DIVERSITY IN THE WEED FLORA OF SWABI KHWAR – A WATER BODY IN SWABI DISTRICT KHYBER PAKHTUKHWA PAKISTAN

Abstract

 A total of 24 species of weeds belonging to 22 genera were collected from the research area. The collected genera were placed in 15 families of angiosperms relating to both dicot and monocot classes. Majority of the families were belonging to dicot while only one family (Poaceae) was the sole representative of monocot. Poaceae had 4 genera and 4 species. Poaceae was closely followed by two dicot families i.e Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) and Polygonaceae each with 3 species. Rananculaceae, Asteraceae and Euphorbiacae were represented by two species each. The most important families in terms of species representation were Poaceae (4 genera and 4 species) followed by Brassicaceae and Polygonaceae with 3 genera and 3 species each, Papilionaceae and Apiaceae (2 genera and 2 species each). While, Nyctaginaceae, Verbenaceae, Primulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Ranunculaceae, Caryophyllaceae, and Amaranthaceae with 1 genus and 1 species each. The present research work is a way forward towards the identification of a weed flora, which could be equally useful for both botanists as well as other plant scientists.