Climber Diversity across Vegetational Landscape of North-Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The composition and diversity of climbers among grassland, wasteland and forest vegetations was examined with respect to their woodiness, climbing mode and circumnutation pattern across the vegetational landscape of north-eastern Uttar Pradesh during 2011-2015. A total of 111 climbers, constituting 63 lianas and 48 vine species, under 35 families, were recorded. The forest and wasteland vegetation were quite similar in regard with climber diversity. Family Convolvulaceae included a maximum of 19 climbers. Majority of twining climbers showed right-handed twining. The wasteland vegetation was most suitable and quite similar to forest habitat for vines as well as for lianas. The right handed circumnutation was the dominant pattern among the twiners of the region. Local climbing flora provides considerable natural resource to the region. They often create special micro-habitats and increase the complexity of the ecosystem.