Biological Science: Research Developments and Innovations Vol. 3

The vegetation of Juniperus macropoda-dominated forest stands in Gurez Valley, Kashmir Himalaya, was assessed to characterise floristic composition, life-form spectra and patterns of species occurrence among Kanzalwan, Dawar and Burnai. Vegetation was sampled using a stratified random design across the three study sites. A total of 80 plant species belonging to 72 genera and 38 families were recorded. The flora was predominantly herbaceous, comprising 70 herb species, six tree species and four shrub species. Species richness differed among the stands, with Dawar supporting 74 species, Kanzalwan 49 species and Burnai 43 species. Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Lamiaceae and Fabaceae were among the most strongly represented families. Several taxa displayed restricted occurrence among the sampled stands. Juglans regia, Populus ciliata, Salix wallichiana, Salix denticulata and Angelica archangelica were associated with Kanzalwan, whereas Dawar contained a comparatively larger group of species not recorded at the other two sites. Burnai included distinctive taxa such as Salix alba and Heracleum candicans. The observed differences in species richness, floristic composition and life-form spectra demonstrate spatial heterogeneity among the three J. macropoda-dominated stands. These findings provide a descriptive baseline for ecological monitoring and indicate the importance of conserving both the dominant tree and its associated plant assemblages while maintaining habitat heterogeneity within the Gurez Valley landscape.