FLORISTIC COMPOSITION, ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ETHNOBOTANICAL PROFILE OF PROTECTED AND OPEN GRAZING LAND OF KARKHASA, BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN

The present work was intended to explore the floristic composition and ecological characteristics of representative sites (protected and nearby unprotected) of Karkhasa range land of Balochistan. An exhaustive list of 154 plant species belonging to 39 families, was compiled (gymnosperms =1, monocot=6, dicot=32). The comparison between the respective sites indicated 147 plant species on protected sites and 35 plant species on unprotected sites. Floristic inventory indicated the dominance of Asteraceae with 26 plant species and Poaceae with 21 species. In the biological life form, Therophytes spectra were the dominant life form class followed by Hemicryptophytes and Chaemophytes in the study area. The leaf size spectra showed Nanophylls as the dominant class followed by Microphylls and Leptophylls. The plant species have been further divided into various economic classes based on their uses by local communities. The results revealed 117 species of fodder plants, 33 of medicinal plants, 21 combustible wood plants. in addition, 3 species were used for thatch roof, 3 species were found to be edible (vegetables / fruit), 2 species of plants were used to prepare herbal teas; others have been used for other purposes. Protection and conservation of natural resources of rangeland is crucial for sustainable utilization of accessible natural flora so, it is strongly suggested that overgrazing and overexploitation of vegetation should be controlled in open grazing lands in order to preserve floristic composition.