POPULATION ASSESSMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF POLYGONATUM CIRRHIFOLIUM (WALL.) ROYLE AND POLYGONATUM VERTICILLATUM (L.) ALL. IN HIMACHAL HIMALAYAS, INDIA

. Polygonatum cirrhifolium (Wall.) Royle and Polygonatum verticillatum (L.) All. are important medicinal herbs of the ‘Ashtavarga group’ of medicinal plants and belongs to the family Asparagaceae. The populations of these species are declining in the natural habitat due to various anthropogenic factors; hence, it is important to know existing status of the species for devising conservation and management plan. Keeping that in view, study was conducted in different geographical locations of Himachal Pradesh during June-September 2019. Nine sites falling in four districts for P. cirrhifolium and 23 sites falling in five districts for P. verticillatum were selected to assess their population status by quadrat method using random sampling and following vertical belt transects approach. The population of the P. cirrhifolium was recorded maximum at Kulang site (Dm -2 = 7.27 ± 10.91, F = 23.33%), and lowest at Shakoli (Dm -2 = 0.43 ± 0.82, F = 13.33%). The value of abundance ranged from 2.89 (Batseri) to 14.25 (Nichar). IVI was found maximum at Kulang (61.72) and the lowest at Shakoli (9.16) site. Whereas population of P. verticillatum was recorded maximum at Hatu (Dm -2 = 8.33 ± 3.43, F = 60%), and lowest at Paneta Khud (Dm -2 = 0.73 ± 1.24, F = 20.0%). The value of abundance ranged from 3.62 (Kothi) to 13.89 (Hatu). Frequency was found maximum at Baghi (66.67%) and lowest at Paneta Khud (20.0%). The Shannon diversity index and IVI was found maximum at Jamathu (0.36 and 91.02) and lowest at Paneta Khad (0.18 and 19.81). Both species were distributed in small populations with low density and frequency and were found geographically isolated.