Conservation of Dioecious tree Genus Litsea in Central Western Ghats, India.

Abstract

The tree genus Litsea consists of about 400 species which is largest genus in the family Lauraceae differentiated by its dioecious nature, distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia. In India about 45 species are distributed in evergreen and semi evergreen forests. Most of the species are endemic, distributed across the Western Ghats of India. In this study, complete stretches of Central Western Ghats have been randomly sampled for identification of Litsea and particularly eight different study sites were sampled to know the diversity and distribution. The results of the study indicate that rare and endemic species of the genus distributed infrequently in Western Ghats. A total of 12 species are occurred in central Western Ghats are of Karnataka. At the same time this Litsea having male and female trees are separate individuals. Present study also reported that ratio of male trees was lower when compare with female trees in the Central Western Ghats. In all the study sites we observed the ratio of males to female in case of L. floribunda trees. A total of 403 (293 females, 110 males) trees were found during flowering season. The ratio of males to female is 1:2.6 in all the study sites, 1:1.5 in Kemmannugundi, habitat, 1:3.6 in Mullayyanagiri, 1:2.8 in Kodachadri, 1:3.3 in Madikeri area. Male trees bear individually more flowers when compared with female trees. Economically some species of Litsea are important as a source of medicine, timber and nutritious fruits. Numerous species are having biologically active compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids and essential oils, these compounds are used to cure diarrhoea, rheumatism and an aid to longevity in the study area. Due to these reasons now a days population of Litsea dwindling because of unscientific harvesting and over exploitation. For all the above reasons which warrant the regeneration of these Litsea trees, particularly male trees needs proper management and conservation strategies to conserve the rare and endemic species. Key words: Trees, Conservation, Dioecious