Leguminous Plants of the Kumaun Himalaya: Diversity, Distribution, Threats and Management

Abstract

Legume-rhizobium is the most important symbiotic nitrogen-fixation system which offers a low-input and cost effective tool in ecosystem restoration. In addition, legumes provide timber, ornamental plants, food, fodder, gums, oils and medicine etc. In the present study, diversity, distribution, threats and management of leguminous plants of Kumaun Himalayan region have been described. Frequent surveys of the Kumaun Himalayan region were made to list the leguminous plants. In addition, a literature survey was used for confirmation of the list. Plants were categorized according to their habit and placed in three subfamilies of the family Fabaceae. Distribution, locality, flowering and fruiting time and uses of each species were also recorded. A total of 73 genera of legumes belonging to 255 species distributed in 3 sub families were described. Of these, 59 genera with 204 species belong to the sub-family Papilionaceae, 8 genera with 30 species to the sub-family Caesalpiniaceae and 6 genera with 21 species to the sub-family Mimosacae. The legumes showed a wide range of habit and include trees, shrubs, herbs, twiners, climbers, lianas etc. The maximum number of species were distributed between 500 to 1000 m elevations and decreased with increasing altitude. The maximum number of legumes was herbs (48 %), followed by shrubs (31 %), trees (14 %), and climbers (6 %). These plants can be further screened for their suitability and potential for nitrogen enrichment and amelioration of the degraded sites. At present the legume diversity is declining due to the fragmentation of habitat and over exploitation. This is resulting in the extinction of many legume species from their wild habitat. So, there is an urgent need to take proper steps for the conservation and management of legumes.