Diversity of climbers in Vallanadu Black-buck Sanctuary, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

In climbers the stems are weak and these plants need various climbing devices in order to support growth and development. The climbers are predominately angiosperms. The present study chiefly focuses on diversity of climbers in Vallanadu Black-buck Sanctuary. The present study recorded 28 herbaceous climbers and 14 lianas from the scrub forest of Vallanadu Black-buck sanctuary. In dicotyledons, 15 families containing 33 genera and 40 species were recorded. In monocotyledons, 2 families containing 1 genus and 1species each were recorded. The present study reported invasive species such as Ipomoea obscura, Ipomoea pes-tigridis, Clitoria ternatea and Passiflora foetida. The present study recorded 24 medicinal climbers. Conservation of climber and lianas is the need of the hour and climbers provide valuable germplasm as medicinal plants for the benefit of humankind.