This study was carried out in newly declared human-impacted Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary to document
the life-forms and present the biological spectrum. The study enlists 149 flowering
plant species belonging to 134 genera
under 56 families. Of these, Rosids (56 species) are the most species
dominant followed
by Asterids (45 spp.) and Monocots (30 spp.) besides
enriched with seven basal angiosperm species.
The Apocynaceae are the most dominant family followed by Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Moraceae and Poaceae.
Among the genera, Ficus was found as dominant with four species followed by Cyperus and Dioscorea
(3 spp. each).
As per growth forms, herbs dominate (51 spp.; 33.8%), followed
by trees
(47
spp.;
31.7%),
shrubs
(29
spp.;
19.6%), and climbers (22 spp.; 14.9%).
The Raunkiaer life-form analysis shows
that
phanerophytes make up 54% of the flora followed
by 13% cryptophytes (geophytes), 12% therophyte, 11% hemicryptophytes and 10% chamaephytes. The study suggests that the region enjoys a hot and humid Phanerophytic climate. The selective
planting of various
fruit-bearing woody species contributed to the dominance
of phanerophytes; historically the site was an orchard till it was declared
a sanctuary in 1982. However, there were changes in the plant
growth over the decades of protected
status.