Vascular flora of naturally revegetated coalmine spoils in a dry tropical environment

Abstract

A list of vascular plant species was compiled for an age-series of coalmine spoils on different microsites at Jhingurda colliery in Madhya Pradesh. Species were assigned an abundance rating based on their occurrence in quadrats viz; 1 = occasional, 2 = frequent, and 3 = abundant. A total of 81 species representing 23 families were found at different sites/microsites. Poaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae were the predominant families. Butea monosperma was the most frequent woody component of the vegetation. The frequent/abundant herbs and forbs were Xanthium strumarium. Cassia tora, Tephrosia purpurea, Aristida adscensionis, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Bothriochloa pertusa and Eragrostis tenella. Cototropis procera, Zizyphus glaberrima and Woodfordia fruticosa were the important shrubs.