged alphabetically.
T h e abbreviation used in the present study are :
For growth forms :
Eph. - Epihydate; Hel. - Helophyte; Hyp. - Hyperhydate; Pla. - Plankton; Pie.
- Pleustophyte; Ros. - Rosulate; T e n . - Tenagophyte; Vit. - Vittate.
T h e flowering and fruiting time are mentioned in the abbreviated forms of Month.
In the enumeration list, utility of the plants and the respective parts used for
are also mentioned.
Enumeration
Families Name of the Growth forms Flowering & Local uses
plant species Fruiting time
A. Pteridophytes
Marsilea minuta L. Ten. Jan. - (Spore Leaf used as
Marsileaceae formation) vegetable
Ceratopteris thalictroides Hyp./Ten. April (Do)
Pteridaceae (L.) Brong.
Salvinia cucullata Roxb. Pie. April (Do)
Salviniaceae
B. Dicots Hygrophda difformis Hyp./ (Ten) Nov. - Mar.
1. Acanthaceae
(Heyne ex. Roth.) Nees
H. polysperma (Roxb.) Hyp. Dec. - Apr.
T. Anders.
H. salicifolia (Vahl.) Nees. Hyp./(Ten) Aug. - Jan.
H. schulli (Buch.-Ham.) Ten Dec-Mar. Leaf used as
M.R. et. S.M. Almeida vegetable
Justicia quinqueangularis Hel. Sept. - Dec.
Koenig ex. Roxb.
2. Amaranthaceae Alternanthera Hel Throughout
paronychioides A. St. Hall. year
A. phdoxeroides (Mart.) Hyp. (Eph.) Sept. - Jan. Used as
Griseb vegetable

Contd..
DIVERSITY OF AQUATIC AND W E T LAND PLANTS 173

Contd...

Families Name of the Growth forms Flowering & Local uses

plant species Fruiting time
A. polygonoid.es (L.) R. Hel May - Dec.
Br. ex. Roem & Schult.
A. sessilis (L.) R. Br. ex. Hel Throughout Leaf used as
DC. the year vegetable. Plant
paste used to
check bleeding
from cut
wounds.
3. Apiaceae Centella asiatica (L.) Hel. Apr. - Nov. Leaf used in
Urban Diorrhoea and
Dysentery
Hydrocotyle Hel. Mar. - Nov.
sibthorpiodes Lam.
4. Asteraceae Centipeda minima (L.) Hel. Oct - Mar.
A. Br. s. Aschers
Eclipta prostrata (L.) Linn. Hel. Throughout Whole plant
the year used as hair
tonic
Enhydra fluctuans Lour. Hel. Nov. - Mar. Plant used as
vegetable
Grangea maderaspatana Hel. Dec. - Apr.
(L.) Poir
Sphaeranthus indicus Hel. Dec. - Apr.
Spilanthes acmella L. Hel. Oct. - Apr. Leaf used in
var. acmella. throat sore.
Spilanthes paniculata Hel. Sept. - Mar. Leaf paste used
Wall. ex. DC in toothache
4a. Brassicaceae Cardamine hirsuta L Hel. Mar. - May Plant extract
used in fever.
5. Boraginaceae Coldenia procumbens Hel. Dec. - Mar.
Heliotropium Hel. Jan. - June
curassavicum L.
H. indicum L. Hel. Mar. - Nov. Leaf juice in eye
inflamation
H. ovalifolium Forssk. Hel. Feb. - Apr.
6. Campanulaceae Lobelia alsinoides Lam. Hel. Jan. - Mar.

Contd...
174 S. MlTRA AND SOBHAN K. MUKHERJEE

Contd...

Families Name of the Growth forms Flowering & Local uses

plant species Fruiting time
7. Ceratophyllaceae Ceratophyllum Pla./(Vit.) Sept. - Dec.
demersum L.
8. Convolvulaceae Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. Eph./(Hyp.) Throughout Twigs used as
the year vegetable
I. fistulosa Mart. ex. Hyp./Ten. Aug. - Nov.
Choisy /Hel
9. Fabaceae Aeschynomene aspera L. Hel. (Ten./ Aug. - Dec. Pith portion
Hyp.) used as shola,
for preparation
of folkarts.
A. indica L. Hel. (Ten./ Jul. - Oct.
Hyp.)
10. Haloragidaceae Myriophyllum tetrandrum Vit. (Hyp.) Aug. - Nov.
Roxb.
11. Hydrophyllaceae'.Hydrolea zeylanica (L.) Hel. Nov. - Mar.
Vahl.
12. Lamiaceae Pogostemon crassicaulis Hel. Sept.- Jan.
(Benth.) Press.
Pogostemon pumilus Hel. Oct. - Feb.
(Graham) Press.
P. stellatus (Lour.) Kuntz. Ten. (Hyp.) Oct. - Jan.
13. Lentibulariaceae Utricularia aurea Lour. Pla. Aug. - Nov.
U. inflexa Forssk. var. Pla. Throughout
Stellaris (L.f.) Taylor the year
14. Lythraceae Ammannia baccifera L. Hel./(Ten) Sept. - Jan. Plant paste
used
to cure "itching"
A. multiflora Roxb. Hel. (Ten.) Aug. - Dec.
A. verticillata (Arduino) Hel./(Ten) July - Oct.
Lam. t
Nesaca brevipes Kochne Ten. Sept. - Dec.
Rotala densiflora Roth. ex.
Roem s. Schult. Ten. Sept. - Dec.
R. indica (Willd.) Koenhe Ten. Oct. - Jan.
R. rosea (Poir.) Cook. Ten. July - Dec.

Contd...
DIVERSITY OF AQUATIC AND W E T LAND PLANTS 175

Contd...

Families Name of the Growth forms Flowering & Local uses

plant species Fruiting time
R. rotundifolia (Ham. ex. Hyp. Nov. - Feb.
Roxb.) Koehn.
R. serpyllifolia (Roth.) Hyp. Sept. - March
Brem.
Mimosaceae Neptunia oleracca Lour Hel. (Ten) J u l - Dec.
15. Menyanthaceae Nymphoides hydrophylla Pie. June- Nov.
(Lour.) Kuntz.
16. Nelumbonaceae Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Eph. Mar.- Dec. in Rituals
17. Nymphaeaceae Nymphaea nouchali Eph. July-• Nov.
Burm. /.
N. pubescense Willd. Eph. Aug. - Oct. Stem used as
vegetable
N. rubra Roxb. ex. Eph. Aug. - Jan. Stem used as
Andrews vegetable.
18. Onagraceae Ludioigia adscendens Pie. (Hyp.) Sept. - Jan.
(L.) Hara
Ludioigia octovalvis Hel. Aug. - Nov.
(Jaeq.) Raven
L. perennis L. Hel. Aug. - Dec.
19. Polygonaceae Persicaria barbata (L.) Hel. (Hyp.) Oct. --Feb.
Hara
P. glabra (Willd.) Gomes Hel. (Hyp.) Oct. -- Apr. Fish stupefier
P. hydropiper (L.) Spach Hel. Oct. --Apr. Fish stupefier
Polygonum plebeium R. Br. Hel. Feb. •- May Plant used as
vegetable.
20. Ranunculaceae Ranunculus scleratus L. Ten. (Eph.) Dec. - Mar. Root used as
Fish stupefier
21. Rubiaceae Dentella repens J.R.G. Hel. J u l y -Feb. Leaf used in
Forster Boils
Hedyotis corysmbosa Hel. June - F e b . Whole plant
(L.) Lam. paste used in
Diarrhoea
H. diffusa Willd. Hel. J u l y - Nov.

Contd...
176 S. MlTRA AND SOBHAN K. MUKHERJEE

Contd...

Families Name of the Growth forms Flowering & Local uses

plant species Fruiting time
22. Scrophulariaceae Bacopa monnieri (L.) Hel. Apr. - Oct. Plant used as
Wetts. vegetable and
Brain tonic
Centranthera indica (L.) Hel. Sept.- Dec.
Gamble
C. tranquebarica Hel. Sept.- Nov.
(Spreng.) Merr.
Dopatrium junceum Ten. Aug. - Oct.
(Roxb.) Buch. Ham.
Limnophila heterophyla Hyp. Aug. - Dec.
(Roxb.) Benth.
L. indica (L.) Druce Hel. (Ten.) July - Dec.
L. repens (Benth.) Benth. Hel. Nov. - Jan.
L. sessiliflora (Vahl.) Vit./(Hyp.) Sept. - Nov.
Blume.
Lindernia anagallis Hel. Aug. - Mar.
(Burm./.) Pennell.
L. antipoda (L.) Alston Hel. Sept. - Feb.
L. ciliata (Colsm.) Pennell Hel. Aug. - Jan.
L. Crustacea (L.) F. Mueller. Hel. June - Jan. Plant used in
the constipation
of children
L oppositifolia (Retz.) Hel. Aug. - Dec.
Mukherjee
L. parviflora (Roxb.) Hel. Nov. - Mar.
Haiiis.
L. rotundifolia (L.) Hel. Sept.- Jan.
Alston
L. tenuifolia (Colsm.) Hel. Nov. - May
Alston
L. visoca (Hornem.) Hel. Aug. - Nov.
Boldingh
L. uallioides (Colsum) Hel. Nov. - April
Pennel.
L. proumbens (Korck.) Hel. Oct. - June
Borbas

Contd..
DIVERSITY OF AQUATIC AND W E T LAND PLANTS 177

Contd...

Families Name of the Growth forms Flowering & Local uses

plant species Fruiting time
L. pusilla (Willd.) Hel. D e c - May
Boldingh
Veronica anagallis- Hel. Jan. - Apr.
aquatica L.
23. Sphenocleaceae Sphenoclea zeylanica Hel./(Hyp.) Aug.- Dec.
Gaertn
24. Trapaceae Trapa nutans L. var. Eph. Aug. - Nov. Fruit edible.
bispinosa (Roxb.) Makino.
25. Verbenaceae Phyla nodiflora (L.) Hel. Mar. - May Inflorescence in
Greene. paste used in
boils and blister
Elatinaceae Bergia ammannioides
Roxb. Aug. - Mar. Plant extract
used in abscess.
C. Monocots
26. Alismataceae Caldesia oligococca Hyp. Aug. - Nov.
(F. V. Muell.) Buch.
Sagittaria guayanensis Eph. Jul. - Oct.
H. B. K. ssp. pappula
(D. Don.) Bogin
S. sagittifolia L. ssp. Hyp. Jul. - Nov.
peucopetala (Miq.) Hartog
27. Aponogetonaceaei Aponogeton nutans (L.) Eph./(Ros.) Aug. - Nov.
Engl. & Krause
28. Araceae Acorus calamus L. Hel. Jul. - Sept. Rhizome paste
with honey
used in cold
and cough
Colocasia esculenta (L.) Hel./(Eph.) In rainy Used as
Scholt. seasons vegetable.
Lasia spinosa L. Hel. Jan. - Apr. Stem used as
vegetable
Pistia stratiotes L. Pie. In rainy
seasons
29. Commelinaceae Commelina benghalensis L. Hel. Aug. - Dec. Plant used as
fodder.

Contd...
178 S. MlTRA AND SOBHAN K. MUKHERJEE

Contd...

Families Name of the Growth forms Flowering & Local uses

plant species Fruiting time
C. diffusa Burm. /. Hel. July - Nov. Plant used as
fodder.
Cyanotis axillaris (L.) Hel. Aug. - Dec.
D. Don.
Murdania nudiflora (L.) Hel. July - Nov. Plant used as
Brenan fodder
M. spirata (L.) Bruce Hel. Aug. - Dec
30. Cyperaceae Bulbostylis barbata (Rottb.) Clarke. Ten./ (Hel.) July - Oct.
Cyperus compactus Retz. Ten./(Hel.) Jun. - Nov.
C. cuspidatus Kunth. Hel. July - Nov.
C. cypersides (L.) Kuntze. Ten./(Hel.) July - Nov.
C. difformis L. Hyp./(Ten./ Aug. - Jan.
Hel.)
C. digitatus Roxb. Ten./Hel July - Nov.
C. distans L. Ten./Hel Apr. - Oct.
C. exaltatus Retz. Ten./Hel July - Oct.
C. haspan L. Ten./Hel June - Nov.
C. z'n'fl L. Ten./Hel. July - Nov.
C. nutans Vahl. Ten./Hel July - Oct.
C. pilosus Vahl. Ten./Hel. June - Nov.
C. pygmaeus Rottb. Ten./Hel. Aug. - Nov.
C. rotundas L. Hel. July - Dec Rhizome used
in Dysentery
C. squarrosus L. Ten./Hel. Aug. - Nov.
C. tenuispica steud. Ten./Hel. July - Nov.
Eleocharis acutangula Hyp./Ten. July - Nov.
(Roxb.) Schult.
£. du/ct's (Burm. / . ) Trim Hyp./Ten. July - Dec.
ex Henschel.
E. geniculata (L.) Roem Hyp./Ten. Sept. - Jan.
& Schult.
Fimbristylis acuminata Ten./Hel. Jun. - Oct.
Vahl.
F. aestivalis (Retz.) Vahl. Hel. Sept. - Dec.

Contd...
DIVERSITY OF AQUATIC AND W E T LAND PLANTS 179

Contd...

Families Name of the Growth forms Flowering & Local uses

plant species Fruiting time
F. alboviridis Clarke. Ten./Hel. Aug. - Nov.
F. bisumbellata (Forssk.) Ten./Hel. Apr. - Sept.
Bubani
F. dichotoma (L.) Vahl. Ten./Hel. Oct. - Apr.
F. ovata (Burm./.) Kern. Ten./Hel. July - Nov.
F. schoenoides (Retz.) Vahl. Ten./Hel. Aug. - Oct.
F. tomentosa. Vahl. Ten./Hel. July - Oct.
F. umbellaris (Lam.) Vahl. Ten./Hel. July - Oct.
Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb. Ten./Hel. June - Nov.
Fuirena cilliaris (L.) Roxb. Ten./Hel. Oct. - Jan.
Lipocarpha squarrosa (L.) Ten./Hel. Sept. - Dec.
Goetgh.
Pycreus pumilus (L.) Hel. Aug. - Nov.
Nees ex. Clarke
P. sanguinolentus (Vahl.) Hel. Aug. - Nov.
Nees ex. Clarke
Schoenoplectus articulatus Hyp./Ten. Nov. - Jan.
(L.). Palla
S. juncoides (Roxb.) Palla Hyp./Ten. Jan. - Mor.
31. Eriocaulaceae Eriocaulon cinereum R. Br. Ten. Aug. - Dec.
E. quinquagulare Linn. Ten./Hyp. Oct. - Feb.
32. Hydrocharitaceae Hydrilla verticillata Vit. Sept. - Dec.
(Li.) Royle
Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers. Ros. Aug. - Nov.
Vallisnaria spiralis L. Ros. Feb. - Apr.
33. Lemnaceae Lemna perpusilla Torr. Pie. June - Jan.
Spirodela polysrhiza(L.)
Schleid Pie. Feb. - Apr.
Wolffia arrhiga (L.) Ple./Pla Sept. - Nov.
Horkel ex. Wimmer
34. Najadaceae Najas graminea Del. Vit. Oct. - Dec.
N. minor All. Vit. Sept. - Nov.
35. Poaceae Arundo domax L. Hel. Oct. - Jan.
Brachiaria mutica Hel. Oct. - Jan.
(Forssk.) Stapt.

Contd.
180 S. M l T R A AND SOBHAN K. MUKHERJEE

Contd.

Families Name of the Growth forms Flowering & Local uses

plant species Fruiting time
Coix lacryma-jobi L. Hel. Jul. - Dec. Grains are used
for ornament
preparation;
seed decoration
used to cure
dysentery.
Echinochloa colona Hel. Aug. - Dec.
(L.) Link.
£. crusgalli (L.) P. Beauv Ple./Eph./Hel. Mar.- Oct. Grains are
edible
Eragrostis uniloides Hel. Through out
(Retz.) Nees ex. Steud. the year
Hygrorrhyza aristata Pie. Fodder Galac-
(Retz.) Nees ex. Wight. Nov. - Apr. to gouge
Oryza saliva L. Hel. Grains are
Aug. - Oct.
edible
Panium paludosum Roxb. Hyp. Jul. - Nov.
Panicum repens L. Hel. Apr. - Feb.
Paspalidium flavidum Hel. Jul. - Dec.
(Retz.) A. camus
P. punctatum (Burm.) Hel. July - Jan.
Acamus
Paspalum conjugatum Hel. Apr. - Dec.
Berg.
July - Apr. Grains are used
P. scrobiculatum L. Hel. for Breuarage
Sept. - Nov. Root decoction
Saccharum spontaneum L. Hel. used in skin
diseases
Sacciolepis indica (L.) Hel. July - Nov.
A. chase
Vetiveria zizanioides Hel. July - Dec. (i) Root
(L.) Nash. decoction in
Dyspepsia.
(ii) Root paste
in Headache.
(iii) Root ash as
Antacid.
(iv) Stem &
Root decoction
in dysuria.

Contd..
DIVERSITY OF AQUATIC AND W E T LAND PLANTS 181

Contd...

Families Name of the Growth forms Flowering & Local uses

plant species Fruiting time
36. Pontederiaceae Eichornia crassipes Pie. Apr. - Sept. Plant used as
(Mart.) Salm. Green manure
Monocharia hastata (L.) Hyp./Ten. May - Oct.
Salms.
M. vaginalis (Burm./.) Hyp./Ten. Aug. - Dec.
Prest
37. Potamogetonaceae Potamogeton crispus L. Vit. Dec. - May
P. nodosus Poir. Eph. Nov. - Apr.
P. octandrus Eph. Oct. - Apr.
38. Typhaceae Typha dorningensis Pers. Hyp- Mar. - Jun.
T. elephantina Roxb. Hyp. Apr. - Sept. (i) Leaf used for
Thaching, of
roof,
(ii) for prepara-
tion of basket
and mats.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The present study is the outcome of the extensive survey of the aquatic flora
of West Dinajpur district. T h e present study reveals that the district posses 173 taxa
of aquatic plants. These 173 taxa of vascular aquatic plants, belong to 92 genera under
44 families. O u t of these plants - Pteridophytic plants are represented by 3 families
with monotypic genus and species. T h e rest 170 species belong to Angiosperms, of which
- Dicotyledons are represented by 28 families, 45 genera and 87 species and Monocots
have 13 families 44 genera and 83 species. Aquatic and wet land plant species of W e s t
Dinajpur district is about 4 6 . 3 8 % of the total aquatic vascular plants reported from W e s t
Bengal and is about 2 0 % of the total aquatic and wet and plants reported from India
respectively (Banerjee and Kumar, 2000). Statistical conspectus of the families, genera
and species of the aquatic and wet land flora of W e s t Dinajpur district are given in
the table 1. *
TABLE 1
Conspectus o f the Aquatic and W e t l a n d s Plant F a m i l i e s , G e n e r a a n d S p e c i e s
R e p o r t e d from W e s t D i n a j p u r district

S I . No. Plant Groups Families Genera Species

1. Pteridophytes 03 03 03
2. Dicotyledons 28 45 87
3. Monocotyledons 13 44 83

Total 44 92 173
182 S. M l T R A AND SOBHAN K. MUKHERJEE

From the table 1, it is evident that the Dicotyledons are the most diversified
group on the basis of number of species, genera and families. T h e ratio of the families
of Pteridophytes, Dicots and Monocot is 3:28:13 and for the generic and species level
these ratios are 3 :45:44 and 3:87:83 respectively.
From the enumeration, some notable facts are that Cyperaceae with its 35 taxa
are the most diversified family of aquatic and wet land plants, followed by Scrophulariaceae
n d r d
with 21 species and Poaceae with 17 species are the 2 and 3 most diversified family
of the district. Besides this, there are 13 families with a single species; which is about
31.70% of the total family reported from the district. There are 9 families with 3 species,
8 families with 2 species, 4 families with 4 species, 2 families with 5 species, 1 family
with 7 and 9 species each. On the other hand on the basis of the generic diversity,
there are 54 genera with 1 species, which is 60.67% of the total genera reported from
the district.
There are 20 genera with 2 species, 8 genera with 3 species, 3 genera with 4 species,
1 genus with 5, 9, 12 and 15 species each. The Cyperns is the most diversified
genus with 15 species followed by Lindernia with 12 species and Firnbrystylis with 9
species.
Regarding the growth forms, the Helophytes with its 85 taxa is the most
diversified growth forms. In the table 3, a conspectus of the 8 different growth forms
and the number of taxa belonging to them are given.
TABLE 2
Statistical A n a l y s i s o f the Diversity o f F a m i l i e s a n d G e n e r a

Families Genera
SI. Categories No. o f S. Categories No. o f
No. Families No. Genera

1. Families with 1-species 16 1. Genera with 1- species 56

2. Families with 2-species 08 2. Genera with 2- species 20
3. Families with 3-species 09 3. Genera with 3- species 08
4. Families with 4-species 04 4. Genera with 4- species 03
5. Families with 5-species 02 5. Genera with 5- species 01
6. Families with 7-species 01 6. Genera with 9- species 01
7. Families with 9-species 01 7. Genera with 12- species 01
8. Families with 17-species 01 8. Genera with 1 5 - species 01
9. Families with 21-species 01
10. Families with 35-species 01
DIVERSITY OF AQUATIC AND W E T LAND PLANTS 183

TABLE 3
Conspectus o f the Different G r o w t h Forms o f A q u a t i c and W e t l a n d Plants o f
from the District W e s t D i n a j p u r

S I . No. Categories of growth forms No. of taxa % of taxa (in

reported respect to total
growth forms)

1. Epihydate 10 5.78
2. Helophyte 85 49.13
3. Hyperhydate 22 12.71
4. Plankton 03 1.73
5. Pleustophyte 10 5.78
6. Rosulate 02 1.15
7. Tenagophyte 35 20.23
8. Vittate 06 3.46
O u t of the 173 species of aquatic and wet land plants of from the district, 44
plants have potent economic values. These 44 plants are used in 51 different ways -
of which 15 are edible purpose, 23 medicinal purpose, 3 are poisonous plants, 4 as fodder
and there are 6 plants which are used for miscellaneous purposes like beverage,
thatching, etc.
TABLE 4
Statistical Categorisation o f the Utility o f the A q u a t i c a n d W e t
L a n d Plants o f W e s t D i n a j p u r District

S I . No. Categories of uses No. o f u s e s % in respect to total u s e s

1. Edible plants 15 29.41

2. Fodder plants 04 7.84

3. Medicinal plants . 23 45.09

4. Miscellaneous uses 06 11.76
5. Poisonous 03 5.88

T o t a l no. o f u s e s 51

Regarding the endemic plant wealth, the state does not shows any significant
position in the list of the endemic plant species of the country. But Aponogeton nutans
and Hygrophilia difformis are the 2 plant species reported from the state which are
mentioned as the endemic species to India.
184 S. MlTRA AND SOBHAN K. MUKHERJEE

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